NICK
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Last night was beyond my wildest dreams.
My first chase—and with my mate, no less. I had no idea it would be that intense, that full of adoration in the midst of the roughness. I’ve never felt so utterly connected to another person in my entire life.
The woman in question—my Izzy—snoozes in my arms, wrapped around me like the idea of letting go is too terrible to consider even in sleep. Her breath fans against my bare chest, her eyelashes fluttering every so often in a gentle tickle that I’m already addicted to.
Guilt gnaws at me, more insistent this time. I need to tell her she’s my mate, but I can’t do that right before the full moon. She needs to be able to experience tonight without any burdens.
Tomorrow. If tonight goes well, I’ll tell her tomorrow.
I was hoping to break away to cook breakfast and bring it to her in bed, but the way she clings to me is too perfect. Too much like the mornings I always dreamt I’d have.
I’m even looking forward to the full moon tonight. The fact that Izzy wants to spend it with me, Georgie, and Dane fills my chest with hope that maybe this is the first night of many.
“You’re grinning like a kid on Christmas,” she murmurs, her eyes locked on me. I hadn’t even realized she woke up.
I stroke her hair. “And why shouldn’t I be?”
She nibbles her bottom lip, trying to hold back the same goofy-ass smile I haven’t been able to shake since the day I met her.
“What would you like for breakfast?” I ask, continuing my lazy appreciation of her. “Whatever you want.”
“You’re going to spoil me, you know.”
“Yeah, that’s the point,” I chuckle.
She considers the leg wrapped around my thighs shifting a little just to remind me that it’s there. “Do you have waffles?”
“I can make you waffles. What kind do you want?”
This conversation is simple, mundane, and yet I still feel like the most goddamn lucky man in the whole world. I want more of this. I want seventy more years of this exact conversation every single morning.
She hesitates, a slight blush on her cheekbones. “Chocolate, please.”
“I’ll get right on that.” I stand and revel in how she watches my body as I walk to the dresser to get a pair of briefs. “Oh, and Izzy?”
Her eyes snap up from where she was following my ass with no trace of guilt on her face. Good.
“Yes?”
“Will you be my girlfriend?”
She can’t hold back her grin anymore. It splits her face in a way that breaks my heart into a million pieces and puts it all back together again—stronger than it was before.
“I would love nothing more.”
I rush over for a kiss—two—before breaking away again. I love the way she chases my mouth, wants more. She’s unashamed in her desire, and that’s everything.
“Patience,” I murmur, dragging my thumb over her chin. “Eat first, then we can celebrate.”
She takes my thumb in her mouth, sucking on it gently. “If you insist.”
I practically skip down the stairs like a kid again as I pull the ingredients for her breakfast. Hopefully, she dozes a bit as she waits and gets more rest. She won’t be sleeping much tonight.
Her scent trails toward me right before her blanket-covered arms wrap around my waist from behind.
“After breakfast, I need to head out. I had the brilliant idea to ask Georgie to go with me to Claws Out for lunch to see a band play. I’m thinking they’re going to be the ones who perform at the anniversary event.”
“Mm.” I grasp one of her arms, rubbing against her. “She won’t want to leave Tea Leaves during the lunch rush, but I’ll bet you can get her employees to gang up on her.”
She presses her face into the center of my back, taking a big breath in and letting it go slowly. “What time do you want me to be back here for the full moon?”
“I’ll make us a big dinner. Say five or six?”
“Perfect.”
What’s perfect is you, Izzy.
But I don’t say that. I just turn in her arms and kiss her until I’ve almost burnt her waffles.