Chapter Fourteen

Naga

The diner along the highway was anything but fancy and entirely authentic. It had been open for nearly a century, and the same family of rabbit shifters still owned and operated it. Jasmine walked in and looked around then gave a little bounce. "Wow. I see why you said I could come as I am. Very casual but perfect." She ran a hand over one maroon leather stool at the counter. "Do they make malted milks?"

"Like milkshakes?" I asked. "I think so."

"Malts are different," she insisted. "And almost nobody makes them."

"We do." The current owner of the diner, a grandmotherly bunny, bustled out from the kitchen. "And we like those who understand those differences."

We were almost immediately seated in a booth by the window, where only the most favored customers got to sit, and Jasmine had won over another person. Grandma Bunny—her name was actually Bunny, go figure—discussed the difference between shakes and malts with Jasmine and helped her decide what flavor she'd like. From what I could gather, the only real difference was the addition of malted milk powder. But Jasmine and Grandma Bunny spoke of toastiness and richness and I didn't even remember what all attributes this treat had, but when the chocolate malt arrived, we were instructed to have a taste, and then both women watched us for our reaction.

We fell short. I thought it tasted kind of funny and Drake didn't like even shakes particularly. Fortunately, before it could become a problem, the onion rings arrived, and we all agreed on those. Dinner became really fun then in a way I didn't remember it being in a long time, if ever. Jasmine told us about a few of her covers and the stories behind them. Stories about human women and the shifter who loved them, and about that time, the laughter died down and the atmosphere heated up.

The burgers were delicious, but we ate them quickly, watching one another more than the food. Jasmine laughed a little too much at our poor attempts at humor, and my cock was hard the entire time. If we didn't get out of here soon, I'd shame myself by flipping our mate onto the table and taking her right here.

No…I wouldn't, but the idea made me even harder, and the flush that rose up Jasmine's chest to her cheeks had me nearly choking on the last bite of my burger.

When we got in the car, I turned to Jasmine. "We will never do anything you don't want, but we need to know, will you—"

"Please take me home and make love to me."

She didn't have to ask us twice.

We spilled out of the car and ran together up the stairs, almost forgetting to punch in the code and arm the security system. Jasmine had to remind us. But she didn't have to give us any hints about how to undress her before taking off our own clothes and lying on the bed in her room with her between us.

We had dreamed of the day we'd have a mate together, but in none of my fantasies was she as exquisite as Jasmine. I had to keep reminding myself that we were in early days here. Jasmine was not a shifter but a human, and they were known to need a courting or dating period. We had ninety days to see if we were compatible. But my serpent knew we were meant to be. Fated. True mates.

Even among shifters, mates had a choice. But who would turn down the perfect person for them? A human, maybe?

We would not mark her tonight, but she had consented to making love, and it was up to us to show her that a mate's lovemaking was better than anything else in the world. Kisses and caresses led to more intimate touching, her scent floral and lovely, winding around us along with ours until I met Drake's eyes over her and let him know without words that he could be first. With a mate, it was always like the first time, so I felt no jealousy toward my friend and partner. He cupped her bottom and lifted her to his lips, licking then suckling on her pussy until she cried out her pleasure before standing up and driving into her. I kissed her lips and breasts, pinching her nipples into points and then biting them gently, loving her writhing under our ministrations. Drake moved faster and faster, reaching to cup her bottom and plunge deeper into her body. Just touching her was ecstasy, but when Drake stood up and moved away, I took my place and felt like coming home. I had waited so long, hoping Fate had a mate for me, for us, always aware that not everyone was so lucky. I moved in and out of the body of the perfect mate, gratitude joined the sheer pleasure.

Jasmine called out my name, and I lost control, spilling into our mate's body as she tightened around me in orgasm.

I wanted to mark her so badly, but our time would come. I had to believe that.