But I had to stop thinking about myself and focus on my mate. What if he didn't want to see me? Me leaving this morning might have ruined whatever chance we'd had.
I forced myself to knock before I could lose my nerve and leave.
At first there was silence, and I wondered if he was at the restaurant or if he'd fallen asleep. Neither of us got much sleep last night. I was about to knock once more when footsteps approached the door.
The door opened, and Weston appeared wearing a flannel shirt and jeans. His hair was combed, but he hadn’t shaved. His eyes widened when he saw me.
“Asher.”
“Hi.” I should have said more than one word because he responded with, “Hey.”
“This is a little awkward.” That was a fib because it was a lot awkward. “Can we talk?”
He glanced over his shoulder at the unmade bed, and for a moment, I thought that he had some other guy in the room. I started to back away because this was worse than him not wanting to mate a shifter. What we had meant nothing and he’d already moved on.
“Sure. The room’s a mess. I’ve been out all day.”
My bear told me I needed to trust Weston and not jump to conclusions.
Unlike last night, Weston had papers scattered across the desk, and his laptop was open. Of course he’d been working and focusing on his research and not pining away for me. I’d been the one freaking out after chatting to Anita and Zach.
He closed the door, and we stood in the middle of the room with neither of us saying anything. My bear warned me if I didn't talk to our mate, he’d take his fur and there’d be no need for any explanation.
No, because Weston would have to be resuscitated.
“I’m sorry for leaving this morning.” I looked directly at him, hoping that signaled I was sincere. “I should have waited until you woke up.”
“It’s okay.” His voice betrayed no emotion. “You don't owe me an explanation because we barely know each other.”
Ouch! That was what he thought of me, though I could hardly expect him to admit he’d fallen in love at first sight. I wanted him to, though. I needed him to say I’d caught his eye across the restaurant and knew I was the one.
Remember what Zach said about Weston marking you.
My bear was great at giving advice, but I was the one who had to deliver the lines.
“I didn’t want to leave.” I needed to do something with my hands, and I couldn’t grab Weston, so I crossed my arms, which wasn’t a smart move. That was a sign I was putting a barrier between him and me.
“I had to get away and think about what happened between us.” That was an odd way of putting it because we’d fucked. But it was the emotional experience that I’d focused on, not that putting a cock in his hole wasn’t pleasurable.
He pulled out a chair and told me to sit while he plonked himself on the edge of the mattress.
“Tell me what you were thinking.”
I sighed because once again I was in the hot seat.
“As if I'd found something I didn't know I was looking for.” Hmmm, being honest wasn’t as hard as I made it out to be. Though I was keeping a huge secret, one that potentially dwarfed how much I adored him. “Everything made sense, but…”
I wasn’t about to launch into an explanation about shifters, but I stumbled over explaining what was in my heart.
“But it’s also terrifying.” I winced, expecting him to say that if that was how I interpreted what we’d done, I could get out. I took a deep breath and lifted my head because he deserved my full attention and not a cowardly gaze at a chip in the wooden floor.
Weston’s face lit up. “I’m pretty sure I’ve experienced the same emotion.”
“You have?” I reached out and stroked the back of his hand, and he squeezed my fingers.
The distance that had stretched between us when I walked in the room diminished, and I was able to breathe without the oxygen clogging my lungs.
“I was upset when you weren't here this morning,” he admitted. "I assumed you'd decided last night was a mistake and that you regretted it.”
