“Aria, I… I can’t accept this!” I barked, handing it back, but she wouldn’t accept it.
“Yes, you can,” she replied, flapping a hand in my direction. “It’s a woman’s ring, sized to fit me, but you can trade it in for something you like. It’s rightfully yours. You’re the one who has his heart, after all.” She smiled.
I felt my cheeks flush hot. I cast a quick glance to Adam, who seemed just as surprised as I did. “Thank you, Aria. You could’ve kept it, you know, for all the problems my father put you through.”
She shrugged. “I know that, but I wanted Fletcher to have it. If anyone’s been wronged by your father, it’s him. Now, can we please eat? I’m starving!”
“Me too,” I admitted as my stomach gave another low gurgle.
The three of us sat on the couch, passing the pizza box back and forth in lieu of a plate because none of the dishes had been unpacked yet. The pizza was perfectly greasy and doughy, and the company made my mood a little lighter.
Aria stayed for an hour or so. When she left, she surprised me by giving me and Adam both a hug. “Now, don’t be a stranger,” she said. “I could use a friend…or two. I expect updates on how your new and improved lives are going! And you’d better invite me back for a housewarming party.”
“You’d be the only person we’d invite,” Adam pointed out, but she simply shrugged.
“I’ll bring food. It’ll be fun. See you later, guys.” With a wave, she let herself out the front door, and we were alone again.
Adam locked it behind her, turning to me as he leaned back against it. His brow furrowed as he studied me. A pang of guilt rang through me, clear as a bell, and I dropped my gaze.
“Are you sure?” I finally asked.
“What? About what, Fletcher?”
“About me…” I looked around the small living space, at all the boxes crowded around us, and my forehead crumpled. “You’re giving up so much for me.”
“No.” He pushed off the door and came to me, stopping right in front of me. I gazed up into his soft golden eyes as he cupped my jaw in his hands and stroked my cheekbones with his thumbs. “I’m giving it up forus—and yes, I’m sure. The thought of losing you makes me feel sick, and I don’t think I could love anyone more than I do you, Fletcher. You’re it for me.”
My heart beat picked up speed, pattering wildly against my breastbone. A small smile peeked at the corners of my lips. I stepped into his space, resting my hands on either side of his neck, until we were nearly nose to nose.
“Prove it.”
Adam’s growl was soft and low, and it did all sorts of things to my insides. My lynx purred as the Alpha leaned down and captured my lips in a hard, passionate kiss. Then, without preamble, he picked me up in his arms as if I weighed nothing at all, and he carried me up the stairs to the bedroom.
We made love on the freshly-made bed, my fingers digging into Adam’s biceps as my legs wrapped around his waist. Adam’s hips snapped in a rhythmic motion, each thrust sending him deep inside of me and making me quiver with passion and need.
“A-Adam!” I panted out, right on the edge. Then he fucked me over it and followed me down, down, down. “Fuck!” My body spasmed with each wave of pleasure that soared through me, clenching around Adam’s knot and milking him.
He filled me with his release, hot and sweet—followed by a bite of pain as Adam’s fangs sank into the side of my neck, claiming me as his.
I cried out again as another rush of pleasure flooded me, and I didn’t hesitate. Grabbing a handful of Adam’s hair, I bit himback. His skin popped beneath my teeth and sweet blood flowed over my tongue as I sucked at the wound.
We collapsed in a heap on the sheets, panting and moaning, but nothing else mattered in that moment because Adam was mine. My Alpha. My mate. My forever and always.
And I was his.
PART 2
44
FLETCHER
Five Years Later…
I bit my bottom lip,pacing the floor of the tiny bathroom. Back and forth. Back and forth. My bare feet shuffled over the linoleum, my toes curling whenever I’d stop.
On the back of the toilet tank, lined up like toy soldiers, were three different pregnancy tests. Three, because I didn’t trust a single one not to give me false hope, and two meant there might be a tie.
God…
