Page 41 of Semi-Rejected Life

River waved me off. “Don’t worry about it. I was young and I’ve had plenty of time to come to terms with it.” He took a step toward me, taking me by the hand. “And I don’t want to talk about sad things tonight, anyway. I want to go on a moonlit walk with my mate.” He leaned close, placing a soft kiss on my lips. “It’s a full moon and I don’t want to miss it.”

I felt myself swoon under his touch, my skin heating up the moment he kissed me. A rush of affection swept through me as he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the door. How could I say no to him? Even if I was tired, full of good food, and ready to sleep for the next twenty-four hours, I knew I couldn’t pull away from him. Not when his eyes were already shining gold like that.

River led me out onto the beach and up to the water’s edge. With his fingers laced in mine, we started down the beach, the pair of us quiet as we walked. The night air was still warm from the long sunny day we’d had. Even the sand was still warm in places as it spilled over the edges of my flip-flops. Eventually, when we’d walked out of sight of all nearby buildings, River stopped. He looked at me with those glowing Alpha eyes of his and grabbed my other hand.

“Vince,” he said softly, his eyes staring down at my feet. “There’s… There’s something I wanted to tell you.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to anxiety or anticipation, but mostly it just felt like adrenaline pumping through my system. I wanted it to be good new. However, after a day of being wined and dined, I had a feeling something bad was coming. That’s what happened, right? The moment things were going good, they always fell apart. River had done all this probably as his final goodbye. He just wanted to have one last good night before we never saw each other again.

“I…” he started and paused.

Yep. He was breaking up with me. I knew it.

He took a deep breath. “I love you.”

My whole world froze.

“You… You what?”

“I love you,” he repeated. “I know it’s fast and maybe I’m doing this all wrong, but I do.”

I shook my head. “I don’t understand. How could you love me? You brought me out here to break up with me, didn’t you?”

“Why would I do that?!”

“Because you’re leaving and… and today was really extravagant! Nobody just takes another person out like this for no reason! It’s because you’re gonna tell me that no matter how you feel, you have to leave. That’s how it always goes–”

My words were cut off as River pulled me in, forcing his lips against mine. He kissed me hard and deep, his tongue dancing against mine as all my anxiety melted away under his touch. When he finally pulled away, we were both breathless.

“What about that says I’m going to leave you behind?” he asked, clearly upset. “Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t!” His fingers gripped my shoulders as he practically shouted. “Against all logic, you’ve worked your way under my skin, Vince. I couldn’t get rid of you now even if I tried. Your love is like a disease… and one I fully plan to succumb to.”

I couldn’t help cracking a smile.

“I’m not joking!”

“I know,” I said as my smile deepened. “But that… that was such a cheesy line.”

“Well, get used to it,” he replied, pulling me close again. “Because I belong to you now. I’m your mate and there’s nothing you can do to change that.”

I leaned in, my lips brushing against his as I stared into those golden eyes of his. “Who says I want to change it?”

I kissed him softly, working my way across his jaw and down his neck. His confession had done something to me. The wolf inside me was taking over and I honestly didn’t care. We both felt the same at this point because River was right. He was my mate and there was nothing either of us could do to change it.

“I love you too,” I whispered in his ear, feeling him shiver under my touch. “And I want you to mark me.”

“Are you sure?” he muttered back, his voice shaking.

I nodded, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I’ve wanted it for a long time. I can’t wait anymore. Not after this. I need you. All of you. Here. Right now. Under this full moon.”

“There’s no going back from here.”

“No there isn’t,” I agreed. “But there was no going back the moment I met you either. So nothing has changed.” I leaned in, biting his neck until I drew a moan from his lips. “Enough with this romantic shit,” I growled. “I want you to take me.”

River nodded, his body shaking in anticipation against mine. “Anything for you, Carino.”

Chapter Twenty: Vincent

River scooped me up into his arms, carrying me up the beach as I kissed every inch of him I could reach. He took me to the edge of the trees, but stopped before we were completely out of the moonlight. There he took off his shirt and laid me down on it so I didn’t get covered in sand, which was thoughtful and probably for the best. The last thing we wanted to deal with in this perfect moment was sand in my butthole.

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