Chapter Twenty-Seven
Frey
Booker offering to pick him up this morning went a ways to make up for the fact Frey knew fine well that Hollis had gotten an invitation to dinner at Lane and Derick’s with all the family the evening before. It was why Booker had declined Frey’s offer to cook for him and how he’d discovered his plans.
Why hadn’t he invited us?
Was Booker embarrassed to be seen with him?
Had it got something to do with Frey’s past?
The secret he kept?
Stop over dramatizing.
I can if I want.
You’re giving me a headache .
I’m giving you a headache? Yeah right. You don’t have to live with all these unanswered questions.
What the heck do you think I’m doing right now?
Frey sighed his frustration, running a hand through the hair he’d carefully styled not ten minutes ago to prepare for Booker’s arrival.
Things between them were… weird.
If Frey was honest, it was nothing like he expected from dating an alpha. Not that he expected anything, because he’d never really thought he’d be dating an alpha, never mind one who was his boss. He didn’t feel so bad about that now that Hollis was engaged to Taylin. Only the logical side of his brain said that this was different. Hollis was on a level playing field with Taylin, as in, he had rights to make decisions in the company whereas Frey had no such authority.
It was all so confusing.
It’s not. Get naked and see what our bear does. Simple.
Frey ground his teeth together and stomped back to the bathroom mirror to fix his hair. It was that or scream and the last time he’d done that…
He grinned at his reflection. It hadn’t turned out badly at all. Although, that didn’t stop him from being miffed at not being included in dinner plans with Booker’s family.
Will you just stop?
Frey didn’t get time to answer when the buzzer for the front door sounded. He grabbed his brush and quickly smoothed back his hair. When happy, he placed it back on the counter and speed walked to the door .
He stopped in front of it to take two deep breaths before unlocking it to offer a bright smile at the man towering in the doorway.
“Hi,” he said breathlessly, which had nothing to do with rushing and everything to do with the handsome bear, smelling all kinds of delicious, dressed in a fitted suit that showed off his enormous, powerful body.
The bodily reactions Frey had were becoming more commonplace that they didn’t freak him out so much now. But it remained a little disconcerting when his ass reacted and his scent changed. He looked up under his eyelashes at Booker, seeing if he noticed.
The bear was very hard to read at times and right then, he didn’t so much as give a nose twitch.
“You ready?” Booker asked.
Resisting releasing yet another sigh, he nodded.
Frey turned to where he’d placed his suitcase an hour ago. “I am, let me just grab my suitcase.”
Before he could lift it, Booker reached around him and picked it up. He staggered, his eyes going to the heavy bag he hefted up. “Hell, what you got in here, rocks?”
Frey’s blush made it obvious he wasn’t prepared to have to answer questions about his packing habits, but when Booker glanced from what he held, to Frey, it seemed he’d no option but to reply.
“I bought some things for the omegas, alright? I know they’ll not have a lot of stuff because of those nasty alphas, so I went shopping.” Frey shrugged off how uncomfortable explaining his behavior made him. “I got a little carried away. ”
Booker returned his attention to the massive suitcase. “A little carried away! How much of the stuff in here is for the actual trip?”
Frey reached for the small overnight bag Booker hadn’t noticed. “This,”—he waved it about easily—“is my things for the few days we’re away.”
“Just the teeny-tiny bag?” Booker didn’t sound convinced as he eyed Frey with skepticism.
“What are you implying? I’m not a high maintenance fox, you know!” Frey stomped past Booker, nose in the air, leaving the bear to lock up after him.
Yes, he was slightly overreacting. However, first he’d not got a dinner invite and now Booker was implying Frey couldn’t manage with a small overnight bag for a trip away. Frey sniffed indignantly. He was not high maintenance.
Booker followed him down to the car at a snail's pace.
The driver stood at the side of the car, moving to open the door. “Can I take your bag for you, Sir?”
“Thank you,” Frey murmured, handing it over, then getting into the back seat, not once looking at Booker.
He kept his gaze on the window next to him when he felt the seat depress right before the door closed and he got a full hit of Booker’s scent. Breathing through his mouth was becoming a habit when in confined spaces. It was the only way Frey could stop his senses becoming clouded and his wayward thoughts from taking control.
“I’m sorry,” Booker mumbled.
Frey sniffed once more .
“I am. Please, I don’t know why I’m getting the feeling you’re mad at me about something else. But it feels like I’ve pissed you off.”
Really!
Frey shifted to turn his body so he could face Booker and give him an arched look. “Are we dating?” That was not the first thing he’d expected himself to ask, and it appeared Booker hadn’t anticipated it either when he made a jerky movement with his hand in the air.
“I… erm… yes,” he finished, his gaze traveling to the glass partition between them and the driver.
Frey sagged against the seat at how concerned Booker appeared at anyone knowing what was going on between them. He’d never dated and talking to Ziggy had allayed none of his actual fears that he’d mess up or worse, have a freak out. Ziggy told him to be honest.
He met Booker’s worried stare. “Why didn’t you ask me to come to your home to meet your family, like Taylin did with Hollis?” There, he’d said it.
Booker winced. Frey could see it, clear as day, and his heart sank. Booker evidently didn’t like him that much.
Give over.
You give over.
He squealed as he found himself plucked off the seat and placed in Booker’s large lap.
His lips trembled as he looked up at Booker, who growled, “No tears.”
“Do you like me, like me? ”
“Not this again.” Booker reached up and yanked at the hair on the side of his head, causing Frey’s eyes to widen. “I like you… a lot … a lot more than liking indicates… okay!”
Frey’s lips curved up at the edges and he snuggled right into Booker’s large chest, his hand moving so he could wriggle his fingers in between the buttons of his crisp white shirt to stroke Booker’s hairy chest.
Dressed, Frey had no qualms about touching Booker.
You have no qualms touching him naked either!
Pleaseeeee, what kind of fox do you take me for!
His animal howled in his head, the laughter jarring, yet still Frey’s lips quivered with the desire to giggle.
Muscular arms wrapped around Frey. They gave him a sense of warmth that touched the icy pocket of his past that he’d buried deep to survive.
“Is the crisis over now?” Booker’s words rumbled through his chest as lips brushed over his hair.
Frey carefully tilted his head back to avoid clouting Booker on the nose. His smile, soft and warm, revealing the effect the other man had on him.
The catch in Booker’s breath was evident. “You captivate me,” he murmured, his head coming close enough Frey’s eyes blurred.
Is he going to kiss me?
Seconds ticked off as he stared at Booker, willing him to follow through on the promise he could see in his eyes. They’d come close once or twice in the past week where he thought it could happen, but didn’t.
I want those lips on mine .
“Can I kiss you?”
The softly spoken question sent a ripple of desire through Frey that left him shaken to his core. He’d never received a lover's kiss in his whole life. What would it be like? Would he be any good at kissing?
Oh drat!
“Can I?” Booker prompted, bringing him back to what was about to happen.
His need overcame his fear, and he whispered softly, “Yes.”
The gentle brush of lips against his came with an exhale from Frey. His fingers curled in the silky chest hair as his lips pressed a little more firmly against Booker’s, in an invitation to deepen the kiss.
A soft sigh, he heard it, but wasn’t aware which one of them had made the sound. Frey had one focus, the lips touching his. They moved like a gentle summer breeze, caressing his skin. Touching, but not demanding. Caressing, but not forcing. They coaxed a breathy moan out of him when Booker teased the tip of his tongue over the seam of his lips. He parted them gladly.
Whirling sensations danced up and down his spine, his skin thrummed in ways it never had. It felt as if someone was brushing all the fine hairs covering his body to make them stand up so they could catch every vibration of air.
His arousal came in small waves of pleasure, washing through him like water lapping gently at the edge of a sandy beach. He never wanted it to stop. He wanted to live in this place of brightness, where everything made him feel alive—loved .
His heart stuttered in his chest, making his breath catch and causing him to struggle.
Booker lifted his head, his brows pinching together. “Was it too much?”
Concern, he’d need to be blind not to see it, and deaf not to hear it.
His fingers tightened on Booker’s shirt. “No… I feel…” Oh fiddlesticks. His free hand reached up to touch his tingling lips.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to explain.” Booker brushed his lips over Frey’s forehead, moving back his hair.
At touching his plump, tingling lips, Frey really wanted to ask for another kiss, but with how emotional he was feeling, he wasn’t sure it was a good idea. Love .
How could he not love Booker when he was so perfect for him? The urge to confess his feelings became a solid weight in the center of his chest. It pressed against his heart while Booker held him like he was precious.
Booker was slowly erasing everything about Frey’s one and only encounter with an alpha. Replacing it with new and wonderful experiences that gave Frey hope.
He inhaled shakily, moving his fingers from his lips and murmured, “I’m falling for you.” He said it like anyone would when they wanted to deliver bad news. Fast and to the point. Almost the point. Saying the L word aloud? He wasn’t quite ready to have Booker run screaming from the car.
Try him, you’ll see.
I mean it, behave.
Or else?
Shut up.