22. Zara
Zara
We lay here, entangled in a sweaty heap and I sigh content. This time yesterday, I was devastated that our relationship was nothing more than a fantasy that would have dragged on until he found his person. Now I know his person is me. We are forever, and I am elated.
I left home for a journey of self discovery, but I never for a second thought I would find a whole new life.
Thankfully good ole St. Nick explained that we have magical ways of keeping my lack of age from my family and friends.
I only wonder if he has a way to keep them from losing their shit when I tell them I'm never moving back home.
I sigh deep, and sensing the change in me, Xin kisses the top of head.
“What you thinking about Zaza?” he mumbles into my hair. My stomach tingles at the nickname he’s given me. I’ve never had a positive nickname before.
“I’m just worried about how my family is going to react when I tell them I’m staying here.”
His hold on my body tightens protectively and I smile into his chest, loving the feeling I get from his embrace. Wow this is what it feels like to be truly wanted.
“Well, they will just need to get used to it, because you aren’t leaving me. Ever,” he grunts.
“Aye awrite. Calm down Vixen.” I giggle. “I know we belong together, and eventually they will see that too. It’s just we’ve always been a car ride away from each other… It’s going to be hard.” I sigh.
We are silent for a few minutes when Xin speaks up.
“On Santos, we didn’t have a family as you would say.
Younglins were watched over by the elders until they were old enough to do basic things for themselves.
Then the community just kept an eye on each other.
It’s how it’s always been. We didn’t know there was more out there.
If I hadn’t let curiosity take over, I never would have been banished from Santos,” he turns my face, making me stare into his eyes. “I never would have met you.”
He leans in and kisses me deeply.
When he pulls away I smile at him, “I'm glad you’re a nosey bastard then.” and I start to giggle. Only stopping when he leans over me and claims my lips, pushing me into the mattress with his weight.
“What are you doing big guy?”
“I am mating you again?” He says, confused.
I sit up, needing to address this quickly. “Firstly. We are not mating. We are already mates. We are fucking, having sex, banging, doing the horizontal mambo or making love if you’re feeling mushy. OK?”
“Ok… But can we still do it? Whatever we call it?” He grins, showing me how devilishly handsome he is.
“Yes we can. But first of all we need to do something else…”
"What's that?” he asks, ready to do whatever I say.
“Eat. I’m bloody starving.”
“Oh my giddy aunt. These pancakes are outstanding,” I mumble with a mouth full.
Maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I’ve eaten or because I've had so much sex? It might even be because I'm happy and I know my man doesn’t care that his mate has wide hips. An image of his head between my thick thighs pops into my mind, and I clench them together to calm the ache that’s building.
Oh he doesn’t mind a plump mate at all.
My body shivers and I stare across the table at Xin. The carnal look on his face has me clamping my lips between my teeth. He winks and licks his lips suggestively.
Can he read my mind?
“You almost finished, Zaza?” he dips his finger into the chocolate sauce on my pancakes before sucking it off.
I follow his fingers and the ache between my legs becomes a throb.
He leans over and takes more of my sauce, but this time I stop him from retreating, grab his wrist and pull his finger into my mouth.
Staring him straight in the eye, I suck his finger hard and thoroughly before letting it go with a nice pop.
I sit back smug and satisfied by the hungry look on his face.
“Oh you are done eating.” he mumbles.
“Am I?” I finally answer, teasing him with a grin.
He stands and walks towards me undoing the rope on his jogging bottoms.
“Hmm, here, let me give you something more filling.” he offers, his voice sounding husky.
Oh my god he’s so sexy. His inner animal is coming through and I love it.
“Oh will you, reindeer man?”
But before he can answer, someone clears their throat from the doorway. We both stiffen, knowing they’ve probably heard every dirty little thing we’ve said.
Not cringeworthy at all.
I turn to see the little brunette woman I’d seen around. Eve. Rudy’s mate. According to Xin she helped me after I was brought back to the Ranch. I owe her one hell of a thank you.
I gave a sheepish smile, but it only lasts a second. Behind her was the asshole that had me running for the hills in the first place. Rudy.
I stand from the table on shaky legs, preparing for the confrontation I’m sure is to come. Xin pulls me into his side, giving me his strength. I stare between the pair of them, but it’s Eve who slowly steps forward.
“I’m Eve, Rudy’s mate. I just wanted to check that you were ok?” she says softly, and the genuine look in her eyes makes me like her almost immediately.
“Xin says you helped me?” I ask, just to make sure.
“I did. I knew what happened and I know if it had been me, I would have wanted a woman by my side.”
I don’t say anything. Instead, I find myself walking towards her and pulling her into a tight hug.
“Thank you,” I whisper in her ear.
“You are welcome,” she whispers back, sniffling as the emotions get to her too.
We pull away from each other, and instantly Xin is pulling me back into his arms and holding me close.
“I don’t like to see you upset, Zaza,” he growls over my head, glaring at Eve and Rudy..
I chuckle, and stroke his arm to help settle his nerves. “I’m not upset, I'm very grateful to her, that’s all.”
His grip loosens but he doesn’t release me, and when Rudy steps forwards I'm glad he hasn’t.
“Listen, Zaza—”
“It’s Zara to everyone but me!” Xin shouts at him and I rub his chest hoping to relax him a little.
“Ok, Zara. I’m sorry I blew up on you and said what I said. I didn’t know you would take off like that—”
My hand flies through the air and connects with his face before I even realise I've done it. Rather than feeling bad, my anger increases.
“You bellend. Not only did you scare the shit outta me when you screamed at me unprovoked, you made me think that I couldn’t possibly be worthy of being a mate. I know you didn’t mean for me to get hurt, but it’s still a consequence of your shitty actions. And I can’t just forget that.”
I grab Xin’s hand and march out of the kitchen without looking back. Part of me starts to feel a little guilty until I hear the conversation behind me.
“I tried to say sorry baby but she’s not interested,” Rudy whines
“Whatever. Until she accepts your apology, my pussy isn’t interested in you either,” Eve snaps back.
Relief fills me at the idea of possibly making my first friend, and I like her sass. We are going to cause havoc with our men over the next century I grin, pulling Vixen with me, but now with urgency.
“Where are we going?” he asks.
I look over my shoulder and smile.“I believe you were going to give me something else to eat?”
His eyes bulge and I can see his chest rising with excitement. Out of nowhere I’m lifted into the air, thrown me over his shoulder, before he takes off up the stairs.
“Quickly reindeer man. I’m very very hungry,” I giggle.