[Rock]When Monday rolled around, I was nervous as hell about the healers coming to the house. Carmen looked like she wasn’t worried in the slightest. Trolls didn’t necessarily trust other fae because they weren’t trolls, but Carmen seemed to trust this woman even though she wasn’t part of her community. As I thought about it, Carmen did that a lot. Maybe no one was really part of Carmen’s community. Maybe it was that she trusted all supernaturals as part of her community. It was something about my mate that confused me and I didn’t know how to broach the subject without possibly upsetting her. I didn’t want to point out that we were different. Everyone in the world seemed to be pointing that out for us. At every turn… all the damned time. Most of my morning was spent out at sites. I was checking on how things were going, but no one really needed me. We were getting things put together for a new job to start and I was going to take on overseeing it. The others were wrapping up other jobs. We were running a few sites at once. There were a couple guys on smaller projects and bigger crews on larger projects. I didn’t have a lot to do until the jobs were closed and we were starting on the new jobs next week. The team I’d been working with last week was sent out to different crews with a couple staying behind to pull paperwork and get orders in. I came back to the office after lunch and found the front door locked. The men I’d had stay back were taking naps in the conference room. I could hear them snoring as soon as I walked into the office. Forrest wasn’t standing in the lobby, and the office door was closed. With a frown, I went to the office door and opened it to hear Carmen and Gemma laughing. I went in and saw Forrest hiding his face in his hands. Gemma turned to see me and Carmen seemed to know I was there, as well. “Rock, I wasn’t expecting you until later. Have you eaten?” she asked. “Yeah. I had something on the way back. What’s going on here?” “We’re still in the middle of our lunch break. Forrest was just telling us about this date with Pyla. He took all of our advice and then almost screwed it all up by forgetting that he can’t just insult Carmen in front of Pyla,” Gemma laughed. “I thought she was going to tell him to leave. She was getting so mad at him. I’m just glad she knew I wanted some clothes. I needed to clear it up,” Carmen said. It must have been whatever happened the day before. Carmen didn’t tell me how her walk went. She was more focused on me and how I was doing. I should have paid more attention and asked her about where she’d been and what she’d been doing. I went to grab my chair and moved it next to hers. I put my arm on the back of her chair. Forrest smiled slightly at us, but Gemma was grinning. “So you’re serious about Pyla and totally dropped Shay?” I asked him. “I didn’t tell Shayle yet, but she was on a date with me and went home with Elbio. It doesn’t make me think she’s entirely faithful here. Yeah, we weren’t exclusive, but leaving a private event with one of my best friends doesn’t exactly make me want to stop seeing other people, you know?” He scoffed. Sometimes, when a couple thought they were true mates, they would stop seeing other people before their coming of age. Usually, they would only be with each other in hopes that the goddess would see what a good match they were. The bond would grow if they were mates and they would become closer. If they didn’t bond more, they usually weren’t mates. It wasn’t common, but it was something people did if they were practically convinced they were mates. The other person would be the first person in the room during the other’s coming-of-age. I thought he’d be going steady with Shayle, but Carmen pointed out how he was with Pyla and this seemed to seal it. “I get it. Pyla’s a little soft though, isn’t she? Will you be able to fuсk her? Have you done anything with her? I could imagine she’s only been with lizard men. They’re probably packing some different equipment.” Forrest scowled at me. “I didn’t talk to her about it much, but she’s saving herself for her mate. I spent all that time with her on top of me, enjoying the sun, but I never thought of fuсking her. Maybe that means she’s not my true mate….” “Maybe that means she is and you respect and love her already. Did you find out when her birthday was?” Carmen asked. He shook his head. “No. I didn’t think of asking her. Maybe this weekend, I can ask her. Are we still doing dinner at your place?” “I didn’t really tell Carmen how often we do this,” I admitted. She laughed. “It’s fine. I would love to have everyone over this weekend. I bet I can get Pyla’s birthday easier than anyone else. Maybe Gemma can come, too. We could introduce my friends to your friends. I know, I only have one really, but Rosario and Sean wouldn’t be comfortable…. I could invite Gray and his mate! Cam and Harmony would be good, too.” “That sounds good. Gemma, you up for a troll party?” I asked. “Sounds weird, but I guess I should get to know the people who are going to be close to my bestie. Plus, we need to start planning your wedding. A human marriage is needed if you’re wanting to share everything you own with Carmen. You can’t just be mated and engaged forever. The pups need to be claimed in the human way, too,” Gemma insisted. I looked over at Carmen, who was blushing. She didn’t want to say anything, but I was betting she was curious about it, too. We should do it either in the spring, when her other friend could be there or before winter hit. Ashley only left for Alaska a few days ago. She probably didn’t want to come back that soon. Carmen wouldn’t want to bother her. “How about if we got married in June? That would give us a little under a year to plan something small. Your friends could be there, and it gives us time to either get through to your parents or find wherever my mother ran off to. If nothing else, I know your brother and both of mine will be there,” I suggested. “Could we do it in May? I like how it smells and the weather is warm enough, but not too hot.” I leaned over and kissed her on top of her head. “May is perfect,” I murmured. “Gross,” Gemma muttered. “Agreed,” Forrest said, sticking out his tongue. Carmen laughed. She didn’t care if people were upset about us. Sometimes, she amazed me. I never realized anyone else cared as little as I did about what people thought. If it was something that could hurt us or affect us in some way, I definitely cared. Once their lunch was over, I called Cam and Gray to let them know I would be hiring them, but that it would be a few weeks before they could start working for me. I didn’t want them to quit their jobs too early, but they needed to be able to give notice. Carmen was making calls, too. Each one made her more and more disappointed. I’d find out more about them later. -After work, we headed home. Carmen seemed to be at peace. I liked the feeling of the air in the truck as we drove. It was as if she exuded peace and calm whenever she was around me. When we arrived home, I guided Carmen to the house. She wanted to be independent, but I liked her depending on me. It made me feel like she couldn’t live without me and I wanted my mate to feel like that about me. Carmen took off her shoes when we got into the house and put them on her shelf. She didn’t have a ton of shoes, as I heard some women did. Most of them were comfortable, but others were dressy with short heels. Carmen didn’t wear high heels, I didn’t mind that, though. I liked how little she was. I followed Carmen as she went to our room. After work, she always changed into something more comfortable. If I went out and worked, I would grab a shower and put something else on, too. Mostly because I didn’t want to offend my little mate’s nose. Goddess only knew how much that ‘mate scent’ could actually cover.Today, I didn’t need to do that. Carmen wandered into the closet and started flipping through the dresses hanging on the bar there. I leaned against the doorframe and watched her. She knew I was there, but didn’t say anything or ask my opinion. Sometimes, I liked watching her, and she knew that. It wasn’t that I was afraid she was going to disappear or something. It was more like I enjoyed watching every little thing she did. Carmen never got angry about me watching her, either. It wasn’t about keeping her safe or being overprotective. Those would have definitely made her uncomfortable. I built my house, so I knew it was safe. Carmen knew every inch of it, so I knew she was safe. Carmen took off the suit jacket she was wearing. I watched her let it fall to the floor. The shirt under it was tightly gripping her curves. I licked my lips, remembering the flavor of her skin. “Stop,” I told her. She froze and turned toward where I was standing. Carmen tilted her head slightly and smiled at me. I watched her chest rise and fall with her breath. “Yes, Alpha?” she asked. “Take off the skirt next,” I ordered. “Yes, Alpha.”Her hands deftly found the zipper at her hip and slid it down. She pushed the waist of the skirt over her hips and let it drop to her feet. She wasn’t wearing any stockings covering the silky, natural tan of her legs. The shirt barely covered her panties. “The shirt. Do it slowly.” Carmen took a step back and ran her hands up her sides. She traced her fingertips over her ribs, to her breasts, and finally to the V of her shirt. Her panties were covered by the fabric, but I could still see her hips and the curve of her ass.She teased me. Her hands wandered around her body, but they took forever to reach the hem of her shirt. When they finally did, I was practically growling with each breath. Her hands rested against the bottom of the shirt and pulled it upwards. Inch by inch, it revealed the soft skin of her belly. Carmen’s hips swayed slightly as she lifted the shirt higher, drawing it over the roundness of her breasts.The shirt lifted above her head and Carmen shook her hair free. She tugged it down her arms and dropped it onto the pile of clothing on the floor. I loved the lines and curves of her body. She knew exactly what she did to me and wasn’t shy about running her hands over the curves I loved so much. “What should I do now, Alpha?” Carmen asked. “Take off the bra. I want to see your breasts.” I gripped the doorway as Carmen slid her fingers up from her hips, along her waist, and over her ribs before sliding her hands behind her. After a few moments, I saw the fabric over her breasts loosen. Her hands came forward and she slid the bra down her arms. She held the little piece of cloth on the tip of her finger and bit her bottom lip before letting it drop to the floor. Carmen’s breasts were perfect. As much as I loved the rest of her, this was my favorite part. My eyes traveled down her body, over her flat stomach, down to the slight curve above her thighs. “Don’t touch yourself, Carmen,” I told her.“Yes, Alpha.”She pulled her hands behind her back and stood before me, waiting. “On your knees.”“Yes, Alpha.”Carmen sank to the floor, kneeling in front of me. Her hands hung behind her, waiting for my command.I reached out, brushed her hair off her shoulders, and slid my fingers across her cheek. “I love you, Carmen. I love that you’re my mate.”“I love you too, Rock.”Moving carefully, I stepped around her. I looked at the dress she’d been considering. It was comfortable for her and would have looked cute, but the way the top was cut, she would need a bra. I didn’t like that. I looked at the other dresses. There was one that had a drawstring under the bust. The thing looked like it would be modest enough for company, but I could do whatever I wanted with what was under the dress. With a smile, I took it off the hanger. I was now standing behind where Carmen was kneeling. She didn’t turn to me, but kept her head still. “Stand up,” I ordered. She stood but didn’t turn to me. I draped the dress over my arm and pulled her hair back, gently. I made sure my fingers slid slowly over the mark on her neck. Carmen whimpered with need. I slid my hands around to her front and took her breasts into my hands. The softness of her flesh along with the silkiness of the protected skin made me groan. I couldn’t spend too much time feeling all the wonders of my little mate. We had company coming. My hands went from teasing her breasts to her ribs, waist, and ended at her panties. I ran my finger around the waistband, then decided to tease her a little more. I slipped one hand between her legs and started massaging her through the cloth of her panties. Carmen moaned softly and I kissed her shoulder. My cоck ached to be inside her, but I knew better than to let it happen now. I had to leave her wanting more.“Take off the panties,” I whispered into her ear, making her shiver. I moved my hands away while Carmen obeyed me. When she was standing, nude, in front of me, I had to fight with myself not to touch her again. I knew that would lead to me fuсking her. “Put this on,” I told her, brushing her arm with the dress. “Just this, Alpha?” she asked breathlessly. “Yes,” I replied. She did as I said and put on the dress without a bra or any panties. It was a solid, soft blue that almost matched her eyes. Carmen didn’t own much that matched her eyes, but I liked this one more than any of the other dresses she owned. I turned her toward me and tightened the drawstring over her ribs. It pushed her breasts up a bit, but nothing too drastic.“Once they’re gone, you’ll take this dress off and spend the rest of the night naked, so I can look at you.” “Yes, Alpha,” she said, turning to me. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her deeply. She was perfect and I couldn’t wait until the healer was gone so I could do whatever I wanted with my sweet little mate.