Chapter 11 Aaron
AARON
He needs as much rest as he can get after such an exhausting Heat. I thought it’d take more out of me, but after a fairly short nap after that last wave, I was good to go again. Maybe that’s what happens when you help your Fated through their Heat? I’m not sure and I don’t have anyone to ask.
A few designs play in my head, but they aren’t fully formed enough to bother sketching them.
I know some people constantly sketch everything, but that’s not my process.
Most of the time my mind is running a mile a minute, but since the Heat, it’s calmed.
I can actually think about designs without stressing out.
Pax inspires me and reminds me that I too, need to rest.
The movie credits roll, and I pull Pax into my lap so I can pick him up. He barely stirs when I stand. I just wanna nuzzle into his throat and scent him for days, but we haven’t talked about it. We haven’t talked about much, but I know that’ll change when he’s feeling up to it.
I lay him in bed and he clings to me when I try to pull away.
“Don’t leave. Please, don’t leave me.” He whimpers in his sleep.
“I’m not going anywhere, darlin’.” I bring him back to my arms and then lay in bed with him right on top of me. It’s perfect. I don’t care that it’s slightly awkward. I throw the blankets on us both and cuddle him until I pass out.
I wake to a puddle of drool on my chest and a hard-on pressing against my thigh, and I couldn’t be happier.
“Shit. Sorry!” Pax pushes up and wipes at my chest with his hand.
“It’s okay, darlin’. Means you were happy.” I rub his back and pull him back down.
“Nothing to stress about.”
His face goes pink as he grins. “Is it weird I’m more embarrassed about the drool than the erection?”
“Don’t be embarrassed about any of it. I’m not.” I angle my hips so he can see the tent I make with the blankets.
Pax laughs and flops to his back, just staring at the ceiling.
I want to kiss him so badly. After everything we’ve already done, it’s the one thing we haven’t. But I won’t ask because I’m not sure he’s ready.
“Thank you again. That was the best Heat I’ve ever experienced.”
“I’m glad to be of service.” I take his hand and squeeze. “Feeling any better today?”
“Much, much better. Thank you.” He gives my hand a squeeze and my heart melts. I know I’m biased because I believe in Fated matches, but I already think Fate chose perfectly for me.
“What about we get up and go find someplace cute for breakfast? There’s gotta be someplace in a town like this. Then we’ll go to the grocery. How long are you planning on being here? I forgot to ask before. I head out January third.”
Pax huffs a laugh. “I do as well.”
We both sit and swing our legs to opposite sides of the bed.
“Where are you from?” he asks as we change out of our pajamas and into clothes that are presentable for the outside world. “I’m from Virginia.”
I whistle. “You had a long, long flight, didn’t you? I’m from Michigan.” We live really far apart from each other and it makes my heart heavy.
“Flying while dealing with PHS can suck it. But we had a really great flight attendant. They helped keep me cool the entire time.”
“I do not envy Omegas. All my siblings and I are Alphas. Mom and Dad had their hands full with five of us.”
“I have two older Beta sisters. Mom still calls me her baby. I’m thirty-two!”
“Never would have guessed. You have such a sweet baby face.” I pat his cheek and he swats at my hand, but he’s still grinning, so I guess I didn’t offend him. Thankfully.
“And you?”
I press a hand to my chest. “A lady never tells.”
He snorts as he drops back onto the edge of the bed and pulls up a sock. “Sure. Sure.”
“Thirty-seven. Thirty-eight in February. Valentine’s Day, to be exact.”
“I’m sure your parents were thrilled with holiday babies.”
I nod. “They were. Valentine’s Day is mom’s favorite holiday after Christmas. She wanted to name us all after different Christmas related items, but Dad vetoed her naming us Ornament, Jolly, Jingle, Garland, and Wreath.”
“For the record, I would veto those names too.” Pax looks up at me. There’s such a beautiful sparkle in his eyes.
“We all ended up named after uncles. Until Misty chose Misty. Her dead name never suited her, anyway.” I shiver, remembering how much she hated it.
Pax’s smile seems to brighten even more. “My oldest sister chose Anna when she transitioned. It took mom a bit of time to understand everything, but thankfully she came through in the end. Is it easier in shifter families?”
I swear my heart skips a beat. Fate really knows her stuff. “Sometimes, not always. Depends on the family, really. Mine is obviously fantastic.”
He snorts again. “It was hard on Anna, but I’m proud of her for being her true self. That’s something big.”
“Indeed, it is. Always be yourself. Unless you can be something magical, then be magical.”
“Says a shifter. You are magical.”
“Does that bother you?” I brace for his response.
“I got fucked by a magical creature. Why would that bother me?”
“You did not just call me a magical creature!”
“Magical mink.” He pokes at my side.
“Better. Much better. Now let’s go grab some food and groceries.”
“And I need to find a laundromat to wash up my mess.” Pax glances towards the bathroom door.
“Nope. We’ll call housekeeping to deal with it. It’s part of their services to clean up after Heats.” I don’t want Pax to worry about it.
“Okay, but I don’t think they expect...” he nods to the bathroom door. “That.”
“And I’m sure they’ve seen it all.” I grab the phone on the nightstand and call the front desk.
“Branson? Perfect. Would you be a dear and send housekeeping to cabin 22 for Heat clean up? We’re going out for breakfast and shopping and we made a big mess.
Please bring fresh towels and sheets and pillowcases and I don’t know, a whole linen closet worth of stuff please and thank you.
” Branson’s still saying he’ll be right on it when I hang up. “See? Easy.”
“I still feel bad.”
“They’ll send Betas or Omegas. No one is going to get riled up on your pheromones. Oh! But might want to hide the toys.”
Pax’s eyes widen, and he dashes to the bathroom. When he comes out, he’s clutching his floral bag. “I piled everything in the tub to make it easy.”
“Perfect. Now, food or I’ll get crabby.”