Mik smiled. “While we’re waiting for our food to come, I bought you something,”
Ro eyed the last piece of buttered bread. “You did?” he asked before popping the piece into his mouth and tried not to moan as the taste of that gorgeous warm bread and lightly salted butter hit his taste buds.
“I picked it up a while ago, and since you said tonight was a celebration, I figured it was a good time to give it to you.” He laughed nervously as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled a jewellery box out. Mik stretched and placed it in front of him.
Rowan’s eyes widened as he read the label. Chopard.
“This is too much,” he said, not making a move to open the box.
“Nothing will ever be too much for you.” Mikhail’s eyes on him were steady, and he could tell the alpha meant every word.
His hands shook as he lifted the box. He glanced up at Mikhail and found him intently watching him, so Rowan opened his present.
When he saw the bracelet lying on the cream velvet cushion inside that dark blue box, his hands flew to his chest as he gasped.
“Woah.” Rowan reached out to touch it but stopped short. “Are those real diamonds?” his voice lowered ondiamonds.
Mikhail didn’t answer, and when he looked up, there was a smile on his face.
“Do you like it?” He asked instead.
“It’s... wow.” Rowan knew he’d already said that, but this was too much, more than he needed.
“You know you don’t have to keep buying me things, right.” He held Mik’s gaze so he knew Rowan meant every word.
“I know.” Mikhail’s lips lifted at the sides a little. “I know I promised not to rush you, and I’m not. But Rowan, you’re my mate, and spoiling you and making you happy, that’s everything.”
Rowan’s breath stalled in his chest, and his heart skipped a beat. He was so screwed.
Before he could think of something to say, the waitress appeared. “Your first course, gentlemen. Bacon hot smoked with hen yolk and squid.”
Ro covered his mouth. “I’m going to be sick.” He jumped up and ran from the table—this time towards the exit, and just in time to throw up on the pavement.
“Fuck!” he cursed, but it came out sounding like a groan. He knew Mikhail was there before he even felt him rubbing his back. When Ro straightened—or rather fell back—it was into Mikhail’s broad chest.
When he turned around into Mik’s body drawing strength from his soothing touch, he groaned.
“Okay, I think it’s time we got home. You’re not at all well.” The concern in Mik’s voice was evident. “Plus, I think we may be banned from the restaurant now.”
Rowan managed a laugh, but it was weak. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but all the smells.” He shuddered just thinking about it.
Mik held him back and stared at him for a moment, really studying him. Rowan held his gaze, and he saw the moment it clicked in Mikhail’s eyes, and his eyes narrowed.
“Are you? Could you?” There was a cautiously excited look in Mik’s eyes, followed by a ridiculously huge, hopeful smile on his face. Rowan knew what was going on through Mik’s mind.
“I don’t know,” Rowan answered Mik’s unasked question. “This could just be a coincidence. I took the test, remember.”
“But the test could have been wrong, right?” Mik’s eyes gleamed with barely concealed hope. “We can take another one. I have one back at the hotel.”
Ro arched an eyebrow. “One?”
Mikhail chuckled. “Okay, maybe more than one.”
“I thought so,” Ro said, but his shoulders slumped, and he leaned back into Mikhail’s chest. “What if it’s negative again,” Rowan said in a small voice.
Mikhail tried to lean back so he could see his face, but Rowan held on tighter. Of course, Mik could have put more strength behind it, but he didn’t.
“Then we’ll know, and we’ll deal with it.” Mikhail made it sound simple, but Rowan hadn’t realised how much he wanted to be until he wasn’t, and now he didn’t want to get his hopes up.
