Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
STONE
The plastic cups crinkle in my tight grip as I set them in the picnic basket. For a moment I fear I may have cracked them, and I wince, but shake it off. I’ve spent the majority of my morning hyper fixating on the lunch I’ve been packing, scared that something in it would alter Flynn’s opinion of me. Stupid, I know, but still, I spent far too much time worrying about it.
I wipe my sweaty palms on the dish towel. I’m usually pretty confident, but today my nerves are all over the place. “It’s just a date,” I mumble, trying to calm myself down.
But saying it doesn’t make it true.
This doesn’t feel like just a date. Not even close. Being alone with Flynn like this—it could change everything. He might realize he doesn’t want me after all, even if we’re Kismet bonded.
I keep telling myself to chill out, that this is just a casual afternoon. Just time to talk, get to know each other without all the outside pressure. But deep down, I know better.
It feels like way more than that. And I hate how scared I am of screwing it up.
I don’t turn around when I sense him enter the room—I don’t have to. Flynn’s scent is a beacon, always calling to me, a heady mix of blood orange wine. But there’s a slight shift in it now, something nervous, making it smell more tart, almost bitter.
“Is this okay?” His voice is soft, uncertain.
I finally look at him, my breath hitching as I take in the sight. He’s wearing a fitted t-shirt that clings to his lean frame and a pair of swim trunks that showcase his toned legs. My gaze flickers up to the backpack slung over his shoulder, and I smile. He’s gazing down at himself, biting on his lip. Fuck, just that single action has me craving him, wishing I was his tooth, his lip, the object he’s fixating on.
“It’s perfect,” I tell him, meaning every word—uncaring that he can undoubtedly smell just how perfect I think his body is.
He shifts on his feet, his fingers gripping the strap of his bag like a lifeline. “Are you ready to go?” I can hear the crack in his voice, his anxiousness about this date just as intense as mine.
“I have our lunch packed.” I lift the basket slightly, showing it off, before stepping closer to him.
“Still not telling me where we’re going?” he asks nervously, his eyes lowered so he’s not looking right at me. Almost like he’s afraid to look me in the eye, or is he submitting? Maybe? While I want nothing more than to have Flynn submitting to me, I don’t want it to be from fear, or out of distress.
“Nope. It’s a surprise, Sweet Boy.”
The effect of my words is immediate. His scent turns sweeter, deepening with something warm and refreshing. Something that makes my cock stir. I grit my teeth, forcing my body to behave. Not now. Not yet. Flynn needs to know he’s safe with me, even when we’re alone, even when my instincts scream at me to claim what’s already mine. To mark him for the world to see that he belongs to me.
I step closer, letting his scent wash over me, calming the raw need simmering beneath my skin. I reach out, letting my fingertips skirt against his skin. He stiffens slightly, but he doesn’t move away. I press my luck more. When I grasp his hand in mine, he doesn’t pull away, and the simple act of his fingers resting against mine sends a rush of heat through my veins. I stroke the pad of my thumb over the back of his hand, watching his lips part slightly, his breath catching, his perfume leaking into the room. My nostrils flare, but I remain calm, keeping control of my demanding need to take him.
Before we can make it to the door, Levi and Sasha step into the room, their presence a reminder that we’re not completely alone just yet. Levi has his arm draped over Sasha’s shoulder, holding her against him like he never wants to let her go. I understand the feeling all too well. I yearn for the day that I can hold not only Flynn that way, but her as well.
“You two kids have fun today.” Levi smirks at me, his knowing gaze flickering between Flynn and me.
Sasha pulls away from Levi and steps up to Flynn, cupping his face as she presses a kiss to his lips. It’s not just a peck, not just a casual goodbye. It’s deep, lingering, a silent promise between them that has Flynn sinking into it. And fuck, it works me up more than I want to admit.
Levi and I groan almost in unison, and Sasha pulls back with a smirk, whispering huskily to Flynn, “I’ll see you when you get back.”
Flynn sways slightly, dazed from the kiss, and I tighten my grip on his hand before clearing my throat. “Time to go.”
As I lead him toward the door, Sasha’s smirk deepens, her eyes glinting with mischief. I see now why Levi calls her a brat—she knew exactly what she was doing. And damn it, it worked.
But right now, my focus is on the omega at my side, the one whose heart I need to win, the one I need to show that no matter what happens today, no matter how slow or fast we go, I’m his.
And I’m not going anywhere. No matter what. Even if he doesn’t want to bond with me. I’ll never stop protecting him, taking care of him.
* * *
The field stretches out before us, a gentle breeze wrapping around us. The once worn path from my childhood, now overgrown. Yet I know the way to the lake like the back of my hand. It’s peaceful, serene even, while we make our way to where I have our date planned, until Flynn’s quiet snicker breaks the silence.
“If I didn’t trust you, I’d think you were bringing me out here to murder me,” he teases, glancing over at me with amusement dancing in his eyes. “It’s like something straight out of a horror movie. The one where the killer lures the helpless heroine into the woods.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “I promise, Sweet Boy, no murder today. Just a swim and some good food. A chance for us to get to know each other better.”
Flynn smirks, but there’s a flicker of warmth in his gaze. He trusts me, and that means more than I can express.
We step through the woods into a clearing and Flynn catches a glimpse of the lake and a gasp falls from his lips. “It’s beautiful,” he whispers. “How did you ever find this place?”
I don’t answer. I can’t. Not yet. It’s as if I have a frog caught in my throat.
As if Flynn can sense my hesitance, he begins to walk toward the lake, but not before taking hold of my hand and pulling me along with him.
When we reach the water’s edge, I set the picnic basket down and turn to him. He watches the lake, a hint of hesitation in his stance. The surface of the water is smooth, not even a ripple or a sign of a fish taking a peep at who’s just interrupted their peace. I peel off my shirt and toss it aside, slip off my shoes and step into the cool water first. Flynn follows, taking off his shirt and shoes and moves toward the lake. His movements are slower, his arms wrapping around himself as he adjusts to the temperature.
“Not too cold, is it?” I ask him, watching his movements carefully. Something’s bothering him. But I don’t know what it is.
“It’s not bad.” He wades in further, stopping when the water reaches his waist. “I should probably tell you… I’m not the best swimmer.”
And there it is.
Something in the way he says it makes my chest tighten. I step closer, the water lapping around our legs. “Do you trust me?”
Flynn looks up at me, his lower lip caught between his teeth before he nods. “Yeah.”
“Good. Then let me teach you.” There’s no way I can let my omega not know how to swim, or feel confident in his ability. What if we get a pool and he decides to take a swim when we’re not home? Not being a strong swimmer or having a lack of confidence in himself could lead him to drown. In one quick second, we could lose him. I can’t live with that.
I take hold of his hands and guide him gently deeper into the lake. When we get to where he can barely touch the bottom with his feet, I move my hands to his waist.
“Trust me?” I ask again.
He nods. “I do.”
“Then let me take over, lie back into the water and relax.” He does as I say, and I keep my hands underneath him as I help him float. His body is tense at first.
“You’re doing great, Sweet Boy. I have you,” I murmur encouragement, and he slowly relaxes. His skin is warm beneath my fingertips, and the feel of him so close is both comforting and torturous, evident by my ever growing hard shaft.
“Kick your legs,” I instruct, steadying him as he tries, his movements awkward and unsure at first until he finds a rhythm. “Just like that. You’re doing great.”
He lets out a snorting laugh before he composes himself, gazing into my eyes. “You’re a good teacher.” Then he bites on that fucking plump ass lower lip again. I can’t help but groan. A small whimper escapes his mouth and we both take a deep breath. His perfume wraps around me, enticing me with a foreshadowing of our future.
I smirk. “Or you’re a fast learner.”
He smiles and we continue on with the lesson. Eventually, he’s able to swim deeper into the water with more confidence, but still not to the level of skill that I’d want him swimming alone.
We stay in the water until the sun starts to dip lower, and when we finally step out onto the grass, we’re both breathless, water droplets trailing down our skin. My eyes take in Flynn’s form, the way his wet shorts cling to his ass and I purr. He’s mine. I just have to convince him. I bend down, taking out the blanket from the picnic basket and spread it on the ground. Flynn’s already pulling a towel out of his bag, drying off before wrapping it around his waist. I pull my gaze back to the basket and carefully take out the sandwiches, handing one to Flynn as we settle onto the blanket.
As we eat, I glance at the lake, memories pulling at the edges of my mind. “I used to come here with my sister,” I say, my voice quieter now. “This was our place. Brenda’s and mine. We’d spend hours swimming, playing in the water. She loved it here.”
I can see Flynn watching me out of the corner of my eye. He's chewing slowly, waiting for me to continue. Not pushing me to tell him more, allowing me to do it at my own pace.
“I wasn’t able to protect her,” I confess, the words tasting bitter. “Tom… I should have kept her safe from him. I should have done more. But I failed her.”
The regret of not saving her lives inside of me, clawing away, weighing down my soul. It’s a pain I’ll carry for the rest of my life, a wound that will never truly heal. And with Flynn… that fear is even stronger. What if I fail him too? What if one day I can’t keep him safe?
Flynn must sense that I’m spiraling into my emotions and he doesn’t let me. Instead, he reaches for me, his hands firm, yet soft, as they cup my face, forcing me to look at him. His eyes burn with something fierce, something unshakable.
“You did save someone.” His voice is soft as I look at him in confusion. “You saved me, Stone. I’m here, not just because of Sasha and Levi, but because of you, too. You saved me when I needed you. Because of you, my sister is safe. Brenda would be proud of you. She is proud. She doesn’t see her death as a failure, but a success. Because of your need to find her, to vindicate her, you saved so many more. Including me.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. He doesn’t just say them—he means them. And for the first time in a long time, I feel something loosen in my chest; the weight of Brenda’s death isn’t gone, but it is lighter somehow.
I nod, swallowing against the lump in my throat. “Yeah. You’re right.”
Flynn smiles, and it’s like the sun breaking through a storm. I know without a doubt that I will do everything in my power to keep him safe. No matter what it takes.