Page 38 of Reclaiming His Lost Mate
Chapter 18
Selina
I closed the shop as soon as I was sure Alexis was okay and sleeping soundly. Afterward, I called Lyvia, explaining what Alexis had done and how exhausted he was. She offered to keep Mia with her until I was sure he was okay. Not able to move him, I settled myself in for the night to watch over him. I was pretty sure it was only exhaustion from his three-day journey, but I kept a close eye on him over the first few hours.
In fact, I was enjoying keeping an eye on him way too much. I kept feeling his forehead to check if he wasn’t overly warm or cold. He didn’t show any signs of fever or anything else. I drew the blanket up around him for what seemed like the hundredth time, but almost immediately, it inched down his chest as if to tease me with the smattering of dark hair and well-defined muscles. The urge to go trace the hard planes of his chest, perhaps to lay a kiss there, had me needing to leave the room.
Stop being a creep. He’s asleep. And exhausted.
I filled a small jug with some water, putting the single flower from Alexis on the kitchen table. I kept myself busy between checking on him and sorting the bark he’d collected. I thought about how, becauseof Alexis’s selflessness, tomorrow I could put a sign up and spread the word that our community had agglikkuk again.
A few hours later, I’d successfully emptied the bag and processed all of the agglikkuk. In one of the pockets of the saddlebag, I found Alexis’s apartment keys. Checking on him one last time, I left a note in case he woke, then locked up, and went to his apartment.
I had only picked Mia up from his place a few times, but otherwise, I hadn’t spent any proper time here. Consequently, I enjoyed pottering around the place. It was neat and tidy, the minimalism suiting Alexis’s clean-cut lines. And his green tree scent was so powerful and potent that I felt as if I wanted to curl up and live here.
I delighted in how many of my products rested on his bathroom shelves. I packed his toothbrush, razor, and shaving cream in case he wanted to shave when he woke. Yet, a flash of his rugged jawline with thick stubble had heat flushing through me as I imagined its scratch as he kissed his way down my body. I had to press my thighs together as a zing of heat flared.
I chose my favorite blue-gray button-down that matched his stormy eyes and a pair of navy jeans, grabbing a pair of shoes by the door. As I packed the change of clothes, I pictured taking them off him rather than Alexis putting them on. I swung by my own cabin, getting a fresh pair of clothes and my toothbrush, too. Not knowing how long Alexis might need to rest, I felt it would be best to have my things.
When I got back, it was dark outside, and I was pleased to see that he was still in a deep, peaceful slumber. Pulling another blanket out of the cupboard, I happily curled up at the foot of the couch, snuggling up by Alexis’s feet and calves. Even cuddling head to tails like this with him felt good. I generally curled up into a ball when I slept, so this position didn’t feel uncomfortable. In fact, with Alexis’s earthy green scent blanketing me, I felt as if I was in the coziest of dens. My wolf sank into the deepest, most contented sleep.
It was with disorientation that I woke to movement. Uncurling myself from where I’d balled myself up on the end of the couch, I edged back to find Alexis sitting up. There was way too much rippling muscle on show now that the blanket had pooled at his waist. I triednot to wet my lips, but as I moistened them, I watched his Adam’s apple bob. The same fierce urge from last night returned, and I knew I was in danger of pouncing on him.
With every ounce of restraint I could muster, I reminded myself that he’d trekked up the mountains and had a wearying journey back the last three days. “How are you feeling?” I asked, hoping the thickness of my voice could be attributed to sleep.
“Like I slept for days,” he answered, the scratch of his voice making me think again about how good his stubbled cheeks would feel.
I looked out at the daylight and stretched. “It was only a night,” I said. Judging from the brightness, it was already mid-morning. “Do you want something to eat?” I asked.
“I could eat,” he answered. “Some fresh clothes would be good, too.”
I nodded. “I hope you don’t mind—I stopped by your apartment last night to get you some things.” I stood up, gesturing to the pile of clothes and things on the kitchen workbench.
“Thanks. Of course I don’t mind,” he said, his gaze brushing over me. “I love the idea of you in my place.”
My cheeks heated because his words were so close to my own thoughts as I’d scoped out his place. Not wanting to get hot and bothered, I changed the subject. “Thank you,” I said. “For the agglikkuk, and the Kanguq Aiyut,” I said.
He frowned, looking momentarily puzzled.
“The flower, “ I clarified. “It’s my favorite. It was my mother’s favorite, too,” I said. I trailed off, the words lodging in my throat. There was even more meaning than that, but with the way Alexis’s gaze was on me and with how much of him was on show, my train of thought escaped me.
“You’re welcome.” There was so much in his blue stare as his gaze raked over me. I wondered if he knew its meaning or whether, judging from his stormy ocean eyes, he remembered how the bloom had been behind my ear when I came to his room all those years ago in the Nightwing Pack, and we’d kissed in his bedroom.
The depth of feeling thrumming through me threatened to have me jumping his bones. I was painfully aware that only a thin blanketlay between him and his glorious body, that even with his weariness, the muscled and strong lines of him had been permanently etched into my retinas yesterday.
But I wanted time to tell him how I felt, time to tell him how much his going to the mountains meant to me, time to share with him how much it meant to me that he’d remembered that flower and what I felt his presenting it to me meant for our bond.
Needing to stop eyeballing him, I said, “Right, I’ll go get us some breakfast while you change.”
Twenty minutes later, I returned to find Alexis dressed and sitting at my workbench in the kitchen. Sunshine painted the kitchen with warm, golden light, and my heart zipped as I took him in. The crisp blue button-down brought out his ocean eyes, and his hair, still tousled, paired with the stubble he’d chosen not to shave, ignited something primal within me.
“Is that bacon?” he asked.
“Sure is.” I grinned, opening the brown paper bag. My wolf preened as I watched Alexis tuck into the bacon and egg muffin as if he hadn’t eaten in days.
He probably hasn’t, I reminded myself.
He sipped the black Americano, his staple choice, as strong and heady as he was. It felt good to be looking after him for a change, and my wolf felt happy that we were taking care of our mate.
