When the aftershocks faded and my vision was no longer blurred, I saw a puddle of white beneath Brady, telling me he'd finished, too.
My mate was visibly exhausted. I held him close so he didn't fall.
"I've got you," I murmured again.
Brady smiled, weak but happy, and beaming with affection. "I know."
Nine
Brady
As we snuggledin the massage chair together, I nuzzled TJ’s neck, loving the feeling of his rough stubble and his alpha scent. The clock on the wall said it was past midnight. I couldn’t believe I’d been with TJ for less than 24 hours. It felt like I’d known him an eternity.
I yawned, then snuggled into his warm chest. We were barely held in place by the armrests, but neither of us cared as long as we were close.
“I don’t wanna go home,” I complained with a sigh.
“Then don’t.” TJ ran his fingers through my hair. “Stay here.”
“In the tattoo studio? Sure. I’ll sleep on the floor and Kiara can sleep at the front desk.”
“Good idea. Maybe you can make breakfast in the microwave."
I grinned. “Loving this plan so far.”
“Do you live nearby?” TJ asked.
“Close enough to walk. Why?”
TJ kissed the top of my hair, letting the moment build. “Move in with me.”
I sputtered. “Where’d that come from?”
He smiled. “You don’t like my idea? I figured if you’re going to work here, and it’s not too big of a move, it’d be perfect.”
I stared at him, mouth agape like a fish out of water. “Itisperfect.”
“Then why are you surprised?”
“Because I’m not used to perfect things happening to me,” I murmured.
I hid my blushing face in his chest as TJ chuckled.
“Get used to it,” TJ said warmly, wrapping his strong arm around my back. “You’re my fated mate, Brady. I’ll bend over backwards for you every single day.”
That worsened the explosion of heat in my cheeks. “I’m gonna blow up if you keep saying mushy stuff like that.”
He smirked. “Oh no, we can’t have that. What if I promise to put the pieces back together after?”
I pretended to think about it for a second. “Hmm... Okay, then you can continue.”
“Permission granted? Great. Thanks, my sweet, adorable snugglemuffin.”
I groaned through a laugh. “A big, tatted-up alpha cannot go around calling me snugglemuffin.”
“Why not? I have feelings, too, you know,” he teased.
My comeback was to kiss him, which rapidly dissolved into another touching session. He was careful to avoid my newly tattooed arm while he roamed across my chest, caressing me lightly. Both of us were too exhausted by the day’s eventsplusfucking to do anything else, so this casual, lazy touching was nice.
