CHAPTER 10
“Sugar...Oh Honey Honey.”
Henry
I’m not sure what I’m more excited about, my mate sitting in front of me, within touching distance.
Enjoying my land and looking like a damn snack or the actual buffet he meticulously lays out in front of me.
He has a flush to his cheeks that I hope is from anticipation of another kiss and not my approval of his spread.
Doesn’t he realise how talented he is? I’ve only sampled a few of his treats at the cafe and they were exceptional.
I have no doubt everything here will be just as good if not better.
“We have honey bread, which I heard you were asking about, mini honey-butter rolls and honey-glazed croissants.” He places everything on the blanket between us, focusing on his task like the position of the container on the blanket will make a difference to how it tastes.
“I wasn’t sure what else you like, so I chopped up some fresh fruits, cheese, and meats. ”
Leaning forward I run my finger and thumb down his cheek before I lift his chin to meet my eyes. “Thank you, my sweet omega. You didn’t have to do all of this for me, I would have been happy with a honey sandwich, but I appreciate it more than you know.”
Warmth radiates from his smile, his scent growing stronger, both from contentment and arousal, even though I wouldn’t class this moment as overly sexual.
Maybe my mate has a praise kink. I can definitely work with that.
I mean, there is always the possibility that his heat is coming.
I’ve heard that finding your mate can be so intense that it triggers an omega’s heat cycle.
More so if the omega is untouched. Fuck, the notion that I will be the first to pleasure my omega has another unfiltered growl rumbling up my throat that I have to cough to try and tamp down.
I don’t think I’ve quite gotten away with it if Everett's smile is anything to go by. “Food is my love language. I enjoy baking and creating dishes, but I also love to see how happy my food makes other people. Especially my alpha. So, please dig in.”
Leaning above the spread food he kisses me softly. I have to reach deep inside myself for restraint. I’m hard as a rock and he’s not helping the case being so damn adorable.
“What should I start with? Tell me which was your favorite to make.” I ask and look at each item in turn.
Everything looks incredible, just like they do on display in the cafe.
His passion for his craft is obvious in the meticulous details on each individual butter roll.
I have no doubt the croissants will be the best I've ever eaten.
Not to mention the honey bread that has haunted my every waking moment recently, which, apparently, he knows about.
“I can see you want to try the bread, let's start with that. It should go well with any of the cheeses. I also made some fresh lemonade. It should still be cold.” He smiles, a pink flush rosying up his cheeks and neck again. As endearing as it is, I hope one day he won’t feel that hint of embarrassment with me.
I love that he prepared all of this, it shows me what a caring omega he is.
Shifting into a better position, I take the slice of brown goodness into one hand, the bread still slightly warm and wonderfully moist. Selecting a chunk of cheese, I have no idea which kind, and add it on top.
I meant to take a bite, but the way Everett is watching me, eyes glued to my mouth, I end up shoving the whole lot in.
That was a bad idea, instead of enjoying the burst of flavor on my tongue, I inhale it right into my lungs and immediately choke.
I can feel my eyes bulging as I try and fail to draw a breath.
Punching myself in the chest in an attempt to dislodge the obstruction without alerting Everett to the fact that I’m fighting for my life right now.
Why am I such a fuck up? I’ve been eating and breathing just fine for thirty-five years, yet I choose this moment to forget how to chew.
“Oh my god, Oh my god, oh my god!” Everett's panicked words aren’t helping.
I want to assure him I’ll be okay, but a lack of oxygen to my brain is making my responses slower than I’d like.
“Shit. Think Everett, you know what to do in these situations. You’re CPR certified for goodness sake!
” He’s up and rushing around behind me, small hands with unexpected strength forcing my body upright into a sitting position.
There’s a moment of silence, and I can feel him attempting to wrap his arms around my abdomen, but his hands fail to meet in the middle.
I wish I could see him one last time, kiss those pouty lips before I suffocate from my own stupidity, but my vision is blurry and there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Okay, Henry, I need you to shift.”
Shift? He knows I’m dying right? Does he want to see my bear before I leave this earth? Maybe if I’m a dead bear and not a dead human, it would be easier to explain to the authorities.
“Shift, baby, your bear will take care of this. Shift!”
His words are like a command and my beast takes over immediately. Everett moves quickly out of the way just in time for me to land on all fours in front of him.
I cough once, twice, and finally get rid of the murderous cheese. Taking a deep lungful of air, then another, I chuff at how stupid I was not to think to shift in the first place. My mate must think I’m missing a couple of marbles up there.
“Hey, big boy.” He comes closer, reaching out his hand, which I lick affectionately, before nudging it with my big head hoping for scritches. “That was scary, wasn’t it?”
I huff and whine as I nod. We haven’t mated yet, so we don’t share a connection which would allow us to communicate while shifted, so this will have to do for now. His soft smile lets me know he understands just fine.
“Well, I was scared for a moment. I panicked and forgot all about first aid protocols we learned about choking. I was about to perform the Heimlich maneuver, but then I remembered you’re a badass shifter.
” He chuckles, and my bear stands a little taller at being called badass.
His expression turns from worried to playful, and I kinda want him to just climb on my back so I can take him for a run through the forest.
“Soooo, what do you say about that name, huh?” He takes a step back, assessing me, the food scattered across the picnic blanket, long forgotten.
“I don’t want to call you Bear. You are one, obviously, but I want something more personal, something just for us.
” He slowly moves around my body, keeping one hand on my flank, humming as he contemplates.
The way his fingers sink into the rough hair of my fur to reach the soft skin below sends shivers down my spine.
It’s an innocent touch, an unconscious caress.
“We need a name that reflects your fierceness, but also your gentle nature. It needs to flow with Henry, which is a name I love by the way, very regal. Not that your name would have been a deal breaker or anything. I just mean it’s a particularly good name.
I look forward to meeting your family, thanking your parents for raising you right and blessing you with a strong name.
Shit, I’m rambling. Hmmm. What about…” he snaps his fingers.
“What about Barnabus?” I snarl at that suggestion.
“Okay, not Barnabus, you’re right, that's kind of pompous. I’m glad we are on the same page. ”
Everett's ridiculous musings only make him that much more attractive. He talks to my bear, having a full conversation with him. Instead of simply choosing a name he or I like, he includes my animal in the decision. I have a feeling it would always have gone this way. He isn’t using some faux naming ceremony to distract from the life or death situation I just survived.
Regardless of circumstance, he would have insisted that my bear have a voice, so to speak, in the final result.
Yet another testament to Everett's character.
Man, this guy has no idea how special he is.
“How about Barney then? Did you watch that as a child? I always wanted to be on that show. I mean, it was already canceled by the time I was old enough to watch it, but my dad would put it on and my siblings and I would sing as loud as we could.” He looks at me with such hope in his eyes, even my bear couldn’t deny him this.
Chuffing his agreement, my bear nudges Everett's chest with his muzzle to stop his circling and redirect his attention.
It works, he stops in front of me, taking my face in both hands before moving them to lightly stroke my ears.
This close and without the threat of death looming over us, I realize how tiny my omega is.
Shifters are naturally larger than their regular animal counterparts, and being an alpha gives me some added weight and height.
Even still, standing on four paws, I didn’t expect to be face to face, maybe even a hair taller.
“You are such a handsome boy Barney, I love these little ears. And look at how big you are, I bet you could eat me right up,” he coos at me.
Fucking coos. At a giant grizzly bear. With a look of utter devotion in his eyes.
My bear fucking melts at the attention. Practically shaking his back leg like a dog getting scratched in that sweet spot.
Oh well, not like I haven't already embarrassed myself today, may as well top the date off with a weird version of puppy play.
“Would you like to try the honey bread again, maybe without the cheese this time?” He offers a playful grin on his face as he turns to the ruined picnic and overturned containers of food, likely covered in ants by now.
Thankfully, my bear couldn’t care less about that and immediately tucks in.
Using his long tongue to lap up the individual rolls of honey bread, making short work of those before moving on to the fruit and cheese.
By the time he’s finished, there isn’t a crumb left untouched.
I would be ashamed of his gluttony if Everett wasn’t grinning so widely at his attics.
“Good job Barney, thanks for clearing that mess up.” He laughs, rubbing the top of my head again. “I have loved spending some time with you, but do you think I can get Henry back now? I would really like to kiss my alpha.”
My bear licks his cheek, sending him into a fit of giggles, but thankfully he relents control and allows our shift, much more seamless this time.
Kneeling naked on top of the picnic blanket, my human eyes take in Everett as he holds his stomach, face scrunched up in laughter.
I memorize the sound, so free and airy, unrestrained and unconcerned.
He’s beautiful inside and out. This date may have been an absolute disaster, but my heart is full and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am already in love with his unruly mop of red curls and face of freckles, but even more so his sweet and caring nature.
The way he appears shy in some moments, then explicit in others.
I can’t wait to peel back every layer and learn every facet of his personality.