Page 39 of Chev's Mate

“Doesmypast upset you?” He repeats my question.

I shake my head.

Chev looks me over, probably trying to see if I’m telling the truth. I am. I know all about his interactions with Gray during the Lust ceremony, and I believe he did what he did out of duty and dedication to the females. Unless something more happened that wasn’t discussed in the news.

“Did anything else happen?” I ask. “Anything not reported on?”

“No,” Chev says. “The Lust demons were liberal with the details they shared.” He shifts his weight from foot to foot. “Can I put my mouth on your mark again?”

His eyelids lower as he waits for my response, a look of need spreading over his features. It does more to me than I’d care to admit. I’m so fucking weak.

“No,” I say. “But you can look at it.”

I think he’s going to be pleased with what he sees.

He runs his thumbs over my cheeks, his touch soft and gentle until I have no choice but to relax. I believe him, which is a dangerous thing to do. Despite knowing that, though, I turn around and drop my head. Chev takes his sweet time bundling up my hair and moving it away from my neck.

“Your marking has darkened,” he says.

I hum, pretending I don’t already know that. I was in my bathroom looking at it the second I got home last night. The color has transitioned from flesh-toned to a light blush, and the small dot has already begun elongating down my spine.

“It’s beautiful,” he whispers.

His lips meet the back of my head, but he remains true to his word and leaves my mark alone. I’m not ready for him to touch it again—maybe not ever. I wouldn’t have let him do it yesterday if I’d known how it would feel.

I don’t regret it, though.

Several long seconds of silence stretch between us. I want to know what Chev’s thinking, but I don’t ask. I’m afraid of his answer.

He clears his throat and releases my hair. “Thank you for letting me see.”

I nod, unsure what else to say, and lower myself into my golf cart. I take the passenger seat, and I do my best to hide my quickened breathing as Chev takes a seat beside me.

The fabric of his leather skirt is lifted as his erection pushes against it, but he ignores it. I stare, unable to look away as he sticks the key in the ignition. Chev begins driving. I continue eyeing his bare thighs and the covered length above them.

Chev breaks the silence. “You’re staring,” he says. “Would you like to see?”

I lick my lips, knowing this is a stupid idea, before nodding. Ineedto see.

“I’m not going to touch you,” I say, needing to make that clear.

Chev nods. “I don’t expect you to.”

He sucks in a shaky breath before grabbing the edge of his skirt and pulling it up. His animal mark is exposed first, the red bear unchanged. Immediately following it is his mate mark, the skin now a dark gray. It’s the skin he exposes last that captures my attention, though.

His cock lies heavy between his thighs, the thick length so hard, it looks painful. It pulsates with every beat of his heart, and the veins running along his shaft are prominent as they fill with blood. It’s the first time I’ve ever voluntarily looked at a penis, and I’m surprised by my lack of disgust.

I thought I’d hate it. Chev seems to enjoy my attention as he groans and shifts in his seat.

“Do you like it?” he asks.

I debate sayingno, but we’d both know it’d be a lie.

“Yes.”

Our bond is working overtime to soothe me, keeping me calm despite being faced with an object that’s never brought me anything but pain. The bond is growing stronger each day, making my desperation and desire for Chev to grow along with it.

“It’s yours,” Chev declares.

---