“I had a black coffee on the way over, and that is more than enough caffeine for me.” My little omega gives me the side-eye and sniffs the air, trying to detect any deceit in my scent, but after a moment, she decides to trust me. With a happy hum and she snatches the drink from the tray and passes it back to me. Letting out a moan that shoots straight to my cock, she takes a gulp of the frothy sweet treat.
“This is really amazing. I haven’t had such a decadent coffee since I was in high school.” Filing that information away, I decide sweet treats are going to become a regular thing for her. “I don’t know how you knew. It used to be one of my favorites.” A thousand questions clamor in my mind, but I want nothing to break this happy moment. My omega needs more positive associations with me; it’s my only shot. I settle in, happy to bask in her presence. But her distraction doesn’t last long. She takes a deep gulp of her drink before pinning me with a considering stare. “It’s not mentor night. What are you doing here?”
I was in the area. I just happened by. I had too much coffee, so I thought you might want some.A bevy of excuses slips through my mind, but I refuse to begin our relationship with lies.
“I wanted to see you. Being away all week has been torturous. I know you said that we need to keep this professional, but my feelings for you aren’t professional in the slightest.” Her eyebrows furrow as she processes my words. All of her muscles tense, and my heart thunders, worried that she’s about to rabbit off.
“And you knew I’d be here because of my son…”
“Yeah, it was the only place I could find you.” She stays stiff, but doesn’t jump up or rush off. “I don’t know where you live or pretty much anything about you, including your name. You made it clear that you’re not interested in a relationship right now. That you don’t wanna jump into anything, but I can’t let you go.” It’s not everything I have to say, not even close.
My omega finishes taking a last sip of her latte, and I lift the tray, offering her another. Her emerald eyes peek up at me shyly as she plucks another.
“You really don’t know my name?” She nibbles on her lower lip, pink and plump, and I’m dying for a taste. Her head cocks to one side, and I’m not sure why she doesn’t believe me.
“I really don’t.”Please tell me.
“My name is Nixie. Well, actually, it’s Phoenix, but I go by Nixie.” She willingly gives me a little piece of herself, and suddenly the gap between us doesn’t seem so vast. I know I have an uphill battle convincing her to give Julius a chance. But maybe if I tell her a bit about us, it won’t be as hard.
“Nice to officially meet you, my beautiful mate.” Her eyes close for a second, but she doesn’t deny my claim, and I reach out my hand, leaving it open palm up. She stares at it like it’s a piranha, ready to bite, but after a moment of hesitation, she slides her dainty fingers into mine.
“Julius didn’t tell you when he ferreted it out?”
What the fuck?
“Julius?” My mouth is so dry, I nearly choke.
Her face pales, and she nearly upends the tray, reaching for her bag. The coffee sloshes, and I tighten my grip.
“Yeah. He’s been texting me non-stop. Isn’t this his number?” Nixie searches around until she locates her phone, then pulls it out and hands it to me. A strangled growl leaps from my throat when I look down and see what my packmate has done. He’s been messaging her behind my back this whole time. Rage burns deep in my chest. I’m here to plead for another chance, and he’s been messaging her like an asshole.
“I’ll kill him for you,” I snarl, ready to do just that.I swear if he’s ruined this…
Nixie’s gemstone-green eyes widen. “Death isn’t necessary. Feel free to give him a solid punch in his smug face, though.”
“Done,” I promise, and she lets out a tinkling laugh.
“I take it you had no idea?” I shake my head, and her shoulders lift, sliding her red hair over them, and I can’t fight the urge to run my fingers through the strands. They’re as smooth as silk, mesmerizing as they twine around my digits, leaving little zaps of electricity that charge the moment between us.
“I don’t know how to do this,” Nixie whispers, vulnerability written on every line of her face. “My life doesn’t have room for anyone else. And there’s no place in Asher’s life for upheaval.”
“Despite Julius’s pushy attitude, we can start small. You set the pace. A single minute, a single outing, a single date.” Her raspberry scent blooms around me, and I know I’m on the right path. “We don’t have to plan out forever in a day.”
“Vonn.” Her hand reaches for mine, pulling my fingers from her hair and holding them in her soft grasp. “I’m not sure if forever is even an option. There are so many things you don’t know about me. So many barriers to our being together…”
“You know who’s great at knocking down barriers?” I tease, and she allows a watery smile. Her scent dampens, but knowing she cares at all is huge.
“That man is an absolute bulldozer. I honestly don’t understand how you chose Julius to be your packmate. You’re polar opposites.” She humphs, and I move the drink tray into the aisle, needing to be closer to her. I scoot in a few seats until our shoulders bump. When she doesn’t object, I lift my arm and tuck her into my side.
My eyes stray to the kids dashing back and forth on the ice, taking me back to what feels like a lifetime ago.
“Julius is my brother. Not by blood, but by circumstance.” She nestles in, rubbing her cheek against my shirt, and warmth envelops me. Though she may not want this, she feels the connection as clear and strong as I do. “We grew up together, neighbors in a run-down apartment complex. His dad was an Alpha, and he never knew his mom. Whenever Julius’s father drank, he would beat Julius. I could hear it through the thin walls. One night, after a bad one, I opened my window and tried to whisper to him. Make sure he was okay. We realized our windows were so close we could talk. I got two cups and a string, built a telephone, and we chatted late into the night. Our first night of many.”
A tear rolls down my sweet omega’s cheek, and she quickly wipes it away.
“He’s not a bad Alpha, just a hard one. But there’s no one more caring or loyal once you let him in,” I promise, dipping my nose for a hit of her scent. “Please give us a chance to prove ourselves to you. Just one date. A coffee, lunch, dinner, or a walk in the park. Whatever you’re willing to try.”
Nixie stiffens at the request, but she doesn’t pull away.Please say yes.
