“You still didn’t answer my question.” Serial killers have ruses. Maybe this is one of his? Lure an omega into a romantic setting, then bam! “Couldn’t you have watched this from your dorm room?”
“I don’t live on campus. This is the highest elevation I could get to. I mapped out the coordinates and tracked the shower’s movements to get to this exact spot.”
“Does this mean you’re not a creepy stalker or crazed killer?”
“What?” He gasps in horror as if the thought hadn’t occurred to him. “No! Of course not! I only wanted to look at the stars.”
“Next time you want to look at the stars, maybe you should think a little more carefully about what being up in a tree in the middle of the night could look like?” I relax slightly but don’t fully let my guard down.
From my hours spent analyzing criminal trials, Riven’s reactions appear to be genuine. In fact, he seems to be more afraid of me than the other way around.
“I’m going to put my spray back in my pocket, okay?” I tell him. “But you should be warned that I’m a Hapkido black belt.”
He winces. “Noted.”
We sit in silence, taking turns looking at the sky through his telescope. Though being in his presence is oddly comforting, I struggle to suppress a shiver. I should have chosen a warmer costume.
“You’re cold,” he states matter-of-factly.
I jump as something toasty is draped around my shoulders. A blanket. A blanket that smells so fucking delicious and of him. Damn, why do I keep running into strange alphas with delicious smells whenever I want to be alone lately?
“I should probably go,” I say, although I don’t make any immediate effort to move.
“Stay.” It’s not a command but an invitation. More than that, it’s an invitation into his own private world. His blue eyes twinkle, the light in his eyes mirroring the magnificent shooting display. “You don’t want to miss this.”
Against my better judgment, I stay where I am, pulling the blanket tighter around me. When I catch myself musing over how his scent would pair perfectly with my fluffy blankets back in my nest, I mentally scold myself before my thoughts spiral. What’s wrong with me? Maybe those cranberry cocktails were stronger than I thought.
An omega’s nest is their sacred space, and I spent a long time curating mine until it was exactly the way I want it. I’m ultra-protective and don’t let anyone else near it. So why the hell am I even thinking about the Viking god look-alike and my nest? It must be his scent. Why is it so enticing?
I steady my breathing.Stay calm, Kady.I’m ultra-conscious of his enormous, muscled shoulder, so close to mine but not quite touching. I catch a slight hint of my perfume as my body betrays me. Luckily, Riven doesn’t comment or overtly react. He keeps staring at the stars, mouth slightly open in awe, completely oblivious to the fact that my panties are now damp from being wrapped in a blanket that smells like him. Usually, an alpha would go absolutely feral at a whiff of an omega’s perfume. Instead of feeling grateful for not capturing his attention, insecurity rises to the surface. Doesn’t he like me?
He offers me the telescope. “Do you want to look again?”
I pull myself together, shaking off the silly voice in the back of my head to concentrate on the glimmering dots against the inky blackness. The distant music coming from Club Knotty feels so far away. This moment of calm is exactly what I needed.
“Perfect.” Riven’s husky growl gives me goose bumps, but in a good way. He clears his throat. “Isn’t it?”
I hum my agreement as he reaches for his backpack and takes out a thermos. When he opens it, the sweet aroma of hot cocoa mixed with rich toffee caramel wafts through the air, warming my insides.
“Would you like some?” He smiles shyly. “It’ll help warm you up.”
“No, thanks.” I deny myself the pleasure, despite the delicious smell. “I don’t accept drinks from strangers.”
He takes a long swig then tilts his head to the left, studying me like I’m a math equation he’s trying to work out. “Why?”
“The usual stuff.” I can’t help but squirm under his penetrating gaze. “It could be poisonous, drugged, or…” I realize I sound ridiculous, especially after seeing him drink it.
“I just thought you might like some.” His shoulders slump as he quickly stashes the flask out of sight. “I always bring cocoa with me when I’m out in the cold.”
Why do I feel like I’m acting like a real bitch all of a sudden? He was only trying to be nice. I always manage to ruin things without meaning to. My father trained me to see the worst in people, so that’s led to me expecting it.
I decide to change the subject. “Do you stargaze often?”
“Most days.” His mouth twitches up like a switch has flicked in his head, forgetting about my last remarks. “But tonight is extra special. A once-in-a-lifetime moment.”
“Just like getting scared half to death by an alpha falling out of a tree onto a pumpkin?”
He freezes for a second, watching to see my reaction.
