Oak met my eyes and rolled theirs again, and all I could do was shake my head in total agreement. Garrick was being ridiculous.
“I saw you on the cameras. You took Roman out of his cell and left the building. You know you’re not allowed to take prisoners out of their cells, Oakley.”
“For fuck’s sake, Roman wasn’t a prisoner. He didn’t do anything wrong, and you know what? Even if he did, I would’ve taken him out anyway because he’s my viramore. Get over it. And don’t call us again until you’re actually ready to apologize.” They held the phone up to their mouth and spoke louder. “Tan, thanks for trying! Love you!”
“Love you too, Oak! And Rome!”Tan yelled back.
Oakley hung up the phone as Garrick started speaking again, then passed it back to me. “Sooooo… if he keeps calling, I say we turn the thing off, and if Tan can bypass that too, we can just lock it in the bathroom or somewhere it won’t bother us.”
I grinned at them. “I like that plan.”
And then, because I really wanted to, I leaned in closer to them, bringing my lips a few inches from theirs. “Can I kiss you?”
They nodded, smiling. “Definitely.”
Wrapping one hand around the back of their neck, I moved in and slowly pressed my lips to theirs, letting the kiss linger. I didn’t deepen it, even though I wanted to. This was more about connection and affection, not anything to do with sex—although that was welcome anytime, anywhere, whenever Oak was ready.
I knew they were working things out in their head, and I didn’t want to push.
We could take our time.
They were my forever.
I rested my forehead against theirs, closing my eyes and breathing them in. I could smell their morning breath—no doubt they could smell mine—but more than that, I could smell their sleepy morning warmth since we were still wrapped up in blankets and cuddled together.
I loved that my scent was mixing with theirs, that anyone who scented them today would smell me on them.
Even if they showered, I was sure my scent would linger. And if it didn’t, I’d have to convince them to let me rub my scent on them. Everyone needed to know they’re mine.
I planned on hugging and cuddling them to me as much as they’d let me today, anyway.
The more time we spent together, the more we touched, the more ingrained my scent would be on them… and their scent on me.
It would beour scent. And I couldn’t wait for that to happen.
“What are you thinking about?”
I opened my eyes to find them watching me. “Your scent mixing with mine. Smells so good.”
“It does, but that breath.” They poked my lips. “Phew-y. It’s horrible. You need to brush those teeth STAT.”
I chuckled and pecked their lips. “Yours is just as bad.”
“Hasn’t stopped you from kissing me.”
With smiling lips, I kissed them again. “You haven’t stopped me.”
They laughed and gave me a push. “Get outta here and brush your teeth.”
“Yes, my liege,” I said with a laugh, got out of bed, and gave a dramatic bow.
Oakley laughed and threw a pillow at me. It hit me in the head, making us both laugh louder, and then I headed into the attached bathroom.
“I’m gonna take a shower too, unless you need to use the bathroom first?”
They shook their head. “As long as you hurry ‘cause I kinda have to pee.”
“Then you go first.”
