Chapter Fifteen
Ches
I met Grant near the lobby and ignored the stares and whispers of the other guests and mostly the staff.
The night before, I’d barely slept a wink. Nerves kept my eyes wide open, staring into the night. He asked me to come to one of the clubs with him, which meant travel. There was one problem. I didn’t have the clothes to go on any excursion but especially one for business purposes.
And to one of the clubs.
He’d shown me pictures. A place where inhibitions were shucked at the door. Where everyone could be free to explore desires and hungers they might never be able to in any other place.
The chance to be yourself, whatever that might be.
I told Grant at once that I wasn’t prepared for such a trip.
His answer? “Meet me in the lobby tomorrow.” He would take care of everything.
My mate taking care of me. After taking care of myself for so long, it all seemed like a fantasy that might be shattered by a villain at any moment.
But this was no fantasy. This was my mate.
I told him I trusted him, no matter how hard that was for me.
“Good morning,” I heard from behind me. Grant’s voice climbed up my spine and caused a full-body shudder.
“Good morning,” I said, turning around to face him.
He was dressed in an emerald-green dress shirt and black pants that fit him like a second skin.
He was so devastatingly handsome. Controlled.
Strong. Calm. He was an anchor in the sea.
Next to him, I felt like a stray that had just been brought in from the streets. Not far from the truth.
He winked at me. “Shall we go?” He leaned forward and spoke into my ear. “Away from prying eyes?”
“Yes, please.”
We weren’t going far. Only to the store here at the resort. I’d been in there a few times, only to find that even the smallest token, a key chain or a bookmark, were out of my price range, employee discount accounted for.
This place catered to the richest of the rich and, as we walked in, I suddenly felt out of place in the resort I called home.
“Don’t worry. Everything is on me.”
I nodded, overcome by the expensive things surrounding me. This bubble might burst at any moment. “I don’t know where to start.”
“Let me help.”
Grant, with the attendant’s help, picked out the finest pieces of clothing. Pants. Shirts. Even down to the socks and boxers. I’d never had such nice things in my life and really never expected to. I had small dreams. A home. Stability. Security. Love. A family. Not much else.
This all seemed extravagant for one trip.
“I think you should try them on. We have the sizes right, but things fit differently.”
I looked down at the mountain of pickings. “I don’t…”
Grant looked to the worker beside me and spoke something I couldn’t quite hear. Goddess, this was embarrassing. My ears rang. My heart drummed too loudly. My face flushed with heat and then broke out in a sweat.
Over Grant’s shoulder, I watched as the attendant walked out the door and locked it, flipping the sign to closed as he passed.
“Ches, baby, it’s just me and you now.” He dropped the clothes onto a bench right outside the dressing room and cupped my face. “It’s okay. Breathe.”
I did as he commanded, letting his alpha power seep into my pores and wash away most of the nerves.
My heart slowed. My breathing evened out. “Thank you. I’m okay now.”
“Good. Let’s see how these things fit.”
I tried on everything. Grant insisted I come out with every outfit to show him. My face stayed heated and blushing. I saw it in the mirrors.
I had to admit, the expensive fabrics felt nice on my skin.
“Can I come in and see?” he said after I’d taken a moment to soak all of this in. Tomorrow, he could change his mind and this could all be over.
I gasped. He wanted to come into the dressing room?
“Of…of course.”
The red velvet curtain parted and Grant entered. The room became warmer. His eyes roamed my form. Goose bumps rose on my skin, reacting to his heated stare.
“You’re lovely, omega,” he said, stepping forward.
I looked down, tugging at the thighs of the pants. The last pair. “Yes. They do look good on me.”
Chuckling, he shook his head. “Not the pants, Ches. You.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
“Thank you. You know, I was giving you time to heal and recover after the other night, but there’s something I’ve been wanting to do, if you’d allow me.”
The ringing grew louder. Perspiration beaded along my brow. “What do you want to do?”
He stepped closer and put his hands on either side of my waist. “Can I kiss you, omega?”
Grant’s dark eyes dipped to my lips, stirring a response from my cock.
“Yes,” I whispered, though in my mind, it was a scream.
I moaned as his lips met mine. He pressed me against the wall of the dressing room and was careful, kissing me gently.
Fuck that.
I grabbed his face and licked at his lips, begging for entrance. He granted it, and soon our tongues were tangled and I wasn’t the only one moaning. His hips rocked into mine and I felt how badly he wanted me.
He was the one who broke the kiss, breathless and with a low growl. “Not in here. You deserve better than a dressing room quickie.”
“I really don’t.” I laughed.
“Yeah, omega. You deserve the world.”