A Mate for Lu - Amy Bellows Page 0,10

it. Casual sex isn’t something I do.”

Lu walks over to his closet and pulls out a threadbare cotton robe, throwing it over his shoulders and tying it at the waist. “I’m well aware of how penguin shifters view casual sex.”

“No. That isn’t… it’s just, Allen and I never did anything physical before we were bonded. I’m completely new to this, Lu.”

He grabs my jeans and throws them at me. Hard. “Allen was a good little omega, wasn’t he? Didn’t even touch anyone before his Pebble Gifting Season? Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not like that.”

“That isn’t what I meant—”

He balls up my shirt and lobs it at me. “Are you trying to say that you don’t judge omegas who sleep with alphas who aren’t their mates? That’s bullshit. Of course you do. Penguin shifters don’t understand how dating or sex work for us, and they don’t want to.”

I’m just making this worse. I should leave.

“I do. I mean, I tried. I did a lot of research for an article I wrote about polar bear shifter dating culture. I’ll send it to you,” I say, throwing my shirt over my head and pushing my arms through the armholes as fast as I can.

Lu doesn’t respond. I suppose that’s for the best.

After I put on my clothes, I stand awkwardly at the foot of his bed. What do I do now? Leave? Tell him I’m sorry again? Is there a delicate way for this to end?

If Allen is truly watching, he must be disgusted with me.

“I hope Mary likes the clothes,” I say.

Lu stiffens and opens his bedroom door.

I leave without another word.

7

Lu

Being angry at Sam is far better than pining after him. What an asshole. Going on about how he “doesn’t do casual sex” after reminding me over and over again that he can’t be with me, all while sticking his dick up my ass. What kind of self-righteous nonsense is that?

I strip my bedding and throw it all in the wash before I’m tempted to allow his smell to linger. I’m done moping over Sam. He made all these speeches about what I “deserve,” right after telling me he loved me, knowing full well he wouldn’t commit to me. I thought Sam was different than the other men I’ve had sex with, but he’s not. He’s exactly the same.

Just as I turn on the washer, I hear the pitter patter of feet in Mary’s room. She’s finally awake.

I could really use a hug right now.

The door to her room opens, and her cute, round face beams up at me.

“Daddy!” She holds out her arms to me, and I pick her up, squeezing her small body tight.

“Oh, Miss Mary. I love you so much.”

“Wuv you. Wuv Daddy.”

She smells like baby lotion and soap. Even what happened with Sam can’t penetrate the happiness I feel when I smell that scent. It’s 100% Mary, and it calms me like nothing else in the world.

Eventually she wiggles to be free, and I have to set her down again. She scampers into the dining room where she finds the piles of clothing Sam left behind. She zeroes in on a pile of her clothes and tugs on a pink skirt until the clothes spill onto the floor.

Sam bought clothing in 2T and 3T. There has to be over a hundred dollars worth of shirts, leggings, socks, and dresses. It’s hard to hate him when she picks up a shirt with a panda bear on it and squeals with delight.

“Doggie!” she says.

“No, Mary. That’s a panda bear.”

“Doggie!”

I guess it doesn’t matter, as long as she likes it.

Now that Sam is gone, I suppose I should see what else he brought. I only saw the tops of the bags before. I wish I was in a position to throw the stuff out, but I’m not. I’m going to keep everything.

Mary jabbers on to her “doggie” on the floor while I look through the fridge and pantry. Sam was thorough in his shopping trip. He bought us everything I could have wished for, including tea, which I burn through quickly during the winter. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m grateful.

My phone dings. I pull it out of my pocket and see a notification for an email from Sam. Despite my better judgement, I open it up to see a link to that damn article he was telling me about. Even though I know I shouldn’t, I click on it. It’s dated eleven months ago