Page 13

Edwin

I pulled the covers back over my head, trying to shade myself from the incoming sunlight. Cuddling next to Micah, I heard him groan and mumble something about a bear. It was me. I was the bear. My animal felt the tug on our connection. Just the thought of my mate dreaming about me had me on cloud nine.

In seconds, Micah went back into a deep sleep. I felt my cheeks pull up in a smile, remembering the night before. We’d made love several times. First time was fast, needy, desperate. The second and all the rest were slow, careful, savoring every moment with each other.

I had so much to learn about my mate and his habits, but after the night we had, I felt like our souls were tied.

Never ever did I want to let him go.

Instead of waking him up, I slipped from the bed and took a quick shower in his guest bathroom. I walked into the kitchen. We’d emerged from the bedroom sometime in the middle of the night and eaten slices of his chocolate cake, sitting naked at his table. He didn’t want to return to bed before putting everything away and putting his kitchen to bed as he called it.

I stalled. The last thing I wanted to do was mess up his kitchen, but I was hungry and knew he would be too. Plus, I wanted to make breakfast for my mate. I wanted to give him everything, but I would start with toast and scrambled eggs.

I whipped eggs and shredded cheese to put on top. Next, I made a simple fruit bowl and toasted slices of the bread I’d brought last night and buttered it. I didn’t see a tray so, once everything was done, I went to the bedroom and heard the shower. Steam billowed into the space and I stepped in to enjoy the view. I leaned against the counter with my arms folded over my chest. Goddess, my omega was stunning, especially when naked.

Micah turned as though he heard my thoughts and swiped at the steamy glass, making a window to see me. “Good morning,” he called out.

“Good morning.”

He opened the shower door a bit. “Want to join me?”

A growl ripped from my throat at the thought. “I’ve got breakfast waiting for you.”

“Hmm, I am starving. Two seconds.”

He finished washing up and I watched, not ashamed one bit. I went to his dresser and picked out boxers and shorts.

“Thank you, Edwin. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Ah, mate, it’s the least of what I want to do for you and to you.”

Micah’s cock strained against his boxers he’d just put on. “Eating first and coffee. Then you can do to me whatever you want, alpha.”

“Sounds like the best day ever.” My heart skipped a beat and not because of the male who it now beat for. “Micah, it’s late. Do you…am I keeping you from your shop?”

He laughed and shook his head. “No. I’m closed today. That’s why all of this turned out perfectly. Best day off I’ve had in a while. Usually, I spend the day doing laundry and binging bad reality TV.” He came over to kiss my chest and then lay his head on it. “This is so much better.”

“Let’s go eat before it gets cold.”

We ate everything I’d cooked and then, after coffee, we had more of the chocolate cake. Who said dessert was only for after dinner. Not me. In fact, breakfast dessert might be my new favorite thing.

“Do you have plans today? I didn’t think to ask. A counseling session?”

“I don’t have plans except being here with you. Laundry and other things can wait.”

Micah nodded. “Let’s get this kitchen cleaned up. I can’t stand to have it a mess. A quirk of mine if you haven’t noticed.”

“I noticed, omega. There are worse quirks to have. I imagine you cooked up some amazing things in here.”

“I would love to make you something special for lunch, alpha. There’s nothing I love more than cooking for people I care about.”

“You care about me?” I asked, hugging him from behind. My chin rested on his shoulder as he washed up the dishes.

“I do.” He turned in my arms. “I’ve been waiting so long for you, Edwin. So damned long, I thought you’d never arrive.”

“You know, I was waiting for you too. Didn’t even know how much finding my mate would complete me. Restore things that were broken. I feel so at home here with you.”

We kissed for a few moments, whispering loving things to each other before Micah insisted on finishing up the cleaning. I cooked; he cleaned. That’s what he said. We moved to the couch where we watched a few movies and had some snacks, when halfway through our second movie I realized something.

I hadn’t thought about Jacob with the exception of Micah mentioning counseling. Not one other time. There had been a period where he consumed my every waking thought, but now…that time of my life was only a whisper.

A mate was truly a miracle.

I shifted slightly on the couch to face my mate, taking in his handsome face as he watched something funny on TV. His laugh was a balm, soothing all the places that once ached.

“What?” he said. “You’re staring again.”

“You said you didn’t mind. I could look at you forever.”

“I don’t, but it makes me want to do all kinds of things that aren’t watching a movie.”

“You read my mind.”