“Oh, yeah,” I laughed. “Are you surprised?”
“Pleasantly,” he murmured.
“It’s nice to officially meet you,” I greeted with false bravado.
“The pleasure is all mine.”
Never
The bar was a thumping cage of bass and neon, but the roar of my heart drowned out the music. Uriel pulled out a stool for me, his large hand brief on the back of my chair. I sat, smoothing out my dress and praying it didn’t ride up too far as he pressed a menu into my hands.
“I didn’t order for you because I didn’t know what you’d like,” he shouted over the noise, his voice a deep vibration that hit me in the chest.
“No worries,” I shouted back. I was too nervous to eat, but pretended to skim it.
“How was the drive? Far?” he asked. I couldn’t hear him clearly, so I inched closer.
“Not too bad!” I yelled as I nodded.
He leaned toward me. His scent should have been overwhelming, but it eluded me. Still, I tried to inhale it. I could feel the heat coming from him and wondered why we were going through with the sitting and eating bit. This whole “get to know each other” thing wasn’t real. Ami’s words replayed, ‘The best way to get over someone was to get under someone else.’
His lips moved, explaining something, but the words were just background noise. I didn’t care what his favorite food or team was. My gaze was anchored on the pulse jumping in his neck and the way his knuckles looked against the dark wood ofthe bar. I wasn’t here for a story; I was here for the weight of him to finally silence the screaming in my head.
Maybe I was nervous because we’d never sexted.
“There’s no need for you to be nervous,” he rumbled, reading my mind, or my scent, and his big brown eyes were too kind. I hated him for it. I didn’t want reassurance, I wanted to unbutton his shirt and grip his hair until I forgot my ex ever existed. I smiled and leaned in so our faces were inches apart.
“Is it that obvious?” I asked mischievously. His eyes lit up at the change in tone.
“As clear as day,” he murmured, his voice a low vibration against my ear—audible yet intimate enough to make my skin prickle. Any closer and we’d kiss.
“Do we know what we’re having?” A voice asked. I looked over my shoulder to find the waiter. A tall, slender man with a fake smile. He didn’t want to be here and I didn’t blame him. After he took my order, Uriel had his eyes on the screen above the bar. The walls were littered with them, each showing different angles of the game. By the time my food arrived, he turned to me.
“Sorry, I got immersed in the game,” he laughed.
“No worries, I’m just going to try these,” I said as I picked up one of the tiny fried pieces from the basket.I was thankful for the break.
“What are they?” he asked.
“Cheese curds. I’ve never had ‘em before,” I said before popping the crunchy goodness into my mouth.
“How have you never had cheese curds?” Uriel exclaimed as I ate another.
“I don’t get out much,” I laughed.
“Is that because you’re an Omega? Or do you not like cheese?”
“I do. I’m more of a fry girl. Want one?” I offered.
“Are you sure?” he asked. I nodded and he grabbed one, threw it in the air, and caught it in his mouth.
“Good boy,” I teased and he choked on it. His cheeks reddening, the color reaching his ears. I handed him my glass of water as he thumped his chest.
“Ay Dios mio. You’re bad,” he rasped.
You have no idea.
“So when was your last date?” he asked.
