Chapter Sixteen
Jude
The chill of the morning woke me from a deep sleep.
I stretched, trying to wake up the rest of my body, and the events of the night came flooding in.
My body remembered everything. As I moved my legs, I realized some parts of me were sore.
My back was warmed by my alpha, cuddling in behind me.
His deep breaths told me he was still asleep.
My wolf demanded I get up, rekindle the fire, both the one in the fireplace and the one between my mate and me.
We didn’t want our alpha to wake up to a cold room.
I rose from the bed, careful not to wake Ripley up. As quietly as possible, I pushed around the hot coals and added some pieces to get warmth in and then headed to the shower. Once I was cleaned up, I got out and threw on a hoodie and some sweatpants and fuzzy socks.
Touching my fingers to my face, I realized I was smiling. Because this morning wasn’t just about getting up and making breakfast like I always did.
This time, I was making breakfast for my mate. My fated mate. My alpha.
Humming, I threw some logs into the fireplace in the living room and turned on the oven.
Soon, a batch of savory bacon and Swiss scones were baking in the oven and I began to whisk eggs for a frittata.
The coffee maker was on and I heard it begin to make its bubbly noises when the sound of a loud yawn came from the bedroom.
Ripley was awake.
“Jude,” he said softly but my wolf hearing picked it up just fine.
“I’m in here,” I called back.
While onions sizzled in the pan, I listened to the sounds of my mate getting up. He showered, too, so I took everything out and had it set up on the table when he strolled in.
No shirt.
Red-and-black flannel pants.
Sexiest man alive.
“Good morning,” he said, coming over and wrapping me up in his embrace. His skin was still hot and red from the shower and he smelled like my soap and shampoo—and, him.
“Good morning. Did I wake you?” I asked, turning my head to press my nose into his neck.
“I rolled over and reached for you but you weren’t there. I panicked a little, to be honest.”
I reached up and circled my arms around his neck. “I’m here. I got up to get the fire going and make you breakfast.”
“You’ve been taking care of me since I got here. I’m supposed to be taking care of you, omega.”
I scoffed at his silliness. “Alpha and omega are designations, Ripley. A partnership is never fifty-fifty. Someone is always giving and receiving more or less. How about we take care of each other?”
Ripley growled, making me regret getting out of bed at all. “I’m going to start with feeding you. Come sit with me.”
That morning, we shared a meal from each other’s hands. Every once in a while, the thought would occur to me, what would happen after the snow melted. I pushed it away. He was my mate. We would make a way somehow. We had to. I wouldn’t lose him after I just found him.
“Where’d you go?” Ripley asked, hooking his finger under my chin.
“Nowhere. The…the snow will be melting soon. This storm should pass in the next day or so.”
“Oh, sweetheart. No. Don’t even think it.”
I laughed and laid my head on his chest. “You know what I’m thinking now?”
He rested his chin on top of my head. “No, but I can guess. Jude, I’m not going anywhere. Unless…”
“I want you with me,” I whispered. “Always.”
“You have me. Let’s enjoy the morning. Now that I’m all fueled up, I’m thinking about taking you back to that warm bed.”
“Is that right? I was going to clean house. Maybe bring in some more firewood.”
“I’m thinking about your cock in my mouth, and you’re thinking about mopping?”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Well, your plan does sound better.”
“Are you sure? I mean, if you and the mop need some alone time.”
“Stop it, Ripley. Take me to bed.”
“Much better. Come on, omega.” He picked me up, honeymoon style, and carried me to my bed. Our bed?
Didn’t matter. We were together. And he was mine.