Page 35 of Eddie

“Tell me what you want,” Eddie murmured.

Matthias’s breath hitched. “Just you.”

Eddie’s hands moved over his body, and Matthias arched into the touch, his buffalo rumbling with satisfaction. This was right. It was what they’d been missing and what they’d been searching for without even knowing it.

Matthias felt the mate bond flare between them when Eddie pushed inside of him. Eddie couldn’t feel it the way Matthias could, especially when they weren’t bonded yet, but Matthias thought that maybe he sensed something because his eyes widened and his hips stuttered.

“Matt,” Eddie said, his voice rough. “I—”

“I know. I feel it, too.” He always would because Eddie was his, forever.

The two of them moved together, finding a rhythm that felt natural—and it was. This was meant to be. They were meant to be.

Matthias buried his face against Eddie’s neck, breathing in his scent, and felt something in him settle. It wasn’t a full bond yet, but it was a step forward, and Matthias had faith that soon, they’d cross that road, too.

Matthias had never felt so cherished, even though he’d been in relationships before. None of the guys he’d been with could hold a candle to Eddie, but then, none of them had been Matthias’s mate. Eddie made sure that Matthias got what he needed, making him come first, his hand flying up and down Matthias’s cock as he pounded into him. Matthias didn’t try to delay the inevitable. He wanted to come with Eddie inside of him, and he did. Eddie wasn’t far behind, which was good because Matthias wanted him to feel good, too.

They were both breathing hard and flopped down on the bed, tangled together. Matthias felt lighter than he had in years.

Eddie’s head ended up on his chest, one of his hands splayed over Matthias’s heart, and Matthias wrapped his arms around him, holding him close. He never wanted to let him go.

“Stay,” Eddie murmured, already half-asleep. “There’s no need for you to get a motel.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Matthias promised, and meant it with everything he had.

Eddie’s breathing evened out, and Matthias lay there, staring at the ceiling. His phone was in his jeans pocket on the floor, and he knew there were probably messages waiting from his mother, his brother, maybe even from Jenna checking in. He wasn’t quite sure what to think about her behavior, but he supposed the future would tell.

He didn’t reach for his phone the way he normally would have. For the first time in his life, Matthias wasn’t thinking about what his family needed, what crisis was waiting for him, or what he was supposed to fix next.

He was just here with Eddie, in this small house in this quiet town, holding his mate and feeling the steady rise and fall of Eddie’s breath against his chest.

He’d never felt like he belonged more.

His buffalo was content, settled in a way it had never been before. And Matthias, well, he was happy.

He pressed a kiss to the top of Eddie’s head and let his eyes drift closed.

Tomorrow, he’d figure out the logistics of his move, like finding work, packing his stuff, and of course, where he’d move to. Tonight, though, he could bask in a happiness he’d never felt before.

Chapter Seven

EDDIE HUMMED AS HE flipped a pancake. He could hear Matthias moving around upstairs, and he knew his mate was getting ready for the day. Luckily for both of them, today was Sunday, so they could spend the day together and relax. Maybe, if Eddie played his cards right, they could even spend the day in bed. They were meeting Eddie’s friends later, but they still had long hours of nothing planned stretching in front of them.

Eddie couldn’t stop smiling. He didn’t think he’d stopped smiling since he and Matthias had gotten together. For a while there, he hadn’t been sure they would, even though he’d told himself that since they were mates, they were destined to be together. But Matthias had chosen him over his family, and so far, everything was going well. They hadn’t bonded yet, but they were still getting to know each other, something that was made easier by the fact that Matthias had moved in with Eddie.

Eddie was ready to bond. He was pretty sure that Matthias was, too. They’d been giving each other time, but they’d settled into living together more easily than Eddie had expected. Maybe he should have known. Even though neither of them was perfect, they were mates, and they were perfect for each other. Matthias was incredibly easy to live with. He cleaned up after himself, enjoyed cooking, and above all else, loved taking care of Eddie. He was happier now that he’d left his family behind, and he’d truly settled down in Green Hill.

He and Eddie had gone to his apartment to pack his things after Matthias had cut his family out. Eddie had been nervous, but no one had been there waiting for Matthias. It was as if Matthias’s family had given up on him, but while Eddie hoped that was the case, he doubted it. He was sure they would call again once they needed something. It was just a question of time.

That would be the first hurdle they’d have to get over as a couple. Matthias had said that he wouldn’t let his family sneak back into his life, but Eddie knew it would be tempting. Matthias loved them. He probably loved them more than they loved him, which broke Eddie’s heart because Matthias deserved to be loved. Hell, he deserved to be cherished, something his family had never done. They’d been too busy taking advantage of him.

But that was where Eddie came in. He would cherish Matthias. He would make sure that his mate knew that he’d never be alone, no matter what happened.

He flipped the pancake out of the pan and onto the plate, then grabbed the batter. When he heard footsteps coming down the stairs, his smile widened, and he quickly grabbed the coffee pot.

“Breakfast is ready,” he said when Matthias walked into the kitchen. “Sit down.”

“You didn’t have to do all of this,” Matthias said as he obeyed.