Page 82 of Hidden Fates
Which is our cue to get out of here.
Skye is quiet as we walk back to the car, her hand in mine and her thumb brushing against the back of my thumb. “That was sweet. Usually when fans run into us, they’re only interested in us separately. But tonight, we both got to sign something.”
Hmmm. It did feel good to take some of the attention off her.
We’ve suggested a collab between our bands before, but the label is adamantly against it. Something about the difference in our genres and styles being too wide a gap for our fans to handle. Seems silly to me when everyone who follows us knows we’re Fate-matched mates.
As the car warms up, I buckle Skye in, scent-marking her cheek before pressing my lips to her forehead. “I’m sorry our date was interrupted.”
“Occupational hazard,” she quips, her eyes heavy with sleep. Most likely another side effect of her bond sickness. She’s been sleeping a lot since she bonded with Caleb. We hope it’s her body’s way of resetting now that they’ve been reunited.
“I was promised food and orgasms.”
Resting my palm on her thigh, one corner of my mouth lifts. “I don’t remember that last part.”
Her huff is full of humor. Soft fingers thread with mine, guiding my hand toward her pussy. “You brought me out looking like a snack and didn’t plan to do anything about how wet you make me? How cruel.”
“Behave,” I growl, returning our hands to their spot above her knee. “Food first. Then we’ll take care of your needy pussy.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Flicking a fry at Onyx, I laugh at his scowl.
Tonight’s been a blast. I had so much fun exploring the different areas and learning about their winter-thriving plants.
I grew up in Indiana with heavy snow in the cold seasons, but the only things I ever saw survive were some trees and grass. No one ever grew anything that could survive the drop in temperature.
“Done eating?” My Alpha asks, tilting his head toward the remnants of the appetizer tray we shared. My stomach is already pretty full. I don’t want to push myself when we have plans afterward.
When I admit as much, he tosses a few bills onto the table and offers me his hand. He’s warm; his palms calloused from years of drumming, and I can’t help but burrow into his side, stealing some of the heat radiating off his body as we step into the cold night air.
Our hotel is across the street, so we don’t have far to go to escape the chill. The attendant at the desk greets us as we make our way to the elevator, heading up to our room.
Resting my chin on his chest, I stare up at my mate. Short hair covers his jaw, the texture rough against my fingers as I drag them down to his chin. His scent is heavy. Edgier. The charcoal and cedarwood taking on a smoky aspect.
Is it stress? A lot has changed in our lives recently. Moving. Adding a new packmate. Getting a pet. I would understand if this was overwhelming for him. Sometimes it is for me, but I have all of them to help balance me out.
Have I been neglecting my Alpha’s needs?
“What’s going through that pretty head of yours, bubbles?”
Rusty brown eyes pierce me, pinning me in place as he prods at our bond, trying to get a sense of what I’m feeling.
“Are you happy?”
His brow lifts, lips thinning.
“With all the changes in our pack.”
His fingers dance up my spine beneath my coat, tickling me with how soft the touch is. “If you’re happy, so am I.”
When we first met, I would have fought him on that statement. None of my mate’s happiness should depend on my happiness. Only years of communicating let me see his words in a different way. He doesn’t mean it as cut-and-dry as it sounds. He’s simply acknowledging that my wants align with his. That our pack’s future is the path he wants to take.
“Even with Caleb joining us?”
The elevator dings, forcing me to pull away so we can walk down the hall. “He’s your Fate-matched mate.”
“It still feels like I’m dreaming,” I admit, reaching up to brush my fingers against Caleb’s bite. Am I going to wake up tomorrow and realize I had imagined the last few months? Could I survive that if it happened?
