Page 37 of Because You Rejected Me

As the first early risers appeared at the front of the stall, Ace and Andy broke off their conversation and tended to their respective businesses. Ace flirted and smiled, selling things so fast that I almost never got a chance to sit down. At the same time, he directed those who were waiting or had already purchased to head over to Andy’s booth and get their morning coffee. I was bagging and taking money as fast as I could while the pair of them did all the salesman work. It was where I liked to be anyway. Selling stuff wasn’t really my style.

The first hour went by in a blur with the biggest rush of customers right at the beginning. By the end, I finally had a chance to drink my coffee, which thankfully was still warm. And, of course, I had two half-eaten donuts waiting for me as well. I perched on the tailgate of the pickup and began to munch as Ace took over bagging for a little bit.

And that’s when I noticed him. There was a man on the other side of the market staring at me. Well, at least it looked like he was. He was wearing aviator sunglasses, so honestly, he could’ve been looking at nearly anyone. But the more I noticed him, the more the hair on my arms began to stand up. There was something about him that just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t quite place what it was. Part of me wished I could pick up his scent, and then I’d at least get a feel for his intentions. But the market was so full of humans, shifters, and other creatures that I could barely tell who was who, even if they were standing right next to me.

Finally, I shook my head and pushed myself off the tailgate. It was just my anxiety acting up. After everything I’d been through in the past few days and my brush with the death truck the day before, I was probably looking for something subconsciously. My brain was trying to find the danger that it was still convinced I was in. And that wasn’t really helpful. But that’s just how brains are sometimes.

So, instead of sitting there and worrying about it until I made myself sick, I dove into restocking the booth and helping Ace with his customers. It was better to have something to do than sit and stew about illogical feelings. Anxiety was just a conspiracy theory machine after all, and I for one did not follow that kind of logic.

But that didn’t stop me from looking up now and then. The first few times, I noticed the man still standing there, seemingly staring in my direction. However, when a sudden rush of customers cut him off from my vision for a few minutes, I forgot about him. By the time the customers were gone, and I thought to look up again, he was gone.

All at once, I felt pretty stupid. I’d let my anxiety get the better of me and work me nearly into a frenzy. And, after all that expended energy, it turned out to be nothing. It was probably just some guy waiting for his wife to get done shopping or waiting for his friends to show up. Either way, whoever he was, he wasn’t looking for me. I needed to stop trying to look for bad things all the time just to prove some idiotic idea that I attracted negativity.

I looked up at Ace conversing with a few of his clients. His smile was so warm, his tanned skin shone in the sun, and those blue eyes of his sparkled with life. He noticed me staring and glanced in my direction, giving me a small wink and a tip of his hat.

Why was I standing here worrying about nonsensical things when I had something so wonderful standing right in front of me? I’d only known Ace for a few weeks and already he felt like a rock in my life. The way he smiled at me and always stood at my side proved that he liked me. Probably more than just liked me. I knew his claims about me being his mate were true because… well, I didn’t think he had it in him to lie about such things.

He and I were cut from the same cloth. We knew what it was like to be on our own. He might’ve had a lot more experience than I did, but we still understood one another. And while I wasn’t a huge fan of trauma-bonding, I couldn’t help admitting that it was a factor. But the more important part was the way he treated me, the way he looked at me, and the way he always made me feel safe and heard.

That was the kind of connection that you couldn’t fabricate.

And the longer I felt that connection, the more I wondered if he might also be my mate.

Chapter Twenty: Matt

All the vegetables were sold, the truck was packed up, and we were leaving the farmer’s market hours early like we always did. Ace and I were all smiles, happy that the day had gone so well. Even after a late night of harvesting, we were riding the high for the moment. Exhaustion could wait when the sun was shining brightly and we had the rest of the day off.

“Want to grab some lunch?” Ace asked as we pulled out of the parking lot.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Maybe something to go.”

“No problem.” Ace glanced over at me. “Do you want me to take you back to the hotel after?”

I hesitated for a moment before forcing myself to reply honestly. “N-No.”

Ace didn’t even blink. “Where do you want to go then?”

Reaching over, I put my hand high on his thigh, my fingers dangerously close to the crotch of his tight jeans. “I want to go to your place,” I said at last. “Just you and me.”

There was a flash of recognition and excitement in his eyes as he nodded. “Alright.”

“And… if I can,” I added. “I’d like to stay the night.”

He pulled the truck to a stop and leaned over the center console, placing a soft kiss on my lips. “Matt, I’d happily share my bed with you any night. You’re always welcome there.”

My cheeks flushed with heat as I kissed him back. “That’s a pretty open invitation.”

“I know. I meant it that way.”

More heat, but this time not just in my cheeks. My shorts were growing pretty tight. A quick glance told me that Ace’s jeans were getting a lot tighter too.

“Maybe we can grab lunch after?”

Ace nodded. “I think that’s a great idea.”

???

The truck came to a halt in the driveway, skidding through the gravel. Our lips were locked together before Ace could even shift it into park. Even as I wrapped my arms around him, he managed to finally shift it and switch the vehicle off, the keys still dangling from the ignition. A moment later, his hands were under my shirt, his fingers digging into my flesh deliciously while his tongue invaded my mouth. I opened up to him eagerly, allowing him to take whatever he wanted. I was his to command.

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