My voice skipped on that last word. All of a sudden, tears rolled down my cheeks.
“I’m not perfect,” I continued in a strangled tone. “But you make me feel like I can get close to being a better man every day.”
Aspen’s arm reached out, clamping onto my thigh. “You’re perfect for me.”
I sniffed.
Aspen put his turn signal on and turned into a gas station, parking at one end.
“Do we need gas?” I rubbed my hand over my face.
“No.” He unfastened his seatbelt, then turned, unfastened mine, and took me into his arms. “I thought we could use a break for a second.” He rubbed my back. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I forced a chuckle. “I don’t know what happened just now.”
“Your heart happened. It found out something tonight and it went for it.” Aspen’s breath warmed the hair on the side of my head. “Don’t forget, ever, ever, that we’re together on this journey. We got each other. You can always tell me anything. I’m on your side. And if we disagree sometimes, we’ll talk it out. Always. You and me. Team Aspendale.”
“That sounds like a town somewhere in the mountains.”
“A great town.” He smiled and kissed me under the yellow gas station lights. “You’re my alpha. Understand?”
I nodded. I should have been the strong one, but in so many ways he was stronger.
“You’re my alpha,” he repeated. “My family. And that means everything to me. We’re bonded. We’re married. That’s our promise to each other. Of course I want kids with you, silly. I mean, maybe it’s not a given with every couple, but yes, I want them. I want them with you.”
He kissed me again. Like sealing the deal. An immaculate lawyer. Flawless.
The love of my life.
21
Aspen
Idashed off a quick email to my boss.
Heat leave.Going home now. I’ll be back Friday.
It was onlya week after I stopped taking my birth control pills. The off-schedule heat came as a surprise. But I had a mate and husband, now. The bond between us affected both my emotional and my physical being. The heat sent me burning nearly out of control right in the middle of a meeting.
I excused myself quietly and ran to my car, then emailed my boss from my phone.
There was nothing he could do or say about me rushing out of the office. Heat leave was a shifter right. Some bosses, usually human alphas, wanted it counted as sick leave, but the laws in our country gave special heat days to omegas. You couldn’t befired for it. No one could deny your leave, or they’d be turned in for harassment to HR.
Next, I texted Dale. We didn’t call each other at work unless it was an emergency. This sort of counted as one. I was on fire. But I was still able to drive.
Aspen:Come home, husband. I had to leave work early. I need you. Don’t make me beg.
Dale:I feel it through our bond. I’ve already emailed my manager for spousal heat leave. On my way now. I love you!
How didI get so lucky and pick the best alpha on the planet as my mate? Winter Wonderland’s errors had become our dash for the win. Double-booked should be our lucky phrase.
I thought I’d make it home before Dale, but when I pulled into the garage, his car was already there. I scrambled to get out of my seat, catching myself on my seatbelt I’d forgotten to unfasten. When I stood and slammed the door, my car beeped telling me I’d left the keys inside.
I cursed under my breath at my foggy brain. Heats were like that, sending all the blood from my head downward.
I moved toward the inside door, fumbling with my key. Finally, I got it open.
When I stepped inside, I smelled alpha. My alpha. All fresh pine and spice. And sex.
