Chapter Six
Aspen
I felt awful for sneaking into his bed. At least, I had a guilty conscience about it.
It didn’t feel awful next to him. But it was an invasion.
I was a stranger to him. A stranger he’d been kind to, kinder than necessary, and there I was, invading his personal space, spooning him like I belonged there.
Damn it. It felt like I belonged there—in his bed.
Next to him. Listening to his heart beat and feeling his body breathe in that soothing rhythm.
In his sleep, he tossed his blanket to the side and it covered me in the process.
It almost seemed like he did it on purpose, but I knew better. He didn’t even know I was next to him.
Either that, or he was the most silent, stillest sleeper on the planet. And he was letting me sleep next to him?
It took everything in me to tear myself from the warmth he provided, but I also wanted to get up and make it up to him.
I pulled my legs away first and then my torso, covering him with the blanket as I did so he didn’t notice the change in temperature as I got up.
It was time for me to do something for him.
If it weren’t for Ragnar and this place, I didn’t even want to think about where I’d be or what would’ve happened to me.
I could begin to show my gratitude by making breakfast. That said thank you, I thought. Everyone loved breakfast and, with those muscles, I was sure the big guy ate a lot. Not that it was a bad thing. A mountain like him needed fuel.
After brushing my teeth and splashing water on my face, I rummaged through the kitchen cabinets and found add-water-only pancake mix and then discovered some thick slices of ham in the fridge and mixed berries in the freezer.
That would make a perfect breakfast. I hoped Ragnar liked pancakes.
I mean, obviously he did if he had them in his pantry.
But a twinge of nervousness shot through me.
Maybe it was his mate or partner who liked pancakes?
The place wasn’t very large, but he could have someone who shared that big, comfortable bed and then had to leave to work or something.
I really needed to ask these questions before climbing into bed with someone. Totally clothed and nothing good happened but still. I would ask this morning if I gathered the courage.
The pancakes were almost done and the ham sizzling away when I heard his heavy footsteps come into the room. I was sure I’d woken him with all my bustling about the kitchen, but it couldn’t be helped with this tiny apartment. Cozy and warm but tiny.
“Good morning,” Ragnar said, walking over to stand next to me. “You didn’t have to do this, but it all smells amazing.”
“I did have to do this. As a thank-you for yesterday and last night and…”
“I’m actually starving this morning. So, thank you. I love berry pancakes.”
I let out a breath of relief, letting my shoulders relax. “I’m glad. I threw some logs onto the fire. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course it is. I told you to make yourself at home, and I meant it. I’ll put on the coffee,” he said, sneaking past me.
His hand brushed my lower back, and it took all my discipline not to push my ass back and keep him there.
I remembered how warm he was while we slept and I craved more of that—of him.
“Thank you. I-I didn’t even think about coffee,” I stammered. “I also made this breakfast to apologize.”
He snorted. “Apologize? For what, Aspen? You’ve been here less than a day. What could you possibly have done?”
I bit down on my bottom lip. I had to tell him.
“I couldn’t take the floor. It was hard and cold.
I-I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I snuck into bed with you.
I’m so sorry. I violated your trust and your privacy and your personal space and I don’t even know if you have a mate and a partner and I…
” I nearly burned the ham in my apology, that and my pride.
“Hey,” he said, putting his hand on my arm. Tingles exploded along my skin. “It’s okay. I offered, remember? Tonight, just start there instead of torturing yourself for hours. And about the other part…I don’t have a mate. I never have.”
I gasped. He wasn’t offended or mad. I tucked the last bit of information away, happy he didn’t. “You knew?”
He nodded. “I did. And I didn’t mind one bit. In fact…” He winked at me, making my knees wobble. “It was nice. It’s been a long, long time since someone was in my bed. I didn’t realize how lonely it was until last night.”
“Oh. Okay.”
We sat at his table for two and had breakfast. I noticed he waited for me to start eating before he did.
A gentleman. Imagine that. He brought out not only maple syrup but whipped cinnamon honey to go on our pancakes.
He had one pancake topped with each and, when I said I was done eating, he took the last two pancakes and ate them as well.
I knew a man that large had a huge appetite. Watching him eat my food made me happy.
Coffee also tasted better when someone else made it.
“That was fantastic,” he said, sitting back and patting his stomach. “I, um, wanted to tell you, I have Wi-Fi out here but it’s spotty especially in a storm. There’s a library on the second floor but it’s still not finished. I can show it to you once you’re ready to venture out.”
This perfect man lived in a Santa lodge, had a library, and was sexy as hell? Maybe I had died on the road and this was my heaven. It was stacking up to be just that and more.
I jumped up from the table, eager to help him. “I’ll get dressed. I was actually hoping to help you today.”
Ragnar got up and began clearing the dishes. “You don’t have to help if you don’t want to. You can relax. Please don’t feel like you owe me anything. I am happy to help you.”
Help me. Not help people or just help but help me.
Goddess, maybe I was reading too much into this.
This morning, he was wearing a hoodie and jeans that had seen some things.
They had paint stains and more than one patch.
I had always been attracted to the rough-and-tough blue-collar types, but he was the epitome.
He was a hard worker and somehow still managed to be soft and kind and gentle?
Yeah, I’d definitely died and stumbled into the afterlife.
“I would like to. No paybacks just…I would like to help you and spend the day with you.”
He turned around, smiling. The alpha had a great smile.
“All right. Get dressed. I’m working on the second-floor rooms today.
But promise to let me know if you get worn out or if I’m giving you too much.
I tend to work myself into the ground and then have to recover instead of taking it slow and easy. ”
I crossed my heart. “I promise.”
He waited for me to get dressed and, when I emerged, he nodded his head. “Come on. I have a big dream of opening before Christmas but that’s not going to happen. Still, it seems a shame not to decorate for the holidays, and I thought you might want to.”
“Really?” I may have bounced up and down. “That sounds not like work at all.”
“I have a feeling with you, nothing feels like work, Aspen.”
“We’ll see.”
On the way, we stopped in the room with all the boards and paint and he got me a pair of gloves.
“Christmas decorations require gloves?” I asked.
The alpha shrugged. “Can’t be too careful with you, omega.”
Him calling me that did something serious to my insides. I’d stopped here out of an emergency situation, but it wasn’t until that moment that it hit me. Maybe this was Fate. Maybe she’d pushed me here on purpose to meet Ragnar.
An omega could hope.
Anyone would be lucky to be mated to him. I barely knew him, but there was something about the way he talked, moved, looked at me, that made me feel wanted and cherished.
“Any chance you have some nutcrackers? I don’t like those things.” I caught up to him easily, though I suspected he was going slow on purpose.
“Why?” He chuckled. “They’re soldiers. They’re cute.”
“I don’t know. Something about the way the mouth moves. It creeps me out.”
Ragnar laughed and it bounced off the walls. “I’ll protect you from the creepy nutcrackers. Don’t you worry.”