We were quiet as we stared at one another. I was afraid to breathe, afraid to move. I may not have expected this, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want it. A mate, just for me? That was the dream I’d never allowed myself to have.
He grinned and let out a giggle. “I don’t know what to say,” he said. His face lit up when he smiled. There was an innocence to him that I hadn’t seen in an omega or anyone in a long time.
I couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t really know either, except… mate.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Mate.” His words came out breathless. His eyes never left mine.
The music started up again. People were getting up to go to the dance floor. He stepped closer to me as people walked around us.
“Would you like to dance?” I asked.
He nodded, his eyes full of trust and wonder.
“I never really believed that these things could actually lead a person to their mate.” He slipped his hand in mine. A little zing rand up my arm as my skin touched his. I never wanted to let him go. “I heard stories but never expected it to happen to me.”
“Me neither,” I said. “What is your name?”
“Nym.”
Interesting. I didn’t know of any dragon named Nym. Perhaps he wasn’t related to Cael or any other dragon that I knew. I didn’t really want to make the whole conversation about my boss, soI neglected to bring it up. This moment was just for us. No one else mattered.
“I’m Dain. A wolf.”
“A black wolf,” Nym said. We hadn’t stopped looking at one another. As if we were afraid that if we looked away, the other would disappear.
“How did you know?”
“I have no idea. I just saw you, and for a moment it was like I saw you in your wolf form in my mind. I don’t know. It was all kinds of strange.”
I focused hard on him, drawing in his scent. “You’re an onyx color,” I said. “Your scales, I mean. Almost purple when you’re out in the sun.”
He nodded. “Yeah, that’s right. Crazy that we can see each other’s animals so clearly.” He laughed again. He covered his mouth with his hand. “Sorry. I’m so nervous.” This time he did look away from me. He looked down and stared at the floor.
I drew him closer to me, breathing in his scent, feeling his body against mine. We began to sway with the music. “There’s no need to be nervous.” I tucked a finger under his chin and gently lifted his face until he was looking at me again. His eyes were so bright up close.
“This is the first masquerade ball I’ve ever come to,” he said.
“For me as well. At least as a guest. My work has brought me to them before.”
“That’s exciting. You’re an excellent dancer.”
“You are as well.” I grinned. “My mother taught me. I don’t know why. I’ve never actually had to use these skills.”
“My mom taught me also, mostly because it was cheap entertainment. She knew how to dance, and it was something to do to pass the time. We didn’t have a TV.”
“Televisions are overrated,” I said.
“Indeed.” As if he couldn’t help himself, he came closer until his body was flush against mine. His rested his head against my shoulder and the two of us moved to the music.
The night went on like that, me keeping him close to me. We had to move his plate to my table, shooing away some other omega that had been there. Neither of us spoke of removing our masks or any such thing until late in the evening, when it was time to wind down. Others that had paired off were leaving together. Whether they were mates or just looking to hook up, I didn’t know. I didn’t care. The only thing I cared about was the man in my arms. If it were up to me, he’d never leave my side.
We managed to fill the whole evening just talking with each other about the most random things. I didn’t know his last name, where he lived, or what he did for work, but I knew that he hated blueberries and that every Sunday he went to the dog parkto watch the dogs play but he didn’t actually have a pet. He took a book with him everywhere, he showed me the one he had in his breast pocket, just in case he had a free moment to read.
I knew he had a bookstore not far from where he lived that he enjoyed going to, and that baking was his true passion. He promised to bake for me someday, especially after I told him my mom used to make chocolate chip cookies and I hadn’t had any that could compare in a long time.
“There are rooms upstairs that we can use for the night, if you’d like to stay,” I said.
He gripped my hand. “Yes,” he said. “Please. I’m just… Yes. I want that. I want you.”
