Page 62 of His Rejected Fated Mate

I pulled myself up, and Troy followed me. We headed up the stairs, and I popped my old apartment open. I left most everything up here, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was nice to step into this space that I called home for so long.

“I still can’t believe you lived here,” Troy said as he slipped his shoes off.

“It’s not as bad as you think.” I expressed as took off mine too. I spotted that the bed was still made and chewed on my cheek. “How do you want to do this?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Do what?”

“Sleep. The bed is a twin.”

“I can sleep on the couch.”

I shook my head. “No, you should have the bed.”

He walked over toward me and softly smiled. “Or we could just both share the bed because we’re adults.”

I nodded. “That’s an option.”

He sat down on the bed, and I watched the way his eyes looked around the space.

“Do you want anything? I know there is tea up here still. Maybe some crackers.”

He shook his head. “No, honestly, I just want to rest. I just…” I could see something flicker across his face.

I moved closer. “Troy, what’s wrong?”

He sighed. “I just… wish I had the answer to everything. This is frustrating. I feel like I’m failing.”

I frowned. “You’re not, though. This is just a bump in the road.”

He shook his head, and I hated to see the look of despair on his face. I saw how hard he worked, and he was doing everything he could.

“Troy, you are doing everything right.” I reached up, placing my hands on his shoulders. “Your pack is so lucky to have you.”

He looked up at me. His arms reached out and grabbed my hips. He pulled me closer, staring up at me. “I’m lucky to have you. Because I have no idea how I would be handling all of this without you.”

I blushed, unable to stop the way my heart skipped a beat. “I’m sure you would have figured something out.”

He shook his head, tugging me closer. My knees hit the bed, and his thighs pressed against mine. His eyes softened as he looked at me. “Not in the same way.”

I swallowed, pulling a hand up and running it over his hair. I watched the way he leaned into the touch, and I felt that ache. I missed him so much.

“We should sleep.”

He nodded. “We should.”

But neither of us moved. I felt his hand move, cupping my cheek. I basked in the feeling.

He scooted closer, his hands tugging me against him. Our faces were just inches from each other now. I could smell his cologne and felt my shoulder sink.

I stared at his lips, and I knew he was doing the same. “I miss you,” I admitted. “And I don’t want to screw this up.”

His fingers cupped my chin. “We won’t. I won’t let us.”

“You promise?”

He nodded. “I promise.”

I leaned into him, and our lips pressed against each other. It was soft at first. Both of us seeming unsure if this was right. But we melted. I climbed into his lap, and Troy pulled me flush against him.