“Careful!” I say and hold on to his arm tighter. “So, what are we doing tonight?”
“It’s a surprise.”
He leads me down to Main Street. There are a few people walking around, a whole heap on the beach.
“It’s okay. I’ll find it,” a familiar voice says unhappily.
“Harry?”
He looks up from where he’s kneeling under the table, talking to his beta. He grimaces. “Sorry. My bonding ring is gone. I’m looking for it now.”
“Oh, we can help you,” I offer.
He shakes his head. “No, I’ll find it tomorrow when I’m not even looking for it, I’m sure. Isn’t that always the way?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, go on with you now. Have some fun.”
I wave, and we continue walking. Elijah leads me on a slow walk through town until we end up outside my father’s restaurant.
“Here?”
He smiles and unlocks the door. I walk inside and find myself spun into his arms. He walks me backwards deeper into the restaurant, until I’m pressed up against a wall, with the empty dark around us.
“I just want to kiss you, if that’s okay.”
“Yes.” It’s more than okay.
He ducks his head down and touches his lips to mine. I wind my arms around his neck and pull myself up against him.
Kissing him is both familiar and new. But it is rapidly becoming one of my favourite things to do. Elijah is a sensual creature, and it’s never more evident than in his kiss. He groans and pulls away.
“You smell so good, Omega, but I didn’t bring you here for this.”
“What are we here for?”
“I made you something.”
He…made me something? My heart trips a little. I like gifts, just little things. It makes my omega self shine. He ducks in and brushes his lips softly against mine once more.
“Come on,” he whispers and pulls me to the kitchen. I let out a squeak when he lifts me up and sets me on the counter. The kitchen has always been a sacred place that I was rarely allowed to be in, but seeing it closed up and at night has an intimacy that has me watching this enigmatic alpha like he’s candy. The forbidden kind.
He turns on the lights and goes to the fridge. I’ve sat here a few times over the years watching my pops work. Elijah has the same energy. His easy, confident movements around the kitchen leave me feeling like everything will be okay.
He comes back with a bowl and a spoon and steps between my legs.
“Hi.”
I smile back at him. “Hi.”
“Try this?”
I nod, so he grabs a spoonful and holds it up to my lips. The explosion of chocolate that is both sweet and a little bitter mixes with a hint of mangoes and coconut.
I groan.
He continues to feed me slowly. The temperature in the kitchen goes up so it’s almost unbearable, but then he puts the spoon in his mouth, and I almost go up in flames. He leans in.
