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I shrugged. “How else do you explain everything that happened this evening? Neither of us really wanted to go on the date, yet here we are: in my shower after having claimed one another. Were you looking for a mate this morning when you got up?”

Charlie slowly shook his head. “Not really. I wanted a mate, but I wasn’t holding out hope that I’d find my mate at the Valentine’s Day event tonight. I just went for the nice meal.”

I chuckled. “And I didn’t even know anything about any of it existed until around three this afternoon.”

Charlie sighed. “You really did get the shorter end of the deal.” He glanced down his body, then wrapped his arms around his waist. “Literally, it seems.”

I wasn’t sure what direction his thoughts went to except somewhere they shouldn’t.

I reached for his arms and gently pulled them away from his body.

While I had my hands around his wrists, I continued tugging until Charlie was standing skin-to-skin with me.

“I think I got an amazing mate who needs and deserves someone to cherish him just as much as anyone else,” I said while looking down at him.

“Sure, I don’t know you well yet, and you don’t exactly know me either.

Trust me when I say I am not a morning person.

I am cranky and grumbly until I’ve had a couple cups of coffee.

I can send people running with just a glare, but I promise that I’ll be the best mate to you I can. ”

“That’s it,” Charlie said with a grin on his face. “I knew I shouldn’t have mated a grouchy gorilla. Forget the fact that the sex was amazing, and I have no doubt that you are going to be able to do things to me that I’ve only ever fantasized about.”

I chuckled. “I’ll do whatever it is that you want. Well, within reason. I don’t think I can bring myself to cause you any type of pain. Even if you insisted. My gorilla would most likely force his way out and go into protection mode.”

Charlie smiled at me. Gone was the teasing glint that had been in his eyes just moments ago. “No, I would never ask that of you. I’m not into pain anyway.” Charlie sighed. “I’ve just not had a great track record when it comes to picking guys to date. Not that we’re dating.” Charlie made a face.

“Why won’t we date? Do you think just because we claimed each other on what essentially was our first and only date thus far that I won’t take you out now?

I plan on taking you out and showing you off every chance I get.

” I thought about it for a moment. “Do you not like to go out? Are you more of a homebody? Because if you are, that’s fine too.

We can compromise and go out only once or twice a month.

” I wanted to take Charlie out. I absolutely was not going to be someone who hid him away like others had done in the past.

“I mean…I don’t think I’m a homebody. I do like to go out.” Charlie looked up at me, then quickly moved his eyes to my chest.

I took a step forward, moving him with me to where he was standing in the spray again before I moved back so I could look at my mate.

“What is it?” We were new, and it was going to take time to get things settled with us, but I really didn’t like that he was so hesitant.

“I don’t want to upset you, and if I have, I apologize. ”

Charlie’s eyes flew up to meet mine. “No. It’s just…well, can we maybe stay in a bit more these first few weeks? I really enjoyed earlier, and I just think that we could maybe…you know.”

I grinned. I would not laugh at my little mate for wanting to stay in with me because he’d rather get intimate with me than he would be out chatting with everyone else.

I moved closer, wrapped my arms around Charlie, and turned us so the spray was on my back and he wasn’t looking up to where it would hit him in the face.

“We absolutely can spend the first several weeks staying in. I don’t socialize much, beyond what I do with my family on the weekends.

I was actually thinking about that just before you woke up.

My family will have to come to terms with the fact that I’m a mated man now, and my first priority is you and no longer spending weekends with them. ”

Charlie’s eyes rounded. “Oh no, that’s not what I was meaning.” He frantically started shaking his head. “I would never ask you to give up your time with your family for me.”

I silenced him with a finger on his lips.

“You didn’t ask. I offered because it’s what I want to do.

You are my family now, little mate. You are more important to me than they are.

Yes, I still love them immensely, but you are my mate.

” I removed my fingers and then leaned down and kissed a surprised Charlie.

I knew it was going to take time, and time I had, But eventually, I would get through to him that he was worthy of love and having someone be proud to have them in their life. Specifically, me.

“That’s going to take some getting used to.”

I nodded in agreement. “It is. But we’ll get there eventually. How about we get cleaned up here in the shower, then go and see about eating that cake we brought home? I don’t think I have any ice cream, but we can run out and get some really quick if you want ice cream with your cake.”

Charlie shook his head. “I like it, but I’d rather not go out.”

That sounded perfect to me. I gently moved Charlie back into the spray and then started rubbing my fingers through his scalp.

Almost immediately, he moaned and closed his eyes while leaning his head back a bit.

The desire to bend down and nibble on his neck was almost overwhelming, but I knew we needed to finish up in the shower.

I could see just how much I could make him squirm later.

Would his neck be a hot spot for him? I sure hoped so because his neck looked to be made for nibbling on.

“What are you thinking right now?”

I focused on Charlie and smiled. “You. Why?”

Charlie smirked, and then his hand wrapped around my dick.

I looked down and realized that it was half-hard again.

Well, it was until Charlie started stroking it.

It was my turn to tilt my head back and moan.

That felt so damn amazing. Who knew that the simple act of your mate stroking your cock could feel better than any hand ever had?