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Rey woke first for a change, and she woke with a smile on her face. Kylo was fast asleep, arms wrapped around her like a pair of tree trunks, making it impossible for her to get up, but she didn't want to anyway.
His dark lashes were unexpectedly long, brushing against the delicate skin of the dark circles under his eyes and she guiltily wondered if caring for her had worn him out.
Though, as she went back in her memories of him, he always looked tired. Did crime bosses get holidays? Other than when he had his rut, did he take time off? Could he? They say, 'Crime never sleeps', was he taking that too literally?
She frowned as she studied him, otherwise he seemed to be in peak physical shape, though his pale skin indicated perhaps he wasn't getting enough sunlight, and vitamin D was important, right? Though, he'd likely burn easily, if he was out too long, would an Alpha use sunscreen?
Her thoughts rambled their way about, and she snuggled closer to him, pressing her nose into his neck.
Despite their prolonged shower, he still smelled like her, but no, that wasn't quite right, he smelled of them both - yet it wasn't like their scents had been just mixed, but remade into something new.
It smelled like home, true home, it smelled perfect, it smelled like… like love.
Her eyes prickled and she carefully moved so she could rub them, they came away damp and she hastily wiped them properly, not wishing to wake Kylo or for him to see her crying.
He shifted in his sleep, arms tightening around her as he inhaled near her neck, but his eyes didn't open.
She took another deep breath over his scent gland and closed her eyes. She knew she had been incredibly lucky, more than lucky, to come so close to losing everything and yet somehow come out the other end still her own person. And even though her and Kylo's mating had been unplanned, she didn't feel as though she was being controlled, or transmuted or tricked. Granted her life would be different now, and she knew she had changed, but it didn't feel wrong, or bad. To continue through life completely unchanged, to never grow or develop, was unnatural, unhealthy. Oftentimes change can be unattractive or scary, but it is also often for the better, and if it isn't, she was beginning to learn that you could always change that, too.
And love? Could this be it? Had she won the jackpot? This felt like winning, and though she had been waiting for the other shoe to drop, it hadn't - her feelings had only increased and she had felt nothing unsure coming from Kylo… it was still early days of course, but something deep down in her knew that this was real.
This was real.
'*'
'*'
"I don't care, Mitaka is driving you to work till you get a bike helmet."
Rey huffed in indignation as she packed her books into boxes. Kylo had insisted on coming to help her pack up her things to take back to the house - he still hated leaving her, which would be a problem when she went back to work tomorrow.
Han had been all too happy to give her a couple of extra days off, he'd answered in his usual gruff manner when she had called, but she could hear his grin when he heard her voice.
"Glad you're okay, kid, take the extra days, hell, take a week if you want to, sure we'll survive a bit longer without you, even if we do have to drink Chewie's shite coffee."
'It wasn't that she wanted to leave Kylo and go back to work so soon, but she was concerned if they continued to spend their every waking moment together, it would be all the harder to adjust once it was over.
And he had his own work to do.
'"I've been driving since I was fifteen, Kylo, and I'm absolutely fine."
She looked up from taping the box shut to see him scowling at the wall, and sighed. "Okay, fine, but I don't need Mitaka, I can get someone from the garage to give me a lift and I'll buy a helmet on my lunch break."
His expression softened but he shook his head, "I'm sorry, but I don't readily give my address to people I don't know and trust. The house is secluded for a reason, sweetheart."
Ah yes, her mate, the crime boss.
Still, it did make sense and the way he called her sweetheart, it was so very different to hearing anyone else say it, it made her a little giddy, (which was utterly ridiculous, but undeniable).
"Okay, Mitaka can take me, but I'll still buy a helmet, and if you call the integrity of my bike into question one more time, you'll regret it."
Kylo smirked at her, "Oh? And how will you do that?" he walked over to her and her hands stilled on the tape, "I can't imagine anything you could do to me that I'd regret," he bent with his lips just a fraction away from hers as he finished, "sweetheart."
Her eyes fluttered, but she didn't give in and let them shut, instead, she stepped away slightly, cleared her throat resolutely, and said, "I'm sure I can think of something," before turning and making for the bedroom so she could pack her clothes.
Of course he followed her; hands came to rest on her hips as she opened the cupboard that served as her wardrobe.
"Do you still have the dress from that night at The Darkside? The short dark one?"
Rey snorted, and gestured in front of her, "It's the only one I have, why? I'm surprised you even remember it."
He hummed low in her ear as he reached forward and brushed one of the sleeves with his fingers.
"How could I forget it?" he dropped the sleeve and his hand returned to her hip, gently rubbing the skin under her t-shirt, "It was the night I first met you, even when I saw you from the balcony, there was something about you that called to me, and then your scent…" he trailed off and she realised she was smiling, cheeks hot and a warm, full feeling in her chest.
"Your scent was," she breathed out, trying to think of a fitting way to describe it, "it was like a laser through heavy smoke, it was so hard to concentrate and then you were able to scent me too and I completely panicked."
"I'm sorry," he murmured softly, his now familiar and cherished scent wrapping around her, "It wasn't a very auspicious beginning, was it?"
Rey smiled and shook her head, turning so she could look up at him, "Not really, no, but I think things turned out okay in the end."
He looked utterly serious as he gazed back at her, eyes tender and warm, "I'm glad you think so, sweetheart, I hope you always do."
It was strange, astonishing really, how quickly she had become accustomed to affection, to giving it as well as receiving it. Right then, it wasn't difficult to lean into his touch, or press her lips to his, it wasn't alarming how his hands tightened at her waist, or that she felt heat pooling in her abdomen. It was natural, like breathing or leaning into a corner when you're going 90mph on a country road, like opening your eyes when you wake up, or seeking shade when the sun gets too hot.
How had she gone her entire life with just the very rare quick hug from a friend? And the closeness? Their bond?
It was everything
'*'
'*'
It had been harder than he wanted to admit, making sure Rey got to a clinic after they came back to earth. The idea of her growing round with his child was unexpectedly compelling, but he fought it, knowing that now was not the right time. And even if that time never came, it wouldn't matter, because she was everything, she was all he needed… and if they had children, he would have to share her, and he had to admit he was a selfish man.
The first time he had seen her (what could be loosely termed) motorbike, he had almost lost it, then he had lost it when he discovered she didn't wear a fucking helmet. But, mating it seemed, had made her immune to his temper, and she had looked alarmingly like his mother when she narrowed her eyes, put her hands on her hips and told him in no uncertain terms that the bike was staying. At least she had agreed on the issue of the helmet. And there was no need to tell her about the guards that would now watch over her anytime she was away from him; he knew she'd make a fuss, but it was necessary, even though she was mated now and safe from predatory Alphas, he had enemies, and while killing a man's mate was considered off limits by most, there were always those who didn't follow those unspoken rules.
He looked around her small home, at the few boxes that held all her belongings, despite its sparse appearance, the scent of her had permeated into the walls and carpet, which made it smell like home. He wondered how long it would be before his, no their, house smelled the same, already the place felt more like home than it ever had before, he imagined anywhere she was would be home for him…
He resolved to have a word with her ex landlord, just to make sure no Alpha took up the lease, the idea of another soaking in his mate's scent disturbed him greatly.
"Come on, let's get these boxes back home, then you're putting that dress on and I'm taking you out for dinner."
Rey raised her eyebrows at him, probably at his commanding tone - he liked that she didn't behave quite like most Omegas', perhaps it was the two-way bond, though he suspected it was actually just her.
"I'm not sure that dress is really suitable for a restaurant," was all she said as she picked up a box and started on her way out of the front door, "I literally got it just so I could get into the Darkside, it's from a charity shop and kind of worn."
Kylo smiled, "I don't care where it came from, I just loved the way you looked in it." His smile turned to a grin as he saw her blush and tasted the way her scent whispered of desire. He had been so happy (and relieved) when they had come out of their heat/rut bubble and found that she still wanted him, that she wasn't scared or disgusted. It may take him some time to really come to terms with the fact that this was real, that he had her, now and forever… He briefly fingered the small velvet box in his pocket, not yet.
With a shake of his head, he followed after Rey, carrying three boxes at once because he was an Alpha, his reward was merely a roll of her hazel eyes.
'*'
'*'
Rey had never actually been to a restaurant, she had grabbed a bite to eat a few times with Korso, but at fast food joints and they had sat outside.
Kylo had taken her to the kind of restaurant she'd only seen in movies. Her dress was definitely out of place, especially next to Kylo's crisp black jeans, shirt and jacket, and her boots? Well, she thought the hostess who showed them to their table might cry. In circumstances such as these, she ought to feel uncomfortable, yet, with Kylo staring at her like he wanted to eat her up and their joined scents wrapping around them, she didn't care one bit.
Was life always going to be like this? Things seemed so much… easier? Safer? Happier. She no longer felt the need to hide from Alphas, she didn't panic or slink around when she was away from home, she didn't lie in bed and worry about the next day or feel nauseous when she caught an unfamiliar scent… and she didn't constantly feel resentment towards her own body. She felt… free. Some may scoff at that, before all this she herself would have scoffed, because how could she be free when she was intrinsically, permanently bonded to an Alpha? But she was coming to realise there are just some things that you cannot understand unless you have experienced them yourself. That word, that begins with L; can anyone truly comprehend it until they have felt it? They may think they do, but nothing can really prepare you for when it really happens.
Before Kylo, she had never believed in it, thought it was a lie perpetuated by Alphas to keep their mates quiet and for Betas to cajole their chosen partner into staying with them.
But somehow, magically and miraculously, she felt it now, felt it in her bones, in her chest, in her throat and lips and skin, in the gentle thrum from her glands and at the tips of her fingers and toes.
So this was her, mated, in… in love, and free.
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A/N: Idk if anyone cares, but right from the beginning, I had this quote in my notes;
"It taught me to hope," said he, "as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before." Mr. Darcy - Pride and Prejudice
Thank you to everyone that left comments ^_^