CHAPTER 5

“Honey butter and apple preserves are already on the table. Grab the iced tea while I carry the rest.” That was the essence of my mate. He was hyper-aware of my needs. If he knew I favored something, he ensured it was within reach before the thought even crossed my mind. Whether it was physical comfort, food, or a specific suit for a summit, Aara had a sixth sense for providing it. He took care of me, pure and simple, even while managing his own professional sphere.

There were moments I wondered how I’d earned such loyalty. In the grand scheme, him working overtime on a gala shouldn't trigger my hackles. The issue was that I was ready to sire a child, and it felt like the moment I committed to that path, he chose the most time-consuming distraction possible. It made me question if our internal compasses were still pointing the same way, or if this was his subconscious way of retreating from the next step.

“You were made for me, Aara. You know that, right?”

“I’m aware; and don’t you ever let that thought slip.” He winked at me, pivoting to grab the tea from the fridge as I moved the feast into the dining area. We rarely utilized the formal room, but occasionally, Aara could sense when my workday had been a battle. He’d serve up my favorite comfort meal with the elegance of a five-star lodge.

“Did you want to wash the scent of the arena off first?” Aara asked as he followed me in. “I didn't think about it before I started serving.”

I shook my head. “It can wait. Maybe after we eat, you can help me scrub away the day’s grime.”

Aara’s grin was the only confirmation I required. “That sounds like the ideal way to decompress. I apologize for my schedule being so chaotic. My client is nearly impossible to satisfy, and since it’s a surprise, the deception makes it ten times harder.”

“How about we silence the talk of work for the night and just exist in the now?”

“I’d like that.”

I should have pushed the conversation toward our future pups, but I wanted to enjoy the peace of our meal. I feared the direction that talk might take. I hated that doubt had started to scent the air between us. That wasn't who we were. It felt like our foundation had shifted, and I was terrified that the wrong question might cause our entire world to crumble into a pile of stone that no longer felt like a home.

AFTER THE MEAL WAS FINISHED and the kitchen was restored to order, I took Aara’s hand and led him toward our master suite in the Cheshire Hills. Once the door clicked shut, I pulled him into my personal space and lifted his hands above his head, pinning them gently against the doorframe.

“Leave them there.” It was a command, one his inner wolf was all too happy to obey. I traced my fingers from the curve of his hips up to the hem of his shirt, ghosting over his skin before slowly drawing the fabric up and over his head. I felt the vibration of a shiver run through him as his skin pebbled under my touch.

“Always breathtaking, Aara.” I discarded the shirt and lowered his arms to his sides. “Keep them still,” I rumbled, locking my eyes on his. My mate was a striking male. His dark, mahogany hair was so dense it was like a thick pelt; I’d always loved the feel of it between my fingers. I gathered the length of it, pulling it back to expose his throat as I traced the line of his shoulder. Aara shuddered as his unique, violet-flecked eyes remained fixed on mine.

“I love the way you track me.”

“And how is that, love?”

“Like I’m the only thing in your universe.”

“You are,” I whispered, my hand moving behind him to find the fastening of his trousers. “I’m constantly haunted by your form. This smooth, tanned skin. Those storm-tossed eyes that look at me with such ferocity.” I leaned in, pressing my face into the crook of his neck, inhaling the scent of cedar and rain that was uniquely him. As I worked the button and the zipper, his hair spilled over my hands like silk. I let the denim fall, trailing my fingers over the firm muscles of his thighs.

Aara reached up, his fingers itching to tangle in my hair, but I caught his wrists and moved them back to his sides.

“Patience, Aara. You know the dynamic. Those hands stay where I put them, or I’ll have to find a way to secure them.”

“Understood.” The word was barely a breath, a soft sound of surrender as I leaned down to press a mark into the junction of his neck and shoulder.

“God, Dominic!” he hissed, his chest heaving as he sought more contact. My mate couldn't help himself; even without his hands, he used his entire being to draw me closer. Part of me wanted to punish him for his recent absence, to mark him so deeply he’d never forget where he belonged. I let out a low growl and pulled back, watching the flicker of confusion on his face.

“Shift your weight,” I ordered, dropping to my knees. Aara complied instantly, widening his stance. I finished stripping him of the remaining fabric, pausing to admire the silhouette. He was lean, built for speed and power, with a core hardened by years of discipline. He had the classic, powerful build of a professional athlete, all lethal grace and symmetry.

“Perfect.” I pressed a kiss to the center of his abdomen.

“You might take that back once I’m carrying your heir.” That admission made my heart skip a beat. Perhaps that was the root of his hesitation—the fear of the change.

“Aara,” I looked up, meeting his gaze as I traced the lines of his stomach. “Every shift this body undergoes to bring our child into the world will be a badge of honor. If your skin marks,” I trailed my fingers lower, “they will be the map of how you gave yourself to our pack. They’d be the physical evidence of how we moved from a pair to a legacy. Nothing in this world could be more primal or beautiful than the marks of the greatest sacrifice a mate can make.”

“Dominic...” His voice was thick with unshed emotion. He broke the rule, reaching down to cup my jaw, his thumb tracing my lower lip. I didn't scold him this time. He needed to feel the sincerity in my pulse.

“You will always be the most stunning creature in my sight, Aara. Only you. Whether you’re this lean, or heavy with our pup, or gray and weathered in our winter years...” I smirked up at him. “I can’t wait to see your hair turn silver. You’ll look like an ancient deity with those violet eyes. No matter the season, I am your ultimate protector.”

I stood up, swiping away the moisture gathering in the corners of his eyes. Those amethyst depths were swirling with love as I pulled him flush against my bare chest.

“I will worship you through every phase of our journey. Whatever changes this body endures, it’s just another chapter of us.”

“How did I end up with you?” he whispered, pulling my head down to meet his in a kiss that tasted of forever.