Page 21 of Reeling for His Omega

“What? You don’t like it?”

I turned to face him and moved us under the warm spray. “I love it.”

Once the shower was done, he put on some of my boxers and a pair of sweatpants and so did I. It did my wolf good to see him in my clothes, bathed in my scent, wearing my mark. My animal couldn’t have been more sated.

“Pick your poison,” I said, opening the fridge. “I’ve got bacon. Eggs. Leftovers. Oatmeal. Pancakes?”

“Are those burgers?” Joaquin peered into the fridge.

“Yeah. I cooked a bunch last night to eat quickly.”

He winked at me. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Licking my lips, I looked him up and down. “Probably not.”

That earned me a swat on my ass. “Focus, alpha. I was thinking a breakfast burger. All we need is to cook up some eggs to top it.”

“That sounds great. I think I have some hash brown patties too. Coffee first.”

While my wolf had ideas about cooking for and serving him, my mate had different ideas. Good ones. We worked alongside each other in the kitchen, making this morning’s meal a big deal. I hoped we always made little things a big deal from now on.

It was all worth it. Joaquin stuffed his bun with bacon, a fried egg, and crispy potato and was serious about that first bite.

He groaned with the goodness of it. I was familiar with the sound. I took a bite of my own and, just like that, he was in charge of the food ideas. All of them.

We sat next to each other and enjoyed a second cup of coffee on the balcony of my apartment.

One night had changed the course of my life in the best way possible.

“What’s that smile for?” He nudged my knee with his.

I put my mug down and did the same with his. I coaxed him onto my lap and he snuggled into my hold. “I’m so happy we found each other. That’s what I was thinking about.”

He purred. Not a growl. A purr. Interesting. “I’m glad too. I was so nervous about showing you the mural. I thought you might fire me.”

I chuckled, jostling us both. “Not only am I not firing you, I’m never letting you go, baby. Ever.”

“We have work to do. There’s so much to do before the theater opens.”

I loved that everything we talked about was now we. Instantly. A night of passion. A bond. A mark. Two souls tethered. Now we were a we.

“It can wait a few minutes. A few hours.”

He purred again.

I had to ask. “I don’t even know what kind of shifter you are.”

He sat up so fast, he nearly toppled over. “You don’t know? How do you not know?”

“Because I’ve never seen you shift?”

He laughed. Tears filled his eyes. Fuck, what had I said wrong? But he was laughing? “Eryx, you know exactly what I am. You and I ran together in the forest weeks ago. That was me, honey. The tiger. I figured it out a little earlier this evening, rather, my tiger told me it was you.”

I pulled him to me and pressed him against my chest. Joy surged in my chest. “I knew there was something special about that tiger. My wolf called out for him but, when I met you, he didn’t again. Goddess, I’m such a fool. Of course it was you. It had to be you.”

“I thought you knew. My tiger loved you. He still does.”

Chapter Eighteen