So, yeah, a little antiquated.
“He gave you his word. I hear that's a massive sign of respect in his area of the supernatural world.” I watched him roll his eyes.
“Don’t worry, I’m a big boy. I can handle a slight without losing my shit.” His grip on his phone worried me.
“Really? You’re about to spend your day at the cellphone store.” I finished my coffee and walked over, placing a hand over his. “And you're a grown-ass man.” My lips brushed his cheek. “An alpha,” I whispered, nipping at his earlobe. “The King of Wolves.” My fingers moved to his stomach and slid slowly south, palm sliding over the hard bulge in his sweatpants.
Ewan dropped the phone and wrapped his hands around my waist, pulling my hips toward his. He growled when I stroked him through the fabric. I trailed my fangs down his neck, pressing enough to get a small taste of his blood.
His hand shot up, tipping my chin, so I met his gaze. He ran his thumb over my lower lip.
“Best of all,” he leaned in, “I’m your mate.”
My heart swelled. This wasn’t the life with Ewan I had wanted or envisioned, but it was the hand Gaia dealt us. I allowed myself to be happy to be in this moment with him.
Then, his phone buzzed, and the real world crashed in.
“You should’ve let me break it,” he groaned into my mouth.
There were a million reasons for him to answer the call, and a single reason I didn’t want him to.
“I swear to Gaia if you so much as look at that screen–”
A yelp escaped my lips. One second we stood behind the couch, the next he flipped me over the back. My head bounced on the cushions. Ewan cupped the back of my knees, standing between my legs and staring down at me with a wicked expression.
Desire swelled at my core. He was choosing me at this moment, which shouldn’t have made me as wet as it did. Maybe my insecurities were showing. But it had taken Ewan and me a very long time to reach this point.
“My mate is half-naked.” He hiked me higher and hooked my knees over the back of the sofa. “Whispering sweet nothings in my ear.” My shirt had ridden up over my stomach, revealing that I wasn’t going commando. “Sadly, wearing panties, but I’m about to change that.” That sinful expression returned. “Aroused.”
He ran his palms up my thighs, curling his fingers around my underwear and slipping them up my legs. Ewan’s gaze never left mine. Not even when he bent over and pressed a kiss on my inner thigh, hands moving my knees farther apart.
I reached behind me to grip the cushions, biting down on my lip as the anticipation built.
“You are the only thing I want to look at.”
Modern Alpha
Since my lack of a wardrobe was an issue, Ewan declared a shopping trip was in order. While clothes were the primary motivation for our foray into town, he also believed this was a good chance for the pack to see me out and about.
In preparation for this outing, I drank two jars from the fridge, each one a cocktail of Ewan’s blood, tonic, and Essie’s tea. The blend wasn’t my favorite. Still, I downed them both.
Apparently my performance the night before hadn’t convinced Ewan that I would behave around the pack. At least, that was why I assumed Birch showed up to accompany us.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you.” Ewan placed his hands on my shoulders as we stood in the entryway with Birch, who actually cracked a smile as his best friend tried to reassure me. “Everything is going to be fine. He’s just along for the ride.”
“I like women’s fashion.” Birch shrugged, expression never changing. “Think of me as an advisor.”
I turned away from Ewan and reached for the doorknob. “Whatever. Let’s just go.”
The town was cute, very reminiscent of Arcane Landing in some ways. There were shops that sold beauty products enhanced with fae magic. Candle shops where all the wax creations, when burned, emitted a specific type of magic into the air. One in the window promised to enhance fertility.
But does it work if both halves of the equation are vampires? I wondered, a pang in my dormant womb.
Ewan squeezed my hand as we walked, concern flashing in his crimson eyes when he glanced over at me. I forced a smile. It wasn’t like he didn’t know children were off the table. Still, I wasn’t ready for this conversation.
It was still early in the day and many of the retail stores were just opening their doors. The two coffee shops in town had been serving caffeine for hours, and the lone diner had a line out the door.
People moved to let us pass on the snowy sidewalks, lowering their eyes out of respect. A few brave souls muttered greetings, though Ewan never responded. So I did. My manners might not have been the best, but it was just common decency to answer when someone said good morning.