Every Were Gets A Mate

Chapter 19

"Come on. I'll show you my home on wheels."

I smiled up at Cade and nodded. This would give me a chance to relax, study my emotions, and get them under control.

Holding my hand, Cade led me into the maze of vehicles and tents. Weres milled around, attending to their own business, talking, and laughing. They sent us smiles but otherwise let us be. I didn't pay attention to where I was going, trusting Cade to lead me. It gave me the opportunity to gawk at the variety of vehicles and tents we passed.

Overall, the camp was laid out in boxes. Rows of hookups to electricity, water, and sewer bordered the top and bottom of each box. RVs, campers, and trailers backed to the hookups and faced the box's interior with awnings, tables, and chairs out. Within each box sat tents of all sizes and camper vans that didn't require hookups. One side of the box was open to a wider thoroughfare, which connected them all. The other side was closed off by 18-wheeler trucks used to hold supplies and transport tents and equipment when the camp moved.

We approached a slightly weathered blue and white van. Cade opened it up and guided me inside. The first thing I noticed was the concentration of his scent. The divine smell permeated every surface and article within. I wanted to ask him to leave so I could roll around in it, writhing in ecstasy like a cat on a mound of fresh catnip. Of course I would rather he stay and roll in it with me, but that would have to wait. This was the next best thing.

Later.

The ceiling popped up, adding three feet of head room, so Cade could stand up inside within bumping his head. A good-sized bed occupied most of the space in the back, on top of a platform with storage beneath. Between the back of the driver's seat and the bed were two small chairs with a table between. A large cabinet that went from floor to ceiling was placed behind the front passenger seat.

Cade's voice held some embarrassment. "I don't have a toilet or shower in mine, no running water at all. Some of the trailers you saw hold showers and toilets for everyone's use. There's one right across from us." He pointed at the window above the table where little cream-colored curtains were tied back. The facilities trailer beyond had steps going up to four doors. It wasn't marked but stood out due to the absence of awning and decoration.

I squeezed his hand, turned to look at him, and smiled. "I like it."

He still looked embarrassed and rushed to say, "I'm not expecting you to live here with me for long. The few mated couples that have stayed awhile have RVs with bathrooms in them. We'll be joining your parents' pack soon. It might only be for a few nights, just the trip there."

He was clearly going to go on, but I interrupted him. "It's fine, Cade." I pulled him with me, sat us on the bed, let go of his hand, circled my arms around his waist, and hugged him tight with my cheek against his chest. "It looks very comfortable."

His arms wrapped around my back.

"My only worry is that it is so cold out." I picked my head up and smiled at him. "You'll have to hold me tight to keep me warm at night."

He chuckled and smiled. "I'll keep you warm, Jess." His arms tightened around me. "I won't mind holding you close all night, not at all. And there's a heater attached to some solar cells up top. But are you sure you can sleep here? We could get hotel rooms along the way."

I shook my head at his last words. "It's perfect. I want to stay here with you and experience a little of what your life has been like."

He smiled again and teased, "You aren't disappointed I don't have a big alpha residence for you to move into?"

I pushed my fist into his stomach in imitation of a punch and playfully scowled at him. "No." I didn't like that he thought about it enough to even joke about it. It signaled that some small, probably unconscious, part of him wasn't certain I did not want Colton. Even after everything I told him, he had a doubt. He thought I would reject him and be Colton's mate because Colton would be an alpha one day and Cade would not.

I wanted to squash that doubt like a cockroach. "I'd rather live in a tiny frozen cave with bats, rats, lice, and no bathrooms, not even a porta-potty, with you, than in a palace with that alpha heir. Got it?"

A laugh escaped Cade, but he stifled it. "Yes, ma'am."

We smiled at each other for a long moment. I raised my chin just as Cade lowered his head. Our lips met in a sweet and gentle kiss. It slowly turned more passionate, and he nipped at my lower lip. I opened my mouth, and our tongues met. My first taste of Cade almost drove me crazy. I wanted to climb up his body, wrap my legs around his waist, and tackle him down to the bed, open van door be damned. None of that happened. We both drew back and fought to catch our breath, winded from the passion, as we stared at each other in awe.

Maybe a minute later, Cade grinned. "Yeah. We need to get a house. Soon."

I laughed and pushed away from him, only so I wouldn't kiss him again. My body was warm, making me worry about my super magnet turning on. "First we need to deal with Fisher. To do that, we have to go meet with your alpha. And to do that, I need you to show me this facilities trailer next door." I reluctantly pulled myself from the bed.

Cade looked up at me and groaned.

I grinned, snagged his hand, and pulled. "Up!"

A wicked spark entered his eyes, and he pulled on my hand with enough force to bring me back to the mattress. But I hooked my boot heel around the edge of the platform and stopped him.

Fulcrums, got to love them. I looked at him with challenge in my eyes.

He raised his brow at me, showing he doubted my strength.

I pulled on his hand but didn't have enough force.

He smirked.

I put my other foot on the platform, on the other side of his legs, and crouched low so my head wouldn't hit the ceiling. Most of my weight was on the platform. I transferred it quickly to Cade's arm, yanking him up.

He laughed as I successfully dislodged him from the bed and brought him to a stand.

My back fell against the cabinet. I was essentially lying down, mid-air, with Cade between my spread legs. This was a compromising position and not what I was going for.

Cade grinned, swept his free arm around my back, and pulled my chest against his.

I wanted to wrap my legs around his waist, but forced my feet to the floor instead. We stared at each other for a minute, taking deep breathes. "Bathroom." I had to get us back on track before we did something that might hurt many other people.

"Right." He loosened his hold on me, helped me out of the van, and closed the door behind us.

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A/N

I look at a lot of pictures while exploring ideas, so I decided to make a Pinterest page: www.pinterest.com/vblawnola

That first picture of a camp isn't perfect because it doesn't have vans or vans with tents attached in the middle, but it's the closest I could find to my vision.

Thanks for reading, voting, and commenting!