Page 200 of My Unexpected Mate

“If you slow down a bit more, you will be moving backwards,” I growled at him.

Gabriel chuckled and started walking a bit faster. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought he was keeping me away from the house. But why would he do that? My mate was there.

After a while, we finally reached the house. I recognized the area, but it was dark. Shouldn’t there be lights coming from the house?

My heart started beating faster.

What if something has happened? Where is Aria?!

My eye caught something that looked like Christmas tree lights. I hurried toward that. I could hear Gabriel behind me, but I didn’t turn around. I needed to find her.

I got out of the forest and immediately stopped walking.

“Happy birthday!” they screamed.

What?

My eyes roamed around. There were tables with drinks and snacks. The deck was decorated with string lights.

My eyes stopped on my mate.

Fucking hell.

Is she trying to kill me?

She was wearing a dress that let me see everything. The dress hugged her perfectly, and each and every curve of her body was on display. Her hair was curled slightly, and it fell down to her waist. She was wearing a little bit of makeup.

She was fucking beautiful.

And I don’t think I have ever been turned on more in my life. I was already hard as fuck, and I hadn’t even touched her yet.

“Happy birthday, man,” Gabriel said and patted me on the back.

“Thanks,” I muttered, not taking my eyes off my mate.

I started walking toward her. I need to touch her. Now.

She was smiling brightly, and she was so beautiful it fucking hurt me.

I took her in my arms. I wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around her cheek. I couldn’t take my eyes off her face.

“Happy birthday, Nick,” she said and kissed me.

My whole body was on fire. Tingles and sparks felt like fucking fireworks under my skin. My brain was a complete mush. I didn’t see anything except her.

I opened my eyes and looked at her. “You are beautiful.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly and smiled at me.

“Okay, stop staring at her, and let us wish you,” Cassie said and pulled Aria away from me.

I wanted to whine. I wanted to touch her.

Cassie hugged me. “Happy birthday.”

I hugged her back and took a deep breath. I should focus on others. They did this for me. I couldn’t ignore them. Although, that’s exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to throw Aria over my shoulder and take her to the bedroom.

Maybe I could do that later.

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