Page 15 of Rejected Pretend Mate

I lived in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, so she had taken the bedroom. I wanted her to be more comfortable, and I was fine taking the couch. I didn't expect that this would be going on long anyway.

I rolled my neck and pulled myself up, heading into the large kitchen. It was a chef's kitchen with lots of space and plentyof cabinets. I enjoyed it because I genuinely love cooking. If I hadn't been a firefighter, it was my backup plan.

I started my expresso and rubbed at my eyes. I tossed and turned a lot last night. I couldn't seem to turn my mind off since April moved in. It had only been a few days, but I was trying hard to accommodate her and give her space. But it was hard to do sometimes with how little space I had.

We ran into each other constantly, and I was trying to laugh most of it off. I tried to get out of the house early so she had her space in the morning, and when I got home, she often had dinner ready and let me have my own space.

My phone rang, and I glanced at it. It was Cayden. I'm sure he was calling to check in again in April, as he'd been doing almost every day. I answered it. "Hello?"

"Hey, how are things going?"

"We're doing fine," I said, pulling out the milk and creamer for April. I started another cup.

"Is she comfortable? You guys have been living together for a few days now."

I turned, grabbed a banana, and started to peel it. "As comfortable as she can be for someone new to the pack and freshly married after a divorce."

I could hear Cayden sigh. "You're not making me feel better about this. You think I love the idea of her having to be married to keep her here?"

"She's safe, Cayden. No one gets in or out of this apartment without me knowing. The rest will take time."

He sighed heavily. "I know. I just worry about her. I know she's going through a lot. I just don't want a repeat ofwhat happened with Riley. She's my sister, Weslie. I screwed everything up the first time, and I don't want to this time."

"There won't be a repeat like what happened with Riley," I said, hearing my espresso machine beep. I turned, pushing the start button. "But you can't keep worrying about it like this. Your sister is going to catch on, and it won't help her feel safe if she knows you're worried."

I heard him sigh again. "I'm trying. But god, I feel like I'm failing her."

I leaned on the counter, looking back towards the hallway. I understood that feeling because it's how I felt.

"I get it," I ran a hand over my face. "I have to get ready for work. I'll have April call you when she gets out of the shower."

I ended the line and took a few sips of my drink before starting April's. I left it on the counter, made my way down to the hallway, and grabbed a towel for myself.

I heard the door to the bathroom open, and the smell of fresh flowers filled the space. My cock suddenly jerked, knowing the scent. "Bathroom is yours."

I turned around, watching April enter the bedroom. The towel was loose as it was wrapped around her, and I could see a tattoo across her back. My eyes widened, and she shut the door behind her before I could see it better. I swallowed, feeling the heat rise in the pit of my stomach.

Fuck.

I turned to the bathroom, stepped inside, and shut the door. The scent was stronger in her, and my cock ached at it. It jerked to attention, and I shifted my feet as I hung my towel up.

April had her morning cleaning routine laid out on the large counter on the left side with her brush and her toothbrush. She kept the space clean, which I was grateful for.

The shower was a walk-in marble shower. I started taking my clothes off and flipped the water on. Her scent was ten times stronger in the shower.

I stepped under the jets, trying to push the thoughts aside, but the scent stuck around. It was the same as when she was younger. It filled my sheets and my clothes. I loved how her scent clung to everything when she left my room. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't jerked off to her scent.

She always smelled of fresh flowers and lemons. I remember wrapping my arms around her and inhaling the intoxicating scent. I used to miss it when I moved here. I'd lay in bed dreaming of that scent, wishing I had brought something with me that smelt like her.

I inhaled slowly, feeling my cock pulse. A shiver ran down my spine, and I placed a hand on the tile wall.

I thought of so many memories. Us gaming at the house, her sitting on my lap. I would hold her so close, feeling her relax in my arms. Her sunbathing by the pool, her legs sprayed out with her arms stretched out. She always had such a golden tan, and her skin seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. Her arms wrapped around me while she made out in my car, her grinding down on me. We never had sex, but we weren't entirely innocent.

I placed my hands on the wall and scowled. This was bad. Thinking about her this way was not going to help me. This was only going to make me want her more than I already did. And that couldn't happen. That was all in the past, and it needed to stay there.

I took a deep breath in, but it didn't help. My mind continued to think about all the times I had her with me. I remembered how her mouth felt against mine and how she would travel her hands up my chest. Her nails would scrap against my skin softly before she would lean back and smile at me. God, that smile.

I reached a hand down, rubbing my fist softly down my cock. I held back a groan, not remembering the last time I had jerked off. I never needed to. I could get any girl I wanted.

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