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My fingers absently card through the soft fur on Bean’s stomach as I tap the screen of my e-reader to go to the next page. His back paw kicks a little and his loud snore fades out for a moment, making me worry I’ve accidentally woken him up. I freeze, holding my breath until the snoring starts up again.

I smile down at the chunky critter in my lap, fondness swelling within me. In order to keep my mate’s inner raccoon placated, we’ve set up a weekly night where Jake lets Beans have a dedicated hour of time with me. Mostly that time consists of snuggling and Beans begging for treats, but because Jake’s been so busy with apartment renovations, my sweet mate fell asleep tonight as soon as he got comfortable in my lap.