“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
Buckle gives me a look. I can’t exactly tell what it means yet, but I know in no time we’ll all learn each other’s expressions.
Buckle pulls out a seat and motions for Abel to take it. I grab the back of a free chair and Buckle practically growls. So I take my hand back. If my Alpha wants to pull out a chair for me, I’ll let him. No one’s ever done that for me before.
He gets Abel settled and pushed in before pulling a chair out for me. His gaze lingers on my lips and there’s obvious need in his eyes. Not yet, I mouth to him. We need to show Abel we’re here for the long haul. Forever. Eternity. He’s ours and we’re his.
Buckle starts unloading his picnic basket. He really did bring a load of food.
“If I brought anything you don’t like, let me know.”
Abel’s eyes seem to light up as Buckle continues to empty the basket.
“I brought a little bit of a lot of stuff. I should have asked what y’all like.”
Abel shakes his head. “I eat most anything. I’m not picky.” He licks his lips and his stomach rumbles again.
“That’s fine for now, but I want to know your favorites. Both of you. I’m an easy guy. Pizza is the best.” And he pulls out a storage container with slices of cheese pizza.
“I’d have it every day if I could.”
That makes me and Abel both chuckle.
But now that the basket is empty, Abel’s anxious again. His leg bounces and he looks over all the offerings. When he swallows over and over, Buckle passes him a water bottle. He also passes me one, and I take a few gulps.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as I hover a hand over Abel’s knee.
“I don’t know.” He looks up at me, his big brown eyes full of questions. “It’s a lot. No one’s really—” he waves at the food.
I push my Omega pheromones at the same time Buckle does his Alpha ones. Not sexual. Not commanding. I just want to calm our man.
A sweet smile forms on Abel’s face. “That’s nice.”
I’m so focused on the peace washed over his face, I don’t realize he’s falling until his head drops to the table, making a loud bang. The chair rolls back, and he’s falling to the floor passed out.
Buckle’s eyes go wide. “That’s never happened to me before.” We both stop our pheromones.
I fall to my knees. “Sweetness. Hey. Can you wake up for us?” I cradle his head in my lap. He still has the adorable smile on his face.
Buckle’s at my side, smoothing Abel’s hair down. “Babe, wake up, please.”
Abel blinks his eyes open. His brows scrunch. “What happened? Why am I on the floor?” He pushes from my hold and scuttles away from us.
He’s breaking my heart. “Abel, did your parents oranyoneever share their pheromones to help your anxiety?”
He drops his face to his knees and shakes his head.
Buckle looks horrified. My chest aches.
“Shit,” I say under my breath, but he still flinches. “I’m sorry. We should have asked, but we wanted to help and...” Shit. Just shit.
“Can I hold you?” Buckle asks.
Abel shakes his head again. “Why?”
“I think it’d help,” Buckle says.
“I don’t know,” Abel whispers.
