Page 6

Chapter Six

Arley

T all gray structures surrounded me, a cacophony of horns and passing chatter, and the occasional brush of a stranger’s arms as we passed on the busy sidewalks introduced me to my new home. I loved it.

Not necessarily the sensory overload of it all but the fact that I was no longer under the constant attention of Marcus, Lenny, Jerry, and the rest of those guys. I was a small fish in a bigger pond and could melt into the crowd. Plus, I had Fen.

I glanced beside me at my sexy mate as we walked through the city from the parking garage to the downtown campus of his university. A wave of affection crashed into me. I felt truly blessed by the goddess and fate to be given this man as my one true mate. When he looked at me, I could feel just how much he adored me. It had been a while since I felt so loved and I’d never felt quite this way. The tales they tell of fated mates and the overwhelming love that bond brings proved truer than I had imagined.

“How are you enjoying your first trip into the city?” Fen held my hand as we walked along the bustling streets at a sure but steady pace, even as everyone rushed by us. “I know it can be overwhelming, especially initially. It took me a few weeks to get use to the smells and noise but once I did, I fell in love. And we are still close enough to farms and wooded areas that we can still shift a few times a week if we like.”

“Honestly?” I gestured around us, my heart lighter than it had been in weeks. “This is all amazing. I see how some shifters can have a hard time coping with the situation. But for some reason, my rabbit and I agree that this place is awesome.”

“That’s exactly how my wolf reacted the first time I walked onto campus.” Fen laughed, eyes crinkling at the edges. My mate would age well, not that I wanted to think about time passing by so soon, though. Not yet, even as the hustle and bustle of the city passed us by in the blink of an eye. “I think that even though shifters experience sensory input differently than humans, that doesn’t mean it’s a negative thing to live in such a busy area. Some people avoid sensory overload, while others crave more input. I think we might just be the type that can handle the blazing lights, thunderous sounds, and standout odors.”

“I agree.” I loved the new life I found myself in. I couldn’t wait to explore more of it. Whether it was new to me or because of my mate, I was excited. Who knew what the future held, but as long as I had Fen, that’s all that mattered. “Can you take me to the lakeside campus? I was looking at some of the classes the school offered and most of the ones I would take seem to take place on that campus and not downtown.”

“You were looking at the classes?” Fen stopped in the middle of the street, oblivious to the crowd parting around them. “Is that what you want to do? Go back to school?”

I yanked my mate to the little outdoor patio on the side of the street. The scents coming from it triggered hunger as well as the need for a bit of privacy. “Let’s grab something to eat here and we can talk about what I looked up.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.” Fen led me to the hostess stand and we were soon being shown to a table.

“This is a fancy place.” I rose my brows when I looked at the prices on the menu. I’d have to remember to research places to eat that were more affordable and not just follow my stomach. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that when I suggested eating here. Why don’t we just get something small here for the experience of it then grab some cheaper food when we get closer to the house?” I really hoped I wouldn’t offend Fen, but he seemed to already be a step ahead of me.

“No need, babe.” Fen picked up his menu and nodded toward it, a sly grin on his lips. At least he wasn’t offended like I feared. “I’m able to afford eating here occasionally. Order whatever appeals to you. Trust me. It’s fine.”

“Are you sure?” I checked the prices again. I felt like my rabbit was running circles in my head about to faint. “You are a college student and I know your parents aren’t rich. How can you afford this?” Not that I questioned my mate’s authenticity, but something wasn’t adding up.

“I have a lot to fill you in about and I will. But for now, just trust me and order the food that calls to you, okay?” Fen reached for my hand across the table, his eyes pleading with me to understand. “I can tell you that the crab cakes are out of this world.”

“Okay, I will choose to believe you when you say it’s all good.” I perused the menu and decided on my meal; they all sounded mouthwatering. “I am going to try the chicken linguine in Vodka sauce. You?”

“I’m going to go with the filet mignon and lobster dish, with a side of potato and zucchini. If you want, we can even share.” Fen closed his menu and placed it at the end of the table.

“Hey now. If you want some of my delicious food, you will need to pay up.” I closed my own menu and placed it on top of his.

“And what would you like in return, besides half of my plate?” Fen folded his hands and leaned in, cocking a brow.

“Well, a kiss of course. I need my desserts first, you know.” I let the right corner of my mouth raise up and switched my focus from his eyes to his mouth. My mate’s kisses were addictive, and I could easily survive off them alone. Maybe, as I ignored my stomach growl.

“That can be arranged.” Fen smiled and leaned over, pressing his lips to my own in a brief yet passionate kiss. I guess being in the city now, I’d have to learn to take small kisses anytime I could. “Now let’s order.”

Fen

“So.” Arley sat across from me at the restaurant table. I knew I needed to feed him, and I wanted to treat him to the best food in the area…but at this moment, I really wanted to kiss those delicious lips. I needed to remember my manners and that we were in the city. I couldn’t just cart him off down an alley to the forest and have my way with him, no matter how good that plan sounded. “I’ve been thinking about what I should do. You’ll be going to class every day, but so far, I have just sat around the apartment, not doing much. I think it’s time that I contribute to the household income and plan for my future. It’s not fair that you and the other roommates pay for everything and I just live off your kindness.”

“You are not living off my kindness.” I reached across the table and grabbed Arley’s hand. I needed him to understand, even if I felt slightly abrasive, he would think otherwise. “You are my mate. It fills me with pride to take good care of you.” It wasn’t only an alpha’s job, but I wanted to take care of Arley. I enjoyed it.

“But I want to help.” Arley shifted in his seat, evidently feeling uncomfortable, which was not what I wanted at all. Mates should be able to talk to each other about anything. “I want to do more than lie on the couch all day and watch short video dramas on my phone.”

“I know, babe.” I had to see it from his side of the relationship as well. They were a team. A partnership. Working together to create a future for themselves. “You don’t have to work, though, I do make enough money to support us both.” I let go of my hand and pulled out my phone, pulling up the campus classifieds. “But if you do want to get a job, there are a few places right on campus that are hiring. You can also start classes. The new semester begins in a week and there’s still time to sign up.”

“Can we afford that?” Arley cocked his head and furrowed his brows. I could see the wheels whirling in his mind, and I needed to put him at ease.

“Yeah, babe. We can.” I took back my phone and pulled up my banking app. “This is my bank account. As you can see, we have plenty in savings and more than enough in my checking account. You can take classes starting next week and we will be fine. Or if you want to take more time to adjust to the area before signing up, you can do that to. Nothing has to be done right away.”

“Fen, how do you have so much money?”

“I don’t tell many people about this, but I am an independently published author.” It was a tad scary stating that out loud, even if most of my friends knew. “I was quite lucky to have found a level of success on my first series. My readers love to support me by sharing my books on their social media accounts and when I hit the right algorithm, the sales soar. Combine that with knowing how to invest and budget, and I was able to set myself up for a comfortable life. I may not be the biggest author in my genre, but I have found my readers and know what works for me. I know my lane and stay in it for the majority of my books, but even when I swerve a bit, I usually hit the best-seller lists. I know what my readers expect and I deliver. And I love what I do, so it’s easy to keep up the momentum.”

“The more things I find out about you, the more I realize how incredible you are.” Arley’s lips tipped up at the corners and he winked. “That brain of yours, your talent and motivation. It all kinda turns me on.”

“Sweetie, you are the one that is truly incredible.” I leaned over the table and kissed my mate. His soft lips against mine almost had me forgetting where we were. “Every single thing about you is incredible in my eyes. The way you look, the way you talk, the way you smell. Everything.”

“You like the way I smell, huh?” Arley’s dimple flashed as he smiled.

“I do.” I bit my lip and stared at his mouth. “I really fucking do. And so does my wolf.

“Well.” Arley gestured to the back area where the bathrooms were located. “How about you and your wolf show me just how much you love the way I smell.”

“I think I can do that.” I stood and held out my hand for my mate. “But we aren’t doing it in these bathrooms. Let’s go home and I will treasure every inch of your body in our large king-sized bed.”

Half an hour later, I carried my mate into our bedroom and dropped him on our bed, gently even as he bounced. Then I slowly undressed as I watched him do the same.

Climbing up onto the bed after him, I hovered above his body. He looked so good on my bed.

“Hey wait.” Arley held me back with a hand to my chest. “Is anyone else home?”

“No.” I leaned down and nipped his neck then leaned back up on my elbows. “No one else is here. They are all at work and won’t be here for a few more hours.”

“Well, then.” Arley pulled me down until our lips were barely touching. “Show me how much you love how I smell.”

“How about I show you how much I love how you taste first?” I slid down my mate’s body until I was eye level with his long beautiful cock.

“My body is yours to do as you please, my alpha.” Arley squirmed a bit, biting his lip. A move that drove me wild. “Just please don’t make me wait.”

“As you wish, my omega.”

Licking his length from base to tip, I savored the salty goodness of Arley’s skin, with a sweet scent of chocolate invading my nose. His scent and taste mingling, causing my own cock to twitch in anticipation. Part of me loved dragging it out, edging him until he begged me to fill his tight little hole with my seed. But not today. Today, I needed to make my mate come fast and hard.

Gripping the base of his cock with one hand and cradling his balls with the other, I took his full length into my mouth and began my ministrations. I knew my mate’s body like I knew my own. The secrets to his pleasure were burned into my soul. And I had every intention to use my knowledge in bringing him to the peak of pleasure and then follow him into release. I worked his cock, my dick getting harder and aching to be inside him.

“Oh fuck, Fen. I’m going to come. Fuck me, alpha. I need you,” he begged and panted, his body squirming and twitching with pleasure.

I popped off his dick and moved up his body, kissing his mouth once I was able. “I need you too.”

Adjusting our positions so I could get better access to his hole, I slid into his welcoming heat. Our thrusts were hurried and frantic. I was chasing my climax as I knew he was. Our mating bond heightening our joining by allowing each of us to feel the other’s pleasure and emotions. Soon we came together, and the sound of my mate crying out my name was music to my ears. I wanted to capture the sound and listen to it forever, and I could with him in my bed every night.

Falling to the side of my mate and gathering him into my arms, I held him close. “I think it’s time for a nap.”