“I’m getting cold,” she says, her voice lighter than before. “Let’s keep moving.”
We fall into a silence again. The only sounds are our heavy breaths, our footsteps crunching on the gravel path under our feet, and the birds around us.
“How bad was it?” I ask softly as we climb another hill. She can use it as an excuse if she wants to avoid the topic.
“It was pretty awful,” she murmurs. “But good as well.”
“Good?” I ask, trying not to get too hopeful.
“Yeah, to be honest, I’ve never been eaten out like that before.” Her head stays dipped, but I can see her smile.
Happiness bubbles in me. If they had gone that far already, then we were one step closer to being a real pack.
“What? Was he even better than me?”
“Sorry, Kane.” She chuckles. “He pushed you out of the top spot for best moustache ride ever.”
“This is a tragedy! Now you definitely have to sneak off with me so we can fix this!”
She laughs as we crest the top of the hill, and an easier quiet sweeps over us as we slow down to look at the trees spread over the valley in the rising sun. I really want to pull her close, to nuzzle and scent mark her.
“Okay, but you can’t just tell me you hooked up with Timber and not give me any more details. I literally live for this kind of stuff. It’s my new life goal since you pointed out so succinctly what an asshole I am for pushing you and Timber into this situation.”
I might have gone too far into ‘playful’, but I keep going.
“Besides, the more we run, the less chance my dick has of getting hard when you tell me the story.” I grin at her. “Or we could just fuck against a tree if you want?”
“Oh my God, haven’t you heard of the mood?”
“I’m always in the mood, sweetness. But I was kind of easing us into it this time.”
“That was about as smooth as a brick through a window. What happened to the seductive Kane that promised me all these amazing things when he said he wanted to be my alpha?”
“Oh, he’s still here. He’s just waiting until we get back to the lot when you’re so hot and sweaty that I can push you against your car and slide right into you.”
Her mouth drops open, and I quickly shoot off in case she wants to bring her elbow back into play.
“I thought you weren’t going to make this about sex?” she yells after me, her voice bouncing off the trees.
“Let’s go!” I shout back, and I grin as her laugh echoes out behind me.
I’m laughing with her, but relief pours through me as I ball my shaking hands into fists and hide how scared I am that I almost lost her.
Ollie
Iturn the cardboard cup of hot chocolate between my hands as we walk down the street.
I wouldn’t say I never imagined doing something so normal with Kane, but getting drinks before meandering through town is way different from dressing up to go to dinner or him eating me out at the hospital.
I’ve been freaking the hell out and nearly on the verge of tears since I left Timber’s house. I can’t breathe without feeling like I’m going to have a panic attack. It’s driving me crazy because this isn’t me. I’m not like these weak-ass needy omegas who cry about missing out on their alpha’s farts.
I should be better than this, but when I saw Kane, I got all stupid and gooey, and now, I’m forcing back my smile even though I’m still annoyed at him.
I wanted to drive straight back to my apartment, but when Kane invited me for a drink, I couldn’t say no. Because, honestly? I need my alpha.
As soon as he turned up on my run, my heart unlocked, and a calm I’d only ever found with him flooded me like a sad, horny dam break. Plus, walking next to him through the morning rush of people racing to get to work meant he’d put his arm around me and pull me to his side.
“To make sure no one else can sweep you off your feet except me.”
