Page 9 of Last Shot at Love

He nodded, a serious expression settling over his features. “Yeah, anything to keep you—my fated mate—happy.”

Setting down the empty plate, I let out a sigh. This was all happening so fast… yet I couldn’t fathom a reason to be cautious.

“For us to work, we need to be open and forward with each other,” I stated, needing to lay the groundwork for honesty between us.

Kael moved closer, his paw enveloping mine, his touch warm and reassuring, sending a jolt of electricity through me. “I am being open,” he assured me. “We’re not young anymore—not that I’m going to ask your age just yet.”

Without a second thought, I cut him off, embracing the honesty we both sought. “I’m thirty-five,” I declared, meeting his gaze squarely.

He smiled softly. “I’m thirty-seven, and that’s okay. Our ages don’t matter to me. What matters is that we don’t waste any more time—the time we lost not knowing each other.”

As he cupped my cheek, I leaned into his touch, his warmth enveloping me. His green eyes held mine, seeming to see right through me. “I know this is just the beginning,” he continued, his voice a gentle caress. “The completeness I feel with you, it’s overwhelming, but I don’t want to fight it. I want to fall feet first into this darkness with you, unafraid of how deep it goes. I know I can handle falling in love with you. We’re fated mates for a reason.”

His words were a balm to my soul, soothing the fears and uncertainties that had clouded my mind. “Do you feel the same?” he asked, his gaze searching mine for an answer.

His touch, his words, they resonated within me, echoing the depth of my own emotions. I did feel the same—overwhelmed, eager, and unafraid.

“Yes,” I breathed, my voice laced with the weight of my admission. “I do feel the same. I don’t want to waste another moment.”

Kael’s touch was tender as he combed my hair back, his fingers gentle against my scalp. He cupped my cheek again, his thumb brushing affectionately across my skin. “Tell me more about yourself and the Emerald Mountains.”

I raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. “What is this, twenty questions until we fall asleep?”

His laughter was a warm sound in the cool evening air. “If that’s what you want to do,” he replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“All right then,” I said, deciding to play along. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Green,” he said without hesitation, a mischievous smile on his lips. “My new favorite color is green. And yours?”

I laughed, a genuine, carefree sound. “Maybe mine is orange,” I teased back, watching his reaction closely. “Do you remember all three hundred questions from the program?”

He shrugged, a casual lift of his shoulders. “Only the important ones,” he admitted. “Why does it matter? They matched us, and the instant, world-altering connection I feel with you proves they were right.”

I took a deep breath, feeling suddenly vulnerable. “It matters to me,” I confessed, “especially if you’re considering moving to the Emerald Mountains, to start a life together.”

His expression shifted to concern, his forehead furrowing slightly. “What’s so important that you need to ask right now?”

I felt exposed, vulnerable, fearing that I might shatter the perfect moment we’d been sharing. But then he leaned in, pressing his forehead to mine in a gesture of intimacy and encouragement. “Ask me. Tell me.”

Taking a deep breath, I found the courage to voice my thoughts. “I don’t want to start anything under illusions. I need to know... do you want offspring? Children... cubs?”

He was quiet for a moment before muttering, “No, I’d prefer not to. But if my fated mate desired them, I’d be open to it.” He met my gaze, searching. “What about you?”

“Some might call it selfish,” I admitted, “but we’ve lost enough time. I don’t want to share you with anyone. I want to build a life with just you—just us—without worrying about caring for someone else.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” he said firmly, a smile softening his features. “I have no great need to spread my seed, but I definitely want to... spread your legs, marking you as mine wherever we go.”

His crude words sent a flush of heat to my cheeks, yet they sparked another, deeper heat within me, a mingling of arousal and relief.

As he picked up another meatball and fed it to me, I accepted it without hesitation, closing my eyes to savor the burst of flavor. A moan escaped my lips, unbidden, and I no longer cared about maintaining any facade of restraint in his presence.

Kael’s purr was a deep vibration, a sound of satisfaction. “My goal is to make you moan, pleasing you with my talents,” he murmured, his voice laced with desire.

My eyes opened, locking with his. “I might need a full resume of these talents,” I said, half-challenge, half-invitation.

He winked at me, the promise in his eyes unmistakable. “Maybe after I’ve fed you.”

The conversation with Grishka was like a dance, back and forth we went, uncovering likes and dislikes, each revelation a step closer to understanding the heart of my fated mate. Handing her a glass of wine to savor, I tidied up our picnic, packing away the remnants of our meal. Wasting food was never my style, especially when I could envision delighting Grishka with a midnight snack.

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