Page 27 of Rooting for Kiran (The Mate-Cute #1)

One year later…

THEA

“I still can’t believe we were able to fit all of your things in this tiny-ass moving truck.” Kiran marvels at the small truck. “You really managed to sell everything else?”

I place a hand over his bulging, sweaty bicep as he holds up my office desk like it weighs no more than a feather. “Yep! I didn’t need it, Kiran. I love all the furnishings in your house way more.”

He smirks, flexing his arm even harder. “Why, thank you, babe. And what about the mover? Do you like him, too?”

“Is that what you’re calling yourself now?” I chuckle.

His dimples pop as his smirk morphs into a full-toothed grin. “Indeed. I am moving your shit. Hence the term, ‘mover.’”

Nodding along with his thoughts, I lean back against the truck and begin unzipping my sweatshirt, unveiling a brand-new, very lacy bra.

It may be March in Michigan, but it’s warmer than average today, and we’re both sweating our asses off from moving me into Kiran’s house. He agreed to a year of dating before cohabitating, which gave me more than enough time to come up with a business plan and sell all the things from my house that I didn’t need in order to finally prepare to start up my dream business of owning a restaurant that serves everything flight style and begin another chapter of our life.

I shoot him a wink. “What do you think?”

“I think that, one: you’re very lucky we have no nearby neighbors, and two: you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Kiran’s emerald gaze travels up and down my body, admiring every inch, not just the bra. That’s what I love most about him—he’s in love with every version of me, even the sweatpants-wearing, too-independent-to-move-in-with-her-fated-mate-right-away me.

As he makes his way up the stairs to the house with a grunt that has goosebumps erupting over my skin, I wonder if this is his way of telling me he wants to get the moving portion of our day done before we get to the good stuff. This is my first time living with a man—let alone an alien—and I look forward to learning the ropes of cohabitation with Kiran.

Kiran stalks back out to me, halfway through his transformation, and eyes glowing bright with hunger. A growl escapes his lips, and I have to fight down a swallow over the sudden pressure in my throat at the sight.

A predator stalking his prey; that’s exactly what he is at this moment, and it sends a thrill through my nether regions.

Closing in, he boxes me in against the truck. Then he slowly drops to his knees, taking a long, slow inhale during his descent, his stare locked on mine the entire time.

His head stops at my chest, where he playfully bites at my pebbled nipples through the lacy fabric, pulling a desperate moan from me.

“Good girl,” he murmurs against my skin. “You’re always so ready, even out here in the cool air.”

I can’t even focus on what he’s saying, because he already had me at “good girl.” Isn’t this what fantasies are made of? Yes. I think so.

Moving to stand, Kiran throws me over his shoulder.

“Kiran! What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I give his ass a light pinch, to which he laughs.

My body bounces with each of his steps as he walks back into his—well, now our —house and heads for the bathroom. “We’re much too sweaty, Thea. I think a shower is in order, don’t you?”

“Definitely,” I respond, already licking my lips in anticipation.

Without removing our clothes, he steps into the ginormous, glass, walk-in shower and turns the water on so it pelts us from all angles, due to the multiple shower heads hanging at various heights.

I squeal as the chilly water soaks me. “It’s cold!”

He chuckles, ridding me of the now-soaked clothing covering my lower half as the temperature slowly warms. The way he’s able to do that one-handed, without letting me slip an inch, has me biting my lip. Kiran is so fucking hot, and he’s all mine. I will get to spend the rest of my days like this, and I can’t wait.

Once he has the lower part of me bare, I get to work on maneuvering my sweatshirt off, which is a bit hard seeing as I’m still mostly upside down.

Kiran slaps my ass, and I yelp. “What was that for?”

“Your ass looks good, and I was giving you a warning.”

“For what?”

He pulls my legs down a bit so that I’m at least upright before pushing me up against the shower wall. “Wanted to distract you from taking that bra off.”

I raise my eyebrows at him, and pride swells in my belly. Apparently, my shopping trip was a success.

But then Kiran maneuvers his arms, one at a time, until they’re between my legs and cupping my ass, where he then pushes up on my behind until he sets me on his shoulders with his face to my core. I’ve never been more grateful for tall ceilings.

I gulp. “Noted. But we have a problem.”

He kisses my lower belly. “What’s that, my love?”

“You’re still very much dressed.”

“Don’t you worry about that,” he mumbles against my skin before pressing his textured tongue to my aching bud, gently rubbing it side to side. “Tilt that showerhead so it’s spraying on those gorgeous tits, sweet girl.”

I reach up, trying not to pull the whole damn thing off the wall, but I’m so consumed in pleasure, it’s hard to concentrate. Somehow, I manage the job, sending rivulets of warmth over my chest, down my belly, and between where my core and Kiran’s mouth meet.

My grasp moves to his hair, running through and pulling on the strands as Kiran laps at me with pristine focus, bringing me closer and closer to release.

Kiran raises his forearms—keeping my thighs secured in the crook of his elbows—and grabs onto my breasts, placing a thumb to each of my nipples and working them in circles. It’s addicting—the combined texture of both his now-fully-transformed thumb pads and the wet lace of my bra. Between that and the roots at the tip of his tongue working either side of my clit, I’m at the edge and falling over a second later in yet another powerful orgasm gifted to me by my fated alien mate.

“Kiran! Oh! Fuck, yessssssss !” I scream, convulsing in his hold so much that the wet sound of my skin sticking to and peeling away from the damp shower wall echoes around us.

I’m not given much time before Kiran is pulling me down and placing me on my feet before him. I try not to let my wobbly legs send me crashing to the shower floor.

Lifting my chin with his pointer finger, he draws my face to his. “On your knees, Thea. And give me your bra.”

KIRAN

With Thea’s essence on my tongue, her perfect, naked body kneeling before me, and her wet bra in my hand, I make quick work of the showerheads, tilting them all so the water continues to keep us warm but doesn’t drown us in the process.

Two steps back is all it takes for the back of my knees to hit the built-in bench. I rid myself of my soaked, heavy clothing and take a seat, my hard cock standing at attention.

My mate loves me in my humanoid form, but a feral look grows in her eyes every time I’m fully transformed.

Her heavy-lidded stare scans me from head to toe before landing on my dick. She licks her lips as she waits for what comes next.

She settles back to relax on her heels. “What are we doing, Kiran?”

Taking her bra, I wrap it around my shaft—not too tight—and slowly move it up and down with my hand, playing with myself while Thea watches.

A sharp gasp permeates the air.

“Touch yourself, sweet girl.”

Thea spreads her knees apart and uses one hand to grab onto her breast while the other travels down, down, down to her center. Using two fingers, she rubs her clit, gently rocking forward and backward.

The sight has me bucking up into my hand, envisioning what it will feel like when I have her riding me in a few moments.

“Mmm,” I moan. “You are perfect, baby. Absolutely perfect. Does that feel good?”

She nods. “So good. But Kiran…”

“Hmm?”

“I want you inside me. Please.” Soft mewls spill from her lips until I can’t take it anymore.

Tossing the bra to the shower floor, I call her over with a crook of my finger. “Ride me, Thea. Show me how much you want me inside you.”

My large hands wrap around her waist to steady her as she climbs into my lap and lowers herself onto my cock. Moans escape from both of our mouths as our bodies adjust and slowly begin to move with each other.

Nothing compares to making love with your person. I don’t think I could ever find a way to encapsulate what it feels like; not at all.

With euphoria on the very nearby precipice, I find myself unable to fight the words I’ve waited to say since getting this amazing woman to move in with me.

“Marry me, Thea?” I ask.

Her eyes widen, and her movements slow but never stop. “What?”

“Marry me. Please. Spend the rest of your days exploring life, fighting over the best ice cream flavor, and falling deeper in love with me. Never stop, my mate. Accept fate with me.”

Warmth swims through my stomach as she wraps her arms around my neck and picks up her pace. I pull her to me, my breathing growing heavier as I anxiously await her answer.

“Yes.” She kisses me. “A trillion times, yes. I’ll marry you, Kiran. Of course, I will.”

A smile so large, it actually hurts as it pulls up on the corners of my mouth, breaks free. “Good, my mate. Because I’ve dreamt of this since the day you strolled into my greenhouse, and I’ll never stop dreaming about us and our future. Not ever.” I reach up and rip a root from the top of my head, quickly tying it in a circle as we sit here, still connected with one another.

Placing it on her ring finger, I look deep into her eyes and promise, “Just for now, okay?”

“It’s perfect,” she responds, smashing her mouth to mine once more.

We move faster and faster with each other, chasing the only feeling that could possibly come close to ever comparing to what it feels like to find the one and have them agree to marry you.

And as we fall over the edge together, there’s one thing I know that’s for certain. Holding her gorgeous face between my hands, I say, “I’ve been rooting for you before I ever knew you, Thea. I love you.”

Tears well in her eyes, enhancing her crystal-blue irises. “I love you, too.”