“I like the repeat part of that statement,” I tease before leaning down and kissing the underside of his jaw. “Not that I want to get up just yet, however. I’m perfectly content to stay where I’m at for the foreseeable future.”
405
Jayda
We end up going for a second round before he curls around me so we can nap. Laying here, I contemplate the past few hours. I can’t say that I love him because it’s too soon, but I know it’ll come since he’s my mate. There’s already so much I admire about him as a man outside of how he makes me feel. I’m looking forward to our bond strengthening, as well as seeing what happens with us as a couple.
“Sweetheart, you’re thinking too hard,” he murmurs, his voice raspy. “Relax and get some sleep. I’ve got more plans for you today and you’re gonna need your rest.”
“Really?” I ask.
“Most definitely,” he replies, pulling me even closer to him. “Now, sleep, baby.”
I like it when he’s bossy, my leopard says.
The jury’s still out for me, I reply.
Whatever. Our mate is phenomenal and I’m glad he’s ours.
Me too. Now let me sleep, wench.
I shut my eyes and soon find myself succumbing to his warmth.
Several hours later, I wake to find the bed empty. “Knox?” I call out as I sit up. I know I look like a hot mess but I feel like he needs me right now. Getting up, I throw on some clothes and pull my hair back into a ponytail before I head out of his room. I make my way downstairs and smell bacon so I head to the kitchen where I find Knox at the stove, a pair of grey sweatpants on and nothing else. “Whatcha doing?” I ask.
“Making us something to eat,” he replies, turning and motioning for me to come closer. Once I’m right in front of him, he pulls me to him and kisses me. “Good to see that you finally slept. Your brain was working on overdrive, wasn’t it?”
“Kind of. I mean, neither of us know how this mate thing works, but I was thinking about how much closer I already feel. Is that weird?” I feel unsure of myself and worry that despite us being mates, he won’t be satisfied.
“Not at all. And yes, I’ll be satisfied. Fuck, if I were any more satisfied, I would die,” he replies, kissing me again.
“You heard that?” I question.
“Yeah, that’s why I knew you were in your head earlier.”
“Do you think we’ll be able to talk like we do to our leopards?” I ask.
I don’t know, what do you think? he replies.
Holy shit, it works! He starts laughing at my statement.
“Sweetheart, you’re fucking adorable, you know that?”
“Whatever. Right now I’m a hot mess,” I reply.
“Jayda, you’ll always be beautiful to me,” he says.
My old insecurities rise up and I ask, “Even with these scars?” I know in the big picture the fact I’m still alive is more important, but I want to be attractive for him.
“What scars?” he retorts. “When I look at you, I don’t see your scars, baby. I see a woman, who is mine, who survived what many wouldn’t have and that makes you a warrior.”
“Gag me,” Bomber says, walking into the kitchen. “All of this flowery bullshit is enough to make a dragon want to slay himself.”
“Yeah, give me the single life. None of this mate bullshit,” Brace responds. “Besides, Bomb, with all your shit, you don’t have room for a mate.”
“Y’all, shut the fuck up,” Knox states. “We’ve got church in an hour so we can make plans to take care of Roberts.”
“I want in on that,” I say.
“Sweetheart, it’s my job to take care of you. It’s club business, anyhow,” he replies.
I feel my eyebrows raise into my hairline as I state, “Club business? Considering that I’m the one who was on the fucking table about to have my pelt removed, I think that makes it my business too, Knox.”
Before he can respond, Gray, his VP, says, “My mate’s gonna want to be involved as well, Knox.”
Knox throws his hands in the air. “Fine, fine. It may take all of us to wipe him out anyhow since he’s a vulture.” Glaring at each of us, he continues, “But don’t think this is going to become a regular occurrence!”
He plates our food and motions for me to follow him to the table. “That looks good,” I state, looking at the plate full of steak and eggs. All of our activities have left my stomach feeling a bit hollow. He leans in and kisses me.
“We’ve got time to go for a run if you want before church,” he says, sitting next to me.
“I wanna go,” Bomber says.
“Don’t you have to count your shit?” Brace asks. I have no clue what they’re talking about but know that there’s a story.
“Jesus fucking Christ, can’t I run with my mate for a bit?” Knox questions.
“Why don’t we all go for a run then have church since the old ladies will be in there with us?” Gray inquires.
I think about what he’s saying and finally nod. “Sounds like we all need to run off some steam,” I reply. “And then we can plot about how to bring down that asshole.”
“Just this once,” he states. “Other than that, you women will not be involved in club business.”
“What if I want to work for one of the businesses?” I ask. “What then?”
He leans in and whispers, which in a room full of shifters is kind of a moot point, and says, “We’ll talk about that later, sweetheart.” Content that he might allow me to help somehow, at least in one of the businesses, I nod and start eating.
I’m not sure how long we run for, but seeing Knox in all
