Page 59 of Chev's Mate

We avoid eye contact as he cleans the area between my thighs.

I loved dirt as a child and had to be cleaned quite often by my mom and dad, but I never remember it being this awkward. Innocence is bliss, and I hardly ever noticed the hands scrubbing my balls and cleaning around my foreskin. I was too busy trying to fight my way out of the bath, angry that the dirt I had worked so hard to cover myself with was being removed.

“How do shifters typically clean themselves?” Gray asks.

I shrug. How’s he expecting me to answer him? I can’t talk in this form.

Gray seems to realize his mistake as he laughs and grabs the showerhead, and five minutes later, I’m standing and shaking out my fur. About damn time. This was arguably the worst hour of my life, and I’m never doing it again.

In the future, I’ll throw myself into a lake or rub against trees, as I’ve done for most of my adult life.

Gray lingers in the bathroom as I shift back into my skin form, and he grimaces as he notices my raw skin. This usually happens when my fur is scrubbed too hard, both forms agitated and red, but it’ll go away soon. I throw a towel around my waist and gesture for Gray to leave, which he does after a few more attempts to start conversation.

I know the incubus wants to be my friend, but I already have one of those and I don’t need another. Besides, I don’t think my mate would like me hanging around the male who touched me intimately. Aziel sure doesn’t like me and Gray being alone together. The wrath is jealous of me, and I’m surprised he wasn’t lingering around the bathroom.

I cleaned my best leathers last night, and I put them on before wandering into Aziel’s bedroom and finding Silas’scologne. He has one I enjoy, and I spray a bit on my torso. Blessed breeds like the natural scent of their mates, so I’m careful not to cover mine completely.

I find a mirror and evaluate myself one last time before leaving to see Vanessa. I typically run there in my bear form, but I don’t want to dirty my freshly cleaned fur. I take Charlie’s golf cart instead.

Vanessa’s blinds are already closed for the evening, blocking my view of her as I climb her porch and knock on her front door. I can smell the food, and it’s incredible. Aziel told me I eat more than anybody would realistically know to prepare and should eat before coming, which I thought was a good idea.

I ate a large meal prior to Gray cleaning me, but my stomach still rumbles when I smell Vanessa’s cooking. I’m so excited to eat her food.

My mate pulls open the front door with a smile. She eyes me up and down before stepping to the side and welcoming me in. She’s wearing a dress, which isn’t anything unusual, but this one shows more skin than I’ve ever seen before. It ends many inches above her knees, and most of her shoulders are exposed.

Because of our height difference, I know I’ll be able to see down the front of her dress if I look. I make a pointed effort not to do so.

“You look beautiful,” I compliment her.

Vanessa ducks her head, her cheeks flushing. I try not to look too imposing as I cup her chin and tilt her face upward. She grows only redder, and I absolutely love it as I lean in and press my lips to hers.

Her hands find my chest, the touch causing my bear to begin his noises. It’s embarrassing, but Vanessa says she likes the sounds, so I don’t try to stop the rumbling. It continues even when I pull away and follow her into the kitchen.

“It smells amazing,” I say, peering into the pot on the stove. “What’re you making?”

I don’t recognize the red sauce, and I resist the urge to dip my finger in as Vanessa comes up alongside me.

“It’s a human dish,” she says. “This is a beef and sweet tomato sauce, and I’ll mix it with noodles.”

Noodles?

Vanessa must see my confusion, and when she explains noodles to be thin wheat strings, I about lose it. That sounds so good.

I do my best to hide my frustration as Vanessa pours three boxes of wheat strings into a pot of boiling water. I shouldn’t have listened to Aziel’s advice. Vanessa is making more than enough to feed me, and I regret my earlier meal.

“Thank you for cooking for me,” I say, taking the initiative to set the table.

Vanessa’s too busy to reply, and I take advantage of that as I adjust and light several candles lying about. They smell like cedar and rain, and I smile to myself as I dim the overhead lights. I want our meal to be as romantic as possible.

Vanessa faintly chuckles when she notices what I’m doing, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m a romantic.

She sets the meal in a large bowl and carries it to the table, and I bring over the homemade bread she made with it. It smells so good. I’m going to die a happy man. We take our seats, and I immediately reach over and fill Vanessa’s plate.

“Tell me about your day,” I say.

I serve myself while she talks, and I fight back a moan when I finally try the food. It’s just as delicious as I expected, and I once again curse Aziel when I grow full after only my third serving. Vanessa eats half of one serving, and she rolls her eyes when I lean forward and scoop a little more on her plate.

“I want my mate big and strong,” I tease, gesturing to her fork.

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