Rissa is breathtakingly stunning in an emerald-green halter dress, her bubbling golden-brown curls cascading down and brushing her exposed shoulders. Strappy golden sandals wrap around her ankles up to her knees, showcasing her toned, tanned legs.
For a moment, I’m lost in a daze, until Rissa walks down the stairs, clutching the rail nervously.
“Am I underdressed?” she asks sheepishly. “I felt underdressed when we were at the dinner in Whittier. I don’t wanna disappoint the council tonight. I just don’t—”
“Shh,” I stop her as I step closer, reaching out a hand as she approaches. “You are stunning, Rissa,” I admit without holding back when she slips her hand into mine. “The only reason you need clothes at all is to stay decent.”
Rissa immediately gasps, her cheeks turning beet-red, and that’s when I realize what I’ve just said. I mutter a string of curses under my breath to chastise myself, but when Rissa giggles, I feel relaxed again.
“That’s not what I meant…” I say with a nervous chuckle. “I just mean you look perfect in anything you wear. You’re beautiful as you are.”
“Thank you,” Rissa blushes again, biting her bottom lip as she turns her face away shyly. “You know, I really like this new version of you.”
“Well, he’s gonna stick around if it means I get to see you blush more often,” I tease, noticing the twinkle in Rissa’s eyes and realizing that I’m about to lose my mind with how much she appeals to my inner wolf. As she climbs down the last set of stairs, I turn my face away and clamp my teeth onto the knuckles of a curled fist.
It takes every ounce of self-control to remind myself that I vowed to take my time with Rissa, being her friend before anything else. This date is simply to make up for the past and show her that I can be better.
Even if she catches on to my little white lie earlier than I was hoping. Of course, I enlisted Aurora and Yvonne’s help with maintaining the ruse, letting Rissa believe that we’re attending a dinner in the main hall.
But as soon as we pass by the hall on our way toward the village square, Rissa slows down.
“We’re not going to the hall?” she asks with a slow frown.
“No,” I shake my head. “I hope you don’t get upset, but I might have lied,” I grimace. “There’s no dinner with the Council tonight. I made it up as a way to surprise you. This is more like a date.”
Rissa’s eyes grow wide when she gasps. “A d-date?”
I nod, giving her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “Since we’ve agreed to give this a shot, I think it’s only fitting for us to spend some time together. As friends, of course,” I add for good measure, not wanting to pressure Rissa into anything that she’s not comfortable with.
She’s agreed to being my mate, and has shown no indication that she doesn’t want that anymore. It’s a good start.
“Friends,” she concedes with a tentative nod.
Was that disappointment I glimpsed flashing across her face, or am I being too hopeful?
Rissa has no idea that it’s driving me crazy that I can’t just pull her close and crush my lips to hers. I’m exercising self-restraint at every turn, and when we finally reach the field just outside the village for the setup for the summer festival, my relief comes with the distraction of enacting my plan.
I push the low metal gate in, leading Rissa toward the stalls where dinner is set up in one of the tents. Rissa appears pleasantly surprised at the simple meal—hot dogs and French fries, something I had Connor put together since he’ll be manning this stall.
Leading Rissa to the wooden bench on one side of the table, I wait for her to take a seat before going to the bench on the other side.
“I know this is quite simple, and not some fancy dinner, but I thought it’s fitting since we’re at the festival.”
Rissa takes a look around, her eyes lighting up as she traces them across the fairy lights hanging above.
“It’s perfect,” she giggles, the sound like music to my ears.
I shrug casually as I pick up a hot dog. “The festival only starts this weekend, so technically, we’ll be the first to ride the Ferris wheel.”
Rissa is about to take a bite of her hot dog when she stops, her eyes widening. “You were serious about that?”
“Of course I was,” I chuckle coolly. “Do I not get points for being a man of my word?”
Rissa giggles nervously. “I told you I’m afraid of heights.”
“And I told you we’ll get over that fear,” I wink.
I distract Rissa from worrying too much about the Ferris wheel by catching up on the progress she’s making with training. She tells me how well it’s going, but how she’s still unsure if she’s able to use her powers outside of the magic room.
