Chapter 15
Chapter
Fifteen
Leon
Holy shit, I was going on a date. It seemed so surreal. The fact that Aries asked me out first should probably bother me, but I loved it. She was an omega who knew what she wanted, and the fact she wanted me felt incredible.
She was so strong, and what she built here was amazing.
The fact that I was even on her radar was crazy.
I’d had someone cover my shift for my lunch break and ran over to the only shop in town.
When I first got here, they’d helped me set up an account, and I’d gotten paid already.
I took that money and got myself a new outfit.
I’d even stopped by the barber and had them tame my hair.
It was still long, but a bit more put-together.
When I looked in the mirror in my dark slacks and navy blue button-up shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to show my forearms, I felt confident and powerful. Two things I hadn’t felt in way too long.
She hadn’t told me what to expect, so I went into this with no prior reservations.
Now that time was ticking down, nerves were starting to hit me. My palms were sweaty, and I was pacing the front entrance.
Of course, Cassie was loving it. Brat.
“Aw, look at my little Leon all grown up,” she sang out from behind the desk.
I flipped her my middle finger and continued to pace.
When Aries’s car pulled up out front, I shot Cassie a look before rushing out.
“Have fun and behave,” she called out after me, cackling like the witch she was.
I was already opening Aries’s passenger door before she could get out. She gave me an exasperated look.
“I would’ve come inside and got you. You didn’t have to wait out here.”
“Cassie was making fun of me in there,” I admitted with a self-deprecating laugh. “I might be a little nervous for this date.”
She let out a breath. “Thank god it’s not just me. I’m freaking out over here.”
That made me feel a lot better.
“How about we just go into this having fun? We’ve spent weeks together now. We’ve got this.”
“Deal,” she said, her smile widening. She took my breath away.
Aries was gorgeous tonight. She’d applied some light makeup, and I think it was the first time I’d ever seen makeup on her. It wasn’t the over-the-top kind, but the kind that accentuated her features. The red lips were the only bold part of it and it made her that much more stunning.
“You look incredible,” I said.
“So do you.” She smiled shyly. “I like the new haircut. It suits you. I’m glad you didn’t cut it short.”
She reached over and ran her hands through the soft strands with a soft sigh.
“I’ve been dying to do that.”
Her eyes locked onto mine, and they held me there. I was drowning. They were so full of nervous excitement and hope, and I felt it echoing in my chest. Her scent perfumed in the air, filling the SUV with her sweet and tart scent.
Her eyes widened as a blush crept up her cheeks, so I didn’t comment on it.
“Where are we going?”
“We have two options,” she said, diving right into the distraction. “There’s a drive-in movie tonight. They’re hosting it in one of the parking lots. Or, we can go bowling.”
“Oh wow, I haven’t been bowling since I was in high school,” I said, perking up at the idea.
“Bowling it is. I’ve only been one time, but the place in town is adorable.”
She shifted the car into drive, and we navigated through Widow’s Peak.
The building she parked at didn’t look like much. It was a black brick building with a neon sign. The parking lot was quiet. Only a couple of cars filled the spaces, but not too many. It was still early in the night and there was an event across town.
When I pulled open the front door for her we were hit with an explosion of noise. Bowling balls striking the pins, music loud enough to be heard over it. Then the scent of fried food filled the air. This place was perfect.
They had the ’90s-style carpet that hit me with nostalgia, but everything else looked new and sleek.
“I asked you here, which means I’m paying,” Aries said, narrowing her eyes at me as if daring me to challenge her.
I held up my hands and grinned. “That’s fine. I’ll take you out next time.”
Her smile softened. “Next time, huh?”
“Oh yeah. This is just the first of many,” I said confidently.
My hand brushed her lower back as we approached the counter. We got our shoes and paid, barely keeping our eyes off of each other. There was a magnetism to this omega that I couldn’t resist.
“Good thing I didn’t wear a dress,” Aries said as she slid on her shoes. “Otherwise I’d be looking pretty crazy with these.”
“I think you’d make anything look good,” I said, laying it on thick just to see her give me that exasperated smile again. Her scent warmed right along with it.
Aries’s blue-gray eyes studied me. I loved that she didn’t dress up over the top and stayed true to who she was. I was already so gone for this girl.
Her eyes were bright as she told me about her day. I’d heard talk about all the founding omegas but she made them seem so down to earth.
Tonight the sadness that seemed to linger in her had lifted a bit. Pride swelled in my chest that I could be that for her. Because she sure as hell did the same for me.
Aries entered our names into the machine while I ran to grab us some drinks, though she insisted on giving me money since this was her date.
“So, I know the tough things you’ve been through, but I want to know everything else now. The little things,” I said as I adjusted my pants over the shoes and stood.
“What, like my favorite food?” she questioned, glancing up from the lane kiosk where she was typing in our information. I loved that she wasn’t dismissive, simply trying to figure out exactly what I meant.
“Sure,” I said eagerly. “Favorite food, favorite color, how you like to take your coffee. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?”
Aries didn’t answer right away as she eyed the bowling balls stored at the edge of our spot.
“Well,” she started. “My favorite color is red. My coffee order is simple, a little sweet and add a healthy dash of creamer and I’m happy.
Mornings were a bit different when I lived alone.
I usually just got ready and went right to work.
Even I could admit that I buried myself in that gym.
I made sure it was successful, but I didn’t have much else.
All the widows, we have our own lives on top of the duty we have to run this town.
Briar and I are probably the closest, but I’ve never had someone to sit on my porch with me and enjoy a morning cup of coffee. ”
“Is that something you’d like?” I asked gently.
“I think it is,” she admitted, that blush coloring her cheeks again.
“I don’t think I’ve let my omega be an omega in a long time.
It was used against me, and I had it beat into me that all omegas were bad.
I don’t think there’s ever been a time in my life where I’ve just given over to her or let my instincts win. ”
“What about a nest?” I asked, my heart aching for this omega that was so strong and had endured so much that she lost a major part of herself. There was also a bit of hope that maybe I could help her find that.
“I have an empty one,” she said, not looking at me now. “As for heats, I requested that the doctors suppress me through them for a while. I haven’t been brave enough to have one.”
“Nests aren’t necessarily just for heat,” I said carefully. “We could take a day trip sometime, go to a nesting store.”
“Maybe,” she said, not dismissing it, but not necessarily agreeing, either. I wasn’t about to push. Only she knew what she needed.
“No pressure. I’m here either way,” I said easily.
Her smile was back, just as bright as it was before. “Thanks, Leon.”
We didn’t talk for a moment as we picked out our bowling balls. She found a bright red one. Her beaming smile was back.
I found a black one that fit my hand perfectly.
Which meant the game finally began.
“Just wait. You’re about to be blown away by my bowling skills,” I said. “I am a professional.”
She let out an adorable laugh, but when I didn’t laugh this time, her eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? You can’t be serious?”
“Well, maybe not professional, but I got extra credit in high school for being on the bowling team.”
“You’re about to show me up,” she groaned, shaking her head. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
It was my turn to blush. We were a mess.
“It’s been a long time. I’m sure I’m rusty,” I defended.
It was evident that I did have an advantage over her after the first few rounds. Aries’s first three ended up being gutter balls, while mine was a spare and two strikes.
“Beginner’s luck?” I asked, smirking at her shocked face.
She shook her head and let out another laugh. “You’re trouble, aren’t you, Leon?”
“Never,” I said, even though she didn’t buy it for a second.
“Okay, come show me what I’m doing wrong,” she demanded.
I wasn’t going to turn down a chance to get closer to Aries. I moved in behind her, one hand on her hip, my body pressing to hers.
I slid my arm across her shoulder and down her arm so my hand was holding onto her wrist. I guided her arm back, walking her through how to approach the lane and when to let go, positioning her arm and guiding her.
With her this close, my body immediately reacted to my omega, my cock hard and pressing into her ass. I tried to put distance between us, but she shoved herself back, both of us letting out a sharp intake of breath.
We both wanted this.
Somehow, we kept up the act, letting go of the ball. It slid down the lane, aiming toward the middle of the pins this time. Before I knew it, they hit with a crack, knocking them all over at once.
Aries let out a loud whoop before turning around and jumping into my arms. I caught her easily, holding my omega close and breathing her in. Right now her scent was bubbly and sweet.
My cock was even harder, but I ignored it, trying to shift her above it. Aries’s wicked grin told me she felt it anyway.
“You know, I thought I was going to be scared of this part, but I don’t think I am.”
Then she leaned down, capturing my lips with hers.
Right there in the middle of the bowling alley, we kissed like we were desperate for each other. My entire body was coming to life as I held her close, soaking in this moment.
That right there made everything I’d endured worth it, because it led me there, to her.
Finally, she hopped down, breaking the kiss. Her lips were red and swollen, but her eyes were sparkling.
“And now I really am gonna kick your ass,” she said. “It’s got to be hard to play with a boner.”
My jaw dropped, and I barked out a laugh, shaking my head as I took my turn. She was right. I completely fucked it up, the ball hitting the gutter halfway down the lane. I groaned, but she just cackled behind me.
“Alright, omega, you’re up. Let’s see how you do. You can’t tell me you’re not just as worked up as I am.”
“I have immaculate control, thank you,” she said, giving me a mock glare before taking her turn.
She widened her legs and approached, lifting the ball exactly how I showed her and letting it go right when I said.
The bright red ball trailed down the lane before knocking into the pins, sweeping them all down like a pro. Another strike.
“I’ve created a monster,” I said dramatically.
When it was my turn again, I took a breath and focused, letting the ball sail down the lane until I also took down all the pins except for two. It was a lot better than my last round.
As the night wore on, the music got louder, drinks were flowing, and we even ordered dinner right to our lane. We snacked and chatted and smack-talked until the score was neck and neck.
“Last one, beta. Think you can keep up?” she teased.
I gave her a look before taking my turn. Just as I was getting ready to walk away, she smacked my ass, making me fumble the ball, hitting the gutter.
“You are a cheat,” I accused, shaking my head, but the smile was wide on my face. Even losing this was the most fun I’d had in my entire life.
“I’m innocent,” Aries said, biting her lip and blinking her eyes.
“Lies,” I accused, crossing my arms and waiting for my ball to come back before I tossed it again. This time she didn’t do anything, but I was so tense that I messed it up myself.
She passed by me, a smirk on her pretty lips. My omega picked up her red ball and went to aim it, but I couldn’t let her earlier distraction slide.
Instead of teasing her, I walked into the empty lane next to us, standing at the end and watching her with the best smoldering look I could manage.
She swallowed hard, looking more startled by that than anything else. Aries tried her damnedest but fucked up the same I did.
“Tied,” she pouted, but there wasn’t any heat behind it.
“Good thing we didn’t bet on it,” I said.
“I considered it.”
“Oh? And what would you have bet?”
Her eyes heated, and I knew what she was feeling, but instead of answering, she snagged the last mozzarella stick.
“For this, but I’m taking it anyway.” She popped it into her mouth and chewed happily.
It was an attempt to lower the heat burning between us, and that was fine
I would wait for Aries until she was ready. All this flirting was only going to make it that much sweeter when I finally got to taste her.