Chapter Four #2
Bennett cleared his throat and I turned toward him, noticing he had wiped the lipstick off his cheek and was watching me with amusement as he folded the napkin in half. “Should we unpack why you’re glaring possessively at my little sister?”
A jolt of recognition hit me as I realized how much this woman looked like Ally. Other than her dainty nose and brown hair, which clearly matched Bennett’s, the resemblance was striking.
She laughed and elbowed her brother. “I think your crush has a bit of a crush too.”
“I know,” he said confidently. “I’m just waiting for him to realize how serious his crush really is.”
My cheeks flushed and Bennett’s features softened sympathetically. “It’s okay, Felix. I’ll file this reaction away for us to unpack after a few more unofficial dates.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“I’m Oakley, by the way,” she said as her head swiveled between us. Apparently, our inability to look away from each other was clear. “Not that I think you care at all what my name is right now.”
I tore my eyes from Bennett and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Oakley. Sorry about my reaction. I’m not sure what came over me.”
She chuckled. “Want me to walk you through it? Alphas aren’t the only ones who are possessive when—”
“Leave him alone,” Bennett commanded with a growl.
Oakley rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay. Jeez. You don’t have to alpha bark at me. I’m a grown-ass woman now and I don’t answer to you.”
“Remember that chat we had about sisters?” Bennett asked with exasperation.
I laughed and turned away from them, bending down to grab her drink out of the mini fridge. “I do, and I feel your pa—”
My words caught in my throat as I stood up and grabbed the burning bonding mark on the right side of my neck.
The can of seltzer slipped from my hands and hit the ground, exploding.
The carbonated drink pooled at my feet as I quickly looked away from the door that had just opened and the familiar face entering the bar.
Bennett was out of his seat and standing between me and the door with his hands gripping my shoulders before I’d even registered that he’d moved.
“What happened?” he asked, looking me over for an injury. “Are you okay?”
“Can you please get me out of here?” I whispered, gripping his shirt. “Hurry.”
“Okay, let’s go.” He started to turn me around in front of him and I shook my head rapidly.
“Keep me covered.”
Bennett’s eyes narrowed and he leaned closer, his face inches from mine. “Follow my lead,” he whispered. “I’m going to pretend to kiss you. Is that okay?”
“Do it. Kiss me,” I said, certain that the press of his lips against mine would help to calm the panic boiling to the surface.
He leaned in and tipped his head to the side, his lips hovering in front of mine, nearly brushing them, but all I could feel was the heat of his breath.
He gipped my waist and started walking me backward as if we were in a passionate embrace, but still, his mouth didn’t touch mine.
The gap between us was minuscule, and I ached to close the distance.
I closed my eyes and let him lead me, handing my trust over to him completely.
The panic in my body quickly calmed as I melted against Bennett with ease. Longing sparked in my veins, his lips brushing mine lightly as we moved. I was pretty sure he was taking me to the break room, but I didn’t want to risk opening my eyes and seeing the man who had just walked into the bar.
I clenched my hands in Bennett’s shirt, refusing to give in to my desire despite the intoxication of being surrounded by his scent and having him pressed against me. His pelvis pressed into mine, and I nearly groaned at the realization that this moment was clearly affecting him too.
He loosened his grip and took a step back.
I blinked my eyes back into focus as I looked around, taking in the lockers and the plastic table in the break room.
The rush of cool air against my chest in his absence sent a wave of pain through me.
I wanted to be in his arms again, even if it was just for pretend.
“Are you going to tell me what happened?” he asked, his chest heaving. His heart was thumping loudly. There was no way that almost-kiss hadn’t tested his willpower. My dick had hardened, despite the circumstances, and we both knew I’d felt his erection too.
“My ex is here,” I said, looking around Bennett toward the open door.
Bennett’s eyes narrowed as he followed my gaze to the door.
He took a deep breath and stalked over to the table in the corner, picked up a chair, and lodged it under the door handle.
He came back to stand in front of me and held my shoulders firmly.
His fresh pine scent surrounded me and thickened in the air.
“Are you pumping out calming pheromones right now?” I asked, starting to relax again as I breathed him in.
“Yes. Take a deep breath. You’re safe,” he said as another wave of pine hit me. My pulse slowed, and the fear slowly started to dissipate. His thumbs rubbed back and forth soothingly across the fronts of my shoulders. “Do you want me to stop?”
“No, thank you. Keep ‘em coming,” I said, stepping in closer. I rested my nose against the scent gland in the crook of his neck. “You smell better than any alpha I’ve ever met. Better than anyone or anything, really.”
His chest rumbled against me as he chuckled, wrapping his arms around me. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
“It’s like a Christmas tree farm. You smell like a Christmas tree farm.”
“You smell like fresh snow,” he said, holding me tight as he inhaled me.
I rested against him silently, letting him calm me while I sorted out what to do next.
“Is your ex dangerous?” he asked.
“Yes and no,” I said. “He’s toxic—not really physically dangerous—but he’s still bonded to me.”
Bennett wrenched backward, gripping my shoulders again as he inspected my neck. I brushed my fingers over the mark, drawing his attention to it.
“I cover it up,” I said. “Usually with clothes, sometimes with foundation that my sister recommended. I left him almost three years ago. He’s mixed up in a lot of bad shit, and I needed to get out of there.”
“Drugs?” Bennett asked.
I nodded. “How’d you know?”
Bennett lifted my right arm gently and pushed my sleeve up to my elbow, his thumb brushing over my scarred track marks. “I noticed the scars last week when you spilled whiskey and changed into a T-shirt. I also noticed that none of them are fresh and you’ve never smelled like drugs.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You knew I was an addict, and you still keep showing up here every night trying to get a date?”
“You think I wouldn’t want to date you because you have a history of drug use?” Bennett asked, looking offended.
“That, and it’s just half of the complications that come with dating me. My mother has barely spoken to me for years. I just told you I’m still bonded to an alpha who will likely never let me go willingly. I might be stuck with a bond to someone else forever.”
“Bonds can be broken,” Bennett said with a shrug.
“If that’s what you want, then I’ll do whatever it takes to help you.
But if it’s not what you want, some people never break their bonds but live apart from their mate and live happy lives with another partner. You’re not scaring me off this easily.”
I sighed. “You are a hard man to shake, Bennett Winchester.”
“Then stop trying to shake me.”
“I mean, you seem like you might be a good kisser based on the way you maneuvered us back here.”
Bennett laughed heartily. “It’s so cute that you think that’s how I kiss. You haven’t been kissed by me, Felix. You’ve been steered to safety. If I’d been kissing you the way I want to, your feet wouldn’t have been touching the ground.”
Oh fuck, I need to know what it feels like to be kissed by this man.
“Can you go see if he’s still here?” I asked. “I shouldn’t leave the bar unattended, but I have no idea if he knows I work here and I don’t want him to find me.”
“Oakley probably jumped in to cover the bar when she saw us leave. She’s worked shifts for Ally before, but she’s a terrible bartender, so who knows what everyone is drinking out there.
” He gave my shoulders a squeeze, the scent of pine thickened again, and he guided me to a chair at the table.
“I’ll be right back. Put the chair back under the handle when I leave and then sit and rest. Don’t move the chair unless it’s me on the other side of that door. ”
“Is that an order, alpha?” I asked coyly.
“Don’t tease me or I’ll have a hard dick while I’m trying to scare off your ex.”
I laughed and mimed zipping my lips.