I’d watched videos. I might be a twenty-five-year-old virgin, but I had an imagination. I was a shifter—an omega at that. One who had gone into heat more than once. I knew how sex worked, and I was aware that it was going to happen between me and Clay sooner or later.
I thought about that, about getting naked with him and letting him see and touch me, and there was no panic, no thoughts of ickiness. That must have been a mate thing because I suddenly found myself very much wanting to be with Clay in many different ways.
My phone vibrated, and when I picked it up, I smiled at the message from Charlie.
Charlie: There’s so much to say about Clay. He’s amazing. All of the brothers are in their own ways. Clay is very meticulous about things. He’s solid and you can count on him for anything. He’s going to fall for you and protect you hard. Let him because it will be so worth it. We will talk more tomorrow at work. Unless you’re not going to be there.
I grinned. I’d definitely be at work tomorrow. It was Monday, and although we weren’t normally super busy on Mondays, I was scheduled, and I wasn’t going to leave them hanging with short notice.
Me: Thanks Charlie! I’ll be there tomorrow.
I dropped the phone back onto the bed before I got up and left the room. I’d lost track of time, and hopefully, Clay had enough time to calm down a bit. I didn’t really feel threatened, but I understood that he needed some time to calm down.
I toed off my shoes, leaving them beside the door, before I went downstairs to search for Clay. He was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, drinking a glass of what looked like water. Either that or he was smashing a full glass of vodka or gin.
“Hi,” I said, not sure what to say to him.
“Hello again.” Clay smiled. “I apologize.”
I shook my head. “No need. I get it.” I tried to smile, but I knew it came out weird. “I understand that things like that will happen. You’re an alpha. I’m an omega. We’re mates. Things like thatwillhappen.”
Clay nodded slowly. “Only when you’re ready,” he told me.
“I get that. I might need a few days though,” I said. “Is that okay? I can stay elsewhere if it’s easier for you.”
Clay immediately shook his head. “I’ll go elsewhere if I make you uncomfortable,” he said. “I have three unmated brothers who have places I can crash at. This is your home now. You need to be comfortable here.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like I would ever ask or expect you to leave your own house.” That had to be one of the most ridiculous things I’d heard. Seriously.
“It’s your house as much as it is mine.” I wasn’t going to argue. It wasn’t my house, and we both knew that. It was Clay’s. “Do you know what your schedule is like this week? Do you have any days off?”
“I don’t work on Tuesday at the zoo, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Clay nodded. “Good. If you are okay with spending a bit of time with me on Tuesday, we’ll start getting you added to the accounts and all of that. I have a better idea what all needs to be done since Silver and Charlie just went through it fairly recently.”
“Went through what, exactly?”
“The list of all of the things that you need to be added to. We’ll need to discuss marriage and if we want that as well, but it can wait, obviously.”
I stared at Clay, trying to understand everything he was telling me. Marriage? Add me to what, exactly? “What are you adding me to?” I asked when I couldn’t come up with any sort of answer.
“Bank account, the deed to the house, retirement accounts, things like that. Oh. Insurance as well. Do you have medical insurance through your job? Silverback has a great insurance policy for us, and adding you will be easy enough. It’ll come in handy for later.”
“Uhh…so soon? All of that? This fast? What if you decide you don’t want to go through with claiming me?”
Clay smiled. “There is absolutely nothing other than your rejection or death that could keep me and my gorilla from claiming our mate. It’s not going to happen. If it’s too fast, we can wait.” Clay tilted his head. “You didn’t answer though. Do you have medical insurance?”
I shook my head. I’d not really ever needed it. “No. It was offered, but I deferred it simply because it was an expense I didn’t see that I needed. I don’t really get sick.”
Clay nodded again. “I’ll get that paperwork started tomorrow. Unless you’re not going to work tomorrow?”
“I am. I’ll talk to my boss about getting some extra time off though. Mondays aren’t usually busy, but I don’t want to call off on short notice.”
“I understand. We’ll talk about the bar at some point.”
I snorted. “I’ll message Stephen tomorrow about that. The turnover there is quite a bit higher.” I glanced around the kitchen. “I don’t know what my split of the bills here is going to be, but I might be able to cut back there. The tips are good though.”
Clay narrowed his eyes, and I stared back. “Why do you think you will be paying bills? You being here isn’t going to raise the costs much. The food bill might increase a bit.”
