Chapter Fifteen
Felix
Friday afternoon, after the office closed, my mate was ready to go. His bags were packed with his new bigger shirts and the cute maternity jeans with the special stretchy waistband, because his belly got bigger by the day. He held off on getting the jeans until he could absolutely not button the others at all.
“We forgot snacks,” Locus said when I came back inside, the truck was already packed.
“We didn’t. Someone who loves you put a ton of your favorite snacks in a plastic bin, and it’s already in the back of the truck. And...” I stopped him from talking with my hand in the air. I knew what he would ask. “There’s another one in the front seat with muffins from Patty, along with an ice chest and two jars of peanut butter.” I made a hmm noise, pretty damned proud of myself for getting everything right.
“Spoons?” he asked, one eyebrow cocked.
“You want to spoon with me?” I asked, teasing.
“No, well yes. I mean, yes, I want to spoon with you, and really I meant did you put spoons with the peanut butter?”
I chuckled and grabbed my jacket. “There’s spoons with the peanut butter, not that the absence of said spoons would stop you.”
“True.” He blew out a breath and stood there rubbing his belly, looking around.
“Locus, look at me.” He did, and I made sure to smile. “I have everything my omega needs. And if I forgot something, we will buy it near the cabin. Got it?”
He sighed and nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”
We got into the car, and Locus fussed a little about his belly and the seat belt before starting in on the first jar. I didn’t worry about it. Not only did he still need to gain a little weight for himself, but he was feeding a kit in his belly.
Hours later, we arrived. The place was spectacular, even more than I remembered. Trees were everywhere, as far as the eye could see. A mountain range lay in the distance, but in view from every part of the place. I knew from being here before that a massive gate surrounded the place, along with intense security measures, making sure shifters were safe to not only enjoy it as humans, but to run freely as their animals without fear. One huge lodge served as the main building with rooms for rent as well as group activities and a restaurant. I’d reserved my mate and I one of the private cabins, more secluded, but just as safe.
“This is beautiful,” Locus said while we drove through the security gate that doubled as the check-in. Panther Lodge left people alone while they were staying. They cleaned your room and the place while customers were out enjoying the waterfalls and trails. Unless you needed something, it felt like you were alone in an oasis.
We drove up to our private cabin, and I carried everything inside. I’d arranged to have three meals a day delivered so we wouldn’t have to go out to eat. I intended to keep my mate right in the room as much as possible, preferably naked.
“Look at this tub!” He climbed in, clothes and all, sitting on the edge. It was massive, one of those big garden tubs with two faucets that spewed water out like waterfalls. The rest of the bathroom was all marble, including a double shower with built-in benches that I fully intended to take advantage of.
“How about we try it out. You look tired. This will relax you.”
Locus nodded and pecked me once on the lips. “Sounds perfect, alpha.”
“I’ll run the water. Why don’t you check out the rest of the place?”
He left and I ran the water, warm but not too hot. We didn’t want to raise his blood pressure or make him overheated. I heard him rifling through the snack tub and chuckled as he gasped, finding all the treasures I’d packed for him. I turned down the dimmer on the lights and lit a few candles set around the bathroom, courtesy of the lodge.
While the water ran, I thought about the last few months. Locus owned me. He was the best receptionist, but more than that, he had become beloved by anyone who came into the office. The older ladies baked him loaves of banana bread and hand knitted blankets for him and our babe. Once or twice when he was too tired to come into work, people pouted at being checked in by someone other than him.
I couldn’t remember what it was like when he wasn’t around.
But he still hadn’t told me he loved me and while it was only three words, I waited to hear them from him. I knew he did, but my selfish human wanted to hear it.
“Water’s ready,” I called to the other room. I heard his footsteps as he walked in.
“I’m ready, too,” he said and I turned to look at him. My mate stood in the doorway, leaning against the wall, stark naked. His belly was rounded and from eating, he wasn’t skinny anymore. His body had become svelte while he grew our young.
“Get in.” I lifted my arm to steady him while he climbed in.
“You’re not leaving me alone in here, are you?” He winked at me.
“Nope. Never.” I stripped off my clothes and stepped in. The water was the perfect temperature. It sloshed against the sides as I sat down and moaned out loud. Maybe I needed this trip as much as he did.
Locus sat between my legs, his back to my chest, and laid his head against my shoulder. I took the honey-almond soap and the washcloth from the side of the tub and lathered it. “Sit up so I can wash your back.”
“Is it dirty?” he asked and I laughed. Sometimes he was still more fox than human.
“No, I’m trying to be romantic here. Jeez.”
He paused. “Oh, romantic in the bathtub. I get it. Proceed.” He leaned forward. As I started at his neck and washed him from his shoulders to the bottom of his back, he groaned in ecstasy. There was something about your mate soaping you up that always did the trick.
“Turn around, mate. Let me get your front.”
He turned and I washed his pecs, running the soft cloth over his pert nipples. Locus winced. “Those are tender. Be careful. But not too careful.”
“Soon you’ll feed our babe from those.” He nodded, and I continued to wash his belly and then between his legs. His cock was already hard and bobbed every time I touched it. I washed his legs and then his feet before putting the cloth back on the side of the tub.
“Are you tired?” I took his dick into my hands and pumped it slowly. He tipped his head back and held onto my shoulders.
“Not too tired, if that’s what you mean.”
“That’s what I mean. Kiss me, love.” He drew closer and took my mouth with desperation. My mate always tasted like sweetness and peanut butter, never a bad thing.
Yes, we mated all the time, but this was different. There were no cell phones ready to ring at a moment’s notice and no work schedules to wake up to in the morning. We were free here.
We continued to kiss. My mate got onto my lap, straddling my hips like he did the first time he took me into his mouth. I reached behind him and kneaded his ass cheeks and played at his already-slick entrance while his mouth trailed down to my neck. My cock pulsed and rubbed against his, needing to be inside him. I couldn’t wait any longer.
“Turn around, Locus. Facing away from me,” I growled out, my need so close to the edge.