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Chapter Six

Charlie

I had been skeptical, or more like hopeful.

I truly had. But as we left the restaurant, I had no doubt that Silver was my mate.

How though? How could a database know who was whose mate?

Although, this year, it had said something about fate playing a part in this particular event.

Did that mean everyone in the restaurant was actually somehow paired up with their fated mate? How amazing would that be?

“You’re quiet. Are you having second thoughts about coming to mine? If so, I understand. Seriously, no pressure.”

I looked up at Silver. He was so much taller than I was.

I liked it. “No, that isn’t it at all. I’m actually looking forward to talking to you more.

And where we won’t constantly be interrupted.

I know Duncan was doing his job, but it got annoying after a while.

” I glanced out at the zoo as we walked around the lit pathway.

“I was just thinking about how all of those people in there were paired together by a database. And I guess fate played a part this time around? I’m not sure how that works, exactly, but I’m not one to go saying things like that can’t happen.

” I glanced back up at Silver. “Do you think any of them are actually fated mates though?” I asked.

I didn’t want him to know I thought for sure that he was mine.

If he wasn’t on the same page as me, I didn’t want to mess up by implying that I was certain he was my mate.

Silver stopped me with a gentle hand on my arm. When I looked up at him again, he was smiling. “I believe that there is a very good chance that most, if not all, of those that were having dinner tonight happened to be mates that fate decided to help meet under the guise of the Mate Match event.”

“How is that even possible?”

Silver reached out and placed his free hand on my cheek.

“Fated mates happen, Charlie. My parents are fated mates. You said your sister and Justin were mates. Do you not think it could be possible for us to find mates during a blind date? Mate Match database aside. Do you not think that fated mates can’t meet somehow? ”

I couldn’t help but lean into his touch a bit.

My koala was screaming at me in my head that, yes, this man, this gorilla shifter, was our mate, and he was touching us.

“I want to,” I whispered. “But I know I’m nothing like a lot of people normally would date.

I’m short, my animal isn’t dominant, I’m not overly masculine in the traditional sense.

I want to have dates and go out, but I can’t take being introduced as just a friend any longer.

I’ve gained too much self-respect after continually being hidden by previous boyfriends.

” I took a deep breath before taking a small step away.

“I could never hide you, Charlie. Right now, my gorilla wants nothing more than to throw you over my shoulder and take you back to our place and get you naked as quickly as possible. True, that’s not exactly showing you off, but he wants to make sure you’re claimed before he wants to take you out to show everyone that you’re ours. ”

My eyes widened. I quickly glanced around and saw a trash can about three feet in front of us and quickly tossed my tea.

When I turned back to Silver, I discovered he’d followed me and had a panicked look on his face.

I simply raised my hands up and nodded. “Yes, please,” I said.

Seconds later, Silver started chuckling.

I thought he was laughing at me until he handed me his box of cake.

I took it, unsure what he wanted me to do with it.

When he simply swept me up into his arms bridal-style, I squeaked.

“We’ll do over the shoulder next time. Right now, you have cake that I plan on eating with you later.” Silver started walking. “After we burn some energy,” he said with a bit of a growl in his voice.

I melted. I looked up into those dark eyes that were staring intently at me, and I gave myself over to him then.

He didn’t know it yet, but I did. For the first time in my life, my koala was at peace.

He had just gotten a very good scent of Silver, and there was absolutely no doubt that he was our mate.

If given the option, I would gladly let him claim me tonight. Why wait? Hopefully, he felt the same.

“And how are we going to burn energy?” I asked, curious yet hopeful. I knew, but after being rejected and hidden for so long, I needed to be reassured and hear those words.

His eyes flashed silver for a second, and I felt my body heat. How was that even possible?

“Exactly how your scent is telling me you hope we’re going to burn energy.” Silver walked a few more feet before taking a left. “Tell me which row you’re parked in. I’ll walk you to your vehicle and then meet you at the exit gate.”

“Oh, umm…” I said, pointing to the right, the opposite direction he’d just taken us. “I’m actually parked in the employee lot. If you want to go back that way, I’ll drive you over to yours?”

Silver stopped and then turned around. “This way?”

“Yes,” I said, indicating for him to go over to the next path that was blocked off. “Go to the side of that barrier and along that path.”

“Will they let us?”

“Yeah. Most of them know me, and I actually have my badge in my pocket if we get stopped. You might need to put me down though.”

Silver stopped, looked down at me with a serious look, and then started walking again. “No. We were doing an over-the-shoulder thing that then became a carry thing like this. Don’t expect me to put you down until I absolutely have to. You wanted to be carried.”

I rolled my eyes at his answer. But in reality, I had wanted this. Someone who wouldn’t be ashamed of me and hide me when around others. Silver was doing neither. He was carrying me in his arms here at my place of work.

“Just so you know, I’m going to be overly protective, at least at first.” Silver snorted. “No, that’s a lie. I’m always going to be overly protective. That’s just how I am.”

“Umm…what do you mean by that? I have a job. I work with others. Are you going to be controlling?” I tried to sit up, but Silver was holding me in a way that I really couldn’t.

“No. Protective, not possessive. I’ll look out for you, but I won’t dictate what you can and cannot do. You are still your own person, Charlie. I don’t wish to control you. Just protect you. Comfort you. Care for you.”

I wiggled, and eventually, Silver stopped again and set me on my feet. I looked up at him, and he gave me a confused look in return.

“You want to protect me? You are talking as this is happening,” I said, pointing back and forth between the two of us.

“I was under the impression that you were completely on board. We were talking about having sex, and sex usually leads to claiming when mates are involved. If I’m mistaken, I apologize. We can slow down if that’s what you need.”

I took a deep breath and let it out quickly.

He wasn’t wrong. I was throwing around mixed signals left and right.

I was planning on going back to his place to have sex.

And he wasn’t wrong when he said sex between mates usually led to claiming.

My past insecurities were pushing their way forward though, and if I didn’t squash them in a hurry, they could mess up my chances with Silver.

“If you want to meet my family first, I can kiss you good night at your vehicle, and we can set up another date for tomorrow or later in the week.”

I winced. I definitely didn’t want to do that. Not even a few minutes ago, I was ready to have wild monkey sex…or, I guess, wild gorilla sex? Either way, I was more than on board to have that with him.

“I’m sorry, but you can’t be here. The zoo is closed, and we had this pathway closed off,” a voice said from behind Silver. He immediately turned and pulled me closer and behind him. I wasn’t threatened, but I could understand his need to protect.

“I’m actually an employee,” I told him. I moved around Silver and handed him the boxes of cake so I could pull out my badge and show him.

“I parked in the employee parking, and we were just on our way out that entrance,” I continued.

The other guy took my badge and placed it in the end of his handheld, and when it dinged, I knew it came back as an active, unrestricted badge.

“You’re good. Please just make sure you head on out. We’re trying to make sure everyone stays where they’re supposed to be.” He handed me my badge, and I slid it back into my pocket.

“We will. We’re on our way out now,” I said as I reached for Silver. I looped my arm around his and started walking in the direction we needed to go. It wasn’t dark on the path—there were plenty of lights still on.

“Did you want to continue our conversation?” Silver asked.

I glanced up at him, then all around us, and deemed us mostly private. There were a few others walking around, but with where we were, they would be employees.

“Yes. But can we continue it at your place? Somewhere more private?”

Silver’s forehead scrunched. “I thought you didn’t want to be kept a secret? I was under the impression that you wanted an out-in-the-open relationship.”

I nodded quickly. “I do. But there are a few things I’d like to ensure that my coworkers don’t hear. Specifically, things about my sex life. Is that acceptable?”

Silver’s face softened. “It is.” He held out his free hand, and after I took one of the boxes of cake, I laced my hand with his and led him down the pathway that would take us to my car.

It only took about five minutes to reach the gate, and we spent it in silence.

I would have been concerned if not for the fact that, off and on, Silver gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

When we approached my car, it suddenly occurred to me that there was a very real possibility that Silver might not fit inside it.

“You have to be kidding.”