Chapter 43
FLETCHER
Adam made it back to the hotel late that night, utterly exhausted. He barely had the energy to shrug out of his clothes before he collapsed on the bed beside me. I didn’t mind, though. I cuddled close and wrapped the blankets around us both, needing that nearness as much as I was sure he did.
“Did everything go okay?”
“Everything is going according to plan,” he said around a tired smile. “I don’t think Father is going to bother us anymore. I got my point across. I think we’re finally free, kitten.”
I sighed, relief washing over me. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear him say those words until right now. “Thank god.” Maybe now we’d be able to sleep without fear of the boogie-man creeping out from the shadows, hunting us down with fang and claw.
We stayed in the hotel that night and left in the morning, driving to our new home on Burberry Street.
I wiggled in the passenger seat, bubbling with nerves and anxiety.
I’d only seen pictures of the house, both inside and out, but the minute we pulled into the gravel drive and I laid eyes upon the red brick exterior and the front porch in need of a fresh coat of white paint, I grinned from ear to ear.
“It’s perfect,” I whispered.
“It’s ours,” Adam agreed.
The moving crew had delivered our belongings yesterday, before Adam returned to the hotel, but everything was in a state of disarray. When we went inside, all I saw was a sea of boxes and totes stacked around the living room and kitchen, our furniture shoved wherever it fit.
Adam led me through the house and showed me every room. Most of them were empty, and it was tiny compared to the manor—two bedrooms, an office area, a full bathroom upstairs and a half-bath down. Kitchen, living room, hallway. That was it.
It was hard to really get a good picture of what our new home would look like, put together, but Adam said it was safe. That was all that really mattered.
We spent the day sorting through boxes, putting enough of our stuff away that we could function, at least. As the day went on, though, doubts crept in.
This was such a big change… This place was a matchbox compared to the manor.
So small, so cramped. Did Adam really want to throw everything away for me? Was I worth it?
I chewed on my lip while sorting through the silverware. Not all of it was going to fit in the much-smaller drawer. Adam had so much stuff, so many things that wouldn’t fit in this new home. He’d have to get rid of a lot to make it feel like we weren’t packed in like sardines.
And what if we did have kids, in the future? Would this house even be big enough? Sure, there was a fenced back yard, but it was small too. Just big enough for a little patio and fire pit and a strip of grass that would only require a push-mower.
“Fletcher?” I barely registered Adam saying my name before the doorbell rang. DING-DONG! That startled me out of my thoughts, and I dropped the handful of butter knives I’d been holding loosely in one hand. They clattered to the linoleum floor with a clang.
“Shit!” I cursed as one of them landed on my bare foot.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine, just… See who’s at the door?” Why would we have visitors? Unless we’d moved into one of those overly-friendly neighborhoods with a welcoming committee. Ugh…
Adam walked off, dodging boxes in the entryway to open the door. I busied myself with picking up the fallen cutlery, cursing once more when I lifted up and banged the side of my head on the extended silverware drawer. “Damn it!”
Today was not my day…
My stomach growled, making the weirdest sounds.
Maybe I was just hungry. We’d grabbed breakfast at the hotel before we left, but I’d been nervous, so I hadn’t eaten much.
Now it was nearly six in the evening and my tummy was demanding food, but of course, we didn’t have anything to eat here, which meant we’d need to go out and buy something.
That’s when I smelled it—the salty, savory scent of pepperoni and melted cheese. My nose twitched. Was I really that hungry that I was imagining food coming to me? Or did Adam secretly have pizza delivered? Was that who was at the door?
I peeked around the corner to see Aria Winters standing there, a bright smile on her face and a couple boxes of pizza in her arms. Swinging from one wrist was a little blue gift bag. She set the food down on the counter, then offered me the bag.
My eyes widened. “For me?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
Frowning, because I had no idea what in the world it could be, I reached inside and drew out a small velveteen ring-box. Aria motioned for me to open it, and when I did, my jaw dropped. There was a massive diamond set amongst a cluster of smaller diamonds on a gorgeous golden band.
“Aria, I… I can’t accept this!” I barked, handing it back, but she wouldn’t accept it.
“Yes, you can,” she replied, flapping a hand in my direction. “It’s a woman’s ring, sized to fit me, but you can trade it in for something you like. It’s rightfully yours. You’re the one who has his heart, after all.” She smiled.
I felt my cheeks flush hot. I cast a quick glance to Adam, who seemed just as surprised as I did. “Thank you, Aria. You could’ve kept it, you know, for all the problems my father put you through.”
She shrugged. “I know that, but I wanted Fletcher to have it. If anyone’s been wronged by your father, it’s him. Now, can we please eat? I’m starving!”
“Me too,” I admitted as my stomach gave another low gurgle.
The three of us sat on the couch, passing the pizza box back and forth in lieu of a plate because none of the dishes had been unpacked yet. The pizza was perfectly greasy and doughy, and the company made my mood a little lighter.
Aria stayed for an hour or so. When she left, she surprised me by giving me and Adam both a hug. “Now, don’t be a stranger,” she said. “I could use a friend…or two. I expect updates on how your new and improved lives are going! And you’d better invite me back for a housewarming party.”
“You’d be the only person we’d invite,” Adam pointed out, but she simply shrugged.
“I’ll bring food. It’ll be fun. See you later, guys.” With a wave, she let herself out the front door, and we were alone again.
Adam locked it behind her, turning to me as he leaned back against it. His brow furrowed as he studied me. A pang of guilt rang through me, clear as a bell, and I dropped my gaze.
“Are you sure?” I finally asked.
“What? About what, Fletcher?”
“About me…” I looked around the small living space, at all the boxes crowded around us, and my forehead crumpled. “You’re giving up so much for me.”
“No.” He pushed off the door and came to me, stopping right in front of me.
I gazed up into his soft golden eyes as he cupped my jaw in his hands and stroked my cheekbones with his thumbs.
“I’m giving it up for us—and yes, I’m sure.
The thought of losing you makes me feel sick, and I don’t think I could love anyone more than I do you, Fletcher. You’re it for me.”
My heart beat picked up speed, pattering wildly against my breastbone. A small smile peeked at the corners of my lips. I stepped into his space, resting my hands on either side of his neck, until we were nearly nose to nose.
“Prove it.”
Adam’s growl was soft and low, and it did all sorts of things to my insides. My lynx purred as the Alpha leaned down and captured my lips in a hard, passionate kiss. Then, without preamble, he picked me up in his arms as if I weighed nothing at all, and he carried me up the stairs to the bedroom.
We made love on the freshly-made bed, my fingers digging into Adam’s biceps as my legs wrapped around his waist. Adam’s hips snapped in a rhythmic motion, each thrust sending him deep inside of me and making me quiver with passion and need.
“A-Adam!” I panted out, right on the edge. Then he fucked me over it and followed me down, down, down. “Fuck!” My body spasmed with each wave of pleasure that soared through me, clenching around Adam’s knot and milking him.
He filled me with his release, hot and sweet—followed by a bite of pain as Adam’s fangs sank into the side of my neck, claiming me as his.
I cried out again as another rush of pleasure flooded me, and I didn’t hesitate. Grabbing a handful of Adam’s hair, I bit him back. His skin popped beneath my teeth and sweet blood flowed over my tongue as I sucked at the wound.
We collapsed in a heap on the sheets, panting and moaning, but nothing else mattered in that moment because Adam was mine. My Alpha. My mate. My forever and always.
And I was his.