Page 81 of Chev's Mate

I hum, and Vanessa pats my hand before turning away and pulling open my fridge. I’m displeased.

“So, will you meet me at the portal?” she repeats.

“Of course,” I say. She doesn’t need to ask. “But tomorrow, you’ll come to work with me?”

Vanessa nods. “Yes. I’ll work with you tomorrow.”

Good.

Chapter Thirty-One

VANESSA

I DRAG MY fingertips across my desk, unsure how to voice my thoughts.

Charlie sits across from me, her eyebrows furrowed as she looks over my proposed events plan. The women here have been enjoying the fitness classes, and they’re almost always full. I want to add a few more, particularly stretching and another self-defense class.

“We should cut the painting class,” Charlie mumbles. “Nobody attends.”

I agree. The art classes were the most popular in my facility, but nobody here seems to particularly enjoy them. I’ll be sad to see them go, but there’s no point in spending money on something that isn’t being used. We need the budget, and it will offset some of the costs of taking in a few women from the elven facility.

“What is sex like with your mates?” I blurt out the question before I change my mind.

Charlie freezes, and her gaze darts toward me before she sets down her paperwork and gives me her undivided attention. I’m sweating, and I avoid eye contact. I could make an appointmentwith my therapist to discuss this, but I don’t want his diplomatic answers. I want real answers from real experience.

“It’s hard to say,” Charlie says. She’s fighting a smile. Her twitching lips give it away. “It changes a lot. Sometimes, they’re aggressive, and sometimes, they’re gentle. It depends on the day and mood, but I always enjoy it.”

I’m relieved she doesn’t ask why I want to know. I assume it’s pretty obvious. Chev and I are growing closer, and I want to try for more. I trust him more than I ever thought possible, and I’m comfortable with him. He makes me feel safe.

Charlie clears her throat. “Sometimes, they letmebe in charge.”

“How?” I need to know.

“I’ll go on top and set the pace. Silas likes it when I tie him up.”

Silas likes being tied up? I never would’ve guessed. I hate the idea of ever being tied up again. The mere thought of feeling ties on my wrists or ankles makes me want to scream and claw at my skin, but it could be interesting to try with Chev. He sat on his hands last time, and it was helpful.

He didn’t touch me until I gave him permission, which made it significantly easier to relax. Would Chev be open to it? I don’t even know how I’d go about having that conversation.

“What do you tie him up with?” I ask.

I can’t think of a single fabric that Silas wouldn’t be able to easily break out of. Demons are absurdly strong, and so is Chev. Even giant, wooden doors and thick, metal fences aren’t enough to stop my mate. He still has the bald spots to prove it.

Charlie shrugs. “Silas has some special ties we use. They’re enchanted or something. I’ve honestly never asked.”

I wonder where he bought them. I could ask Charlie if she’d ask Silas, but she’s not necessarily known for being discreet and her mates are clever. It wouldn’t take them long to realize she’sasking for me. Maybe I can do some research later and see what I can find online.

“You can borrow a pair if you’d like,” Charlie says. I press my lips together, not immediately answering. Charlie continues. “Silas has tons, and he won’t notice.”

It wouldn’t hurt to try. I’m pretty sure Chev is up for anything. He’s horny, and he’s more than happy to take whatever I’m willing to give. I want to give sex to him. I want to give sex to me. I want to feel that closeness and connection with him.

“I’d love that,” I say.

Charlie beams, and I stare at my desk while waiting for the blood to leave my cheeks. I’m sure they’re impossibly red. This has been one of the most uncomfortable conversations I’ve had in a while, even if Charlie seemed more than happy with it. She looks giddy, even.

She finishes looking over my proposed event plan before heading out for the day, and I putter around before getting sucked into some more work caused by the elven facility. It makes the day go by quickly, and before I know it, I’m heading to the portal and returning to the shifter lands.

Chev meets me at the cabin, as promised, and he holds my hand tightly as we return to his home. I know his family and friends live here, but Chev’s decided to keep them distanced for the time being. He says it’s because he wants to spend time with me alone, but I secretly think he’s doing it for my benefit. He doesn’t want to overwhelm me.

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