Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 85616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
“Fuck yes.” He kissed my neck again. I tilted my head to the side and closed my eyes. I loved mornings like this. I’d been so used to being on my own, to starting my days without any good morning kisses or cuddles, that I didn’t realize how much I was truly missing. There was something beautiful about starting off your day with someone you loved.
I turned around so that I could kiss him back. I held him in my arms, rubbed his back, felt his muscles shift and flex. “You were saying something in your sleep last night.”
“I was?” Dyl asked.
“Yeah. Something about an apple pie and a keg of beer.”
“Jesus, what the hell was I dreaming about?” Dylan chuckled as he kissed me again.
“That you were rushing a baking frat?” I suggested.
“Honestly, could be.” He laughed again, his eyes catching some of the morning sun that washed in from the windows around his kitchen. One of his air fresheners let out a puff of pine-scented perfume but I couldn’t really smell it past the delicious smell of my fated mate. Ever since I’d taken that bracelet off—a month ago now—I couldn’t get enough of how Dylan smelled. It didn’t matter if he’d just woken up or if he just finished a sweaty round of training on the ice, I didn’t care. I just knew he smelled like pure heaven.
His laughter slowed and his smile faded. “Better than the nightmares at least.”
He’d been having them ever since the night of the shooting. Not all the time, but there were some nights that I’d wake up to Dyl yelling. He’d explain that it was a replay of that night except it was him holding the gun. I’d soothe him, remind him that it was all a dream, and then I’d hold him in my arms until his gentle twitches and snores told me he was asleep again.
We hadn’t slept apart a single night since then, and I wanted it to stay that way for as long as time would allow.
It helped that there were no more secrets surrounding our relationship. I’d spoken to the coach and the GM about my relationship immediately after everything happened with Emmy. They weren’t thrilled at the news but were grateful for the disclosure and said that as long as it didn’t interfere with work or the game, then it would be okay. We also couldn’t be overly affectionate at the stadium or when we were playing away games, but that was a small trade-off to keeping my job and my relationship intact.
“Want to visit Emmy later today?” Dylan asked in a low voice.
“Of course. After lunch?”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
We hadn’t seen him in a couple of weeks. It was difficult but also necessary just for our own sakes. He was still in a coma, his body continuing to struggle with the silver poisoning. The druids weren’t having any luck in curing him, but they were able to keep him stable and alive, which was what mattered right now. Any second, minute, hour that they bought him took us one step closer to figuring out how to save Emmy and bring him back. It wasn’t just the druids working to find a cure, either. The entire pack was on it, directed by a confident but slightly shaky Chris, who had the alpha role thrust upon him after finding out Emmy chose him as his successor if anything were to happen.
“Come, let’s drink our coffee out in the yard,” I suggested. A little fresh air would be nice right now.
I grabbed my mug and Dyl grabbed his. He didn’t bother putting on any extra clothes. It was chilly but comfortable for us shifters. I was fine in my Burlington Bobcats tank top and sleeping shorts. Nike meowed at us before he went back to chowing down on his breakfast.
We sat together on the comfortable bench outside, our feet propped up on the gray table, the snow slowly drifting down and adding to the soft layer that covered the grass. A gust of wind caused a swirl of snowflakes to float under the roof of his patio. Some of it fell into my steaming cup of coffee.
Dylan leaned into me. His leg pressed against mine, his head resting on my shoulder. We let the morning unravel peacefully around us. It was a good day yesterday, with the Bobcats winning another game. It had been in New York City, so we did a little exploring before heading back. I liked the chaos of the city, but far preferred the serenity and quiet of this.
“What do you want to do today?” Dylan asked.
“Hang out with you.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it always.”
He chuckled at that. His hand rested on my thigh, his thumb rubbing soft circles against my skin. My shorts were bunched up and exposed pretty much my entire leg. I adjusted myself so that my leg rested on top of his. Dylan’s hand explored a little higher. I took a sip of my coffee and set it down on the side table next to me.