Page 17

When the doorbell rang, I nearly jumped out of my skin. I scanned the room making sure everything was perfect.

Time to make my case to my mate.

“Good evening,” I said, opening the door. There were a dozen red roses on the table waiting for him, but he’d also brought a gift. A simple basket holding a bouquet of wildflowers and a jar of homemade jam. That was my mate. “You didn’t have to bring anything,” I said.

“I was taught early not to go to anyone’s house for any reason with empty hands. It’s a rule of mine.”

Every time I saw my omega, it was as if it were the first time. He wore a polo shirt again, he seemed to like those, but this time with some jeans that fit him like a second skin. How in the world had I gotten so lucky?

“Can I come in?” he asked, blushing.

“Oh!” I chuckled, moving to the side. “Of course. You look incredible, and I was thinking how lucky I was to have you in my life. Come in. Please.”

He lifted up on his toes and pecked my cheek as he came in. He placed the basket on a table. “Something smells good, Pascal. I hope you didn’t go to a lot of trouble.”

“If I did, it was worth it. You are worth it. Are you hungry, or did you want to hang out first?”

He shuffled from one foot to the other. “I think I’d like to talk first.”

We sat on the couch, so near, I could smell the cinnamon toothpaste he used. “There are some things I want to say to you, Rue.”

He nodded and took my hand in his. The world could be crashing down around us but as long as he had my hand, I would be okay.

“When I came here, I was only going to stay awhile. Sell this house. Maybe leave forever. But now that I’ve found you, well, I want to know what you want. Because money and business used to be what I was striving for, but now, the only thing I want to have is your love.”

Tears formed in my mate’s eyes. “You have my love, Pascal. Last night. I wanted us to mark each other. I want nothing else than to be yours, but I knew you were still deciding whether to stay. This is my home now, Pascal. I work here, and I’m doing good things in the community. I had an omega come in just thismorning whose mate left him, and he needed my help. The best part was, because of the donations, I had the extra money and supplies to set him and his baby up with everything they’ll need for a while and even resources to get him a stay-at-home job so he can begin making money when he’s ready. I can’t leave Oliver Creek but I want you as my mate. I’m afraid you are going to get bored or restless and want to take up your traveling again. That makes me scared.”

I scooted closer and pulled him onto my lap. “I swear to you, if I leave Oliver Creek again, it won’t be without you. I want to stay here and make a life with you. House. Kids. Whatever you want. I’m here for it. If you decide one day you want to travel, then we have the means to do that. If you’ll have my mark, I want to give it to you tonight but there’s no pressure.”

“I want it,” he breathed out. “I want you and your mark and a life with you always.”

I took his face in my hands and pressed my lips to his. It was more than a kiss. It was a seal of my promise to him. “I want that too. Let’s go eat and enjoy our evening. You’re spending the night, if you didn’t already know.”

He chuckled. “Getting a little alpha on me, Pascal?”

“Something wrong with that?” I asked, helping him up.

“Not at all.”

Chapter Sixteen

Rue

Our lovemaking the first time had been more than magical. And it had been beyond difficult to keep from begging him to mark me, to tilt my head at just the angle to show him I wanted his teeth to rip into my throat and leave a scar that would tell everyone I was his.

But I had held out because if we’d done that, he’d have been forced to pick up the alpha responsibilities that went with being mates. I didn’t want him to stay here just because I wanted to. Or because in a moment of passion, he’d done what came naturally, but he didn’t necessarily understand what was happening.

I’d gladly have made love with him tonight without the commitment, but knowing we’d be mated tonight made it hard to concentrate on his delicious dinner.

“Don’t you like the roast?” Pascal was watching me with concern. “You do eat meat. I’ve seen you eat meat.”

“I do like it.” To prove the point, I forked a piece in my mouth and chewed, making yummy sounds. “So good.”

“If I didn’t know better, omega, I’d say you were wanting to skip the dinner I went to so much work to make in favor of sating another hunger?”

“It isn’t easy,” I agreed, “but I don’t want to waste all your hard work. Because it is delicious.” At least I thought it was because it was nearly impossible for my brain to register anything with the amped-up scent my alpha was emitting.

“We can always put it away and reheat it afterward.” My alpha had the best ideas. “But you probably should eat a little more because you’re going to need your energy for what I have planned.”