Chapter Seventeen

Tate

“Good morning, beautiful,” Bronson said, tugging me closer into his embrace. I’d been awake for a while, thinking about the events of the night before.

While I was pretty damned good at overanalyzing things to the point where I questioned my own sanity at times, there was nothing about how Bronson acted that was anything near a red flag. In fact, he was green flags all over.

Even in the sex club.

“Is it morning already?” I asked, letting out a yawn.

His warmth curled around my back as he slung his arm over my waist, splaying his hand over my stomach. “It is.”

I giggled, pushing my ass against his already hardened cock. “Didn’t we just go to sleep?”

“A few hours ago,” he whispered with his mouth pressed lightly to the back of my neck. “I can’t believe you’re mine.”

I turned around to face him. “I can’t either. I hoped. I wished. I was so scared you didn’t feel the same way or that you wouldn’t accept the little part of me.”

“Sweetheart, from the first moment I saw you, I wanted you. I couldn’t let you go. You were begging to die, but there was no way my wolf would let that happen. My heart broke for you. Whatever he did to you, even if it takes my whole life, I’m gonna help you forget as much as possible. I accept all of you.”

“You’re already helping, mate. You’ve already healed some parts of me just making me hope again. I didn’t know there was an alpha out there like you. And you’re such a loving daddy.”

He growled, nipping at my shoulder. “I’ll be the best daddy. I swear it.”

“You will. It might be hard for me to trust sometimes, but I’ll work on it, Bronson. I will.”

The first thought process I wanted to get rid of was the comparison to Ryder. Bronson was good and kind and sweet because he was, not just when compared to Ryder.

Bronson deserved his accolades independently from my past.

“I’m here. I’m not leaving you for any reason, and whatever we have to work through, we’ll do it together. You’re mine for the rest of my life, Tate.”

The tears came from my eyes on their own. My heart surged with so much love and safety.

It might’ve been the first time my jaw wasn’t clenched. My chest was no longer tight. I wasn’t na?ve enough to think these things would never happen to my body again, but for this moment, they’d vanished.

“How about a shower and breakfast?”

I nodded. “I’m starving. What can we make?”

He eyed me like I was the meal. “How about mini pancakes and a yogurt bowl with fruit and granola? Fun and good for you. We need to keep you strong and healthy.”

“That sounds good. But first, I have something to tell you.”

His dark eyebrows furrowed. “You can tell me anything, Tate. Please don’t be scared to tell me anything. Even if I disagree with you or something would make me upset, it won’t change how I feel about you.”

I nodded. That point would take a while to sink in. “I looked around your house the other day. I was in every room and even opened your medicine cabinet and basement. And your YouTube history.”

The alpha’s face erupted with a broad smile, showing his teeth and making his eyes glimmer. “That’s all? Tate, you can go through anything of mine anytime you want. My basement. My phone. Anything. And I want you to know that now that you’re mine, everything I own is yours. When you’re ready, we’ll get you an ID and your social security card and I’ll give you access to all my accounts.”

Do not compare. Do not compare. Do not compare.

Ryder gave me twenty bucks a week, if I was lucky and was a good boy.

“I don’t know what to say,” I admitted.

“You don’t have to say anything. Let’s go get cleaned up and have breakfast.”

One languid shower later, we got dressed in a sweatshirt and matching pants for me and only gray sweatpants for him. “We need to go buy you some new clothes today, if that’s okay with you.”

I nodded. “Maybe some little things, too, Daddy?”

He sighed. If I wasn’t mistaken, he looked happy. More than happy. “Absolutely. Do you want to help with breakfast? Grab the milk for me?”

While we made breakfast together, we put some music on the TV from a slow-motion cartoon that I loved and calmed me. The modern cartoons revved me up and made me feel jittery.

Once the pancakes were made, Bronson set up some toppings for the yogurt parfait to make it fun. He waited for me to take a bite before digging into his pancakes and bacon. “Are you eyeing my bacon, little one?” he asked, smiling.

“Maybe.”

“Here you go. I’ll never get upset if you get something from my plate, okay? Try not to be afraid of asking for something when you want it.”

“Thank you.”

True to his word, Bronson and I shopped for all kinds of things the rest of the day. Clothes. Shoes. Personal hygiene items just for me. He even got me a tablet so I could watch things in bed or whenever I wanted. He bought me a phone and then we went “little” shopping at a store that carried just those kinds of clothing items. I’d seen lots of really cute outfits on my tour of the club, but I hadn’t known that there were boutiques like this. I never wanted to leave it.

I’d never been so spoiled before. I loved it, but there was that niggling in the back of my head saying there had to be a catch somewhere.

That he was nice now but might not be later.

I pushed them away as best I could. They would come back, but I would push even harder.

I trusted Bronson.

“I was thinking maybe we could set up a playroom at the house? One for you to play in and do whatever you want.”

Searching his face, deciphering his features, I tried to judge if he was joking.

“You would do that for me?” I asked with tears blurring my vision. “A real playroom?”

We were on our way to the car with bags in hand. He put them in and took mine and did the same. I saw some of the bags overflowing with coloring books and puzzles. He called me a cozy little and I realized how true that was. I played with things that calmed me, watched shows that slowed me down. “Tate, I would do anything for you. I’ve waited for you for so long, not only as a mate but someone to share this lifestyle with. I’m at your mercy, sweet omega.”

The tears poured down my face, and he embraced me right there in the parking lot, not letting go until I moved. I sniffled. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

My mate nuzzled my cheek with his nose, inhaling deeply. His wolf let out a low growl of acknowledgement and approval. “Let’s get home. My sweet boy is overwhelmed, I think.”

I nodded, loving that he could read me so well. “Shopping is a lot.”

“Home, then. We’ll have a nice calm supper and a long bath. How does that sound?”

“Like heaven, Daddy.”