Page 59 of Beginning Fate

“You can always stay here for the rest of your time here if you’d like.” Which would be forever if I had it my way. I wasn’t sure she wanted to hear that just yet though.

I’d already told her I would follow her back to New York. I didn’t think she realized I was being serious. If she wanted to get away from me, she was going to have to be the one to break our bond because I was certain, without a doubt, that this woman was made to be mine.

“Come to think of it,” I continued when she didn’t say anything, “That would be a great idea. Kylie’s staying in the dorms anyway. You’d be even closer to her and save a couple of nights’ cost of staying in the hotel.”

She chewed on her bottom lip as she considered it.

I was great at reading people and knew that my first suggestion she’d practically rolled her eyes and dismissed me as being ridiculous. But this time I appealed to her more sensible side. She’d shared enough with me to know that money was a constant concern for her. If she let me, she’d never have to worry about that ever again.

“That wouldn’t be right. What would people think? Plus, isn’t this a fraternity? As in all boys?”

I shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time, and no one here would think anything of it. Well, they would. They’d think, ‘Wow, that lucky bastard found his one true mate. Why can’t I be that lucky?’ But of you living here? Nah. It’s cool. When Chad was President, Ember lived here for quite a while. We all loved it. It was never an issue.”

I didn’t even have to exaggerate that. We’d had others come and go. New mates often moved in until other housing arrangements could be made. So it really wouldn’t be a problem to have Lauren stay with me for a week or a semester. Hell, she could stay until I finally graduated.”

“Are you sure?”

I refrained from showing any external emotion, though on the inside I was doing a happy dance.

“I’m sure.”

“And it won’t be weird? Where would you sleep?”

My jaw dropped. I hadn’t considered that.

“I can make a bed on the floor,” I blurted out.

It was a queen-sized bed. There was more than enough room for the both of us. But if that’s what it took to make my mate happy, then so be it.

I sighed in resolve. “Or if you need your space, I can bunk in one of the open beds. There’s a few from those who graduated. Obviously, since the school year hasn’t started, we haven’t filled those yet. Freshmen aren’t even supposed to rush until their second semester here to allow them time to settle in.”

“But you’ve already started recruiting.”

“Of course I have. I want to make sure we find the best of the best for the doghouse and ensure they are compatible for us. That keeps harmony in the house. So I’m always on the lookout for brother potential.”

“You really love it here, don’t you?”

“I do, but also you’re avoiding the question.”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

She huffed. “I hate to put you out, but I could really use that money.”

Her brow crinkled and she continued to nibble on her lip.

“Being closer to you is not putting me out. The hotel might not like it when I take to sleeping in their lobby or outside of your room once the thought of how many men could be staying there hits me and . . .”

She cut me off. “I get it. It would be a win-win for the both of us.”

“Wait, are you agreeing to this?”

“Yes. I hate being there by myself so far away from Kylie.”

“Okay then.”

“Okay,” she said.

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