Page 40 of Trees Take the Long View

"Oh no you don't. I'm not going to be on the to-do list. When it's a good time—for both of us—we'll get there." It was the right thing to say: he sagged in relief.

"Thanks. I am sorry about this."

"Let's have something to eat, if you're hungry, and get some sleep."

"Okay." He let me help him up, one hand, like a ceremonial gesture of some sort, and he didn't pull away from me as I walked with him out to get something to eat. He was so naked and lovely and untouchable...and so very brave.

Sexual frustration and all, I think I loved him more than ever.

In bed, he still hadn't gotten back into the sort of mood he'd been in before the call. It had taken everything he had. He'd given it willingly, but he had nothing left right now. "I might as well be married to the job. Are you sure you want to be hitched to someone like me?" He sounded really down at the thought.

"Hey, I already am, okay? And you're not letting me down. You're the hero here. Don't let this one little hiccup get to you. You helped save a life and that matters, it really does." I kissed him gently on the shoulder, just to be close, to let him know I was sticking around. "Things will look better tomorrow."

"I hope so." He sighed and closed his eyes, and let me hold him.

I held him till he could sleep. He was too wrung out to get interested at all, and felt guilty about it. We didn't talk much, but I think my being close was a comfort to him.

My dreams were restless and explicitly sexual. To my joy, he woke up with a lazy smile for me, a smile that promised amazing things, as he stretched, and I studied the show of light across his amazing, flexing chest muscles like a dedicated art lover.

Then his phone rang.

Damn it. If this was another two-hour call—

He gave me a hunted look, eyebrows doing weird things for a moment till he got them under control, and then fumbled for his phone. His response was short and clipped, and I could tell the call was going to be blessedly brief—but it didn't make me very happy, because I heard both ends, and we were being ordered on the move once more, with another very important mission and not a moment to be lost.

Which would mean a plane ride, or a long grinding drive, and feeling turned on the whole way, with nothing to be done about it. Being his mate would be a special kind of torture if we didn't manage to carve out some time for sex.

"With all due respect, sir," interrupted Dean, "I've just taken a mate. We need a couple of days. You'll have to get someone else." And with that he hung up. I stared at him. He couldn't have done anything that would have surprised me more—or made me prouder.

"You won't get fired?" I asked.

He shook his head, tossed the phone across to the other side of the bed, and reached for me. "Nope. Sahil acts badass, but he knows about mates."

"But you...you said work had to come first. Are you sure it's okay?"

"Did I say that, about the job coming first? I thought I said I couldn't quit. You definitely have to come first some of the time." He grinned wickedly. "Let's see if we can't make that happen right now."

Well, he didn't have to tell me again. I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a big kiss.

"I hope you're ready to experience the full power of my suction," I said, in my best silly salesman voice. I slid down him, and tugged down his pajama pants. It was time for a taste. I'd waited more than man or wolf should have to bear.

For a moment, my amazing badinage struck him completely speechless. He gaped at me. Then he said, "That's...uh. Your sexy talk could use some work."

The nerve! I was a sexy, witty beast and he should admit that.

Unfortunately I could no longer reply at that point. But soon, he couldn't get anything sensible out, either. Suffice it say he appreciated the power of my suction after all.

We stayed in bed (or the shower) for most of the day, taking food breaks (I didn't cook anything elaborate), tasting and touching and knowing and experiencing one another in every possible way.

I made a few fiscal jokes. He groaned, rolled his eyes, sometimes blushed...and secretly thought I was the funniest wit ever, I'm pretty sure.

It was all good. It had been worth the wait.

#

Sahil must have understood, because we never did get in trouble. We were, however, extremely busy over the next weeks. Some days, we were in a new town and a new hotel room every single night. We made good use of each and every one of them. I must admit sometimes I'd have appreciated a little more privacy, because walls can be very thin, but that part of our life was very satisfying.

I could see the strain of the job was getting to Dean a little bit, though, and I kept asking him to ask for some time off. If I'd known his bosses, I'd have spoken to them myself, but right now all I could do was suggest, let him know I was concerned, but try not to nag. It was my right and duty to be concerned, as his mate, but I knew very well I couldn't take over.