Chapter Twelve

"I'm starving." Lennon laughed as we made the trek back to Franklin's. The return hike, no matter where in the world, was always longer.

"Well, we had a hike and a swimming lesson. Ate. And then swam and hiked again. That would make anyone hungry…in more ways than one."

"You helped me break through something that had hung over me most of my life." He smiled then shook his head. "I have to admit, I love the flirting. Some people aren't good at it, but you definitely are."

"Only with you," I assured him. I didn't want my omega thinking I made eyes at everyone who crossed my path. Omegas and alphas who flirted with anyone and everyone made their mates feel less valued and were jerks in my opinion.

I wanted Lennon to feel like the most precious treasure in my life. A fated mate had arrived in my life twice. A gift nobody I knew had experienced. I, above everyone, recognized time could not be wasted. My mate and I had frittered away days and months, years, sure we had decades ahead of us. How wrong we'd been.

We arrived at the inn to find a note telling us Franklin had left a charcuterie board in the refrigerator to snack on.

"How about we clean up and meet on the back porch? We can eat and, I don't know about you, but that hammock out there looks big enough for two."

I pointed out the brightly colored hammock twisted up and hung on a tree. I could see another hook on the tree trunk across from it.

The omega hesitated.

"Another new experience?" I asked.

He nodded. "It sounds good. I could use a nap, but we only have this weekend."

Not if I had anything to do about it.

"Then, we'd better hurry up."

We made fun of racing up the stairs and into our rooms to shower separately before meeting at the top of the stairs again, clean and refreshed. I had selected the coldest water setting. I'd wanted to suggest we shower together, just as I'd had a lot of ideas what we could do while swimming, but something told me to wait for Lennon. Just a bit longer.

We grabbed the charcuterie board but, instead of carrying it out onto the back porch, we stood on either side of Franklin's island and devoured it. We had a few glasses of freshly made lemonade and then decided to go for the hammock. I could smell the little omega wolf's exhaustion.

I hung the hammock and tugged on it to be sure it was secure. "I'll show you how it's done. I won't let you get hurt."

"Okay. I trust you."

Minutes later, we lay cuddled against each other, swaying in a gentle breeze. My omega's head was in my lap. He ran one hand up and down my torso, lulling me toward sleep. "I'm so damned glad I came," I whispered.

"Me too."