Chapter 37 Ty
TY
The past week had been a blur as I put all of my efforts into maintaining a positive work relationship with our suppliers and business partners. It was my attempt to squelch any nasty rumors that I wasn’t on top of my game. And there were sure to be rumors. Especially these days.
Liza and I seemed to miss each other all the time. I came in late and slept at her place, but she was already asleep because she had early commitments with her clients.
Additional business meetings had popped up out of town, and I hoped to build connections with the surrounding alphas in our state.
Since I’d soon be taking over the Keller pack, it was important for the other alphas to respect me and accept me into their inner circle.
I had to become one of them, and now was the time to start.
The meetings went well, and though I enjoyed visiting the other packs and seeing how they ran their packs, I missed Liza.
There was always a part of me that couldn’t focus because I spent so much time worrying about her.
I constantly checked in with our security team, ensuring that they had eyes on her at all times, but not talking to her and spending time with her was taking a mental toll on me. I really missed her.
When I slept at her place, she didn’t startle awake from her nightmares. In fact, she seemed to sleep peacefully. I hoped that whatever had been haunting her dreams had stopped for good.
By the time I woke in the mornings, Liza was already gone, and I was left to battle with my thoughts about Castro and what his next move might be. The world couldn’t stop spinning just because we’d received threats from an outside source, but the idea of Liza being in danger kept me on edge.
After not saying much more than hello and goodbye to Liza all week, I decided to take her out on a date. I didn’t want another day to pass without spending quality time with her. Liza deserved to be spoiled, so I called and made reservations at the upscale steakhouse downtown.
The place was normally packed on a Friday night, but due to my stature as the future alpha, my request for a table took priority.
I didn’t normally toss around the Keller name for special treatment, but tonight was important, and I gladly told the hostess who I was and asked her to save my favorite table near the window that overlooked the river.
At five thirty, Liza walked through the door and stopped in her tracks without setting her purse down or taking off her shoes. A slow smile spread across her face as she cocked her head. “You’re here? I thought you’d be in late again.”
“Surprise!” I threw up my hands in such a cheesy way that I immediately regretted it, but Liza giggled, and the sound spread warmth through me. I gestured toward the bedroom. “More surprises await you, my dear.”
Liza raised her eyebrows, but her smile never wavered.. “Oh, really. Should I be scared?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Follow me.” I held out my hand and waited for her to set her things on the bench inside her door before she laced our fingers together.
I led her to the bedroom and pointed to the bed, where I’d laid out a new black dress on the comforter. It was one of those thin strapped deals with a low neckline that was shaped like a heart, and a short skirt that should hit her around mid-thigh. Sequins and black pearls adorned the neckline.
Liza scooped it up and held it in front of her body, admiring her reflection in the dresser mirror. “Ty, this is gorgeous.”
“But wait.” I held up a finger. “There’s more.
” I walked to her closet and opened the door.
Inside was a black shoe box tied closed with a red velvet bow on top.
She cocked her head and walked slowly to the box, as if she was savoring the moment.
Or maybe that was me. It didn’t matter. She made a slow production of untying the bow, then laid it open when she simply could have slid it over the top.
Everything this woman did was so damn sexy.
She pulled apart the tissue paper, and her mouth opened. “Holy shit. Are these what I think they are?”
I eyed the red soles of the black stilettos. “Nothing but the best for my queen.”
“Ty, you really shouldn’t have.” As she playfully scolded me for spending so much money, she slipped her feet into the shoes. “These are amazing.” And a perfect fit.
“But wait.” From my pocket, I pulled a black, two-by-two square box with a silver bow glued to the top. Instead of smiling, she chewed her lower lip. “There’s more.”
She eyed the box, and her smile spread as I removed the lid and pulled a dainty gold chain from the white, satin cushion. I held it up to the light. A small, circular diamond pendant hung from the chain.
“Oh, Ty. It’s beautiful.” She reached out to touch it but withdrew her hand. Instead of turning so I could fasten it around her, she shook her head. “I can’t accept that. It’s too expensive, Ty.”
“You can and you will.” I moved forward and clasped it around her elegant neck. “Can’t you let a guy spoil his mate?”
She smiled and turned to face me. “What’s all this for? You know I can’t wear any of this to work.”
“I’m taking you out. On a date. Just you and me with no interruptions, no out-of-town business meetings, and you certainly won’t be doing the cooking. How does steak sound?” She was a woman after my heart. Not one of those tofu and hummus kinds of girls, and thank goodness for that.
“Delicious.” She giggled with excitement and took her new dress into the bathroom to get ready.
When we walked into the restaurant, all heads turned to see Liza.
Any other woman could spend a million dollars to look good and not be one tenth as beautiful as Liza, and I was so proud to have her on my arm.
Not just because she was drop-dead gorgeous, but because she was everything I ever wanted and more in a mate.
Her hot ass didn’t hurt, either.
I’d ordered earlier in the day, so we received our food quickly. Presumably because the owner and staff wanted to impress the next alpha. Liza and I took our time eating and staring out over the dark, running waters of the river.
“I missed you so much this week.” I reached across the table and twined my fingers through hers, stroking her palm with my thumb.
Sometimes, I just needed to touch her. “I don’t like not getting to debrief you on my days and not hearing about all the ins and outs and ups and downs of your catering business. How was your week?”
Liza swallowed her food and took a sip of wine.
“I didn’t especially enjoy slipping out of the house before you were awake.
It wasn’t fun for me.” Her smile was everything I needed after my long week.
“Honestly, it was a busy week, which kept my mind off you-know-who.” I certainly didn’t have to guess who that was.
“I have a few new clients who seem nice enough.” She squeezed my hand.
“What about you? How did all your meetings go?”
I shrugged. I didn’t really want to talk about the meeting, but what I wanted to talk about wasn’t necessarily appropriate for a restaurant. “As well as it could have. I’m happy to report that the alphas I met up with weren’t total bastards, so that’s a plus.”
Laughing, we looked at the dessert menu the waitress dropped by our table, finally deciding to split a slice of cheesecake drizzled with a silky, strawberry sauce.
Liza’s bare foot brushed against mine, sending shockwaves up my leg and directly to my dick. She glanced up at me with a longing that I recognized in a split second.
By the time our dessert arrived, we’d eye-fucked each other, scooted our chairs closer together, and kissed twice.
It took every ounce of restraint I had not to join her on the opposite side of the table so I could run my hands over her deliciously perfect body.
I watched as she slowly bit into the strawberry that garnished the top of our cheesecake, her eyes rolling back in pleasure.
I leaned forward and whispered, “It’s a good thing we’re out in public or you would be naked on this table, and I would be licking cheesecake from your nipples.”
Liza laughed, and her cheeks turned a light shade of pink.
“You’re the future alpha. Tell these people to leave.
” She dipped her finger in the whipped cream and slowly inserted it into her mouth, her lips encircling her finger as she closed her mouth and moaned so softly that I barely heard her.
But I heard her. My cock strained against my pants.
Fuck. My dick was hard enough to cut glass as I imagined it taking the place of her finger.
I drove home fast as I caressed Liza as best I could while paying attention to the road. Heat emanated from her, her pheromones filling the car. I needed her. Now.
The second we reached Liza’s front porch, I swung her up into my arms, crushing her against my chest as I devoured her mouth.
She moaned and tightened her grip around my neck, twisting to press her breasts into my chest. I set her down, though I would rather have held on to her, pressed her against the wall, and thrust into her until she cried out my name in pleasure.
Instead, I fumbled with my house key, trying to open the door without ruining the moment. “Shit.” I pulled away and spent the next fifteen seconds trying to get us through the door.
Finally, she laid her hand over mine and stilled my trembling fingers. “Here, let me.” Liza took the key from my hand. A second later, she pushed the door open, then looked up at me and smiled. “Shall we?”
She certainly didn’t have to tell me twice.
I slammed the door behind me, and then we were all over each other.
Liza kicked her shoes off and stepped in front of me, her hands sliding up my chest, then back down and back up again.
Without the heels, she was a good four inches shorter, so I had to lean down to bite her lower lip gently.