“Duncan?”
“Hey. I’m here,” I say softly, carefully getting into bed beside Viktor. He wraps his arm around my middle, putting his face in my lap. I run my fingers through his hair, warmth surging through me.
“Where did you go? I missed you.”
I chuckle softly. “I went to get you some tea.”
“Breakfast in bed? You’re so sweet.”
“It’s what you deserve. I wanna take care of you.”
Viktor turns so he can look up at me, his big hazel eyes blinking slowly. He reminds me of a cat when he blinks like that. It’s adorable.
“I think the heat is over. I don’t feel like I need to immediately start humping you.”
My cheeks flood with warmth and the back of my neck prickles. “That’s a good sign.”
“Very,” he says, letting out a giant yawn and sitting up. He leans against the headboard, leaning his shoulder against mine. He does a grabby hands motion and I pass him his tea.
Viktor takes a sip, humming to himself. I pick up my own and do the same. This all feels so domestic and wonderful, but at the same time, I can’t stop overthinking everything. Is this okay? Did I overstep by going through his kitchen? Does he want me to stay or should I hit the road now that his heat is over?
“I can hear you overthinking,” he says softly, leaning his head against my shoulder. “Stop it, Duncan.”
“Sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. Just tell me what’s going through that beautiful brain of yours. We’ll talk it out and then we’ll go take a shower together.”
My heart skips a beat. If he’s offering to shower together, that means he doesn’t want me to leave. That’s a good sign. I feel myself relaxing the longer we sit here.
“I’m just wondering what happens now?”
Viktor makes a questioning noise. “What do you mean? Like the logistics of us moving in together or do you mean like, what should we do for lunch?”
I lean my face against the top of his head, feeling silly. Why was I so anxious just a moment ago?
“I was worried you’d want me to leave now that your heat is over,” I confess softly.
“Why would I want my mate to leave me? Duncan,” he says, his voice having an edge to it. “We won’t do anything you don’t want to do, but I want you. All of you. Forever.”
“Forever?”
“Good lord…Yes,” he says, turning his head to bite my shoulder. I yelp and he smiles. “Forever. You’re mymate, dumbass.” Dumbass sounds like the sweetest pet name with how much affection is laced with the word.
“Okay,” I say with a nod. “I can’t promise I won’t overthink again but I promise I’ll talk to you about my feelings.”
“Perfect,” Viktor says, kissing the spot he just bit. He finishes his tea and grins up at me. “Now, time for that shower?”
I set his mug on the table and touch his chin, bringing his face up so I can kiss him. He makes a happy little noise at the back of his throat, a sound I would be willing to do just about anything to hear again and again. I kiss him until my head is spinning.
“Nowwe can go shower,” I say with a grin, helping Viktor up off the bed.
He pinches my ass. “Tease,” he says with a giggle.
***
“This is the last box,” I say, setting the box down on the floor in our bedroom. Will I ever grow tired of calling everything ours? Our bed. Our shower. Our home.
“Finally,” Ellie says with a whine. “It’s time for beer and pizza!”
