Chapter Seventeen
Eryx
I had been awake for a while. Since I was little, I’d woken early. My father took it as proof I was built for a high-stress lifestyle.
It was natural for me.
So, when Joaquin’s breathing changed, I was waiting patiently. Or not so patiently.
I ran my fingers down the length of his spine. There wasn’t an inch of him I hadn’t taken the time to learn the night before. My mate was beautiful inside and out and, when we came together, the world faded away. There was nothing but us in this bubble of life we shared.
His eyes weren’t open yet. Another thing to learn. How he woke up. His demeanor. Habits. Pet peeves. Nuances. I’d never been so hungry for knowledge about another person.
Impatiently, I pressed a kiss to his mark.
He hissed. “Does it hurt?” I asked.
“No. But it’s still sensitive. I suspect it always will be.”
He kissed my chest. Both of our hearts fluttered. “Mine too. Are you hungry? Thirsty? I’m not. I’ve never had anyone here when I wake up. I never had anyone stay over.”
That woke him up. He lifted his head and finally opened those eyes. “Never?”
“No. I was a busy lawyer. Very, very busy.”
“That’s kind of sweet. I get to be the first.”
I leaned over his body. “And you’ll be the last.”
Joaquin laughed. “That was so cheesy. I love it.”
I kissed his lips. “Tell me what you need this morning. I want to take care of you.”
He stretched and I watched every movement, enraptured. “I’m starving. And coffee. But first a shower?”
My wolf snapped me into action. No more thoughts of round four…or five? I had an omega to feed and bathe and take care of. Those things took precedence over my baser needs. Barely.
“I’ll start the shower.”
I went to the bathroom and started the hot water and got out towels. I had a multipack of toothbrushes under the counter. Bought on sale at Costco, but now I had someone to share them with. Joaquin would be staying here often, I hoped, so I made a note to get things he liked.
Hell, I didn’t even know what he liked.
“What are you worrying yourself about?” He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.
“I’ve realized how many things I don’t know about you. Down to what you like for breakfast. How you take your coffee.”
He splayed his hands out over my stomach. The muscles underneath pulled taut. His cock pressed against my ass. Teasing me, the minx. “We’ll learn, okay? Today is day two. Even people who have been together for decades are still learning about each other. Your worry is making me anxious, honey.”
My chest rumbled with satisfaction at his term of endearment. “Let’s shower before I change my mind and take you back to bed. Honey, indeed,” I fake grumbled.
“What? You don’t like it?”
I turned to face him and moved us under the warm spray. “I love it.”
Once the shower was done, he put on some of my boxers and a pair of sweatpants and so did I. It did my wolf good to see him in my clothes, bathed in my scent, wearing my mark. My animal couldn’t have been more sated.
“Pick your poison,” I said, opening the fridge. “I’ve got bacon. Eggs. Leftovers. Oatmeal. Pancakes?”
“Are those burgers?” Joaquin peered into the fridge.
“Yeah. I cooked a bunch last night to eat quickly.”
He winked at me. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Licking my lips, I looked him up and down. “Probably not.”
That earned me a swat on my ass. “Focus, alpha. I was thinking a breakfast burger. All we need is to cook up some eggs to top it.”
“That sounds great. I think I have some hash brown patties too. Coffee first.”
While my wolf had ideas about cooking for and serving him, my mate had different ideas. Good ones. We worked alongside each other in the kitchen, making this morning’s meal a big deal. I hoped we always made little things a big deal from now on.
It was all worth it. Joaquin stuffed his bun with bacon, a fried egg, and crispy potato and was serious about that first bite.
He groaned with the goodness of it. I was familiar with the sound. I took a bite of my own and, just like that, he was in charge of the food ideas. All of them.
We sat next to each other and enjoyed a second cup of coffee on the balcony of my apartment.
One night had changed the course of my life in the best way possible.
“What’s that smile for?” He nudged my knee with his.
I put my mug down and did the same with his. I coaxed him onto my lap and he snuggled into my hold. “I’m so happy we found each other. That’s what I was thinking about.”
He purred. Not a growl. A purr. Interesting. “I’m glad too. I was so nervous about showing you the mural. I thought you might fire me.”
I chuckled, jostling us both. “Not only am I not firing you, I’m never letting you go, baby. Ever.”
“We have work to do. There’s so much to do before the theater opens.”
I loved that everything we talked about was now we. Instantly. A night of passion. A bond. A mark. Two souls tethered. Now we were a we.
“It can wait a few minutes. A few hours.”
He purred again.
I had to ask. “I don’t even know what kind of shifter you are.”
He sat up so fast, he nearly toppled over. “You don’t know? How do you not know?”
“Because I’ve never seen you shift?”
He laughed. Tears filled his eyes. Fuck, what had I said wrong? But he was laughing? “Eryx, you know exactly what I am. You and I ran together in the forest weeks ago. That was me, honey. The tiger. I figured it out a little earlier this evening, rather, my tiger told me it was you.”
I pulled him to me and pressed him against my chest. Joy surged in my chest. “I knew there was something special about that tiger. My wolf called out for him but, when I met you, he didn’t again. Goddess, I’m such a fool. Of course it was you. It had to be you.”
“I thought you knew. My tiger loved you. He still does.”