Page 77 of His Rejected Alpha Mate
“Jas?”
“In here.” His voice came from the kitchen. “Everything okay?” he asked when I entered the room.
“Yeah. All is good. Sorry, I had to step out for a while.”
“Nah, it’s fine. I was finished at the school and Angel needed a nap. You really wore her out, but she went to sleep with a smile on her face.” He began plating our dinner. “She already ate and is back in bed. Come, eat. You must be starving.”
My back itched with my accelerated shifter healing, and I longed to show Jasper just what I’d spent the last couple of hours doing. He’d cooked for us, so I couldn’t let his efforts go to waste.
We ate in companionable silence, then chatted about our days as I cleaned up the kitchen. Jasper sat at the breakfast bar, keeping me company as I worked. This moment was everything that I’d wanted since I’d met my mate and knew what we could be. We were a team, a family, and I couldn’t wait to show him he was a permanent part of my life, just like the ink on my skin.
“I have something to show you.” I told him as I led him upstairs.
“Is it your cock? Because I’ve seen that.” He said with a grin.
I laughed. “Well, you can see that, too. Any time that you want.” I winked. “I’ve got something else to show you.”
The room was lit with candles and I’d ran a scented bubble bath for him. I stripped him down and helped him get into the bath. “Are you joining me?” he asked.
“No, this is just for you.”
Waiting for him was difficult, but I’d seen how stressed he had been, how tired, so I’d wanted to get him relaxed. Part of me was worried about his reaction to what I’d added to my body.
There was splashing and the sound of the water draining. I rushed to wrap him in a towel, making sure he was safe as he got out of the bath.
He didn’t put on any clothes, choosing to sit up against the headboard and watch me curiously. “Okay, what have you done?”
“Nothing bad. I think.”
“Tell me.”
“I’ll show you.” I pulled off the t-shirt I’d been wearing and carefully peeled off the dressing that covered the almost healed tattoo.
Jasper’s gasp was loud in the quiet room. “Goddess, it’s beautiful!”
His words had me slumping in relief. “Come sit here.” He ordered. I sat on the edge of the bed and he shuffled close to my side. He traced the edges of the tattoo, and I could smell the salt from his tears. “Kota —“
“Are you okay?”
“This is so perfect.” His fingers moved over the lines of the tree that Teárlach had inked on me just hours ago. He moved along the branches to our names. Each adorned with a paw print of our alters and an initial. Jasper and I were at the top. There was a branch for Kade and Blake, with space for their little ones. Angelica had her own branch, as did Hayden. We didn’t know our son’s alter yet. It was most likely a bear, but T would have to add the babies in when they were born, so I’d asked him to leave space to add Hayden’s alter.
Jasper moved back to the headboard, taking a minute to get himself under control. “I’ve never felt as loved as this. I’m so glad the goddess made us mates. Now, come here and feed me that cock. I need to show you just what you mean to me.”
“Jas —“
“I need you, Kota. You mean everything to me, plus you are the hottest thing I’ve ever seen right now. That body and then the ink, too? Moon help me!” He laughed. “Really, though, I want to show you, but I’m too big to do all the work.”
I kissed him, long and deep, pouring all that I felt into it. His kiss was just as heartfelt, telling me everything he couldn’t say with words. He broke away first. “Get up here, dammit. I want your knot in my mouth.”
The thought had me hard in an instant.
“As you wish.”
New Beginnings
Jasper
Justsixweeksafterthe betas all woke up, we had another crisis on our hands. Dakota and I were out in the late summer sunshine enjoying a picnic on the grass when he got the call.
