“Yes, because I do too,” I admitted.
We finished putting our clothes back on, and on the way back to the door, Dante told me how my display was stealing the show. I’d heard it from the servers, but hearing it from my mate just hit differently. We went in through the kitchen, and I had to give them credit for pretending like nothing had happened, despite knowing that the rumor had already spread that far.
Back at the event, Dante went to meet with some bigwigs from the organization he was helping. I didn’t know if they were presidents or managers or fundraising coordinators. It didn’t matter, because my dessert table was looking weak.
I had plenty to keep me busy, going back and forth, replenishing it, cleaning it, swapping out tablecloths. And when the to-do list was nearing an end, trying hard to focus on the details at hand and not on the sexy man who would be waiting for me at the end of the night. Trying and failing.
I ran a finger over my lips, wishing his were there again.
My bearcat was content for the first time, possibly ever, at least in my memory. I had no idea what it was going to be like when the event rolled to an end. We’d made no decisions at all, other than that we’d wait for each other. For now, that was enough. It had to be. Didn’t mean I liked it.
Chapter Eleven
Dante
We went home to his place. To my mate’s apartment over the bakery. “We can pick up your van in the morning,” I told him. “As long as you’re all right with that?”
“If Karma doesn’t mind. I’ve already caused enough commotion.”
Karma, of course, had no issues with us leaving the van and in fact suggested we leave the keys and someone else could drop it off on their way home. They had employees heading in that direction.
She was standing in front of her mate, his big arm wrapped around her shoulders. “I’ll take care of it,” he said. “I know just the delivery wolves.”
We thanked them and left in my car, grateful we didn’t have to go through the crowd in front. The event had ended, but people were still lingering and having “one more drink,” and it was nice not to have to face them. All evening, while we did our work, people were congratulating us on our mating. There was no need to keep it a secret when the marking had been public. But after a while, it was a little overwhelming. Strangers saying, “We can always tell everyone we were at your mating.”
Our mating. We hadn’t made love, but had skipped right to the marking. “Do you think it’s weird that we marked first? Have you ever heard of that happening?” he asked, reading my mind.
“No, in fact dragons only do the alpha marking, and it’s very ceremonial and in private after making love.”
He looked disappointed, and I leaned over to plant a kiss on his cheek. “But I like our way, whatever that turns out to be. Now, your place or mine?”
“Would you mind if we went to mine? The bakery work starts early.”
“And you plan to get up to do it?” I turned on the engine and drove down the steep road. “Because I like to flatter myself that we’ll be tired in the morning.”
“Count on it,” he said, leaning back in the seat. “I can’t wait to have you inside me.”
I shuddered, fingers gripping the wheel tightly. “Keep talking like that and I’ll pull this car over, drag you onto my lap, and make your waiting less.”
“Do it if you like.”
I considered. I wanted to, I really did. “No. I want our first time together to happen in bed where we have privacy and are comfortable.”
“Since our actual marking was anything but private, that does sound nice.”
He directed me to the bakery, and I parked in back where he said he usually left the van overnight, and I went around the car and opened his door for him. He got out, keys in hand, and led me up the stairs to his apartment. Since there was no baking going on at the moment, the bakery windows were dark, I could still smell the yeast and scent of baking bread. I realized there was a faint bit of that to his scent as well.
Inside the apartment, he tossed his keys on a small table by the door and closed and locked it behind us. “Um, do you want anything to eat or…”
“I only want you, omega.” I pulled him into my arms for our first private kiss. “You smell good.”
“So do you.” He rested his head on my shoulder for a moment then stepped back and took my hand. “The bedroom is this way.”
We walked together until we got to the bedroom doorway where we kissed again. “I can’t believe tonight,” he murmured, “but we’re both wearing way too many clothes.”
Something we took care of quickly. Clothing landed all over the floor, and then we were holding one another again, tumbling onto the bed, kissing and touching anywhere we could reach. “Mate, I think this first time is going to go fast.”
“I hope so.” He closed a fist around my cock and squeezed. “Because I don’t want to wait. I feel like I’ve been waiting for you forever, and now that you’re here, I don’t want to waste a minute.”
