Page 17 of Iced Out Mate

“Got some errands to run and probably going to finish building a dresser and a coffee table I just got delivered.”

There was my in. I had to take it. The slick drip against my thigh made me want to get behind closed doors immediately. “Need any help with that? I’m terrible at reading instructions but I’m great at holding pieces steady and drilling things.”

He chuckled at that. We walked close together. I glanced to my side, admiring the way his five o’clock shadow and the shiny jewelry complemented his handsome face. His dark brown hair was short and had a slight curl to it. If he grew it longer, I was sure those curls would be glorious. I wanted to run my hands through them and trace the lines of his jaw with my tongue. I wanted to nibble on his earlobe, not caring if I tasted gold, just wanting to taste him.

“I’d like that…” He trailed off. Shit. There was a “but” incoming, I just knew it in the way his tone shifted.

“But.” Bingo. “I think it’s best I’m honest with you, Dyl. I think you’re very attractive—clearly—and beyond that, your personality intrigues me. You make me feel comfortable, and I don’t get that often. I’m usually quiet and closed off, especially around people I just met. But that’s different with you, and for that reason I need to be cautious.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t want to cause any problems with my job, Dylan. I’m so sorry. I just can’t risk making a mistake this early.”

I winced at that. It hurt, hearing my supposedly fated mate call me a mistake.

He must have caught on because he put a hand on my elbow and stopped us from continuing forward. He looked deep in my eyes and said, “You aren’t the mistake, just to be clear. Falling for you right now would be the mistake. Not because I don’t want it to happen, but because I already feel like it is, and that could end up with either losing my job or potentially making your teammates uncomfortable. I can’t risk that, Dylan. I’m sorry.”

Feels like it is…

“No need to apologize. I get all of that, trust me,” I said, trying hard to hide the sinking feeling in my chest. It was as if my stomach dropped and my heart went with it, leaving me empty inside.

How could this be happening? How could fate have gotten this so wrong? It wasn’t a question for me: Miles was my fated mate. I’d been dreaming of him since the moment we met, I could pick up his scent from miles—pun intended—away. I didn’t just feel a flurry of butterflies around him, I felt a whole damn kaleidoscope of delicate wings flapping and tickling my insides.

And yet… he was pushing me away. For valid reasons, but I was still being turned down. And he said he was feeling like he was falling. But I already felt it. I’d already smacked against the ground but he was still floating toward it. That didn’t sound like a fated mate pull to me.

To make things even worse, I was going to have the biggest case of blue balls imaginable.

Fucking hell.

“Thank you for understanding,” Miles answered, hand still on my elbow.

“Of course.” We started walking again, his hand dropping back to his side. If I closed my eyes I was sure I could still trace the exact shape of his grip on my arm. He left a tingling mark of heat on me, the same way he had when he was stroking my cock for those blissful, short moments.

Something that would likely never happen again.

I held back a sigh. I truly was meant to be alone for the rest of my life. I’d have to come to terms with that at some point—the sooner the better. Because if the hands of fate couldn’t guide me in the right direction then I was just meant to hopelessly drift forever.

We reached the entrance of the park again. The small talk between us—how nice the weather looked, how the park was filling up—ended once we reached the busy street. “I’m that way,” Miles said, pointing in the opposite direction I was heading. For a split second I thought of going his same way but quickly scrapped that idea. No need to continue torturing myself by being in Miles’ presence longer than I needed to be.

“Thanks for today,” I said with a genuine gratitude that pushed past my disappointment. “Stopping my anxiety spiral. Means a lot.”

“Of course, and thank you for showing me your special spot.”

I would have shown you way more of my special spots if you’d brought me to your bedroom.

“Any time.” I gave him an awkward handshake that quickly turned into a hug. Having his body pressed against mine reignited the still-crackling embers. I let him go and was about to turn to leave but stopped myself.

“Hey,” I said, before we went our separate ways. “Random question, but have you ever heard of fated mates?”

Miles cocked his head. He arched a dark eyebrow. “I have. I know it’s rare and that it’s undeniable when it happens… Why?”

I gave an innocent shrug. “No reason. Just wondering. Anyway, see you at practice.”

I gave him a wave and walked off before he could dig any further.

Just two bros talking, that’s all we’d been. All we’d probably ever be.

Chapter Eight