“They sure are.”
Chapter Fourteen
Briar
I had a late class. Atmosphere immersion. It was only once a month because it was late at night and kind of taxing on me. I already had so many other classes going on. I was concerned about classes not filling up since I opened the studio in a small town, but on the weekends, I now had people coming in from the next county and cities. Especially the breath work classes.
After everyone left, it was time to clean up. Not that the place got dirty, but there was sweat and germs, and a yoga studio or any health outlet didn’t want to be marked as a place where people got sick.
It was a business killer for sure.
Besides, mopping was therapeutic. The rhythm. The repeated motions. I had to focus completely or miss a spot or slip and fall.
Mundane meditations. Huh. Another workshop maybe.
Ugh, I was over my head. I had an entire journal worth of class ideas. If I could only have a few extra hours every day.
A knock on the door jerked me from concentrating but as soon as I saw who it was, it was all worth it.
My mate.
“Hey,” I said, unlocking the door and letting him in. “What are you doing here?”
“I was going to go visit you at your house but when I passed, I saw the lights still on. The immersion class?”
I nodded. “Yes. You were coming to visit me?”
He nodded and held up a bag. “I was hungry and went out to get something and wanted to get you something too. Mostly, I just wanted to visit. My deer has been driving me nuts about not seeing you enough.”
“I love your deer. He has good ideas. What did you bring?”
Foster had stopped by the cheese shop. It was new, and I hadn’t gotten a chance to go in yet. “They had mini charcuterie boxes. I need to learn more about what you like.”
That bit of effort warmed my heart. “I’d love to learn more about you too.”
We shared a sweet kiss that almost turned into more. But I had work to do for classes tomorrow, and the snacks were enticing. Almost as much as him.
“Let me help.”
After eating the boxes of cheese, crackers, dried fruits, and nuts, and one luscious piece of honeycomb, we got to work. I continued mopping while Foster ran all the mats through the cleaner. He straightened the merchandise section. I’d gotten some reusable water bottles, and they were flying off the shelves.
With the both of us working, it only took an hour or so before all the things were clean and ready for more people.
“Can I walk you home, omega?” he asked, his hand on the small of my back as I locked up.
“Yes. I’d love that.”
We took the long way home, chatting about his job and how he was learning to handle his stressors. He put his arm around my shoulders when the wind blew chilly around us. Oliver Creek bustled during the day, but at night, it took on a picturesque glow. New lanterns had been installed along the main sidewalks. People kept their windows and curtains open, so every time we passed a house, we got a glimpse into their lives. Families having dinner together. Couples cuddled on the couch. People reading alone with only one lamp beside them.
I turned my head to look at Foster. His scent had changed since I’d met him. Still some stress, as we all had, but his natural scent was primary now.
“What are you looking at me like that for?” He moved his arm to my waist.
A giggle burst from me. “Just admiring the view. A bit of longing.”
That stopped him. He turned to me and we stood face-to-face under one of those flickering lanterns. “Longing? Well, we can’t have that.” He gripped my hips and pulled me in for a kiss that was not sweet. It was full of need and passion. My knees turned to jelly. “Tell me what you long for, baby.”
“You. I long for you, alpha.”
