Page 71 of Chev's Mate

I think the house will look better with the inevitable scuff marks and holes children always leave scattered about.

The living room opens on the right, leading to a kitchen and dining area. The kitchen is spacious, and I feel my chest warming as I notice all the tiny seedlings he’s decorated the rooms with. He listens.

The dining room is smaller. There’s a rectangular, wooden table in the center and a cabinet built into the far wall. I can’t see what’s inside, but I assume it’s full of dishes.

Chev walks into the kitchen and stands a few feet in front of the stove. “The island is going to go here.” He gestures around. “And then I’ll paint and decorate.”

I follow him into the room, a cheesy smile working its way to my lips as I take everything in. The kitchen is large, and on the ground sits about fifteen different paint swatches and a small handful of backsplash tiles. Chev rocks back on his heels as he watches my reaction.

“I love it,” I admit.

His shoulders soften, and with a happy nod, he leads me down the small hallway connected to the living room. His steps slow as we pass the first closed door, but he ignores it and continues forward.

I pause, curious about his reaction.

I turn and open the door before I overthink and change my mind. It leads to a bedroom, and I peer inside to discover why he was weird about it. A neatly made bed is in the center of the room, the dark-green sheets matching the earthy feel of the rest of the home. Across from the bed is a dresser and two double doors that I assume lead to a closet.

“This is my room,” Chev says, walking up behind me.

His chest presses against my back and his hands land on my hips, and I lean against him with a content sigh. Our bond hums, always happy when my mate is holding me.

“You weren’t going to show me?” I ask.

I feel him shrug. “I didn’t want you to think I was putting the moves on you.”

My face warms. That’s considerate of him, even if it’s unnecessary. Chev isn’t exactly sneaky when trying to be intimate. Even when he tries to be sly, his intentions are transparent.

“I want to show you the bathroom,” he continues. “I’ve filled it with everything you could possibly need.”

He’s filled it? With what? My excitement grows, and I hurry down the hallway to where I’m guessing the bathroom is. The door is open, and I’m faintly aware of Chev’s laughter as I step inside. To the left is a walk-in shower, and I stare in awe at the glass doors as Chev pulls open the floor-to-ceiling shelving on the right.

I stare for a long moment before gulping.

That’s a lot of items.

The entire cabinet is full, with products covering every shelf inside. It’s more than I could ever use, and I flush as I realize Chev has even organized them. There are several cute bins below the shelves of containers, and upon closer inspection, I realize they’re filled with different types of hair accessories.

Chev happily walks me through everything he’s bought, clearly proud of his collection.

I can’t bring myself to do anything more than stare, and once he’s finished, I rush forward and wrap my arms around his waist. He quickly returns the hug, his lips grazing my forehead before I tilt my chin and kiss him properly.

What have I done to deserve this man? I never imagined this was how my life would turn out. I never thought a relationship and love were on the table.

My heart pounds as I grab Chev’s biceps and lightly push him against the doorway. He grunts, but he doesn’t try to stop me. I know shifters like to be dominant, but Chev happily lets me take charge.

It’s what I need to feel comfortable.

A low moan pours from his throat when I slide my fingers down his torso, but he keeps his arms pressed firmly against his sides. I appreciate it, and I take my time feeling the muscles lining his torso. They flex underneath my hands, and his leathers shift as his body reacts to my touch.

“Would you like to put your mouth on me?” I ask.

Chev nods and reaches for my neck. I move away.

“Not on my neck.” I clarify. I clear my throat before continuing. “I mean, onme.”

It’s not something the ogres did. They didn’t care about female pleasure, and I want to try with Chev.

“I can’t promise I’ll like it, but I want to try,” I say.

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