Chapter 24 #2
Steel-blue eyes never leave mine as he leans in.
The first press of his lips is faint, a teasing swipe that threatens my control.
Another insistent kiss follows the first, pulling a groan from my throat as I feel the tip of his tongue glide along the seam of my mouth.
One of his hands slides into my hair, tugging at the roots as he angles my head to deepen our kiss.
When his tongue thrusts against mine, I shudder, so close to coming that it’s embarrassing.
I whine when he steps away, mouth chasing his. “Let’s get our Omega some food. Can’t have you blowing a load in your pants before you take her to meet Mr. Phillip.”
“Right. Totally.”
His deep chuckle does not help the boner tenting my shorts. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I slap the car and walk around the front, away from his tempting, delicious body.
“Meeting us there, or do you want to ride with?”
“I’ll meet you there. Be careful.”
Bobbing my head, I duck into the driver’s seat and squeeze the steering wheel tight. “What the fuck was that?” I whisper, startling when Skye’s tinkling laughter sounds beside me. She pats my arm and points toward the engine. Shit, she’s probably getting cold.
Turning the key, I let it rumble to life and crank the heat, mind still reeling. Caleb kissed me. He wanted to kiss me. Asked to. Does he… like me?
Are my feelings not one sided?
I’ll be honest, for all my bravado, I didn’t expect things to actually go anywhere with him. I mean, sure, he looked like he wanted to kiss me the other day, but that was an instinct driven by an impending rut, not actual desire. At least I thought it was.
Man, I’m confused.
“Let’s go, baby. I’m sure Caleb will explain soon enough.”
Shifting the car into gear, I pull out of the lot and head to the restaurant. When we get there, Caleb is leaning against the front of his car, one leg crossed over the other and his arms stretched behind him.
Talk about drool-worthy, that Alpha is a treat.
One I want to lick.
Yeah, there’s no way I’m walking in there without a hard-on. Hopefully Mia and Mr. Phillip are too distracted by my Omega to notice my situation.
“Basil & Birch?” Skye questions, amusement brightening her jade-green eyes as they dart to Caleb. “Cute.”
Opening the door, I place my hand on the small of her back and guide her inside.
A few tables are filled this time, meaning we have eyes on us as soon as we walk in.
She relaxes when no one seems to recognize her.
Since it’s mostly older couples, that makes sense.
If we went to one of the trendy, popular spots in town, this would have gone differently.
Mia appears from the back, smiling when she sees me. “Ah, welcome back. Wait, is this?” Her eyes dart to Skye, brows rising.
“Mia, meet my Omega, Skye. Dandelion, this is Mia. Her father owns the place.”
“Oh, gosh, it’s so nice to meet you. Your mate has been in here nearly every week talking about you.
If it weren’t for the bond marks on his throat, I’d have thought you were imaginary.
My father is going to be over the moon. Take a seat wherever you like.
I’ll let him know you’re here.” Mia darts back into the kitchen, her voice carrying as she excitedly calls out to her dad.
Skye’s brow pinches as I walk us to the same table Caleb and I used last time we were here.
“No worries, bunny,” Caleb soothes, pulling out a chair for her.
“They don’t know who you are. Mr. Phillip’s family has superstitions around Omegas bringing good luck.
He believes you eating here will help his business. ”
“Oh, that’s kind of sweet. I like that a lot. If only everyone viewed the designations that way.”
Her scent mellows out, losing the slightly sour edge from her anxiety. I pull my chair closer, pressing myself on one side of her while Caleb does the same, sandwiching her between us.
Maybe later I can convince them to let us create a Skye sandwich with a lot fewer clothes on.
A shocked gasp pulls our attention to the kitchen window, where Mr. Phillip peeks around the edge, his salt-and-pepper hair short and messy this late in the afternoon.
“Finally. You’re bringing me good luck.” His grin is contagious, as is the warmth in his eyes.
“So nice to meet you, Omega. I’ll make you something special. Good for your body.”
He disappears without my mate’s input, earning an eyeroll from Mia when she reappears a moment later. “I apologize for my father. His excitement is blocking his practical sense. If you want to pick something, I can stop him.”
Skye shakes her head, eyes roaming the menu. “I’m not a picky eater. Based on how it smells, I’m sure I’ll love whatever he makes.”
“No allergies?” Mia confirms, quickly taking Caleb’s and my order before she goes to grab drinks. And probably scold her dad.
Not that we are offended. We’re used to having people fawn over us, so it’s nice to experience that for such a sweet reason as appreciating Skye’s designation instead of wanting something from her because of her fame.
Mr. Phillip himself brings out her food, watching impatiently as she takes her first bite and groans, offering him a thumbs up in approval. I swear the man melts into a giddy puddle and glides back to his kitchen.
Huffing, Mia sets the rest of our order on the table before rushing off to her next customer.
“This is so good,” Skye comments between bites. Her pasta dish is heavy with veggies and meat, along with a tangy sauce that makes my mouth water. I’m tempted to steal a bite, but I don’t want to get banned from what has quickly become my favorite restaurant near the gym.
“We should find more places like this. Ones with beliefs rooted in an acceptance of the designations. We can do it when we go back on tour. Make social media posts about them.”
Skye eyes the restaurant thoughtfully. I love her idea, but I’m nervous that announcing that we’re here will lead to encounters with fans who don’t respect her boundaries. I don’t want to ruin this place for her.
“On the road, that’s a great idea,” Caleb comments, “but posting something from here could lead to us not being able to visit anymore. We don’t want to risk anyone realizing we live nearby.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Skye’s shoulders fall, so I bump mine into hers.
“Don’t worry, dandelion, I come here every weekend, so they’re still making bank off of us.”
She brightens as she digs back into her food. Bringing her here was the right call. Mr. Phillip’s reverence for Omegas has provided her a new way to look at her designation. One that will hopefully dispel some of her lingering self-doubt.