“I’m joking.” I grin.
A laugh escapes him. It’s so gleeful that the sudden outburst surprises me and makes me laugh too. An ugly laugh that’s more like a snort, which only makes him laugh harder.
“I’ll be more careful next time I climb a tree,” he chuckles. “Although falling into a pumpkin patch was worth it for this.”
Does he mean meeting me?
Our eyes meet, and time seems to freeze. Neither of us speak, but it’s not awkward nor uncomfortable; it’s like neither of us need or want to. He’s intriguing and mysterious. Unlike any other alpha I’ve met.
“Yes.” I break his gaze by looking up. “You scaring the crap out of me was worth it to see this.”
“I can tell you more about the stars, if you’d like?” he offers, confirming that he has been referring to the sky. I’m an idiot for thinking any different. “I can point out the different constellations?”
I nod. It’s not something I’ve really given much thought to before. I’m normally far too focused on getting words on a pagefor my next deadline to even think about having a hobby. And if I did try to find one, looking at specks that are light-years away wouldn’t have even crossed my mind.
As Riven gets more comfortable, his voice takes on a confident, calm quality. Listening to him point out Orion then Lyra and the dotted lines of Andromeda has me completely forgetting about my father’s meddling in my life. Relaxed back on my elbows, I realize I’m smiling as I follow his pointed finger, learning all sorts of facts.
“You know a lot about stars,” I comment.
“I spend more time looking at the sky than I do at parties,” he admits, although there’s no sadness in his tone. “Stars are easy to understand. Hydrogen, helium, nuclear fusion… I’ve been fascinated by them since I was a child. Watching them makes me realize how small we, humans, are.”
I steal a glance at him. He could be a model with his strong bone structure and perfectly symmetrical features.
When he catches me staring, his hand flies to his cheek. “Have I got something on my face?”
“A bit of pumpkin,” I lie.
That was close. The pumpkin crusher doesn’t seem to realize how attractive he is. He almost seems uncomfortable in his own skin. He’s huge physically, but it’s like he wants to hide beneath his muscles, wearing them like a shield.
He wipes his cheek frantically. “Better?”
“I think you’ve got it.”
“Can I ask you something?” he asks.
“You can.” I rub my hands together to warm them. “But I can’t promise I’ll answer it.”
“What were you running from tonight?”
“Who says I was running from something?”
“You’re dressed in a costume which makes me think you went to the Monster Masquerade. Your shoes look expensiveand are completely inappropriate for muddy terrain. Based on our interaction, you seem to know what you want and how to handle yourself, so I can only assume there’s a reason behind your actions.” His cheeks turn pink. “Sorry if that was too much. My brain reads into things a lot.” He smiles sheepishly. “I don’t get out much.”
“Well, you’re right. I was running from something. A situation that I put myself in, and now I’m having regrets about it.” I inhale deeply. “What do you do when you think you’ve made a big mistake?”
“Do you remember what I said about the difference between meteoroids and meteorites?” He shifts to completely face me. “I guess I’d think of a decision like that. I’d watch it streak across the sky before seeing whether it hits the ground. Most never do. Only then is it worth worrying about.”
“That was…” I don’t know what to say. Oddly poetic?
Riven’s watch beeps. “The shower has passed. I should get back, unless you want?—”
“Yep, good idea.” Jumping to my feet, I don’t let him finish his sentence. Do I see a trace of disappointment on his face? “We should go.”
“I should make sure you get home safe.”
“Just because I’m an omega doesn’t mean I need an alpha’s help,” I snap. My walls that momentarily melted away during the tender moment we shared slam up again. “I live in Omega Village. I can make it there just fine without an escort.”
Besides, after my public appearance with the Blandon Pack, I can’t risk being seen with another alpha. Especially one as gorgeous as Riven.
