Chapter 6
Brinden
“So,” drawled Nathaniel one afternoon. “How’s your Alpha?”
Warmth crept up my neck at the insinuation. My Alpha. As if Oliver could be mine. “He’s not my Alpha,” I retorted as firmly as I could. “We’re just…seeing if we’re compatible, that’s all.”
He smirked. “Normal people call that dating.”
“Okay, then we’re dating. That doesn’t mean he’s mine.” I tried to busy myself with rearranging the top of the reception desk, hoping he’d get the hint and leave me alone, but Nathaniel was nothing if not persistent.
“But you want him to be, right?”
I didn’t answer, didn’t dare look at him for fear I’d start tearing up.
I shouldn’t feel so strongly for a guy I’d been out with once, but Oliver?
He was special, I could tell. He was caring and he was genuine, and he didn’t try and hide his feelings behind veiled excuses, like some Alphas did.
I knew he wasn’t perfect, but he was close.
Nathaniel’s voice took on a gentler tone, similar to the one he used with Kennedy.
“You wanna know something? Ollie’s been smiling more since he met you.
Before, he always seemed so lonely, so distant.
Mac’s been worried about him, but now it’s like he’s a brand new person.
Like he’s got something to live for, and the only thing that’s changed is you.
” He smiled. “Just something to think about.”
“Really?” I asked, blinking away emotion.
He only nodded. “You know, Destiny’s doing their annual Valentine’s Day dance thing this weekend. You should totally ask him to go. He’d be thrilled.”
“Yeah? Maybe I will.”
“Good. See you around, Brinden. Crossing my fingers for you!”
I giggled. “Thanks. Bye.”
A Valentine’s Day dance, huh? I wrinkled my nose at the thought. I wasn’t really one for dancing. Put me in the spotlight and I had two left feet, and no amount of spiked punch made my moves any smoother, but then again, this was Oliver we were talking about.
Oliver, who didn’t seem to be affected by my awkwardness. Oliver, who seemed to like me for me. My heart thumped out a one-two beat. I could suck it up for one night and dance with him, if it would make him happy. Making him happy made me happy, and suddenly, I couldn’t wait to ask him out.
No time like the present? I quickly tapped out a text, my stomach squirming with excitement and nerves. You wanna go to the Valentine’s dance with me on Saturday? I sent it with a soft squeal.
Sounds perfect, so long as your wear those red cords. You know, the ones you wore on our first date?
I blinked. Really? Why?
Your butt looks delectable in those pants.
Heat flushed my cheeks. Oh my god, I’m gonna pretend you didn’t just say that!
Too forward? Only being honest ;) Really, though. Wear what you’re comfortable in, I won’t judge.
Not even if I show up in yoga pants and an oversized hoodie? :P
Not even then. You’re amazing, Brin. Doesn’t matter what you wear, so long as I get to spend the evening dancing with you, I’ll be one happy man. I mean it.
I released a happy sigh. Could he be any more wonderful?
As it turned out, yes. Yes he could. He came to pick me up on Saturday with a bag of candy hearts in one hand and a corny V-Day card in the other, with a love-drunk puppy dog on the front that said “B Mine?”
“Oh, Ollie. This is wonderful.”
He grinned all goofily at me, standing on my front stoop with his thumbs hooked in the belt loops of his gray slacks, his tie matching the deep maroon of my favorite corduroy pants.
“You look amazing, Brin,” he murmured.
“And you look hot as hell. Wow.” I bit my lip and took him in, from the polished black loafers to the fitted blazer that brought out the gray of his eyes. He looked good enough to eat. “Ready to go? As a forewarning, I can’t dance.”
He winked. “To be completely honest? Neither can I, but fake it till you make it, right? Let’s go, beautiful.
” He caught my hand in his and tugged me down the steps, to where his sleek orange convertible sat idling on the curb.
I slid into the front seat, my stomach all jumbled up. Beautiful. He thought I was beautiful…
For a silly Valentine’s Day dance, it looked like the entirety of Destiny had showed up to party. Oliver maneuvered his car into parking spot, but even then, it was a tight squeeze.
“Wow, did the whole town show up?” I asked as we made our way up to the front doors.
He chuckled. “Yeah, Destiny goes all-out on this type of shit. I’ve never been one for grandiose socializing, so for most of these events, I usually skip and stay home, watch something on Netflix, you know?
But Mac and Nathaniel actually met at the winter gala a few years ago, so hey, it’s not all bad.
C’mon, let’s go inside. It’s nippy out here. ”
“You could say that again.”
“It’s nippy out here,” he parroted with a smirk, and I swatted his butt. He cracked up laughing and darted through the door, only to hold it open for me like the gentleman he was.
At least, I thought he was a gentleman until I felt him eying my butt.
I spun on him with a huff. He offered the most innocent-looking smile, batting his lashes for good measure.
It drove me crazy. I wanted to kiss him so bad, it wasn’t even funny.
My lips tingled with the need to taste him, to feel his warmth against my skin. My fingers twitched.
“Uh.” I cleared my throat. “Wanna grab some punch? Hopefully it’s not spiked.”
“It’s not,” he assured me. “The mayor runs these events, and he prides himself on them being family-friendly. All the adult beverages are kept behind the bar, and you’re gonna pay a pretty penny if you’re aiming to get drunk here.
They’ve gotta make their money somehow.” He laughed and wrapped his arm around my waist, and heat bubbled through me.
The auditorium was large without managing to be a complete echo chamber.
Decorations hung from the ceiling, colorful links of paper swooping down just out of reach.
Glittery hearts glistened beneath the light of the disco ball—yes, you heard me right, there was a freaking disco ball—and music boomed from the overhead speakers.
The DJ was set up in one corner, and pink and red lights flashed around the room.
“This is nice,” I admitted, taking it all in.
“It’s showy without being overly glamorous, and whatever they’re cooking smells great.
” I sniffed the air and my stomach rumbled.
Oliver had assured me there would be food, so I hadn’t eaten much all day.
Now the mingling scents of a barbecue reminded me of my post-nerves hunger.
“They do sort of a potluck. It’s pretty cool. Punch, for the lovely lad?” He handed me a clear plastic cup of fruit punch with chunks of actual fruit bobbing in the pink liquid. He took a sip and hummed. “It’s like a berry lemonade. Try it. It’s good.”
It was good. So good, that I downed my first glass and dished myself out a second one.
Oliver took me by the hand and began introducing me to some people he knew from work.
They appraised me with surprised but pleasant looks, and one of the other Alphas clapped Oliver on the shoulder. “Nice to see you out and about, man.”
“Nice to be out and about,” he replied. “Jay, this is Brinden. Brin, this is my friend Jay.”
“We’re friends now?” Jay teased. “Last I checked, I was a lowly acquaintance, just some guy you worked with.”
“Yeah, well, lucky you. You moved up the ranks. Congrats.”
“Woohoo! I won’t keep you two lovebirds.” He winked at me. “Go dance! And Ollie? Good to see you smiling, man. Real good.”
Oliver raised a brow, looking to me for approval, and I could already feel my face warming up.
I couldn’t dance and now it looked like we’d have an audience.
Great. I bolstered my courage, then grabbed my Alpha by the hand and led him out onto the floor, where other couples were dancing to the music.
It took me a little bit to find some sort of rhythm, and yeah, I stumbled over my own feet more than once, but soon we were rocking along to the beat.
Oliver’s warmth seared into my back, swaying us back and forth, but man, it felt so nice. His strong arms were wrapped around me, holding me in a tender embrace, and when the poppy-rock songs faded into something sappy and slow, Oliver hugged me from behind.
My heart clogged up my throat when he kissed the side of my neck, then gently nuzzled his stubbled chin over my shoulder. It rasped against my skin in a delicious drag and I bit my lip to keep from whimpering. I dropped my head back against his shoulder.
“Okay?” he whispered in my ear, sending warm-fuzzies tingling down my spine. I knew what I wanted, I was just afraid of taking that leap. This was only our second date, but I hadn’t felt this way towards an Alpha in my entire life, like my world could easily revolve around Oliver Dault.
“I’d be better if you kissed me.” I slowly turned in his grasp, resting my hands on his shoulders. His eyes widened, then dropped to my mouth. His big palms cupped my hips and drew me flush, and before I could respond, his mouth closed over mine.
The kiss was short and sweet with just enough hesitance to let me know that he didn’t want to push me out of my comfort zone.
Swallowing back a groan, I kissed him again, firmer this time.
His lips were soft and warm beneath mine, and his breath tasted sweet like the gum he’d been chewing.
My fingers curled into the fabric of his blazer as I threw myself into the kiss, and Ollie’s soft sigh of happiness made my night that much better.
We spent the evening dancing and touching, only taking a break long enough to eat and grab a couple of drinks from the bar. I wasn’t a huge fan of booze, but even I couldn’t resist the allure of an ice cold beer. We clinked our bottles together and danced until my feet hurt, but I was high on life.
“Hey. You wanna come back to my place tonight?”
My heart stuttered and my breath hitched.
Shit, shit, shit. My stomach clenched up around the barbecue pork sandwich I’d eaten.
Of course that’s where this would lead. Sex.
Sex meant taking off clothing and bearing skin to someone, and that terrified me.
I didn’t have the body for sex, and that was usually when guys tended to ditch me.
I wasn’t ready. My good mood plummeted. I didn’t want Oliver to ditch me, but I wasn’t ready. I pulled away and chewed on my lip. I didn’t dare meet his gaze.
“Brin?” Concern filled his voice. “You don’t have to, if you’re not okay with that. Hey… Baby, look at me.” When I did, it was with tears in my eyes. I breathed in a shaky breath, and to my surprise, Oliver hugged me. “It’s okay. If you’re not ready for the next step, we can wait. There’s no rush.”
“Sorry, I—”
“Do not apologize,” he said firmly. “We’ll take our time.”
I wiped my leaking eyes with the back of my hand, ashamed of this sudden onslaught of emotions. “Thank you. S-Sorry for ruining tonight.”
“Shh, you did no such thing.” He pulled me into his arms and squeezed me to his chest, then dropped a sweet kiss on my temple. “Tonight was wonderful, Brin. The best Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had. I mean that.”
“Me too,” I told him, relaxing into his embrace. “One more dance?”
He smiled. “I would be honored.”