Page 8 of Once Upon a Rec Center Wish
They weren’t the only ones to grumble in my presence. Other shifters had as well, claiming they wanted to woo Falco, but I was always there. I couldn’t help it that I took pride in my work and yearned to give him nothing but perfection.
The invitation to eat with him caught me by surprise. I had never expected Falco to feed me. But the day before, he’d made me the most delicious biscuits. Even better than those Nelson baked. Once I finished for the day, I’d agreed to stay for dinner. To eat with the outer-worlder and spend more unnecessary time with him. Not that I didn’t want to be in Falco’s presence, but the more time I did, the harder it became to leave. Though I had to. I wasn’t meant to be his mate. He needed me out of the house so eligible shifters could court him and attempt to win him over.
“Dinner is simmering now.” Falco strolled in from the kitchen wearing a pair of shorts and some piece of clothing I wasn’t familiar with. It was one piece of material that covered his chest and wrapped around his hips, but left his back exposed except for where the material had strings that were tied together. I’d never seen the outer-worlder in so little clothing before, and Iwondered if he finally felt comfortable enough in the Enchanted Forest to shed some of his wardrobe.
My heart quickened as I wondered if I had been the one to help him immerse himself into our world.
No.I winced at the thought. He’d often spent time with Nelson’s family and in the village when he wasn’t watching me work. Time had helped him adjust to his new home. Not me.
He stepped closer and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Why do you look so sad? Are you worried about my cooking?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m sure it’s delicious if it’s anything like the biscuits you gave me yesterday.”
“Then what is it?” He brushed his hand down my arm, sending a thrill of sensation under my skin. “Are you sad this is your last day to work on my house? Because I am.”
“No.” I stepped back from his touch, the sensation it caused attempting to break down my resolve. “I worry I’ve taken up too much of your time, kept suitors away when you should have been entertaining them to find a suitable mate.”
He sighed and gave a quick nod. “I do have someone in mind. But I worry he doesn’t want me as a mate.”
My heart ached with his admission, but I swallowed my pride to try to give Falco a glimmer of hope. “Any unmated shifter would be foolish to not want you as a mate. You’re beautiful inside and out, and if the smell coming from your kitchen is any indication of the deliciousness of dinner, you’re a great cook, too. Don’t worry. You’ll find the right mate.”
Leaning forward, he kissed my cheek. “Thank you, Vern. I guess have to wait for him.”
My heart fluttered faster and harder than I’d ever felt it before. The feel of Falco’s lips on my skin lingered even after he pulled away. I envied whomever he ended up choosing for his mate. Because if I received touches, kisses, and more from him every day, I couldn’t help but be happy. Though I doubted Iwould ever want to leave our home, instead, spending as much time with him as possible.
I glanced around the place, imagining myself as his mate. I would still be greeted by him, only after work rather than at the beginning. I could still enjoy his meals, and I wouldn’t have to say goodbye, only “see you later.” I sighed. If only I had a chance to wish on one of Ahmed’s cards.
“Come.” Falco motioned me into the kitchen where he’d already set dishes on the table while I’d been lost in my own imaginings. “Dinner is served and I want you to let me know what you think of it. It’s important for me to know how to make food that you enjoy.”
That I enjoy? Miffs, he must have misspoken because it was his mate who would be eating his food. Maybe he’d meant me as an herbivore. Or perhaps he’d been eyeing one of my elder brothers as a possible mate. I didn’t know if it would make my heart ache more or less to see him with one of the beavers I shared a dam with.
Tamping those feelings down, I stood and shuffled into the kitchen. Regardless of my longing for the outer-worlder, I was thankful to have spent as much time as I had with him, and for his cooking.
Though I considered devouring the delicious vegetable stew he’d made, I ate it slowly, yearning for the evening to never end. It was dishonest of me to take up more of his precious time than I needed to, but feared the heartbreak I would feel when I had to finally say goodbye. Yet when Falco began to yawn, I knew the time had come for me to leave.
I helped him clean up before gathering up all my tools and heading for the door, unsure of what to say before I left.
When he met me there, he held out his arms before wrapping them around me and leaning his head on my chest. All the tingles of longing I’d felt before were nothing compared tothe rush of lust that swept through every part of my body. Even my cock.
Falco noticed, cupping my sac in his palm. “You don’t have to leave. You can stay the night.”
I jumped back, slamming into the door, terrified that I’d led him to think I was a suitor. “No. It’s best if I go. I gotta go. Now.”
My hands shook as I fumbled with the door handle. When I finally opened it, I was ready to run home, but then I remembered the gift I’d made for the outer-worlder. I picked up the carving that I’d left outside. “Here.” I shoved the piece of wood at him. “It’s a gift to celebrate your home being finished.”
I didn’t wait for his reaction, didn’t even worry about how to say goodbye. I simply left, rushing as fast as I could to get away. Though the farther I got from his house, the more my heart ached, and I became overwhelmed with sorrow. I couldn’t go home. Not in such a state. My brothers would chastise me for having any feelings for Falco, for hoping for something that was impossible. Instead, I headed toward Holden and Nelson’s place. Not to see them. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. But to sleep at the pond. Once at the edge, I released the magic that kept me in my human form then waddled into the reeds. As a beaver, I didn’t feel the same longing or heartache as I did in my human form. I simply rested until I had to get up in the morning to start a new project. One where I wouldn’t yearn for impossibilities.
Chapter Seven
Falco
I’d slept in my house in the Enchanted Forest for many nights already, gotten used to the smells and sounds, or lack thereof compared to my old place in the outer-world. I should have slept soundly knowing my home was finished and officially mine. I hadn’t. Instead, I’d tossed and turned the entire night, thinking only that Vern would not be coming in the morning to greet me at my front door.
Yet, I hoped he would be there anyway. Especially after I’d made him dinner and practically threw myself at him. I’d yearned for him to stay so I could tell him I wanted him to be my mate before we’d made love. But he’d run away instead, leaving me with a carving he’d done of a flower. It sat on my mantle, but that didn’t seem to be a good enough spot to display more of his exquisite craftsmanship.
With a sigh, I pulled on a shirt and a pair of shorts before making my way into my kitchen. I craved a cup of coffee to take away the sharp edge of tiredness that lingered behind my eyes. But that meant I had to start the woodstove and I didn’t want to wait for it to warm up just to boil some water. The lack of convenience in the magical world still took some getting used to, but I learned to do without most of the time. Something I was already used to in my own world.
After lingering on my couch for a while, hoping to catch a bit more sleep, I decided to head into the village. Even though I didn’t expect him to be there, it was still a huge disappointment to open my door and not see Vern. My heart ached. The beaver shifter was the being in the magical world who knew me best, and if he didn’t want to be my mate, would anyone else? Wasthere something wrong with me? Would I be returned to my world unmated and unhoused? I dreaded that possibility.
