Page 43 of Chev's Mate

“Where do you draw the line on intimacy?” Chev asks. “You don’t seem to mind when I hold your hand or kiss you.”

I shrug, not having a good answer. My lines seem to be continually changing, and I’m having trouble finding where they are.

“I don’t mind those things,” I say.

I turn to face Chev entirely. He spins to match my position, the lava next to us long forgotten as he stares at me with so much hope. I’ve given him more than enough opportunity to leave, but he’s made it clear he has no intentions to do so. If I’m honest with myself, I think I’d be crushed if he did.

I’d never ask him to stay, but it would ruin me if he left.

“I don’t know where my limits are,” I admit.

Chev grabs my hands before leaning in and bringing his lips to mine. The kiss is quick, and when he pulls away, he brings my palms to his chest and presses them against it.

“That’s okay,” he says. “We’ll learn what works best for us.”

Chapter Seventeen

CHEV

MY PEOPLE ARE clearly surprised to see me back home, their steps faltering and eyes widening when they notice me storming through the woods.

I smile and nod in their direction, but I don’t stick around for conversation. I’m in too much of a hurry, and I cast a nervous glare at the sun as I rush toward my cabin. I haven’t been home in weeks, all my time spent either in Wrath or at work.

It’s time I begin preparing my home for Vanessa, though.

She’s agreed to give me another chance, to give our mate bond another chance, and I’m not going to screw it up again. I know she’s not ready to live in the shifter lands with me, but my home will be prepared for when she is.

I need to clean. I’ve grown accustomed to my bachelor lifestyle, and I doubt my mate will be impressed by my home in its current state. It’s not terrible, but it sure won’t impress her. My linens need to be washed, and I need to begin my kitchen renovation.

I don’t cook often, so I mistakenly didn’t spend much time on my kitchen when I built my cabin. It’s a mistake I regret.Vanessa loves cooking. I watch her do it all the time in the evenings, and she needs more space than what I’ve given her.

A selfish part of me hopes that if it’s good enough, she’ll be excited to cook for me. I smell her meals when she cooks with open windows, and I’m desperate for a taste.

I reach my cabin, and I cringe as I push open the front door. The air is stale.

I drag my fingers through my hair, fingering my bald spots before hurrying around and opening all my windows and doors. Some fresh air will be good, and once I’ve gotten everything open, I begin tidying up. My leathers are strewn about, and I carefully fold and put them away before reorganizing my drawers so there are empty ones for Vanessa.

I do the same to my closet, moving my things to one half so the other is open for her.

The bed is next. My sheets need washing, and I yank them off my mattress before grabbing the spare set I keep in my hallway closet. I sniff to ensure they still smell fresh, and I make my bed with a happy smile.

I used to hate it when my mom forced me to make my bed and clean my room. She insisted it be done every morning, and she’d love to tell me I’d thank her for it someday. I believe that day is rapidly approaching. Vanessa will be very impressed by how tidy I can be.

My new sheets are dark green and made with soft cotton, and I hope Vanessa likes them. I’ll buy new ones if she doesn’t, but I won’t do it happily. These sheets are the best that can be purchased in the shifter realm, and I love them.

I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I think about the day I can finally bring her here. She’ll bring life to this home, adding decorations and filling the space with things that bring her the most comfort. Maybe she’ll even fill our home with children.They’ll make a mess and break things, but I’ll love every minute of it.

She said she’d be open to artificial insemination, which is more than I expected. I’ve always wanted a large family, but I’d grown to accept it wouldn’t happen after meeting Vanessa. She clearly doesn’t want intimacy, and I didn’t realize any other options of impregnation were on the table.

I can’t stop smiling as I throw my pillows on my bed, and I unconsciously lick my lips as I imagine what Vanessa would look like splayed out on my mattress. I dream of seeing her naked and waiting for me, her body flushed and sex dripping. My mate is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever encountered, and I’m desperate for her.

She let out the neediest moans when I licked her mark, and it took all of my strength not to rub against her as she wiggled and thrashed in my arms. It was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen or heard, and the memory makes me ache.

Aziel’s begun teasing me for how often I’m masturbating, but I have no control over it. My body aches for Vanessa, and even the littlest things have me incredibly wound up.

I run a hand over my fresh sheets, feeling their softness, before sliding my other hand underneath my leathers. I’m already hard, and I squeeze myself for some relief. Vanessa has agreed to let me take her to a restaurant for dinner tonight, so I only have a few hours before I’m needed back in Wrath.

Still, my body has other ideas. It doesn’t help that I smell like Vanessa. She rubbed her scent into me this morning when I was dropping her off, and I throw my head back as I recall how she so willingly wrapped her arms around me and held me tightly. I kept my arms at my sides, not wanting her to feel trapped, which she seemed to enjoy.

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