Chapter 31
Staying in wasn’t what I’d planned for tonight, but the moment I saw Camille, I knew there was no way I was making her go out. The dark circles underneath her eyes alone set off alarm bells for my alpha.
She’s not getting enough rest.
She’s working too hard.
I need to help her.
It takes all my willpower to casually offer to order food instead of bundling Camille up in my arms, depositing her on the couch, and demanding that she not move a muscle while I get her whatever she needs.
Thank god she agreed without much argument, because I don’t want to come on too strong.
My instincts to care and protect are out in full force whenever I see Camille.
Not because I think she needs my help—Camille has been fine without me for the last forty years.
It’s my scent match telling me it’s my job to give her whatever I can to make her happy.
I try not to stare at the omega in question’s butt as she goes up on her toes to get a vase from the cabinet above her microwave, but fail spectacularly. She’s perfect, and the way her plump, peachy ass jiggles as she goes back down to her heels has my mouth watering.
She turns around before I can tear my eyes away, her cheeks flooding with color as she catches me ogling her.
My mouth curves into a sheepish smile and I decide to lean into it, loosening my tie and swallowing hard.
Camille giggles and turns back to the flowers, filling the vase and trimming the stems with careful precision. I want to insist that she let me take care of that, but the way she smiles to herself as she arranges the roses keeps my mouth shut.
Not wanting to get caught staring again, I shrug off my jacket and hang it up on a hook next to her purse.
Thankfully, I didn’t sweat through my shirt on the trek up the stairs to her place and ruin my attempt to look good for her.
Which would be a shame, considering I tried on almost all the clothes I own to figure out what was the most flattering.
God, I’ve been so nervous about this date. Jackson didn’t understand why I was so stressed, but he had the advantage of his date being a last-minute, casual invite. He didn’t have days to agonize over which flowers to get or look for the perfect restaurant.
You’d think this close to fifty, I’d be done with first date jitters, but apparently not. The last solo date I went on with someone new was River.
Who is the other source of my nerves. For all our talk of having an open relationship, the only people we’ve dated were the few omegas our pack attempted to court.
And that was different. We went on a series of pack dates as a group before we spent any time with them one-on-one.
I had River by my side instead of waiting for me at home while I’m off with my scent match.
The only reason I’m not more worried about my mate is that Jackson promised to keep him entertained with a “bro night.” Knowing that let me relax enough to make it over to Camille’s place without turning into a total wreck.
I resist the urge to text and check in with them, focusing back on the reason I’m here.
Camille sets the vase on her kitchen table, then approaches me, her fingers working nervously in the hem of her robe.
It’s adorable, considering I’ve seen her in a much more compromising position. Or rather, positions.
My cock gives a happy twitch at the memory, but I remind it we’re not here to get off. We’re here to show our omega how good an alpha I can be for her.
“Would you like Chinese, pizza, or sushi?” I ask, pulling out my phone to open up the delivery app.
Her mouth quirks. “Those are my only options?”
A deep chuckle rumbles out of me, almost morphing into a purr. “No, but I figured making decisions after a stressful day is the last thing you’d want to do. So I narrowed it down.”
Camille’s smile broadens, making my breath stutter at how beautiful she is. “Clever. Chinese sounds perfect.”
I pass my phone over so she can pick out what she wants, looking around so I’m not staring at her while she makes her choice.
Her apartment is tidy and clean, and the way her scent permeates the space makes my head a little fuzzy.
However, from what I can see of the main living space, it’s somewhat… lifeless.
I’d expected Camille’s place to be full of soft florals and color. Things that are as vibrant and lovely as her. But that’s not the case at all. It almost looks like she didn’t bother to decorate when she moved in.
When she passes the phone back to me, I take her hand in mine and guide her over to the light gray couch and take a seat next to her.
I note with a small frown that there’s a concerning lack of snuggly blankets and throw pillows.
Clearly, she hasn’t indulged in her omega’s need for home comforts beyond what she and Jackson did for her nest.
Which is troubling. On its own, I wouldn’t think twice, but paired with her hiding her designation at work and her worries about going nest shopping, it paints a concerning picture.
I know I shouldn’t be in doctor mode right now, but I can’t help it.
If something is bothering Camille, I want to help her figure it out.
“How was your day?” Camille asks, fidgeting with her robe again as she gives me a nervous smile.
She’s uncomfortable. I need to fix that.
“Not too bad. Work was calm, but a little boring. Not that I’m complaining,” I add with a chuckle. “My day is much better now that I’m here.”
That earns a pleased smile, but the stiffness in her spine hasn’t eased.
“Camille, can I ask you a favor?” I ask, reaching out to take one of her hands from where it’s gripping her robe and thread my fingers into hers.
“Uh, sure?” Her brow furrows slightly. “You can ask.”
I laugh at her caveat, giving her hand a small squeeze. “Will you let me be in charge tonight?”
Camille’s hazel eyes grow wide, and her scent intensifies. “Oh. Um, I mean, I guess if we…”
I shake my head. “Not for sex, sweetheart. If that comes up, we can discuss it, but I want to give you a night where you don’t need to think at all. My alpha is being…insistent about it, but I don’t want to be domineering.”
“I can’t imagine you ever being domineering.” She narrows her shrewd eyes like she’s trying to imagine it, and giggles at the absurdity of the thought.
“Bossy, then,” I suggest, smiling along with her.
“From what I can recall, I like your brand of bossiness.” A flush creeps up her neck and perfume bursts in the air. She groans. “Sorry, guess there’s no way to be chill or coy when my omega perfumes at the mere mention of things with you.”
“It’s incredibly flattering,” I reassure her. “If I could perfume for you, you’d be choking on oranges.”
She wrinkles her adorably freckled nose. “That sounds like some kind of euphemism.”
“Who says it isn’t?” I raise a brow at her. “Do you not want to choke on my oranges?”
She laughs, pulling her hand out of my grip to shove my chest gently. Before she can move her hand away, I trap it over my heart with mine. Her lashes flutter as she gives me a small smile, and I wonder if she can feel how fast my heart beats for her.
“You didn’t answer my question,” I murmur, stroking my thumb across the back of her hand.
“About your oranges?”
I snort and shake my head. “About me being in control tonight.”
“Oh. That.” Her tongue darts out to wet her lips, tempting me to claim them with my own. “Yes. I’d like that.”
My alpha rumbles inside me and Camille’s eyes widen at the vibration of my purr against her hand. “You like that, too.”
“I like anything involving you, sweetheart,” I rasp.
Her eyes flick away for a second, then meet mine again. “Can I ask a question before I, uh, give away my choices?”
An indulgent smile stretches across my lips. I wonder how long it will take her to realize how much of a sucker I already am for her. “Of course. It’s not absolute, either. If you tell me you want to do something else or are done following my lead, I’ll listen.”
I expect my answer to assuage her nerves, but her blush deepens as she nods. “Is this… Is this part of the daddy thing?”
Now it’s my turn to turn red, my face flooding with heat, part embarrassment, part arousal at hearing the word from her lips again.
“N-no!” I sputter. “I swear, I didn’t intend to say that during your heat. Things were so intense and you were in need and, uh… it just came out. I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable. We don’t have to try that again if you didn’t like it.”
I can’t decide if I’d be disappointed if she hated it or relieved.
It felt so natural in the heat of things—pun intended—but now Jackson is teasing me about it and I’m worried it’s making me come off as some kind of pervert.
I’ve explored the submissive side of kink with River and have loved every moment of that.
It was a surprise to find out there was a daddy dom side lurking inside me as well.
Camille shakes her head. “Oh, no, it was really hot. Strange…but good! I can’t promise that I’ll enjoy it outside my heat delirium, but I’d like to try again. If you do.”
“Absolutely,” I reply immediately, my cock swelling.
Camille giggles at my enthusiasm and lets out a relieved exhale.
“Whew, okay. I was worried about being a perv for wanting you to be my daddy again. Not worried enough to not try, though,” she adds with a grin.
“I think at our age we’re both old enough to realize what matters most is we’re both on board. ”
“Our age? I recall you being almost ten years my junior, baby girl.” I bring her hand to my lips and press a kiss to it, waiting to see if she likes me calling her that, too.
She watches me through hooded eyes. “True. Sorry, Daddy.” Camille leans in, pulling her hand out of mine to thread it into my hair. Her breath hitches as I nip her lip instead of giving her the kiss she expected.