Chapter Twenty
A pollo woke up cold the next morning, and realized he had no covers because they were wrapped around Jost. Who would have thought sweet, gorgeous Jost would be a cover thief? Grinning, he snuck his cold foot under the covers and touched Jost’s lovely warm leg with it. Jost jerked and mumbled something in his sleep that had Apollo chuckling softly. He adored his mate, and they were going to go out for a morning run or maybe to his favorite spot and soak up the sun before Jost had to return home.
“Stop it,” Jost grumbled. “Cold.”
“I’m cold because someone stole all the covers.”
“Not me.” Jost’s voice was muffled due to covers being pulled over his face.
“Who else is in the bed with us?”
Jost’s eyes peeked out, and he looked at Apollo, then threw some covers over him. Apollo snuggled up to Jost, ignoring his yelp, and pulled him close as Jost tried to wriggle away. “Stop it,” he whined.
“If you keep moving like that, I might get ideas.” Apollo kissed Jost’s back, chuckling when Jost whined again. “Who wants to shift and soak up some morning rays?”
Jost turned around and cuddled him. “I do, but I need a few minutes to wake up.”
Apollo sighed as he held his mate, his eyes closing. He’d dreamed of this moment, and it was finally here. “How long do you need, or are you really not a morning person?”
“I am, but this is my first morning waking up next to you and I want to enjoy it.”
“We’ll have plenty more moments like this. We’re only just beginning, aren’t we, and I want to go dancing with you.”
Jost shot back, his eyes wide. “Dance? I’ve seen you ice skate.”
“I can’t skate for shit, but I can dance, which is strange. You’d think I’d be bad at both, but nope. We should go to a club on Friday, and I’ll twirl you around the dance floor, showing you off.”
“You want to show me off?” Jost blinked up at him, and Apollo remembered he had to shower his mate with affection and compliments.
“All the time, because I’m the luckiest shifter ever. I’ve found my amazing, beautiful mate and I couldn’t be happier, so yes, I want to show you off.”
“I think I want you to, as well.” Jost kissed his chest. “Let’s go and laze in the sun.”
Apollo pushed the covers off and helped Jost out of the bed. “God, you’re gorgeous.” Apollo’s eyes travelled over Jost’s lithe but muscled body, his pale creamy skin glowing. “We should go downstairs before I ravish you.”
Jost licked his lips, ducking his head. “You can ravish me whenever you want.”
“Yeah? How about after we’ve spent a few minutes in the sun?” Jost nodded and Apollo tugged on his hand, pulling him out of the bedroom, down the stairs and through the house to the back door. He opened it and stepped outside, lifting his face to the sun. “Ready?”
Jost nodded and Apollo stood awe struck as Jost shifted into his lion form. He shook his head, his mane flowing around his head. Apollo ran his hand over Jost’s back, feeling the fur under his palm. “Wow, Jost. You’re gorgeous in both of your forms.” Jost’s head butted him, and Apollo smiled. “I’m doing it now.”
Apollo concentrated and let the shift flow through him, his body rearranging and reshaping until he stood on all four hooves and nodded his head up and down. He huffed and let Jost’s lion move around him, sniffing him until they stood facing each other. Apollo nudged Jost, then walked over to his favorite spot in his garden and carefully lay down. Jost came over and snorted at him, then slumped down next to him, his head close to Apollo’s.
This was how Apollo wanted to spend his mornings with his mate. Relaxing and enjoying the sun before the day properly started. Jost yawned, and Apollo saw the huge fangs he had and was glad his mate was an omega, because even as an alpha they looked vicious, and he didn’t want them anywhere near vital parts of his anatomy. Apollo dozed for a while, then Jost nudging him awake had him standing and shaking his head before shifting back into his human form.
Stretching, he watched Jost shift and couldn’t help but groan at the sight of his mate naked. Jost blushed and ducked his head, then squealed when Apollo picked him up and carried him inside. “Damn, you’re hot.”
“Not as hot as you.”
“I want you so bad.” Apollo nuzzled Jost’s neck. “But we don’t have time.”
“A quickie?” Jost kissed the underside of Apollo’s jaw, then gently bit it. “Over the table.”
“Jost.” Apollo put him down and took his lips in a slow, but deep kiss. “Stay over tonight and we can spend more time loving each other.”
“We can do that and have a quickie now. I’m ready for you.”
Apollo kissed him again, then moved Jost around and bent him over the table. Jost pushed his ass out and sighed when Apollo slid his hand over his back. Moving behind him, Apollo ran his fingers over Jost’s ass, feeling how wet it was, and shuddered as he lined his dick up and pushed inside. Jost whimpered, pushing back. “Apollo.”
Fingers digging into Jost’s hips, Apollo set a hard and fast pace that had them both gasping and moaning until Jost cried out, his ass squeezing Apollo’s dick as he came. Apollo bit his lip and thrust inside a few more times before he shot deep inside Jost’s ass. Laying over Jost’s back, Apollo kissed his shoulder, murmuring, “I’m so lucky to have you.”
Jost reached behind and stroked Apollo’s cheek. “No, I’m the lucky one.” Apollo kissed him again, then pulled out and pulled Jost up, turning him around so he could kiss him. “I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”
“Me either.” Jost sighed and snuggled closer. “And now we have to get ready, or we’ll be late, and I have to talk to my parents.”
“Me too.” One last kiss, then Apollo stepped back. “A quick shower, then we get dressed and go.” Apollo stroked his fingers over Jost’s cheek. “Want to come here for dinner and stay over?”
“Yes.” Jost smiled, then took Apollo’s hand in his and pulled him upstairs. “Let’s get ready. The sooner we go, the sooner we come back.”
It wasn’t long before Apollo stood in front of his class explaining the difference between there, their, and they’re. A tricky lesson for sure, but once it clicked, it clicked. By the end of the day, he packed his work away and drove to his parents’ home.
“Mom! Dad!”
“In the kitchen, dear.” Apollo walked into the kitchen and kissed Lida’s cheek, then waited. A few seconds later, he saw her nose twitch, and she slowly turned to face him, her eyes dropping to his neck. “Oh, Apollo.”
“He bit me. I was more than happy to wait, but it happened and I’m not complaining.”
Lida smiled and hugged him. “My boy is mated.”
“Mom.” Apollo whined but also smiled because he was mated, and he’d never been so happy in his entire life. Stepping back, he laughed when Arvo pulled him in for a rough hug and slapped his back.
“So, he mated you first, son?”
“He did. I think it surprised him too, but it’s done now and no, we’re not moving in together. He had a rough time with his ex, so I can wait. We’ll probably spend every night together, but it’s not actually living together, is it?” Apollo shrugged. “We’re together, so I’m good.”
“You know you were never that patient as a child.” Arvo looked him up and down. “Can you wait?”
“Jost is worth waiting for, so I guess I’ll have to learn some, won’t I?” Apollo leaned over the stove and inhaled the amazing scents coming from it. “Lamb?”
“Yes, and I’m doing some cream potatoes with that weird name and baby carrots and peas.”
“Dauphinoise, Mom.”
“Whatever you want to call it.” Lida opened the oven and checked the lamb, then closed it again. “Are you staying or going home to your mate, and when are you going to bring him over so we can officially meet him?”
“I’m going to cook. He liked my beef.” Kissing Lida’s cheek, he said, “Thanks for keeping an eye on it. I’m doing steaks tonight and I’ll bring him this weekend. You can cook.” Apollo laughed and ducked when Lida threatened to hit him with her spoon. “You’re a better cook than I am.”
“True.” Lida chuckled when Apollo pulled a face. “Will he be finishing soon?”
Apollo nodded. “He’s going home first to pick a few things up then meeting me at my place, so I need to go and do some grocery shopping.” He gave Lida a kiss on the cheek. “I’m off. Speak to you tomorrow and don’t tell Sena. I’ll tell her later.”
Arvo gave him a quick hug, then patted his shoulder. “Go and take care of your mate.”
Apollo waved and left his parents’ house and got into his car. When his phone rang, he picked up and couldn’t stop the wide grin that curved his lips. “Hey, babe. How’s your day been?”
“Babe?”
“Don’t like it? Sugar pie? Love bug? Cheeky chops?”
“Have you been drinking?”
Apollo burst out laughing and shook his head even though Jost couldn’t see it. “No. I’m just happy.”
“I know. I can feel it, and I like babe. It was a shock.”
“Well, babe. Get used to hearing it. Have you finished?”
“Yes, the last pup has gone. I love alpha Elvin, but did he have to have so many cubs? They are so cute and adorable then become wild animals! I need to sit down and have a drink.”
“I had a fight happen in class and had to call security. That was fun.”
“You couldn’t sort it out?”
Apollo exhaled heavily. “No, in case I’m charged with assault, and the school is sued. It doesn’t happen often here. We’re a small community, but it’s the way of the world right now. You look at someone wrong and they’ll threaten to sue you.”
“I sometimes think it would have been nicer to have been alive decades ago when life was simpler in so many ways.”
“But harder in others, but I know what you mean.” Apollo stared out of the car window, watching the trees sway in the wind. A storm was coming in. “I’m going to pick up something for us to eat. What veg don’t you like?”
“Cauliflower. I only eat when it’s smothered in cheese.”
“You can’t go wrong with cheese. I’m going to go. I have this hot shifter coming over later, and I need to make sure I’m ready for him. I’m hoping he’ll rock my world tonight.”
Jost gasped, then whispered, “I can be in charge?”
“Well, I hope so. I’ve been thinking about it all day. I’ll see ya later, babe.”
“You will. Bye Apollo.”
Apollo hung up and dropped his phone on the passenger seat, then drove away from his parents’ house. At the supermarket, he didn’t take long because he had to get home and showered, and wear something nice for his mate. His mate. Apollo still couldn’t quite believe he’d met his mate and was now actually mated to him. His sweet little omega made his heart ache with love and his dick hard. Love? Yeah, he was in love with the perfect shifter.
Whistling, Apollo grabbed what he needed, avoided a conversation with Martha, who he knew would be gossiping about him later because she would have scented the changes in Apollo’s scent, and drove home. As he pulled up outside his home, he felt a sudden jolt of fear crash over him. He gasped, a hand on his chest, his heart racing, and took several deep breaths to calm down. It was only then he realized it wasn’t his fear he was feeling. It was Jost’s.