Sable #2
“Supply room. Not a broom closet. But basically. Well after that, Rhian said he had something planned for our date.” I pause, wincing because I already know this part is going to send her into orbit.
“He asked Taron to chase us on the haunted trail, which led to Rhian fucking me while the alpha watched. Which led to Taron breaking in to my apartment and fucking me until sunrise. Then when I woke up Taron had left already, but I really needed coffee, so I went to get some across the street, still smelling like Rhian and Taron. That's when Colter defended me to the snotty omegas,” I blurt it all out, and then brace myself for her reaction. There’s a long stretch of silence on the other end, and I have to check to confirm the call didn’t drop.
“Wow.” She pauses again, and I'm suddenly worried that I broke her. “You know, for once I can’t think of anything to say. That was a lot to take in all at once,” Plum murmurs.
“But you know what? Good for you. You deserve it. Get that dick, girl,” she hums, clearly not finished.
“Against a tree is a wild choice though.”
“You had to be there, I guess.”
“I’m not judging,” she says.
“I know. You’re not the type. But I do have a question. Do you think I’d be making a mistake to go to dinner with Colter tonight?” I ask, nervously nibbling my lip. It doesn’t feel like a mistake. This moment feels different. Like the stakes are higher. Like there's more on the line.
Something I don’t fully understand, but I’m not scared.
“No, Sable, I don’t think it would be a mistake. I think you should do whatever is going to make you happiest.”
After Plum and I hang up, I go back to working on the restocking for all the candles that have sold out recently.
I’m pouring candles when the front door jingles, letting me know someone’s here.
“Welcome,” I say as I clean my hands off on a damp rag and head to the front to help the customer.
“Brought you some ice cream, I know you had a–” Rhian starts to say, when he stops a foot from me, staring at the pale purple peasant clinging to my curves. Or maybe it’s my scent that has him grinning. “You fucked Taron last night,” he says with a mischievous smirk.
“Does that bother you?” I ask, worried about what he’ll think, despite the smile on his face.
“Why would it bother me, Sable? Scared I’ll be jealous?” Rhian steps closer to me, close enough that his scent fully surrounds me, telling me everything I need to know about how he’s feeling right now.
“Maybe,” I admit.
“I brought you a sweet treat. I remembered how much you like the eggnog ice cream the creamery makes this time of year. Maybe I should have brought you an ice pack too?” he teases, taking a deep breath. “Fuck, the scent of Taron all over you is making me dizzy.”
“Rhian,” I hiss, blushing bright red when the doorbell jingles again. Great. Not only do I smell like them because I didn’t wash their scent off, wanting to savor it, but now Rhian’s scent is turning the shop into an omega sex den.
“Fuck what they have to say, Sable,” Rhian whispers, pulling me into his body with his free hand.
“It’s hard to ignore when it’s everywhere I go.” I pause. “Colter saved me from the coffee shop witches. He’s making me dinner tonight. I’m bringing dessert as a thank you for his rescue.”
“I’m glad he was there for you. You don’t deserve the hate you get, especially when no one in this town is perfect.” Rhian sighs as the customer, who just walked in, passes us with a bright smile.
Despite all the haters I have in this town, my business does just fine. That probably has more to do with Gram’s legacy than me though. Even my candles do great.
“I’ll let you get back to work. I just wanted to bring you these,” Rhian holds up the brown paper bag and hands it to me before pressing a soft kiss to my head. “See you soon, Sable.”
Sable
“Fuck, you’re trying to kill me,” Colter groans when he sees me in my all white sundress. It’s got thin straps with a string to tie the ruffled front together, and I went bra-free for this. My white sandals match and still look cute while being comfortable.
“And you? With that slutty brown leather watch and your rolled-up sleeves,” I gesture to his forearms, imagining all the ways he could use them to trap me under him.
How would those large hands look wrapped around my thighs as he spreads my legs open for him?
“Did you just call my watch slutty?” Colter frowns, and I have to hold back my giggle. He’s too fucking cute.
“Come on, alpha, time for you to blow my mind with your cooking skills,” I tease as he leads me to his car.
“I’ll do my best, but I make no promises, I don’t exactly practice making food just for myself,” Colter says, and my heart aches. I hate the thought that he’s spent so much time alone. I hate that he was by himself when his mom died.
I can’t make it better. I can’t go back and take that hurt away from him, but I don’t resist reaching out to take his hand.
He seems surprised as I take hold of him, lacing my finger with his, but doesn’t pull away from me.
He must have showered because his scent surrounds me with clove and leather.
“Well, now you can practice making food for me, and in exchange, I’ll bring you all the sugar cookies you could ever need,” I tease, as he helps me into his truck.
Once he climbs into the driver’s seat, the need to comfort him is still strong, so I lean over and reach for his hand again.
He stares at our hands for a long moment, and I hold my breath, hoping he doesn’t reject me.
Thankfully, he squeezes it before turning his attention to the drive.
When we arrive at his house, I’m surprised to see it’s the same one he grew up in.
A quaint little bungalow at the end of a cul-de-sac, with flowering trees in the yard and the same little wishing well that had been there when we were young.
“Mom left it for me. I didn’t have the heart to leave,” he explains, looking sad.
I bring our clasped hands up to kiss his knuckles, giving them a gentle squeeze.
“You don’t have to explain,” I say, before we get out, and he leads me inside. We kick off our shoes by the door and head further into the home that holds only his scent. After a short tour, Colter insists I take a seat at the white kitchen counter.
“You’re too distracting. I’ll lose focus with you walking around my kitchen, wielding a knife.
” He chuckles, passing me a glass of water when I decline the wine.
“So, I’m not the best cook, but I have made this a few times, and it's the only thing I’m allowed to bring to the station.
” Colter’s cheeks turn a cute shade of pink as he puts on a cooking apron.
Reaching into the refrigerator that is dwarfed by his size, he pulls out a foil covered pan and sets it on the counter by the stove. When he turns to preheat the oven, he glances over at me with a small smile.
My mind fully stalls for a long moment as I take in the sight of him.
Brown curls messy after air drying. That slutty watch against his tan skin, and his sleeves rolled up to the elbow.
The way the apron shows off his broad shoulders and waist has me grasping the materials of my dress in desperation.
All he needs now are gold-framed glasses from the nineties, and he’ll be a sitcom heartthrob.
I lick my lips, imagining him putting me on the counter instead of that big mixing bowl.
“Hopefully you like salad, because that's the only side dish I can make.” Colter chuckles, pulling me back to the moment. I can’t take my eyes off him as he moves through the small kitchen. Fuck, he’s sexy.
“I could always help you learn more recipes, if you wanted,” I offer. How do I get him to spend more time with me like this? Pretend to teach him to cook. It’s a ruse, because I have no idea how to cook more than a few dishes myself.
“I would like that,” the alpha in a blue denim apron says, and I sigh.
My scent must finally hit him, because he freezes in place before taking a deep breath. The mixing bowl clatters to the countertop, and I gasp, shocked, until his scent reaches me as well. Oh, my…
“You’re killing me, Sable,” Colter eventually murmurs, and I don’t move, too scared that I’ll ruin whatever this is.
“I’m not trying to. I just want you to know I’m here for you.” My voice is barely more than a whisper. Please don’t pull away from me…
“As what, though, Sable? Do you want to be my friend? Or do you want more? Because I’ll be honest, I can’t just be your friend, Angel.
” Colter turns to me, fists clenching as he watches me.
I’m off the chair and standing before him in five steps.
He lifts his hand, caressing my cheek as he stares down into my eyes, and I sigh.
“I like you. But I like Rhian and Taron too. I don’t want to lead you on if you expect something exclusive, Colter. But I can’t imagine seeing you around town and us being nothing. I don’t want that. I never did,” I confess.
“How do the other two feel about that?” he asks cautiously, and I hate the guarded way he’s looking at me. I want to break through the walls around his heart.
“Rhian feels the same as I do. I still need to talk to Taron, but I haven’t had the chance yet.” I nibble my lip as Colter considers my words for so long that panic starts to set in. The only thing keeping me calm is his scent.
“But you want me?” he asks. The vulnerable tremble in his voice makes me want to leap into his arms. He’s letting me in. Now I just need to show him how badly I want to be here.
“I do want you,” I admit, my hands trailing up his chest until I reach around his neck and push my fingers into his hair. He shivers at the contact, his clove scent growing heavy with need. “So badly, Colter.”
“I want you too, Sable. I always have.” His words send lightning through my veins.
“Do you want to kiss me?” I ask, tipping my head back, stepping into him until our bodies are pressed fully together.