Chapter Seventeen

Our last day. When I arrived here, I'd been ready to tell whoever Franklin had in mind for me that I was not ready for a mate. My highest hopes had been for a special weekend with an alpha who might make me feel worthy of some attention. It had been too long since anyone had touched me even in a hug. My dads weren't withholding affection or anything. They just weren't the touchy-feely types, even if they hadn't been displeased with my recent choices.

We argued a little over Franklin doing all the cleanup, but in the end agreed because we didn't want to waste any time in talking about dishes. I truly wouldn't have minded washing them as long as we did it together, but instead, we found ourselves out the kitchen door and in the bright sunshine.

"What would you like to do?" my alpha asked. "We have the whole day ahead of us."

"It's going to go fast," I said, knowing that the best times always did. "Maybe don't do anything in particular? A walk?"

"Sure." He took my hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing my knuckles. "With no destination in mind."

"I'd like that." I let him lead me out of the yard and into the forest beyond, the trees stretching to the sky and dappling the light. "I wonder how much of this is Franklin's property?"

"No idea, but as long as we don't come across any no trespassing signs or fences, I'd say we can just wander."

"We didn't see any of those things yesterday." I fell into step beside him. My alpha had a few inches on me, but our gait matched up perfectly. If only it could be for longer than a weekend. I mean…we had mated. But we hadn't made any definite plans. Just said things would work out. And I needed to make sure that Bjorn understood how much I was floating in life at this point. But I hated to start a conversation that might not end well. My fathers considered me inches short of a failure. At least I hoped they didn't think worse of me. They loved me—of course, but… And Bjorn just met me.

Drifting along, we talked of little things we saw on the trail or off to the sides. A little stream with a bridge provided a cheerful chatter as the water ran over stones. We paused halfway across, looking upstream. "Do you think that comes from the waterfall?" I asked.

Bjorn nodded. "Not 100 percent positive, but the direction is right."

"Thank you for teaching me to swim."

He let go of my hand and looped an arm over my shoulders. "Just helping you remember how, right?"

"Yes." I tipped my face up to his, finding him smiling down at me. "Thank you for that. In a way, it's even better than the alternative."

"For sure, faster. If you didn't have the skills already inside you, you'd need a lot more lessons."

That wouldn't be a bad thing, but I was afraid to say so. "I just wish I knew why I blocked out that ability."

"That would be interesting to know." He kissed my forehead. "But as long as you're okay now, I wouldn't worry too much." His lips pecked my nose and cheeks.

"Still, I—" Once his lips touched mine, I forgot what we were talking about, drawn into the moment. Birdsong faded into the background, the sun warmed my skin, and my mate's tongue tangled with mine in a dance I never wanted to end. His hands slid down to cup my bottom and grind me against his bulge. When we paused, panting, I asked, "Do you think it would be too risky to…you know?"

"We have been here all weekend and haven't run into anyone." Taking my hand again, he led me to a patch of soft grass in a sunny spot beside the stream and undressed me, kissing and touching each part of me he revealed. Then he stripped much more quickly and joined me in our makeshift bed. "You look perfect in natural surroundings." My outdoorsman alpha sank into my slick hole and made love to me until I cried out his name and came into his pumping fist before following me over the edge. His knot swelled, and he rolled me on top, holding me there even after he slipped out again.

When we woke up, the sun had moved well past its peak, its new angle casting our grassy bed in shadow. We cleaned up in the stream then dressed. I'd gladly have stayed much longer but our idyll was over, and it was time to return to the inn and real life. No matter what happened from this point, I'd never forget our weekend together.

As we walked slowly along the trail, we were quiet, but when the inn came in sight, Bjorn stopped and brought me to face him. "This doesn't have to end, omega. Come live with me."

I wanted it so much, I ached, but the time had come for me to make sure he knew what he might be taking on. "Are you sure? I don't have a career path at this point or even know what I want to do with my life. I might be a real liability."

He reared back, eyes narrowing. "Are you calling my mate, my omega, a liability? I don't care what you do as long as you like it. I live a simple life and make plenty for both of us. You mentioned that it sounded like something you might enjoy being part of, but if you want to have a separate career, we'll figure it out. Just come and make a life with me, and it will be whatever we choose."

"Even if I am a dropout?"

"If you weren't, if you had loved the type of life your education was preparing you for…I don't think we'd be right for each other. There's not a lot of high finance in the middle of the desert, at least not the part where I live."

"You really do want me?"

"Do you have to ask?" He kissed me deeply and thoroughly, showing me without more words how he felt. I'd have gone with him then, but I did have my apartment and my sort-of job to wind up. Every minute until I saw him again was going to be an eternity, but at least it had an end.