Page 139 of Alpha Mates

“Go get ready,” I insist, shooing him away without budging, not even when he throws me puppy-dog eyes the whole way to the bathroom.

I don’t know why you’re cockblocking yourself, Alex grumbles while I pick out what I’m going to wear.We could be cleaning up together if someone wasn’t so afraid of a good time.

I’m not afraid of a good time,I argue.Clearly I’m not, with what I did in the car. I just have good time management skills and can think with the right head, unlike a certain someone.

Alex huffs but quiets. By the time I’ve chosen an outfit, Aiden emerges from the steaming bathroom. Water drips over flexing, inked abs as he towels his hair.

I feel myself swallow as familiar arousal climbs inside of me.

“Lose something, Jewels?” he asks, eyes amused as they catch mine lingering. He runs his fingers through his damp hair.

“Nope.” I snatch my things before I flee into the bathroom.

What was that about thinking with the right head?

I shove Alex from my mind and strip so that I can cool down beneath the shower’s spray.

Aiden and I worked out that we probably had until this weekend before our desires started running the show. We agreed we’d mate before then. Now it was just a matter of when. I figured being here would take some of the pressure off, especially with nights like tonight to make it special, because I needed it to be special.

I hadn’t thought much about what it would be like to actually mate someone, even before Aiden, but I knew I wanted it to be nice, at the very least. And I know it will be with Aiden, he’d said as much.

Excitement courses through me and remains even after I’ve finished with my shower. It makes my fingers shake a little while I button my cotton shirt and tie my hair into a sleek ponytail. I glance in the mirror and smile at my reflection before I tug two strands loose in the front. Annoying, yes—but sometimes when they’re free, Aiden played with them and …

I shake my head and leave to find Aiden with my face on fire.

He’s waiting on the large sofa, scrolling through his phone, but he forgets it completely when he looks up and sees me. While I’m in whites and creams, he’s in head-to-toe black—silk button-up, fitted trousers, and those shades of his.

“Aren’t you looking dapper?” he muses.

“So are you,” I reply, watching him stand and make his way over. His tattoos creep past his neck and chest. I don’t let my eyes linger.

“Ooh, a compliment. It really is a special night.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his smile softening for me. “You look great, Jewels.”

“Thank you,” I reply, ducking my head to hide the heat in my face. “Ready?”

“Yes.” He pulls me forward. “The salmon awaits.”

I laugh out loud, and know I won’t stop anytime soon with him at myside.

“What the hell is a Temaki?”

I glance up and find Aiden glaring at his menu.

“I think that’s the cone-shaped one we saw earlier,” I say, flipping through the menu of foreign words. Maybe sushi wasn’t the smartest choice. “Why don’t we try a bit of everything and share?”

I glance at Aiden when he doesn’t reply. He spins his menu around like a toy, or like reading it upside down will suddenly make it clearer. Eventually, he feels my eyes on him and rights the menu with a sheepish smile.

“Sounds good,” he mumbles, and only seconds pass before we’re both laughing. “Question though,” he says, sobering.

“Shoot.”

“I know you said we’d be here the rest of the week, but what day are we heading back?” he asks with a pensive frown.

“Sunday evening, unless we decide to head back earlier.”

“What about the packs?” he asks quickly. “They must know we’re gone by now.”

“We’re on a ‘very important mission,’” I remind him, making him snort. “Four days max. They can survive without us for four days. I left Emitt and Beckett with clear instructions, and they’ll call if we absolutely need to be there.”