Chapter Twelve
Felix
April: Two Months Ago
“Come here,” Bennett said as I rubbed my arms, trying to massage warmth back into my limbs.
He’d instructed me to sit in the cab and warm up while he finished packing up everything from our movie under the stars, and so far, I wasn’t having much success.
I slid across the bench and he pulled me against his chest before running his hands up and down my arms. He let go with one hand and quickly reached behind the seat, producing a black hoodie with white lettering that said “Mirror Lake” above an outline of the mountains, a logo that graced all the tourist gear in town.
He lifted my arms in the air, and I wiggled in anticipation as he pulled it over my head. I sighed in relief as the warmth and his scent surrounded me. “I love this. It’s even better than the one from the other day. I’m going to keep it forever.”
Bennett smiled. “It doesn’t fit me anyway. I haven’t worn it in years.”
I looked at him skeptically. “Are you sure? Because it smells a lot like you.”
He shrugged. “It’s been in the truck forever.”
“Mhm,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder. “You want me to just pretend I believe you so I don’t feel bad keeping it?”
“Please.” He nuzzled my neck. “You smell really good wearing my clothes.”
“You already liked the way I smell,” I said teasingly.
“Mmm,” he groaned. “Now I like it even more.”
I laughed and shoved his head off me. “Let’s go home. I need to get some sleep before my shift tomorrow and so do you. You work even earlier than me.”
“Fine. But if you think I’m just going to drop you off like a gentleman, you’re sorely mistaken.”
He turned the truck on and drove us back toward the entrance booth. “Sleep only, Bennett,” I said as sternly as I could muster.
He chuckled before hoping out of the truck to raise the barricade and then again to lower it. When he climbed back in, he kissed my nose before putting the car in drive. “I will respect whatever boundary you want, but you may want to have more conviction the next time you say that.”
“Shut up and let me back in,” I said, pushing on his arm.
He lifted it and I curled into him as we drove in silence, feeling more at peace than I’d ever felt before.
Is this what all healthy relationships feel like? I can’t believe this is what I’ve been missing. Now that I have him, I could never give him up. That can’t be normal after one date, can it?
The car stopped moving and I blinked my eyes open.
“Hey, sleepy,” Bennett said, grinning. “Let’s get you inside.”
He slid out of the truck, and I watched him through squinted eyes, the streetlights too bright after my short nap.
He chuckled as I scooted to the edge of the seat and pushed my way back under his arms. Gripping my waist tightly, he said, “How is it possible that sleepy Felix is even more endearing than all the other versions of you I’m already crazy about?”
I wrapped my legs around his waist and wound my arms around his neck, resting my head on his shoulder so I could scent mark him as he carried me to my apartment. “Be careful, sleepy Felix can be a real pill sometimes.”
Bennett laughed and set me down in front of the door, facing away from him. I reached into my pocket for the keys, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, his chin on my shoulder as he whispered in my ear. “I like you feisty too, remember?”
I leaned into him as I pushed the door open and flicked on the light.
He shut the door behind us. “Are you really okay with me staying? Because I’ll leave if you want me to.”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him inside. “I want you to stay.”
A warm body brushed against my shins, and I looked down to see Marley circling my feet. She looked up at Bennett and hissed loudly.
“Whoa, I forgot you had a cat.” Bennett squatted and held his hand out to Marley who looked at him with disdain before hissing again and rubbing against me. “Was she here the other day?”
“Yes, she was probably ignoring us.” I scooped Marley up and pet her head as I held her out toward Bennett. “Don’t be mean to Bennett, Marley,” I cooed. “You’re going to be seeing a lot more of him.”
“Is she?” Bennett asked with a grin as he held his hand out again. She sniffed him, a low growl in her belly vibrating my arms.
“Yes, she definitely is.” I set down my territorial cat. “She hates Clara’s mate too, so maybe she just doesn’t like alphas.”
“I’ll win her over,” Bennett said confidently as he took my hand and pulled me in front of him. “Bed, handsome. You’re exhausted.”
“Yes, alpha,” I said, earning myself a playful nibble on the shoulder as he wound his arms around my waist and walked us forward to the bedroom.
The weight of a cat on my chest roused me from sleep and I opened one eye to see Marley walking in a circle while she tried to get comfortable. She stepped on my nipple ring, and I took a sharp breath.
“Shit, what are you doing?” I asked.
She meowed loudly.
“Let me guess. You’re hungry.”
She meowed again.
I shifted my weight and she hopped off me, ran to the open bedroom door, and meowed again as she looked back at me.
“I hear you,” I said, rubbing my temple. A headache was forming behind my eyes, and I squeezed my sore neck.
I must have slept funny. Where’s Bennett?
I followed Marley into the kitchen and instantly relaxed at the sight of the gorgeous, shirtless alpha standing at the counter. His jeans hung low on his hips and his abs seemed endless.
Damn, he smells yummy.
“Well good morning,” I said, lifting my eyebrows as I appreciated the view.
He met me halfway across the room and scooped me up into his arms, pulling my legs around his waist. “Good morning.” He kissed me softly. “I was starting to think I’d have to leave before you woke up.”
“Mmm.” I scent marked him and kissed his neck. “I’m glad you didn’t. Do you have time to come back to bed with me?”
He groaned as if he were in pain as he set me on the counter and stood between my legs. “I don’t. I should just give up my job though, right? Attend to you twenty-four seven from now on?”
I laughed and rubbed my growing erection against his dick. “I mean, there are parts of me that really like that idea. But I’m also a reasonable person.”
“Too bad,” he said, before kissing my forehead. He sniffed the air, one eyebrow lifting. “You’re warm, handsome. Are you coming down with something? Or getting close to your heat?”
“My heat cycles are pretty regular, and my next one is two months away,” I said. “I have a headache too, but it’s probably a cold.”
Bennett looked at me curiously and kissed my forehead again. “If you need anything, you’ll call me? I can get away and take care of you.”
I shook my head. “Silly little alpha. I can handle a cold all by myself.”
“Of course you can,” he said, turning around to face the counter behind him. He picked up a steaming cup of coffee and brought it to me. “But who would bring you soup if you were all by yourself?”
“Oh, well, if there’s soup being offered, then I’ll whine like a baby at the first sign of a sore throat.” I took a long sip of coffee, savoring the warm liquid.
“And if it turns out you are going into heat?” he asked tentatively, as he shifted on his feet, nostrils flared.
“I’m not,” I said. “My cycles are very regular. I don’t have breakthrough heats.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “Humor me, handsome.”
“If it turns out I’m going into heat, I’ll call you.”
He stared at me, waiting patiently.
“Is this you trying to figure out where my head’s at before my heat starts so you can be sure I’m consenting?” I asked. “It’s not going to happen today.”
“Again, humor me,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.
“Oh my gosh. If I go into heat today or two months from today—which is when it’s going to happen, by the way—I’ll call you and I’d want you to stay.
I’d want you to help me through it in every single way,” I said empathically before mumbling, “Preferably with your knot shoved so far up my ass I can barely breathe.”
My dick gave an aggressive twitch at the thought.
Bennett laughed. “Sounds like a plan.” He disappeared into my room while I drank my coffee and came back wearing the long-sleeved thermal shirt he’d worn on our date last night. “I really do have to run, but I’ll see you tonight at the bar, okay?”
He kissed me softly.
“We’re going to have a second date, right?” I asked, shivering as a cold chill ran through me.
“I’m taking you on dates until you tell me to stop. I’m yours, Felix. I’m telling everyone you’re my boyfriend already.”
He held up his phone and showed me his texts with Ally.
Bennett: Just a heads up, your bartender is my boyfriend now.
Ally: Does he know that yet?
Bennett: Of course he does. I’m great at dates. I’ve wooed him for a month. Now we’re boyfriends.
Ally: You don’t seem to know how dating works.
Bennett: Yeah? Ask him tonight and see what he says.
I laughed heartily as I shoved his arm down and wrapped my arms around his neck. “You’re too fucking charming for your own good. I assume you’re joking?”
He shrugged. “Sure. Let’s say I’m joking. But when you want to use the word boyfriend, you just let me know.” He kissed my nose. “I’m late. See you tonight, Felix.”
I waved as I hopped down from the counter and Bennett ran out the door. Marley meowed at my feet, looking impatient as ever.
“I know. Food. I hear you.” I walked to the fridge to get her open can of wet food. “What do you think, girl?” I bent down to pet her. “Should I let him be my boyfriend?”
She meowed again.
“Yeah.” I scratched her behind the ears. “I think I probably should too.”
What the hell? Was Bennett right this morning?
I grasped the bar at The White Fang with both hands and bent over, taking a deep breath as another hot flash warmed my chest and cheeks. I shook out the discomfort and tried not to think about how I could feel every fiber of my shirt against my skin.
Fuck, I want this off. Now.
I ripped at the collar of my shirt and clutched my stomach as a cramp made me double over the bar again.