9. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Spencer
Nerves nip at my belly as I reach over and take Cade’s hand. He gives me a squeeze of encouragement as we walk into the building. This place is way nicer than I’m used to. Sure, I used to work in fine dining but that was work. I wasn’t actually dining in high end places like that outside of work.
“You look incredible,” Cade says, murmuring into my ear. “I told you that already, right?”
“You did,” I tell him with a shy smile. “But that doesn’t mean I mind hearing it again.” I run a hand down the front of his dress shirt. “You look wonderful as well. I can’t believe we somehow packed matching dress clothes.”
“Just another sign that the universe meant for us to be together,” he says with a wink that leaves me breathless not only with lust but also with affection.
We’re both wearing black dress pants with button ups. Mine is black with dark purple accents while his is the opposite, purple with black stripes. We look amazing together and my inner shifter thrills with the fact that Cade looks taken. We look like we belong together.
Cade’s words play over and over inside my head, bouncing around like an overactive ping pong ball. Is it possible that the universe pushed us together? That there’s some sort of higher power pulling the string, helping me find the person destined to be mine?
If that’s true, I can see why the universe would bring me Cade. He’s outgoing in a way that brings me out of my shell. He’s gentle and kind to everyone around him. He’s good with people, allowing me to fade into the background as he takes over the conversation while also making me still feel like I’m part of the picture. We fit together like two puzzle pieces.
We step into an elevator and press the button for the top floor. I turn towards Cade as we start moving up. His beard is braided and I can’t help but smile, remembering the way I helped him braid it this morning, something so intimate yet so simple.
“Do you really believe that?” I blurt out.
Cade stares at me in surprise, tilting his head. “Believe what?”
“That the universe pushed us together?”
“Yes,” he says right away, my stomach swooping at the certainty of his answer. “Without a doubt. I’ve never felt anything like this before, Spencer. I’m drawn to you in a way that logical thought can’t piece together. We’ve just met and yet, I can’t imagine just going back to life without you in it.”
“Oh,” I breathe out.
“Too much?”
I shake my head, putting both of my hands on Cade’s face. Then I lean down and kiss his lips. “That wasn’t too much. It was perfect,” I say against his lips. I can feel the way he’s smiling.
“Perfect, just like you.”
I can feel my face heat but I don’t really mind. Cade seems to love my blush and that helps me love it as well. He kisses my cheek before pulling away, just in time for the elevator to come to a stop. A moment later, the doors open and we step out onto the top floor.
I stare around the restaurant with wonder. The pictures online were incredible but It’s even more astonishing in person. Cade booked us for the perfect time, it’s less than an hour from sunset and we’ll be getting the most stunning view of it from up here.
“Welcome in,” the hostess greets us. “Can I get a name please?”
Cade gives her the details and she takes us to our table. We sit down with our menus and instead of opening it up and taking a look, I stare out the window. Looking down, my stomach swoops. We are so far up that it’s dizzying.
“Wow,” Cade says, pulling my attention from the window. “I’m so glad you wanted to come here. This is absolutely amazing, Spencer.”
“I’m really happy we’re experiencing it together. This is beautiful and I would have enjoyed myself alone, but the fact that we’re doing it together makes it even more special.”
“I know exactly what you mean. This vacation has completely changed my life.”
Cade reaches across the table, taking my hand. Emotions slam into me full force and I feel tears well up in my eyes. I blink them away as best as I can.
“Hey, what’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours?”
I shake my head, letting out a wet laugh. “I’m just really happy.”
Cade gives me a soft smile. I get control of my emotions just in time for the waiter to come to our table. We both order a soda to drink and an appetizer to share, cheesy artichoke dip with homemade toasted bread. Once we get our drinks, we order our meals right away. Cade is getting salmon with roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts while I’ve decided on getting a spicy pasta and shrimp dish.
“Can I ask you something that might be a tad on the serious side?”
Cade’s fingers continue to rub my palm, a soothing gesture for the both of us. His eyes are soft but the lines of his face are serious.
“Of course,” I say, ignoring the way my heart is speeding up inside my chest.
“Where do you see this going? Or rather, where do you hope this thing between us is going?”
I swallow thickly, looking out the window at the stretching landscape below. If I squint, I swear I can even see itty bitty people walking across the street but we’re so far up it’s hard to tell.
“I don’t want to say anything that’ll freak you out,” I say slowly. Cade squeezes my hand, giving me the confidence to keep going. “Is it wrong if I said I want to mate you?”
Cade shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s wrong at all. It’s exactly what I was hoping to hear.”
“Really?”
Cade smiles. “I find it really endearing that you always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Ask ‘really’ whenever I say something about you, like it’s hard for you to wrap your head around the fact that I feel the same way about you that you feel for me.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “How dare you perceive me like this, Cade. What the fuck.”
We both chuckle softly, a genuine understanding passing between us. I feel like my brain is melting with how happy I feel. Cade feels the same way about me. He cares about me. He wants to mate with me despite the fact that we’ve only met a week ago.
Is it possible to fall in love so quickly?
“I’m sorry,” he says before stopping. “Wait, I’m not sorry, not really. I’m perceptive because I want to perceive you. I wanna know everything there is to know about you. I want to spend mornings wrapped together in bed with you purring against my chest. I want to learn how you take your coffee so I can always have a mug ready for you before you have to go to work. I want domestic evenings and anniversary dinners and little kittens or little calves running around underfoot. I want the whole nine yards and I want it all with you.”
Is it suddenly hot in here? I pull at the front of my shirt, suddenly breathless.
Oh. My. Gods.
This time, the tears slowly fall down my cheeks. I’m unable to keep them in check, too overwhelmed by Cade’s words. They’re everything I’ve wanted to hear, yet so much better now that they’re real.
“I feel the same way, Cade. I want all of that and more. Is that crazy? Are we being foolish with how quickly this is all happening?”
Cade shrugs. “Maybe a little but I don’t care. It’s how I feel and I’m too old to pretend otherwise. Why hold ourselves back when we both feel the same way?”
The only reason we pull our hands away from each other is because our waiter is here with our cheesy artichoke dip. The type of cheese this restaurant uses complements the artichoke and spices just right and the toasted bread adds the perfect crunch. The food is downright divine, made only better because we’re sharing it with each other.
By the time our main courses arrive, the sun is setting. The sky is a shimmering mix of purples and pinks and blues. It’s the most stunning sight I’ve ever seen.
Cade scoots his chair beside mine and pulls out his phone. We take a selfie together with the setting sun behind us. I watch with warmth in my stomach as he immediately changes the background of his phone to that picture.
I’ll be the first to admit that everything is happening quickly, but Cade is right. We know what we feel, so why push those feelings away? Why pretend it’s not there and real and genuine? Why not just embrace them?
We each take a few bites from the other’s plate, wanting to experience everything our dinner has to offer. By the time all of our food is eaten, the sky is dark and a few stars are starting to twinkle overhead.
I’m not sure tonight could have been any more perfect.
“Can I interest the two of you in some dessert tonight?”
I put a hand on my stomach and look over at Cade. “I’m pretty full but I really want some tiramisu,” I confess softly.
Cade looks up at our waiter with a grin. “One tiramisu with two spoons, please.”
“Great choice. We make it fresh every night so you’re in for a treat. Would you like a cup of coffee to go with it?”
“That would be perfect,” Cade says with a nod.
Once the waiter is gone, I whisper, “if we both have a cup of coffee this late, we’ll be up all night.”
Cade smirks. “Tiramisu isn’t the only thing I plan on having for dessert.”
All of the blood in my body rushes in opposite directions, half of it going to my cheeks and the rest going to my cock. Cade’s warm chuckle only serves to ramp my arousal even higher. I hate how effortlessly sexy this man is, but at the same time, I love it so much.
“If that’s something you’re interested in, of course.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Of course I’m interested. If you hadn’t mentioned it I would have. Except I would have waited until we were in a place where people wouldn’t be able to see my tented pants!”
“Gods, you’re adorable,” Cade says with a grin. “And for some reason that I cannot comprehend, you’re all mine.”
My stomach swoops violently at the soft confession. “It’s true,” I tell him. “I’m yours.”