Chapter Two
"Don't look now, but Mr Drop Dead Gorgeous has just walked in," Wendy said in what she obviously thought was a quiet whisper only for Matthew's ears but was in fact loud enough for most of the line forming at the register to hear.
Matthew attempted to glance casually over at the door, but he couldn't stop the blush that flushed his cheeks when he saw who Wendy was referring to.
There was Grey Lawson, Alpha of the Delta Mountain Pack, and object of Matthew's fantasies for the past few months, his very presence and scent filling the small coffee house, making Matthew's hand tremble on the jug as he frothed up the milk for his next order.
"You two would make such a cute couple," Wendy said, handing over an order to a customer and turning her attention to the next order in the long line.
"I'm pretty sure that the Alpha of the Delta Mountain Pack already has a mate lined up." Matthew's voice was tight as he tried to get on with his work, wishing Wendy would shut the hell up and get on with hers before he died a hideous death of embarrassment.
"Who said anything about mates?" Wendy placed plastic lids on her next batch of cups. "It doesn't always have to be serious, does it? And he's always flirty as hell with you, you know, in that awkward way that some would consider adorable."
A grin spread across Matthew's face but he rolled his eyes at Wendy.
He froze when he heard Grey's deep voice as the Alpha gave Ellie, who was working the register, his order.
He chanced a look and immediately collided with Grey's dark, golden gaze and a bolt of pure lust shot through Matthew.
He bit his lip and turned away, picking up a crate of empty milk cartons and took them into the back of the shop.
Leaning against the wall, he took a moment to compose himself, breathing in deeply and trying to think about anything other than Grey Lawson.
What Wendy didn't understand was that it wasn't just Grey's presence that affected Matthew, although that in itself was understandable, since Grey was off the charts gorgeous, but it was the Alpha's scent that really drove him crazy, making him hard and desperate in an instant and making him want to drop to his knees in front of the Alpha every time he saw him and beg him to fuck him.
Every omega knew how dangerous it was when an Alpha's scent was compatible with their own, especially when the Alpha was as powerful as Grey was.
It meant that Matthew knew it was unlikely he would be able to just have a casual fling with Grey and he knew that he couldn't offer the Alpha anything more.
Matthew had to keep a strong hold on his desire for the Alpha, no matter how natural it was for him to want to give himself to Grey.
Grey would expect more from Matthew, far more than he was able to give him, and he knew from past, bitter experience that not being able to give an Alpha what he wanted led to the kind of pain that had nearly killed him when Kelvin had dumped him last year.
Stepping back out into the steamy warmth of the coffee shop, Matthew was only too aware of the presence of Grey.
He could feel the Alpha in every movement, the prickle of his skin and the need running through him made him feel wide open and aching for every little bit of attention Grey threw his way.
Matthew bit his lip again, the pain anchoring him in the moment, and moved out onto the shop floor, trying to keep his focus on clearing the tables.
He turned around with his heavy tray, nearly dropping it when Wendy moved quickly into his path.
She had a devilish look in her eyes that made Matthew's heart pound in his chest as she reached out and took the tray from him.
"Well, would you look at that? Mistletoe!" She winked, stepping quickly to one side, revealing Grey standing there, a cup of coffee in his big, tanned hand.
Matthew swallowed hard as the chatter of the coffee shop seemed to recede and his world reduced down to the tall, powerfully built Alpha standing in front of him.
Matthew couldn't help but notice how Grey's tanned skin, and the depth of the gold in his stunning eyes, was enhanced by the twinkling glow of the Christmas lights that were adorning every available surface of the shop.
Grey's gaze dipped to Matthew's mouth, lingering there for a long moment, and then up at the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling before smiling, his wide mouth stretching into a grin that had more than a hint of wolf in it.
Matthew felt his whole body jerk toward Grey. He closed his eyes, trying to compose himself. "Just ignore her," he said, a blush scalding his cheeks. "She's insane."
One of Grey's thick black eyebrows arched suggestively as he glanced up at the hanging mistletoe and Matthew felt the blush spread over his entire body in a hot flash, sending heat throbbing through him and making his cock pulse in his jeans. "Apparently it's Christmas."
Matthew shrugged his shoulder. "I hadn't noticed." His tongue darted out and moistened his lips and then he pressed them together, wishing the ground would swallow him up. He heard Grey clear his throat.
"You know, there's a Christmas market in the square."
Matthew nodded and shoved his hands deep into the front pocket of his apron, thankful that they appeared to have moved away from the potential danger zone of the mistletoe.
"Would you like to go?"
"Would I like to go to the market?" Matthew asked, flashing an irritated look over at Wendy who was watching the two of them intently.
"Sorry, I'm not very good at this. Would you like to go to the Christmas market with me?"
"What, like a date?"
"Exactly like a date." Grey took a sip of his coffee and looked at Matthew expectantly.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea."
Grey took another sip, fixing Matthew with his golden gaze. "Oh, really, why's that?"
"I..." Matthew looked away and bit his lip. Wendy let out a frustrated groan and Matthew snapped his head round, glaring at her.
"I know you used to be with Kelvin Patrick, but he says that he has no interest in you anymore.
I want to take you out, Matthew," Grey said, his voice firm and Matthew turned back to him, his stomach dropping like a stone at the mention of Kelvin's name.
"Just say yes. We've been flirting for months now.
I know you want me as much as I want you so don't even try to pretend you don't. Our scents match. "
Matthew was bristling with humiliation. Had the two Alphas discussed him? Had Kelvin told him all about his issues? Had he been part of their much rumored negotiations over territory? Had he sealed the deal? "I don't-"
"I'll pick you up at seven." Grey cut him off and then turned and smiled at Wendy, who quickly pretended to be busy wiping down tables instead of hanging onto every word of their conversation, before walking out of the coffee shop.