Page 7 of Secret Guardian (Fated Mates Collection #4)

“Well, the dating pool isn’t the greatest out there.” I grab the glass dish and hold it under the faucet. Once it’s ready, I arrange the bouquet carefully and set it in the center of my table.

“Ready?” He offers me his hand, and I hesitate at first. This seems like more than just taking his hand. This is giving us a real chance. But it feels like the right thing to do.

“Ready.”

When Aaric pulls up to the brightly colored building, I’m suspicious that he’s joking. “Are you sure this is the right place?”

“Positive.” He jumps out of the car without another word and rushes around the front to my side before opening the door. I step out, still curious, but I let him take my hand and lead me inside.

“Welcome to Lunar Arcade,” a cheerful voice greets us as we step inside.

“Thank you.” I nod in greeting, but I’m soon distracted by the flashing lights and sounds. Spinning in a slow circle, I take in everything around me. Tons of arcade games. Skee-Ball, Pac-Man—the classics. But there’s also a bunch of new ones I’ve never heard of.

“This is so cool,” I murmur, squeezing Aarick’s hand in excitement.

“They have laser tag too, so I made reservations for us to play a round after we check out all of this.” He motions to the games around us. “What should we do first?”

After rounds of air hockey, basketball, Skee-Ball, and every other game we come across, we suit up for laser tag. He hooks my vest for me, his finger brushing the exposed skin between my shirt and leggings, and my quick intake of breath catches my attention.

“Looks like you two are the only ones in this round.” The pimply faced attendant eyes us suspiciously, as if two people playing is abnormal. “You’ll have to be on opposite teams, then.”

“Not a problem.” I flash a grin at Aarick. “I can handle a little competition.”

He hooks on his own vest, releases the gun from its holster, and narrows his eyes at me. “But can you handle being chased?”

He’s so close to me that I could count his eyelashes.

My quick intake of breath and the flood of arousal to my belly must be obvious to him, because he closes his eyes as if he’s in pain, and while he’s an alpha, it’s a mark that I truly hold the power here.

That makes me even wetter. The door buzzes, shocking us apart, and we step inside the arena.

The attendant says, “Go to your home bases. The buzzer will sound, then you’ll have fifteen minutes.”

I rush over to my side—the blue on the tower matching my blue vest—without looking back to see which way Aarick goes.

I need a breather after that heated moment.

The buzzer sounds and the hard rock music thunders throughout the room, making it impossible to hear anything else—for a normal person.

But if I focus really hard, I can make out the slight sound of footsteps across the room, through the other towers and barrels blocking the way.

As I slink around the obstacles, it’s obvious that I’m stealthier now.

I move more quietly, and my limbs seem easier to control.

The idea that Aarick could sneak up on me because he’s a bit stronger than I am is exhilarating and nerve-racking at the same time.

I duck down below a wooden bar, then slowly peer over it to catch a glimpse of him.

He’s closer now, so close his scent is invading my senses, and I know he can smell me.

A wicked thought crosses my mind. I toe off my shoes as quietly as possible, then pull my underwear down, leaving my skirt on.

I hurry back into my clothes and slip my shoes on before hanging my panties from the edge of the wooden plank.

Then I sneak back to my hiding place behind the tower and wait.

I don’t know Aarick that well yet, but I would bet money that he’s not searching for me by sound.

A few minutes later, I’m proven correct.

He darts around the corner, his laser gun aimed and ready, but he lowers it and his jaw when he sees my panties hanging there.

I peek out from my spot, take aim, and push the trigger, my laser deactivating his vest immediately.

He slowly turns toward me, his eyes dark and dangerous, and the thrill that runs through my body has nothing to do with fear.

He stalks toward me, unhooking his vest and dropping it to the ground as he speeds into a run.

I don’t have time to lose mine and just take off, squealing with delight as he chases me around the room. I dodge barrels and dunk under planks.

“I can smell how wet you are for me, love,” he growls. It’s almost a whisper but somehow so loud that he could be right behind me. “I thought you weren’t afraid of a little competition.”

I spot a cubby under another stack of wooden planks and squeeze myself into it.

His voice carries over. “When I find you, do you know what I’m going to do to you?”

My body shakes so hard from excitement that I fear I’ll jar the planks and knock something over. Between my thighs is soaked, and now there’s no hiding from him. Just waiting for him to find me.

Suddenly a hand wraps around my ankle, pulling me out of my safe haven, and I’m face-to-face with my predator. His eyes trail hungrily down my body, and he unhooks the vest, pulling it over my head as if it personally offended him.

He yanks me to my feet and bends me over the planks behind us. “Open your legs for me. Now.”

I don’t even consider disobeying, and when he drops to his knees behind me, a shudder runs through me all the way to my feet.

“You were such a dirty girl, teasing me with your panties.” He trails his nose over my ass, his hands kneading my legs. “Did you think you’d be able to escape me?”

“No.” I gasp as he spreads my cheeks open.

“So you wanted me to catch you? To see this pussy you got wet just for me?”

I don’t say anything, and he smacks my ass softly. “I asked you a question, love.”

“Y-yes.” I didn’t realize it until now, but I wanted him to catch me more than I’ve ever wanted anything in the world.

Then he buries his face in me, licking and sucking my swollen pussy until I practically weep. When my orgasm finally takes over, I sink to the floor, unable to stand any longer.

And I don’t know what I’m going to do with Aarick, or without him.

When we get back to my house, I put on another pot of coffee. I’m going to need it because I’ve got to work in six hours, and I don’t see sleep in my near future.

Aarick seems to be preparing to leave when my front door bursts open. I can’t believe I forgot to lock it. I turn to see a man at the entrance to my kitchen.

I gasp at the sight of him. “What are you doing here?”

Mr. Miller drops to his knees, tears streaming down his face, and Aarick pushes his chair back and rushes to his side. “Dad, what happened?” He pulls his father into his arms, helping him over to the chair.

“She’s…she’s not going to make it, son.” He buries his head in his hands, elbows resting on my table.

I stare at him, this new development sending me reeling. I’ve been taking care of Aarick’s family. Did he know this? Obviously, or else his father wouldn’t be in my house.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Miller.” I reach my hand over to grasp his arm, hoping I can convey my sympathy through a simple squeeze.

He emerges from behind his hands, his eyes bloodshot and puffy.

“I’m Sam. Call me Sam, please.” He turns his head toward me, blinking slowly, and I’m struck with that familiarity again that I had the first time I saw him.

“And thank you for taking such good care of my wife. You really went above and beyond.”

“It was my pleasure, really.”

“So what’s the plan, Dad?” Aarick leans on the kitchen counter. “There’s nothing else we can do?”

Sam sighs, shaking his head wearily. “They said her…brain lost oxygen for too long, and she has too much damage. She’ll never wake up. She always said she wouldn’t want to live like that.”

“We literally have magic, Dad.” Aarick’s voice breaks and his eyes burn into my skin. “There has to be something we can do.”

Sam shakes his head, his exhaustion taking over. His whole body seems to slump, no energy left. “I had to come by, for the ritual. But since you’re here, I wanted to take you back with me, if that’s alright. Your sister is there.”

“Wait. What ritual?” I interject, glancing between them.

Aarick and Sam turn toward me simultaneously, and Sam smiles wistfully before standing.

“I hate for you to find out like this. I just…there hasn’t been enough time for any of this.”

And then he shifts, limbs contorting, until my little Old Man is staring up at me from the kitchen floor.