Page 41 of Cupcake

“For cuddling you in your sleep without permission. I crossed a boundary. That wasn’t right.”

“I’m not upset about that,” Dean told him.

Oh! Then why was Dean mad? Logan knew he was too. He knew mad. Could smell it.

“I give you my full permission right now to cuddle me anytime that you want. Asleep or awake.”

That…didn’t even make sense. Logan shook his head.

Dean watched Logan until Logan started to squirm. “I made a mistake,” Dean finally said. “A lot of mistakes but I think the one I made today was the worst offense.”

As someone who often made his own mistakes, Logan understood how hard that was to admit. Even if he didn’t understand why Dean would be telling him. He opened his mouth to offer…something, but Dean held his hand up.

“Logan.” Dean said his name softly. “I never should have hidden my scent or the fact that we are mates.”

Did they have to do this again? Logan was tired. And hurt. “I know—”

“Wait, please,” Dean said softly. “I’m not done.”

He swallowed hard. Guess he was going to have to listen whether he wanted to or not. Logan had promised his alpha.

“I was wrong and am so very sorry.”

They’d covered this. It didn’t help.

“Today when I was telling you everything, I was filled with guilt. I think I told you too much at once?”

Honestly, Logan didn’t remember everything that was said. He shrugged since it looked like Dean was waiting for some sort of response.

“I should have talked and then listened to you. I word-vomited all over you and didn’t give you a chance to say anything. I begged for your forgiveness without even checking in on how you were feeling.”

Hadn’t it been evident that he’d been devastated? Wouldn’t anyone be? Logan looked away. This was hard. Talking was hard. So was listening.

“Then I let you take off alone, hurt, and didn’t protect you like a good mate should have.”

He snapped his eyes back at Dean.

Dean took two steps forward. “Did you hear me? I said I should have protected you like a good mate.”

Yeah, he had heard that. “We’re not mates.”

“Ouch.” Dean looked pained as he rubbed his chest. “That hurts.”

Well yes. Logan knew.

“I bet it’s not even half of what you felt though.”

Logan didn’t know the answer to that.

“I want to ask you one question right now.”

“Okay.” One question wasn’t a lot. He rubbed his hands together. Maybe they were almost done talking? Logan had a better idea why Levi wasn’t much of a talker. Talking and listening were hard.

“Did you think I rejected our mating bond?”

Logan stilled. Stared at Dean. The way he’d asked that question. Worded it. It was weird. He’d promised to answer though. “Yes?”

“That’s what I thought.” Dean came closer.

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