Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 388 – What Kind of Mate?

Cora

“They think they’re being subtle,” I whisper, smiling as Sinclair closes the RV’s door behind him, the last to ” disappear” from our little circle around the fire.

“I’m not complaining,” Roger murmurs, slipping an arm around my shoulder. “Are you, little mate?”

I laugh lightly at the nickname, shaking my head at him. “It still doesn’t work, Roger,” I say, leaning closer to him, though the camping chairs make it hard to get as close as I’d like to be. “I’ve told you before – I’m not little.”

“Sure you are,” he replies, grinning at me.

“I’m not!” I say, laughing. “Ella’s the little one,” I continue, “I’m tall – I’m not -”

“You’re little to me,” he interrupts, moving his chair closer so that he can tuck his face between my neck and my shoulder, breathing deeply in – I think savoring the way that I smell, which sends a little thrill through me. I lower my own head and breathe in Roger’s own unique scent, letting it flood my senses.

God, does he even know how good he smells? Though he probably does – his sense of smell far outstrips mine.

“What do you mean?” I ask. “Little to you?”

He lifts his head so he can look into my face, only inches from me now. You’re little to me, Cora,” he replies, in that you’re…I don’t know. Quite precious. The way I think of you – I don’t know, I don’t want you to be insulted, but I think of you as…very small,”

“What?” I ask, confused, “why?”

“Because,” he says seriously, shrugging a little, “you’d have to be very tiny, to make a home out of my heart,” he says, tapping lightly at his chest. “As you have done.”

A broad smile stretches across my face and I laugh a little, even though I’m deeply touched at what he’s said. ” Really?” I ask. “That’s what you think of me?”

“Mmhmm,” he says, turning his head a little and considering me from different angles. “My little mate, who I carry around all day in my heart. Even when you’re not physically around I keep you in here. I talk to you, send all kinds of messages. Tell you little jokes.” you I grin. “Do I think they’re funny?”

smiling

must be a tiny imposter,” I joke, starting to laugh. “Because

a little and grabbing my arm, tugging me closer. ” Get your ass over here, little

resisting and eyeing the flimsy camping chair he’s sitting in. It barely looks like

he murmurs, still pulling me closer and making me laugh. ”

up and tugging myself out of his grasp a little. “I have a better idea,” Roger scowls, but he lets me go – watching me as I move to the camping supplies and pull out a couple of blankets.

under my arm. “Better,” he

blankets, pulling me down into his lap

bringing my mouth to his and kissing

god how I love this man. All of him every arrogant, swaggering, adorable, sweet bit

this all day. And I smile, thinking that…perhaps he knows, a little bit. Even if we don’t have a mating bond that we can both

me. And we’re quiet for a little bit, staring at the fire, just…happy to be

thinking back on

inviting me to ask whatever

think I’m

says, laughing a little, ” Yeah, Cora,” he says, as if it’s

let him know that I’m serious. “Do you think I’m your…your mate mate. Like…fated

he says, his eyebrows raising a little. Then he grins at me and laughs. ” Wait, you seriously

known there was something to know.” What

his head and watching me curiously.” That day out

I start to get frustrated. “Feel what?” I

one that shakes his whole frame. “Cora,” he says, looking back at me with a gentle smile. “You’re my mate. Truly. Fated, done deal. I’ve suspected it for a while for a long time, even though… well, I also denied it for a long time, because I didn’t think my mate could be a human. But

slapping his chest, “I

murmurs, nudging me with his nose. “But you were also being really dumb. Anyway I knew for sure, because that’s when it snapped into place. You and me, Cora? We’re end game. At least, on my side. But,” he considers me again, putting his thoughts together. “It should have snapped in for you at the same moment. You didn’t feel

sigh, disappointed. “I didn’t