Chapter Sixteen
Joaquin
His place was closer. So we climbed in his car and drove there immediately.
Once we got past the roadblock of my business being in jeopardy, it seemed that the walls were down between us. He was hot, no question, but I’d managed to not think about that while I was panicked about losing my cart, but now that we’d reached an agreement, I could see him through new eyes.
He could have made more money running the concessions himself, no question, but he’d generously offered it to me. And he loved my mural, in fact suggested that we do another one in the hallway, down the line. Popcorn and art? It was my dream job. And this alpha was my dream mate.
His wolf is fine, too. My tiger’s smug tone had my hackles up.
How do you know? Have you seen him?
You really don’t know?
Obviously. Sometimes my tiger liked playing with his other half. A little like a cat with a mouse.
Where?
We ran with him all that evening.
The wolf who I’d been so enchanted with and never seen again. Not that I’d shifted since, which might be part of why my tiger was being so snarky. He liked to get out regularly, but sometimes even in a small town that took some doing. Many of the visitors didn’t know about the locals’ other halves.
In Oliver Creek, everything was close and we arrived at Eryx’s place in just a few minutes. I climbed out and started for the door without waiting, knowing he’d catch up. I wanted in his bed, wanted to complete the connection as soon as possible because that was how it worked.
When you recognized the person Fate intended for you, when the haze between you caused by any conflicts cleared, you wanted them right now. Fully and completely.
Eryx passed me on the steps and unlocked the door, reaching back to tug me inside with him. We stopped long enough for him to close the door behind us before he towed me through a living room that I caught a glimpse of before climbing a set of open stairs to the second floor.
On the landing, he swept me into his arms and kissed me. “You’re sure?”
“Where is your bedroom?” I started down the hallway with no idea where I was going.
“Omega,” he said from behind me.
I turned to see him in a doorway. “Oh. I passed it by.”
“You did. But you can fix that.”
Easily. A moment later, we tumbled together onto his bed, bouncing before settling. “Is it fixed?” I asked.
“Mmm, let’s check and be sure.” He propped himself on an elbow and studied my face. “How can we do that?”
“We could take off our clothes,” I suggested. “For a start.”
“Okay.” He tilted his head. “If you think that’s best.”
I slapped his chest with my palm. “Give me a little room here.”
Eryx slid to his feet and efficiently removed all his clothing while I did the same from an awkward lying-down position. Either way, it worked, and we were soon lying on our sides, facing one another on the soft mattress. “If I’d seen you like this, I’d have recognized you from our run.”
I chuckled. “We never saw one another shift that night, so maybe not.”
“Well, I’d have recognized you as mine if we had.”
“I’m not so sure. I think being fated is part of it, but also that there’s timing involved. And this is the right time for you to mate and mark me, alpha mine.”
“Mmm.” He nuzzled my throat. “I’m not about to argue with logic like that.”
I palmed his chest and let my hand glide down to his groin. “Better get on it, then.”
“How did I find such a smart omega? Fate must really like me.”
“I’d say the opposite. I am so lucky to find you, but I am starting to wonder if you can take a hint.”
He sat up and flipped me onto my back. “A hint, huh?” Kneeling between my legs, he took my hand from his body and closed my fist around my own cock. “Show me how you like to be touched while I make sure you’re ready for me.”
I’d never had anyone ask me to jerk myself off in front of them. It was so daring, so naughty, and it stole my breath even before his fingers worked their way into my hole. “Alpha!”
“So slick.”
“Yes. Please.”
He replaced his fingers with his jutting cock. “Since you asked so nicely. Don’t stop stroking yourself.”
“It’s so hard.”
He groaned. “You don’t have to tell me.” And then he was inside me, and any ability I had for wordplay swirled into the attempt to obey my alpha.
His cock burrowed deep inside, my slick the only thing that kept him from tearing me asunder due to his size.
If this was what it was supposed to feel like, I didn’t know why I’d ever wasted my time with anyone else.
My fist squeezed and jerked up and down, no rhythm or particular skill involved. Most of my brain was focused on him filling me over and over, whispering naughty words, telling me how tight I was and hot. Encouraging me to tilt my hips and then going even deeper.
My vision blurred, darkened, and my breathing rasped. He plunged in faster, my hand no longer doing anything but hanging on to my cock, the angle creating friction between our bodies, and then with a loud cry, Eryx spilled his cum into me, and I followed him into the heavens with a shout of my own.
His knot swelled, stretching me farther and linking us as nature intended. “Omega,” he rasped, bending to sink his fangs into my throat. The coppery scent of blood reached my nostrils before he lapped the wound closed.
Mated. Marked. His.