His first phone call was to a male subordinate…
“How is she?” He asked, concern lacing his voice.
“She’s fine, Sir. Currently, she is with her mate since he insisted on going back to his apartment.”
Typical! So hardheaded… Just like her who’s so stubborn…
“Keep updating me even if I don’t make a call. And use this number. I’ve already suspended my other mobile provider temporarily.”
“Of course, Sir. Please expect a regular email as per your request.”
“Thank you. Looking forward to hearing from either you or your wife. Goodbye.”
His next call was to his secret contact…
“I’ve told him everything, and he’s very happy. He believes the Goddess is now back on his side and is guiding everything he does.”
“Good, and allow him to do what he thinks should be done. At this point, I don’t think he’ll change his mind in the slightest.”
“Look, I can still try…”
“For how many years have you tried? Do you think I haven’t done anything to resolve this? And what have our efforts brought us?”
Silence from the other line…
“I thought so. Just update me as usual. And the only thing I can promise you right now is that you will survive. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize. Your family is the victim here. I was just hoping… Never mind. I really do thank you for this.”
“You’re welcome. Goodbye for now.”
As soon as the call ends, he looked at the long-haired woman who was slinking towards him with her naturally seductive walk.
“Everything is in order in this safe house, husband. It actually brings back so many memories…”
“I’m sorry for opening any wounds, wife. But this move is absolutely necessary to…”
“Say no more, my love. All will be well with me once you’ve ‘fed’ me. All this has left me INTENSELY ‘hungry’…”
The fire was back in the Gamma’s eyes, “Your wish is my command, my queen.”
* * *
Di made some quick sandwiches for dinner with whatever ingredients the Beta had in his fridge. After all, the idea wasn’t to impress him but to get them fed.
“Here. Eat,” Di ordered Aaron. He sat with his back against his king-size bed’s leather-lined headboard, his chest’s bandages on display, which Di had already replaced with new ones.
“Oh, wow! They’re good!” He gushed as he took a bite. “And all this from what’s left in the icebox? Boy, you’re one talented lady!”
“Are you making fun of me? What kind of idiot could possibly ruin a sandwich?”
“You don’t wanna know. Please, stop asking me that and take what I said as a compliment, alright, pecan pie?”
“Agh, fine… ok! You’re welcome,” she said, faking annoyance while trying so hard to hide her smile.
I think this is a good moment to ask her about the ritual. Can you manage to do that without getting us killed? Onyx asked Aaron after a few more bites of the sandwich.
I didn’t expect M to allow Lyon to partly come out, Onyx, ok? I’m sorry, I didn’t think we were in that big a danger back then. But now, please trust me. I know I can handle her…
Suuuure, Aaron… Here’s me hoping for the best but expecting the worse…
“Uh… Di… I wanted to talk to you… about something… ”
“What about?” She said, still halfway through her sandwich.
“About us being mates…”
Diwa froze for a second. She placed the rest of her sandwich on the plate and put it aside, then turned to face her mate directly.
“Did he convince you to leave me, A?”
Aaron almost choked on the last of his food. “WHAT!? Woman, are you crazy? Even if he could have killed me, I’d still have found a way to get back to you.” Di’s face beamed with a slight smile. “Then what do you wanna talk about?”
He moved closer to her, not without pain, and took her hands on his as he slightly grimaced.
“Di, I want for us to have our marks. I want everybody to know that you’re my mate… That you’re mine, and for all to finally know that I am only yours.”
Her eyes shone bright, especially at the last part of his speech… MINE! Opal repeated in her head.
MINE! She also echoed internally.
Di got closer to him too, putting her hand on his cheek then kissed him deeply. After that, she gave a silent yes by just nodding.
Aaron almost felt like leaping with joy, if not for his wounds. “Yes? Really?! You REALLY want it!?”
“Of course, I do. I never thought I would mark anyone, even more, to be marked by someone special. The fact that you asked… A, I really love you and trust you, but I’m happy that… you see us like that.”
“Caramel cone, you’re my mate, ok? I don’t need anyone else, if that’s what you’re thinking. And I’m so excited that you said yes! The full moon is in a few days, we can do it then, as our tradition requires.”
“Excited, huh?” Diwa asked with a smirk.
“With you… Always,” he affirmed, amazed at how fast he grew hard with just a small naughty smile from her. “In more ways than one, my yummy milkshake.”
Di followed her mate’s gaze to see him tenting his blanket, “I see… so it’s THAT kind of EXCITED. But you can’t strain yourself, so I will have to… help you a little bit.”
“Oh, please, do… me. I mean, yes, go ahead and assist me, my love,” he faltered as she moved her hands to his chest, bypassing his bandages and softly kissing the uninjured parts.
Aaron sighed deeply as she kept trailing her fingers in a downward path, stopping right before slipping her hand into his silken black pajama pants. His moans abruptly ended with a whimper as Diwa pulled away from him, swiftly standing beside his bed.
He groaned in impatience and tried to grab her…
Intense pain suddenly shot through his chest due to his sudden movement. He couldn’t hide the pained expression on his face from his very observant mate, who had a mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Hmmm… you know what?” Diwa stated in a decided tone. “I have your painkillers, thanks to
Alexia giving it to me before they left. But you’re already feeling too excited to keep still. I should make sure that you won’t move even when you’ve already taken your meds and when I… Well…”
Aaron gave her a puzzled look. “What are you on about, candy cane?”
“Do you mind if I take some rope from your closet? I found them a while back when you were on Beta duties.”
“Of course, I don’t mind. Take whatever you… huh? Rope? What for?”
“I told you, to make sure you don’t move and open your wounds again,” she whispered while looking down at him, sending shivers down A’s body. “I’m tying you down, love.”
Damn! Role-play… and I thought she was not into that…
“Oh no… please, mistress… don’t check my walk-in closet!” He whined, giving many Emmy Award winners a run for their money. “I don’t want you to tie me up…”
She smiled, getting the hint and following through with a seductive but bossy voice, “Oh, you don’t want that? Too bad, because I certainly will make sure that you can’t fight me.”
A few minutes later, she returned with thick cotton rope, leather cuffs, and even a nine-tails whip. She didn’t care, he was hers now, and those were going to be part of her fun. And of course, she will avoid his chest… Until he heals, of course.
“So, I see you’ve been bad, slave, keeping all this in here. Since I found your ‘stash’, I will use them on you as punishment. I do hope you’ve thought of a safe word already because you might need it.”
Damn it, I’m definitely the luckiest man in the world.
“Yes, mistress. But I’d rather you choose the safe word. I’ve been so bad, even I don’t deserve that honor.”
“Good, let’s get started then.”
About a couple of hours, and a few rounds later, they slept peacefully, both wrapped in each other’s arms and with satisfied smiles on their faces. If they only knew what was happening somewhere else at around the same time, they probably wouldn’t be this content or reassured…