“Nope.” Atlas grabs his backpack off his back and opens it. “We got everything in here.”
“Huh.” I watch as he pulls out a blanket and lays it down. “Well look at that. My big mountain man of an alpha made me a picnic.”
“Oh hush,” he chuckles. “Come sit, eat, and watch the stars with me?”
Biting my lip, I nod, take my helmet off and join him on the blanket.
“Thank you,” I tell him after we’re done eating the fruit, cheese, and meats he brought. “This was the best first date ever.”
“I’m glad,” he murmurs.
We’re laying on our backs, the sky clear and dark as stars cover the sky.
“I wanted to take things slow. Hang out more as friends first, you know.” He turns his head to look at me. “I don’t see you as a friend. Just friendship isn’t something I want with you. I want more, if you’d allow it.”
“I want more too,” I smile. “But I appreciate the slow thing. Not with sex, because I’m down to do more of that whenever you are.”
He bursts out laughing, “Same for me.”
“But the dating thing. This is all new for me, and I’m still figuring out how to navigate it all.”
“I know.” He tangles his fingers with mine. “We take this at your speed, okay?”
“Okay,” I nod. “Atlas?”
“Yeah?” he asks.
“We’re just dating. You’re not my boyfriend or anything.”
“I know,” he smiles.
“So, if life happens, I won’t hold it against you okay?”
“Okay.”
Turning my attention back to the sky, I smile up at it, excited to see what comes of this. I hope everything ends up working out, because I’d hate to lose Atlas if it doesn’t.
But life isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. I’m not putting all my eggs in one basket. It’s not reality. Things happen that we can’t control, or change.
I want to take things slow, see where this could lead. If we’re meant to be together, then it will happen. If not, then… I’ll deal with that when it comes.
Chapter
Four
JUDE
I’mnervous as I get ready for my first night of dancing at The Rusty Pipe. It’s easier to get dressed in the dressing rooms than to come ready to hit the stage. Too many people want to touch what doesn’t belong to them, and it may cause issues with my alpha later when she finds out.
She looks adorable, but her bite is fierce.
Black straps cross over my toned chest, and my black leather chaps show off my ass in the thong I’m wearing. There’s just enough material to cover my dick, and I smirk as I line my hazel eyes with a chocolate eyeliner. My lips look pouty and biteable with some lip balm, and I’ll be dancing in a pair of comfortable dance shoes that remind me in a way of when I danced professionally.
Once it’s time for me to walk the floor to flirt for tips, I’ll be pulling on some knee high combat boots with my new outfit. Funny enough, this is the first time I’ve ever worked at a strip club. A year ago, I was dancing for an incredible ballet company, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted.
My alpha came to every one of my performances, and even saved me from an admirer who took things too far. Everyone told me that he wasn’t dangerous, but they were wrong. He tore off my clothes backstage while I had a break in the performance, and no one heard me scream.
Willow felt that something was wrong. She said she had this pain in her chest that wouldn’t settle, so she snuck backstage and killed the male alpha who had me pinned naked to the ground. He broke my leg when he stomped on me to get me to stop moving, and I was fired from the company.
