Juniper sat in Raphael's office chair as she cross referenced locations his group picked out and spikes in magic use.

Beneath the massive desk and chair that was much too tall for her, she kicked her legs.

Once she was finished, she realized it'd been hours since she'd started.

Furrowing her brow she wondered, where is her mate?

Pushing the papers into a pile, she walked around the downstairs of the house to see Bear on the couch by himself.

Eventually, Juniper meandered into their room where she saw the bathroom door open.

In sweatpants, shirtless Raphael was cleaning the bathroom with the most cleaning products she'd ever seen

"Are we hiding a body?" her voice caught him off guard obviously as he hit his head on the cabinet.

Sitting back, he looked up at her.

"I was trying to finish before you were done."

Juniper glanced around and saw he'd cleaned their room as well.

"I could've helped you, I don't want you to do this alone anymore if I'm living here," she pressed her hands to her hips with a frown.

Raphael shook his head, "I-" he cleared his throat while rubbing his hands on his sweats. "I have a certain way to do it."

Juniper nodded slowly, her mate was surprised when she sat on the floor besides him.

"I'll learn how to do it your way then."

Immediately he scowled, "No it's stupid just let me do it."

"I'll fight you if you don't show me."

Raphael's eyes widened and he turned his head to look at her as if she was crazy. He was caught off guard when her face was right besides his own. They stared at each other heatedly.

Her eyes glanced down to his lips before quickly kissing them.

He smirked, "You lost." It'd been a silent competition of their staring contests- who would break first?

"Shut up and show me how you do it."

Juniper spent the next forty minutes learning Raphael's obsessive cleaning routine, never once complaining.

"Is this why you didn't want a dog?"

Her question was quiet as she rest her cheek against his broad shoulder, chest pressed to his back.

Pursing his lips, he shrugged.

"Why didn't you tell me," she sighed quietly.

"We aren't exactly masters of communication now are we?" he rolled his eyes with a sarcastic tone.

When she didn't say anything in response, thinking quietly Raphael continued.

"He's not as bad as I thought he'd be. I just vacuum twice instead of once. He's grown on me, just like his owner-" he side eyed her.

Turning to face him, she smushed her other cheek on the same shoulder so their faces were as close as possible without touching.

"Are you sure?" her tone was worried and riddled with conflict. She loved her dog, but she... lov-liked her mate and wanted him comfortable in his own home.

"I'm positive baby," he mumbled. "He's your dog. This is your house too."

Humming, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"That was hot," Juniper kissed his neck. The berserker grunted in response while tilting his head for her, her kisses turning into sucking that left hickeys.

Her gentle hands rubbed his bare chest.

Lapping her tongue over the marks left she went for the kill by sucking on his mark gently. 

A loud groan fell from his lips, his hands reaching around and gripping her waist. Sliding his hands down and over her voluptuous ass, she felt him clap his hand down on it.

Moaning into his skin, after a moment she pulled away. He turned his head and Juniper immediately kissed him hard.

He spared a hand to cup her face.

They both took a second to open their eyes, humming in pleasure at the others taste.

"What're you cookin' me tonight?" she asked with a cheeky smile.

They alternated every night cooking.

"I think I'll keep it a surprise," he began putting away his cleaning things.

She helped him until he stood and reached a hand to help her up as well.

~

A couple hours later Juniper was sat across from Raphael as they ate. He was obviously in deep thought so she didn't bother him.

He'd made them some fancy pasta she couldn't pronounce the name of but it was delicious so she didn't try.

"The hound took the bait, we've got berserkers trailing him now. The second they get information of interest I'll be the first they call."

Juniper nodded, pleased with the update. "That's a good thing."

He swallowed, nodding as well. "I think it's be good if we have you stay somewhere safer. I have safe houses scattered along the island."

Slowly, she set down her fork and glanced up at her mate. She rose her brow, "And will you be staying with me in this safe house?"

She knew the answer.

He grit his teeth at her attitude, "No. I'd stay here and finish this. But while we're on this man, we could lead them back to us if it goes wrong. I refuse for them to have any opportunity to get at you."

"Raphael, did you miss the part where we decided to do everything together? Because I don't see how me going to hide away and you staying back to take out these people is doing it together."

Juniper sat back in her chair abruptly, crossing her arms and glaring.

"Baby can you just-" he set his own utensils down and pressed his fingers to his temples.

"Can you just listen to me? It'd only be for a short amount of time. Just until I know for sure that you're safe."

"And what about you? How am I supposed to know you're safe cooped up in some hole? This isn't- isn't fair! I don't like it when you try to do this shit!" Her voice was beginning to raise, leaving Raphael made her feel sick.

"Juniper-" he snarled. "I can't fucking breathe at the thought of something happening to you. I don't know what to do other than this!"

Juniper's fists clenched and to her surprise tears stung her eyes in frustration.

What the hell is happening to her?

"No. I won't go, you just said this was my home and now you're trying to send me away. I know you think it's for safety but I'm safest here!"

Her nails dug into her palms before shoving her chair out, grabbing her plate and storming further into the kitchen. Raphael growled lowly and followed after her as she cleaned her plate with her back to him.

Dropping his plate loudly on the counter, he paced behind her.

"I need you to do this for me," he stressed and snagged her hips. Turning around so she'd be forced to look at him.

"No." Juniper shoved his hands off of her.

"Damn it Juniper! Just- it'd only be for a short amount of time. You'd be safe, that's all that matters."

She scoffed, eyeing him in annoyance and Raphael quickly realized she was finished entertaining this topic.

Raphael's heart was thumping, anxiety eating away at him if he couldn't get his mate somewhere safe. A thousand scenarios of the next few weeks, what could go wrong and what could happen to his little mate.

"Juniper I-I can't-" he ran a hand through his hair stressed. "I've got fucking assholes trying to kill the woman I love- my mate- and she doesn't even seem half as concerned as I am!"

Juniper who'd turned away from him again stiffened. Silence rung in the room after he'd raised his voice.

The bluenette turned to look at him, "What?"

Raphael panted from how worked up he'd gotten and furrowed his brow in annoyance, "What?"

Her brows were up as she took shaky breaths.

Her lips quivered as her eyes watered again, shaky breaths falling from her chest.

"Y-You love me?" her voice was barely above a whisper. "Me?"

Raphael's own eyes widened as he realized what he'd said. His breath hitched as his face flushed.

She waited for a moment as his mind stalled.

"If you just said it heat of the moment it's fine. I-I mean I get it you don't want me to stay here. I just want you to be honest if you didn't mean-"

"Have I ever lied to you?" Raphael snapped.

She jumped a little at his sharp tone, they glared at each other for a moment.

"Well-" Juniper crossed her arms. "I love you back," she shifted a little while pouting her lips as different emotions were flooding her.

"You do?" he breathed out while closing his fists tightly.

"I wouldn't say something like that without meaning it," Juniper shot back.

He swallowed hard as she looked up at through her lashes.

"Fuck," he croaked.

Juniper abruptly laughed at his reaction, wiping at the tears falling down her cheeks.

Finally snapping himself out of his stupor, he reached and grabbed the back of her neck.

Her blubbery laughs were cut off as he kissed her, hard.

She gasped only for Raphael's greedy tongue to push into her mouth. The demoness moaned, reaching and gripping the t-shirt he'd put on.

A whimper rose from her chest as he yanked her closer, lips ravenous against her own while he practically lifted her up to gain better access.

His fingers threaded in her thick hair, growling as he kissed her with everything in him.

They fought for control, Juniper's hands gripping the back of his neck to pull him closer.

When she'd lost her breath she pulled away, sucking in air only for him to capture her again.

Her leg hooked around his hip, his large hands grabbing at her curvy figure.

"I love you," he gasped between lip locking.

She moaned quietly, holding his face. "I love you," she repeated back to him in a whiny tone.

Their bodies ground against one another. "Raphael-" her brows pinched together in pleasure. "F-Fuck, yes."

"Yeah baby?" he moaned while lifting her up as her legs wrapped around his hips.

"So good- fuck Juniper- so fucking pretty," he kneaded his fingers into her plump bottom while rutting his dick into the apex of her thighs.

She whined quietly while rocking her hips to meet his.

A loud knocking sounded at the front door.

Both parted slowly, spit connecting their lips.

They both panted, Juniper resting her forehead against his shoulder.

He grunted tiredly, "Stupid motherfuckers are here for poker."

She smiled a little. Pushing her head up and leaning over to peck his swollen lips.

"I love you," she mumbled. "But I'm not going to a safe house."

He shut his eyes, sighing quietly.

"Fine," he grunted. More knocking sounded and he sneered.

"Go have fun, I'm going upstairs to cuddle with our dog since now you can't have sex with me."

Raphael's eyes widened. "I can tell them to leav-"

"No your friends are here," she shrugged. "You'll have to wait longer."

"But-"

"Bye, if you loose poker I don't know you," she called over her shoulder as Bear followed her up the steps.

Groaning loudly, he pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes frustratedly. But, his chest fluttered like a bitch as he realized the mile stone him and Juniper had reached.

Before his friends broke down the door, he ripped the door open and glowered at the seven berserkers on his porch ready to play this dumb game.

~

eeeee milestones!!!

also i'd like to make it clear juniper hasn't had her heat yet! the marking was a separate urge part of the mating process mentioned in the earlier chapters!

what do we think about their dynamics and progression?