CHAPTER 3
Alec had moved into a shared house with two other graduate students. After meeting them, Tim and Noah, Alec brought his stuff into his room. Whoever had rented out the rooms for this house had done a good job with renovations. Each room was basically the same size, each with an en suite. The only real difference between the rooms was the view, something Alec could care less about.
He wasn’t there for the view. Then again, he wasn’t entirely certain why he was back for his Master’s degree. In his world, it really wouldn’t make a difference. Still, he trusted his gut and insisted he needed to come back to the University.
Putting away his things and making his bed, he glanced around one last time to ensure everything was where it belonged. Alec wasn’t someone who tolerated a mess. He was a soldier and had grown up learning from his task master of a father that everything had its place. Satisfied all was in order, he headed downstairs where his roommates were already in discussion who got what shelf of the fridge.
The freezer would be more of a challenge as there were only two shelves, but Alec honestly hadn’t cared. He figured each of them knew what they’d bought and should have the manners not to touch anyone else’s stuff. Not that it seemed to matter to either of them as they acted like it might be the end of the world instead of a bit of food.
“I’m heading to the store,” he told them. “I’ll be back shortly.” With only one shelf in the fridge and one in the pantry it wasn’t as if he could buy much.
He was relieved to finally be able to buy food he could cook instead of eating out or, he gave a shudder, eat in the cafeteria. He’d had enough cafeteria food to last him a lifetime.
He might not have been the greatest cook, but he wasn’t terrible either. There were several meals that he learned to make and planned on learning more recipes during his time there. He’d even signed up for a once a week cooking class at night. It wasn’t something for credit toward his degree, which he figured was a good thing in case he ended up being terrible, but he was hoping it ended up being a good distraction from his regular classes.
Plus, if his schoolwork was too much one week, he could easily skip it. For him, that made the decision to sign up even easier.
He’d been browsing some of the aisles for inspiration when he backed up and nearly plowed someone over. “I’m so…” But when he turned to face the person he’d practically plowed over, he found himself staring into cerulean blue eyes that had him lost in their depths instantly. “Sorry,” he finally managed to get out. “Are you okay? Clearly, I hadn’t been watching where I was going.”
The pretty lithe, blonde, blue eyed beauty stared right back at him for several long minutes. Then, as if realizing he was checking Alec out, the sweetest blush bloomed over his cheeks and Alec was entranced. “I-It’s okay. I-I’m f-fine.”
Oh damn, that stutter was so adorable as the pink of his cheeks darkened even more. Alec was tempted to press his lips against them to see if they were as warm as they looked.
He may not have been bold enough to do that but he also needed to touch the pretty man. Extending his hand, he said, “I’m Alec Walker. It’s nice to meet you.”
As if on autopilot, the sweet guy placed his hand in his. “Kian Williams.”
“Kian, where in the hell did you go? Oh.” Another gorgeous man wearing pink short shorts and a crop top with the word ‘princess’ in silver glitter across his chest, walked into the aisle. A growl passed Alec’s lips seeing Kian there with another, he couldn’t deny feeling satisfied when the guy quickly turned around and said, “You know what? I forgot something. Be back in a minute.”
Kian stared after, who he assumed was a friend, before once more looking back at Alec. “Uhm…I should really get back to shopping.”
Wishing like hell Kian would stay near him, but understanding why he didn’t, Alec apologized. “Sorry again about running into you like that.”
Kian waved as if it were no big deal.
Sighing, Alec really wished he’d gotten Kian’s number. Hopefully, since they were at the same store, they would run into each other again. No. He was determined to meet Kian again. He just had to figure out how.
“Oh come on, it’s tradition,” Tim, Alec’s roommate claimed.
It wasn’t exactly untrue but since they were now in graduate school, Alec hadn’t thought they would still have been expected to participate in some of the more…uhm…undergraduate aspects in socialization. “Really?” he exclaimed. “It’s basically a pool party. What difference does it make?”
Tim practically shouted. “This is the one of the biggest events of the year. Every nubile female body will be there.”
“As I’ve already stated in my application, I’m gay.” Alec wasn’t about to deny his desires. He already wasn’t able to admit them to anyone but his father back home. Which irritated Alec.
Technically, in their realm, it wasn’t exactly accepted for same sex couples. Oddly the human world was more accepting than his own. That said, there were several same sex couples at home. It upset him that too many of his kind were shunned for whom they loved.
That he was one of the lead trainers of his kind, Alec was stronger and more capable to defend himself than anyone else in their compound and he was determined when he found his mate he wouldn’t back down from their ridicule. He also had no trouble defending anyone who had been picked on for being who they were. Everyone deserved to love who they wanted.
After literally running into Kian, Alec understood the draw he’d felt to come back year after year. That he was once again pulled to attend some stupid pool party that typically only undergraduates usually went to, was enough to make him believe Kian might actually show up, which was enough to convince him to agree to join his roommate.
The fact that he was pulling out his bathing suit even before he’d actually made up his mind proved that. “Fine,” he claimed. “I’ll be right out.”
Minutes later, he was joining Tim as they made their way to the TREC, the activities center, which also included a pool. At the beginning of the year, the university brought in a few large screens for a movie.
That year, it was a pseudo horror movie from the ‘Scream” franchise. Something he honestly wasn’t interested in. But shortly after the movie started, Alec scented the same pine and lime he’d inhaled when he ran into Kian at the store.
The blue slip of a bathing suit had his gaze staring at the one person who’d mesmerized him earlier. There wasn’t anything in that moment that Alec would have changed. Kian was perfection. Although slim, there was definite definition to his muscles. A flat stomach, with the barest happy trail, led beneath that barely there strip of fabric.
Everything from his looks to his scent enticed Alec. He would have given up his entire world to wrap Kian up in his arms. Admittedly, there was no way in the world he could do that already, right? At that moment, Alec was positive he could find an excuse just for the chance to hold Kian.
Tongued tied he managed to say, “Hey.” Lame? Yep. But it was the best he could do at the moment.
“Hi.” The way Kian had tucked his slightly longish hair behind his ear was so damn endearing Alec felt a shiver race up and down his spine at the sight. Alec was positive he was already in love. Kian’s scent alone was enough to make him positive that was true.
The awed expression on Kian’s face was all Alec needed to know this was his mate. Kian might be human, but even he felt the pull, something he’d learned over the past four years. Kian’s kind rarely acknowledged or even understood.
That Kian was human wouldn’t go over well in Alec’s realm, especially with his father. Not that he cared. There was nothing in this world that would deny him his mate.
The only real issue he had with his mate being human was that Alec would need to woo him. How did someone do that?
He had no clue but prayed he’d be able to that when his entire being wanted nothing but to claim Kian. Still, he wasn’t oblivious that he needed to care for Kian’s feelings.
“Any chance you might be willing to go out for dinner with me at some point?” He counted it a win when he got Kian’s number, even if it had been Kian’s friend next to him who had excitedly given it to him while his mate stood there with his mouth agape as if he couldn’t believe Alec was actually asking him out.
The question was where did he take Kian? There were too many options and Alec had no clue how to find out what type of food Kian would prefer. Yes, he could have just asked, but he wanted to do something special for his mate.
Okay, technically, he only had his suspicions that Kian was his mate. It wouldn’t be until they had sex that he’d know for certain. But the draw was too strong to believe it was anything else.
Every single cell in his body vibrated with the pure need to get closer. To touch. To possess. He could almost feel the essence of what the humans all those centuries ago declared made his kind a demon trying to claw out of him to join with Kian.
If that wasn’t proof enough, Alec didn’t know what would. All he knew was, in that moment in time, he would do anything for Kian. Kill? No problem. Defend? To Alec’s death. Love? Even though those warriors he led would laugh, definitely.
There was nothing Kian could have asked of him that Alec would deny him. The sweet, shy and adorable man drew Alec in like no other. That was proof enough as far as he was concerned.
That wouldn’t necessarily make his job of convincing Kian they belonged together any easier. Even harder would be to persuade Kian to join Alec in his realm.
His own home might have been comfortable and even somewhat cozy, but their realm wasn’t exactly the most hospitable place to live. Since living in the human world, Alec had made several changes to his own space, much to his father’s ire. Those alterations he’d made would hopefully help Kian be more accepting of living with him, but he feared the constant bickering, politics, challenges and outright fighting would deter Kian from settling in his home world.
Refusing to allow himself to be defeated, Alec kept a smile on his face as he prayed Kian would agree to the date he’d asked him. He apparently was destined to be disappointed.