Chapter 10

August had pulled out all the stops for their first date. He'd asked advice from his mated friends and band members, including the females who'd given him great tips on how to make the night memorable.

He was definitely falling for his soulmate.

She wasn't just gorgeous, she called to every part of him. Her strength and her heart, her sense of humor and her sweet smile. He'd been wishing he'd find his soulmate since he was old enough to know what that was, and now that he had her, he wanted her to know just how damn special she was to him.

Even though they'd only been together for two days, he was still falling hard for her. He figured it was the way of soulmates, because their beasts were already in tune and knew they were meant to be together, so it was just a matter of their human sides catching up.

They walked up the stairs to the maintenance shed in the gorilla paddock. He paused before he lifted the door in the ceiling above them.

"It's safe for us out here, I just want you to know that. The paddock has been cleared and the patrols are running on the outside of the walls as well now, so no one is getting in the park tonight. Or any other night."

She nodded. "I trust you."

"That means the world to me."

He pushed the door open and stepped up, turning to take her hand and help her up. He set the door back in place and said, "I think the norm for a first date is dinner and a movie, although someone said that was old-fashioned and people are going out on dates to places like ax-throwing parlors."

Her eyes went wide. "Who throws axes for fun?"

"I'm not sure, but we should definitely warn Lucius's soulmate when she shows up. But anyway, while it's not really in your best interest to leave the park for a date, no matter how much of a badass I am," he said, wiggling his brows. She snorted a laugh. "I wanted to do the same things that we might have done on the outside. So, sweetheart, welcome to your first date."

He opened the maintenance shed door and took her hand, leading her outside. The sun had set earlier, leaving the sky now dark and full of stars.

A propane firepit had low flickering flames in front of a set of comfortable slingback chairs with a table between them. The table had electric candles that illuminated a covered platter.

He closed the door of the maintenance shed and pulled a cord, lowering a large white screen.

She lifted her head and looked at the sky. "It's beautiful out here."

"With you, especially," he said.

She dropped her head back and smiled at him. "You're very sweet."

He took her hand and led her to the cushy chairs. "I asked Jeanie to create a first-date-worthy dinner for us, and I've got a few movie choices."

"Movie?" she asked.

He gestured to the screen he'd hung on the side of the maintenance shed and the projector on a small tripod next to their seats.

"I'm bringing the movie theater to us," he said. Then he lifted the lid from the platter and tucked it under the table. There were fried chicken tenders, potato wedges, and coleslaw. He pulled a small cooler from under his chair and took out plates and wrapped silverware, handing her a set along with a bottle of sparkling strawberry-kiwi flavored water, which she'd told him was her favorite.

"For dessert, I've got chocolate cake in the cooler, plus there's a box with movie theater snacks and popcorn under your seat."

"Holy crap," she said. "You thought of everything."

"I tried. I really wanted you to not miss anything because we have to stay in the park."

She grinned. "You're the most amazing guy I've ever met. And this is definitely an amazing first date."

His gorilla was preening like a peacock in his mind. "You're the most amazing female I've ever met too."

They filled their plates and then he showed her the movie selections. Since she was an animated movie fan, he'd downloaded several.

When she'd picked the movie, he started it and settled back in the chair with his plate on his lap.

"We should toast," she said, lifting her bottle of flavored water.

He picked up his bottle of lemon tea. "What should we toast to?"

"Finding each other through impossible odds."

"And great first dates."

They touched their bottles together, and she giggled before taking a sip. "It's a perfect night. It's perfectly perfect, with you."

"One hundred percent."

When they'd finished the meal and dessert and the first movie was over, they started a second movie. He pushed the table out of the way so their chairs were touching, and they shared popcorn and her favorite candy, gummies coated with sour sugar.

She leaned over, lifted the popcorn bowl from his lap, and set it on the ground. Then she stood and stretched, her shirt lifting and showing a bit of her belly in the flickering candlelight.

She sat on his lap with her back to his chest and her legs parted on either side of his. She sighed softly when he put his arms around her and hugged her.

"This has been the best night I've ever had. Truly. I can't think of a time when I felt more cherished and cared for."

"I'd do anything for you, sweetheart," he said.

"I know, and I'd do anything for you too."

He stroked his thumb along her jaw and down her throat, feeling her pulse beating wildly. Her scent, all warm honey and sweet flowers, filled his nose and his gorilla let out a low rumble.

She wiggled a little on his lap and tilted her head back to rest on his shoulder. He kissed her neck, letting his blunt teeth scrape lightly along her delicate skin. He let his hands rest on her shoulders for a moment before moving down her arms and over her hands.

He continued to kiss her neck, loving the way she melted in his arms as he moved his hands slowly up and under her top, feeling the warmth of her stomach and her soft skin.

Her breasts were heavy in his hands, covered in soft satin. He maneuvered his hands under her bra, her nipples hardening under his touch. He loved that she sighed every time he touched her, like she couldn't contain making some sort of sweet sound.

He played with her nipples as he kissed her neck, sucking her flesh gently and biting down until she was writhing on his lap.

She turned her head toward him and kissed him, gripping his hair with one hand and the arm of the chair with the other.

Moving his hands down her stomach, he undid her jeans and slipped his hand in.

His body was on fire. He wanted to do…everything.

But first he was going to make her come.

He slid his hand between her thighs, finding her pussy hot and wet. Touching her clit, he rubbed it lightly, placing his other hand on her stomach to hold her in place.

Her clit swelled under his finger. He pushed his hand down farther, soaking his fingers and then rubbing them against her clit. She broke from the kiss with a moan, her hand tightening in his hair.

"August," she said, breathing his name like it was a secret word.

His fangs erupted as he drove her over the edge into pleasure, her body stiffening and her pussy creaming around his fingers as he stroked her folds and delved into her heat.

She pushed to her feet. "I need you in me. Now."

He leaned over and opened the panel to the fire pit, turning the flame off. She walked into the maintenance shed and he followed, surprised when she pushed him toward the workbench.

"Wait—here?" he asked.

"Is anyone going to come up here?" she asked, glancing at the door in the floor.

"No, they know we're having a date."

She shoved her pants down her legs and kicked off her shoes, followed by her pants and panties. Then she hopped up onto the bench and spread her thighs.

"First, come here, sexy. I've never felt so alive and so turned on in my life, and I don't want to wait a second longer."

He didn't have to be asked twice.

He undid his jeans and pushed them down his legs and stepped into the V of her thighs. He hooked a hand at her lower back and brought her body to the edge of the workbench. Fisting his cock, he shoved into her fast and hard, her head kicking back with a moan as he slid all the way into her tight heat.

She hooked her ankles at his back and leaned on one arm.

Her eyes were dark with passion, her lips swollen from their kisses.

"I see your fangs," she said, her voice ending on a soft groan as he pulled from her and then plunged in again.

"I want to mark you so bad," he said, gritting his teeth at the urge to come immediately in her sweet heat.

"Only if I can mark you too."

He paused, balls-deep. "Are you sure?"

She wiggled her hips, and he groaned.

"Very. We're soulmates. I want to belong to you and for you to belong to me."

"I already am yours."

"I'm yours too," she said.

Her eyes flashed to amber and she smiled at him, fangs peeking from her parted lips.

Okay, that was hot as hell.

He held her with his hand on her back as he began to fuck her, sliding in and out of her. He gripped the edge of the workbench with his other hand. Their bodies moved together, the bench squeaking with each thrust.

He released his tight hold on the bench and pressed his thumb to her clit.

Her knees tightened against his waist and she let out a gusty yes! as she sat up and kissed him.

His whole body tightened with need, his spine tingling and his fangs throbbing in his gums.

She came on a keening cry, her body locking down on his and pulling him with her into hot bliss.

Everything went white for a heartbeat, his gorilla roaring in his head and his skin prickling.

She sank her fangs into his neck, and he swore he came a second time as she snarled against his torn flesh before pulling her fangs out and tilting her head.

He continued to play with her clit, keeping her orgasm going as he marked her, his fangs cutting through her skin easily. She gasped at the sharp pain and then melted against him.

He could hear her jackal practically purring with contentment.

His gorilla was content too.

No more waiting. No more lonely nights wondering when he'd find his soulmate.

She'd come to him by way of an animal hoarder and a cage, and run straight into his heart.

He kissed the already-scarring mark on her neck and hugged her close.

She kissed the other side of his neck. "Let's do it again, August. But this time on a bed. My butt is numb." She giggled. "Sorry if that ruined the afterglow."

"Not ruined at all," he said, pulling from her pussy. He gave her a quick kiss. "Lemme clean up outside, and then I'll rock your world again so we can have some more afterglow of the bed variety."

"I'll help."

"Hell no. Keep your pretty ass right here." He patted her thigh and pulled his jeans up.

"Whatever you say, sexy."

He snarled, not wanting to walk away from her. But he couldn't leave a mess in the paddock, so he'd work fast.

"Hurry back," she whispered.

Fuck.

He'd work very fast.