by Ava Beringer
“I’m not worried. You’ve been nothing but kind and considerate from the start.” He nodded at all the flowers around us. “I trust you.” I was struck by the openness and honesty in those three words. It felt special, and it went deep into my spirit.
“I’m still taking you to lunch, though.”
“Oh, you’re not off the hook for lunch. If anything, I’m getting two lunches for this.”
“Whatever you want, Colby. Whatever you want.”
We finished eating and washed our dishes. Colby handed me a stack of blankets. I arranged them on the couch, ready to bury myself in fresh blankets permeated with his sweet scent.
He started to pull a screen over, partitioning the bed from the sofa area, but I stopped him.
“What’s that?” I pointed to the bed. There was a blue and red blanket folded neatly on the “alpha” side of his bed. Why didn’t I notice it before?
“My grandma’s quilt?” He picked it up, running the soft material through his hands. “It’s one of the few things I have left from the person who loved me the most. She passed away when I was seven.” My eyes flew open.
“Really? My grandma was my world, too. She passed when I was eight. She left me a stuffed animal that she knitted herself. He’s a koala named Blue. I had him put away until right before I came to Primrose Keep. I was packing my overnight bag, and when I grabbed my stuff from the top shelf he fell on my head. I wish I had him here, I’d show you.” I bit my lip, thinking back to my time with my grandmother. “I haven’t thought about what she taught me in so long. She said to never lose my kind spirit. She told me not to let the world get me so caught up I forget to be my true self.” Colby’s mouth dropped open.
“You’re kidding. That’s exactly what my grandma told me when she gave me my blanket. She said not to let the world make me bitter and mean and cruel. She always wanted me to keep my sweet side, and never to hide it.”
“If you tell me that blanket is an heirloom for your future baby, I’m gonna hit the roof.” His eyes twinkled.
“Guess I’d better not tell you.”
“That’s insane.” I pressed my hand to my forehead. I wanted to say fate brought us together and fate had a future in store for us, but I clamped my mouth shut. I already showed up at his apartment unannounced in the middle of the night. If I told him we had a bond made in the cosmos, he’d have me committed. I cleared my throat and fidgeted with the covers. “Kids are a loooooooong way off for me. When I find the right one, settle down, slow down with my work, maybe I’ll think about it, you know?” Colby’s smile dimmed a little. His eyes were trained on the ground as he nodded.
“I get it. Babies are a big deal.” His face was drawn now. Was it something I said? “Well, I’d better hit the hay. Goodnight, Preston.”
“Goodnight, Colby.”
The screen stretched across the space, taking Colby out of my line of sight. Soft rustling sounds crept around the thin screen, and Colby’s robe popped up on it, draping on top. I could only imagine how good the view was over there. Colby was undressing only a few feet from me with nothing but a thin piece of wood and paper separating us. This was the definition of lust, arousal, desire. I fisted my hands in the cushions to keep myself in place, praying he didn’t smell my pheromones. They’d have to be obvious in a place as small as this.
To my surprise, his scent strengthened. I couldn’t be imagining things; we were in too close of quarters. A hint of something more underlaid it; a warmth, a spiciness. His heat? My imagination was running away with me. I wanted Colby to go into heat for me, to give me an excuse to stay right where I was and a reason to claim his body and lay beside him in the alpha-sized space in his bed. I had no right to want that from him, not after two days. Selfishly, I still did.
We both were finally settled, Colby in his bed and me squished on the tiny couch as the storm raged outside. Colby’s bed groaned and squeaked as he tossed and turned. I wanted to make it groan and squeak in a different way, but I held myself back. Finally, Colby cleared his throat.
“Hey, Preston? Are you up? Because I sure am.” I propped myself up on my elbow, fully alert.
“I’m up, Colby. What do you need?” If he heard the huskiness in my voice, he didn’t acknowledge it. I wanted to go to him, put him back to sleep in my own way.
“You interrupted my sleep. Now you have to talk to me until I fall,” he said with a smile in his voice. He didn’t say “fall asleep,” just “fall,” giving my imagination lots of room to wander.
“I wanna make you fall.” I willed Colby to fall for me, to feel a fraction of what I felt for him. The thick silence was peppered only by rainfall. I wet my lips, composed myself, and spoke again. “What should I talk about?”
“Something I can fall asleep to.”
“Wanna hear how we adjust our asset management fees for maximum profitability?” Colby snorted.
“I wanna go to sleep, not into a coma.” I barked a laugh.
“How about an embarrassing story? I have a ton of those.”
“Can’t relate.” He was being sarcastic, but I didn’t respond like he was.
“We can’t all be hot guys who work with beautiful flowers all day.” There was silence again, but his scent grew stronger so I must be on the right track. “Once, when I was ten, I was at the community pool. I was about to dive off the high board, you know, show off a little. The plan was to run to the edge of the board, spring off, and somersault in the air. Go in gracefully, without a splash.”
“Didn’t work out for you, huh?”
“Not even close. My trunks fell down mid-stride. I slipped off, flashed the whole place my goods, and belly-flopped hard. The lifeguard had to save me. I’m still not sure if it was because of the trunks around my ankles or if I was trying to drown myself.” Colby’s choked-off laugh was a delight, but it was muffled by his pillow. “It’s okay, have a laugh at my expense. Go for it.” He let out a full-bodied laugh that was sweet and endearing.
“That’s awesome,” he said, already sounding sleepy.
“I’ve got a million more. About ten percent of those are me getting my tie caught in an oscillating fan.” Colby giggle-snorted, but this time it was softer. He was drifting off.
“Goodnight, Preston Reid.”
“Night, Colby Dalton.” Colby’s breathing evened out. I waited for a few minutes, letting him get into REM sleep, before getting up. I didn’t want to wake him, because I didn’t want to weird him out, but I just had to see his angelic face while he slept.
It turned out he looked even more sweet and innocent under the shafts of moonlight breaking through the storm clouds. It made his skin glow. All the worries of the day and stressors in his life melted away. Delicately, I reached out and brushed his short hair away from his face.
“What is it about you that makes me want to be this alpha, the one my grandmother told me to be? To be your alpha?” I bent forward, placing the barest, most gentle kiss on his temple. His eyelids fluttered, but he didn’t wake up.
I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I’d fallen for this guy. Tomorrow with him wouldn’t be enough. Would he even want to keep seeing me? There had to be a way. He’d think I was crazy, but I had to try.
I curled back up on his too-small couch, racking my brain for a way to tell him what he already meant to me. I fell into the deepest sleep ever, surrounded by Colby Dalton’s scent. The last thought I had was, mine.
6
Colby
I woke up both comforted and a little horny. That was a weird combination if there ever was one, but it was the best. I was hard, face down and grinding my hips into the mattress. My behind was arched ever so slightly in the air, wiggling in invitation. I was in such a haze, it took me a second to realize why.
The scent. The scent of the dream alpha who bought me a store full of flowers and worked alongside me for free, just for the chance to be in my company. The alpha who was sexy, suave, and successful. The alpha I fell for- wait, no, I couldn’t aff
ord to think that way. We had today and then he’d walk out of my life, probably forever. I made up my mind I’d enjoy him and the fantasy. I’d fully indulge in it, just for today.
I didn’t have to be at work until eight, but the sun was rising and I was wide awake. The rain was taking a break and patchy sunshine shone through my windows. I stretched and rolled out of bed, wanting to send Preston off with something in his stomach, like my omega instincts called on me to do. I was driven to take care of my alpha. Mine.
I shook that thought free of my head. Mine for the day, maybe. I crept over to him, taking a moment to look at his face. I smoothed a thumb across his forehead. He looked so peaceful like this. Not the big, bad executive, not the avenging knight, just a handsome, resting alpha. I dropped a quick kiss on his brow. He shifted a little but he didn’t wake up, so I got away with it. I didn’t want him thinking I was a psycho.
I whipped up a couple of quick three-egg omelets with summer sausage, spinach, and sharp cheddar. I hoped it would make him moan in that sexy way he did when he ate my food. I filled up glasses of orange juice for us and adjusted the bouquet of daisies on the table, then went to wake Preston.
“Hey, sleepy head.” I rested a hand on his warm back. He twisted a little and the downy blankets fell from his wide shoulders. A burst of scent, his mingled with mine, floated into the air and I swooned with the potency of it. My internal temperature rose a little. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was at the very beginning of a heat. It wasn’t possible that only two days with an alpha would trigger my heat. Thank goodness for that.
I shook Preston gently, resting a palm on his face and thumbing at the corner of his mouth. He groaned and nuzzled into my palm as he shook off his sleepiness.
“Don’t wake me up. I’m dreaming I’m at your place and you’re touching me,” he murmured, his eyes heavily lidded and unfocused.
“Not a dream, Preston, you’re really that lucky.”
“I’m really here with you, huh?” He said, becoming more aware of the present. I slid my hand to the base of his skull, skritching the nape of his neck like he was a puppy. His eyes drifted closed again.
“I made breakfast,” I whispered in his ear. His eyes shot open.
“Breakfast? Why didn’t you say so?” He sat up and threw the blankets off. When he stood up his back let out a resounding crack. I grimaced.
“Sounds like you had loads of fun on my couch last night.”
“You can say that again.” He pressed both palms into his back and pushed until he arched up off his toes. Instinctively, I put a hand to his lower back and rubbed. He groaned, going boneless from the waist up, letting his head and arms dangle as I rubbed him. Touching his well-muscled back with fabric on was a sensory experience. I wanted to do this with his bare skin.
“Ahem. Breakfast.” I jumped up and strode the five or so feet to my two-person kitchen table before I got too carried away.
“Looks great.” Preston rubbed his hands together as he stood in front of the plate, but his eyes held on me.
“Me or the food?” I joked, trying to stay cool enough not to blush.
“Both, but I know which I’d rather taste first.” Okay, yes, I was blushing. I didn’t have a snappy comeback for that one, especially when all I could hear was blood pounding in my ears. Preston had mercy on me, smiling to himself as he took a seat, his big body dwarfing it.
His chair screeched on the floor a little as he scooted closer to the table.Preston neatly cut a piece of omelet, stuck it in his mouth, and moaned.
“Somebody needs to put that on vinyl. I’d listen to it on repeat.” I couldn’t get enough of Preston’s moans, especially when I was the cause. I wanted to make him moan in other ways.
“Thank you,” he said around a mouthful of fluffy eggs, meat, and cheese.
“You’re welcome. Couldn’t send you off to a hard day’s work on an empty stomach, now could I?” A thought struck me. “Preston, what time is it? Don’t you have to get to work at…” I trailed off as Preston looked at his expensive silver watch. He cursed.
“I’m late.” We both jumped up and got into action.
“Shower,” I said, throwing a clean towel at him. He ran in and was out in five minutes, which I used to pack his breakfast and a banana and granola bar to stay fueled up. As Preston hopped on one foot, trying to pull his pants up, I threw all his things in his bag. His Uber was outside and honking. I held the door open for him, holding the food out as he rushed past. He looked down at the Tupperware dish he clasped to his chest in surprise.
“Colby, you didn’t have to do this. I don’t expect you to be some domestic omega.”
“Don’t worry, this is you getting special treatment. Next time you pack my lunch.” I said it so smug, like there would be a next time. It might have been the first time I hinted about having a future with Preston.
“I’ve got your lunch covered today, that’s for sure.” It didn’t say anything about us having a future, and that stung. Preston stared at me for a long moment, and I wondered what he was thinking. He leaned down and gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek. It was scorching hot, making my skin tingle.
“Have a great day, honey,” I said. My voice came out as barely a whisper. It was supposed to be snarky, but it didn’t feel that way. The whole morning routine unfolded like we’d been doing it for years. It was intimate, personal in a way I’d never experienced with an alpha.
In a bold move, I slapped Preston’s butt as he walked away. He laughed and threw a sly grin over his shoulder. I chewed my lip watching the dark sedan pull away. How was I going to survive until lunchtime? More importantly, how was I going to survive after lunchtime, when it was time for Preston to go?
I floated into Miguel’s Fabulous Flowers. Miguel took one look at me a let out a yell.
“Oh. My. God. You guys so did it last night!” The Flowers family popped up from behind counters and out of doorways like gophers, all clamoring to get in my business. I shook my head, not bothering to hide my dopey smile.
“Actually, we didn’t. It was great.”
“That makes zero sense,” Ginger said as she stole a fresh oatmeal raisin cookie from a baking sheet. Gabe wrapped a warm arm around me in a half-hug.
“You know we’re gonna shake you down for the dirty details, right?” Before I could answer, Miguel clapped his hands together.
“Everybody, let’s take this investigation in the back room. We can extract the story while putting the finishing touches on our rush wedding flowers.” He pointed toward the back and marched forward, the gang falling in behind him like good little soldiers.
We didn’t open for another forty minutes, so me, Miguel, Ginger, Buster, Gabe, and even Clarke gathered around the fourteen-by-four-foot wood block table.
“The smaller centerpieces are done. We mainly need pieces for the bridal party’s table. It shouldn’t take long, especially not when Colby’s telling us about his hot sweaty night with the flower-bringer.” Miguel winked at me.
“Guys, I swear, we didn’t have sex.”
“Not that it would matter, because we support healthy sexuality,” Buster interjected, his amethyst bell sleeves waving as he weaved together a full, towering bouquet.
“Fine, there was no bumping and grinding but there was some filthy, dirty mind sex,” Miguel said with a grin.
“Oh my god.” I let my head thunk on the wood. Miguel and Gabe high-fived over my head.
“We got ‘im!” Gabe crowed. “We wanna hear about this spicy intimacy, mister. Spill it.” I spread my palms on the table and pushed myself upright, taking yellow roses back into my hands.
“He turned up at midnight,” I started, to a chorus of squeals around the table. “He was all wet from the rain, looking like a sad puppy. His company botched his hotel reservations so he had no place to go. He got my address off the delivery receipt and took a chance.”
“That’s so romantic,” Gabe cooed.
“That’s so creepy,” Clar
ke said, scrunching his nose. Gabe swatted his arm.
“I mean, it would have been creepy, if it wasn’t him. Preston was so considerate of my feelings and apologetic. He was funny, polite, charming, thoughtful, the perfect gentleman. He never tried anything, you know, sexual. Wait, is that good or bad?” Buster jumped in.
“For me it’s bad, but we all know I’m a proud hoochie.” Gabe set a piece of ribbon down to rub at my shoulder.
“It can’t be bad. He spends every free second chasing you down, but he isn’t trying to push you into anything. It’s almost like he likes you for you. Like he respects you or something.” Buster blew out his breath.
“Can’t relate!” He crowed and everybody busted out laughing.
“Imagine that,” Clarke scoffed, “a respectful alpha!” I laughed, too. Up until I met Preston, I wasn’t sure there was such a thing, either.
“Gentlemen,” Miguel broke in. “There are plenty of respectful alphas. I know from experience.” He lifted his nose in the air. We all rolled our eyes in fond exasperation.
“Oh, Hunter, how I love thee, let me count the ways,” Clarke mocked, folding his hands across his slim chest. Miguel beamed and started in a loud voice.
“Number one, he’s got a big heart. Number two, he’s got a big d-”
“Come on, Miguel,” I said laughing as the others moaned.
“If you’re gonna tell sex stories, tell us new sex stories. We’ve heard the one about the leather paddle like fifty times,” Ginger said.
“Fine, when I get home I will brainstorm a sexcapade with my mate and we’ll perform the experiment. I’ll report my findings to you all tomorrow.” Ginger nodded her approval.
“That’s better,” she said. Miguel’s face turned a little more somber.
“Seriously, guys. A lot of times, we go for the ones that aren’t so respectful then we’re suspicious of the ones that are. How are the good ones ever gonna get a chance?”