Chapter 14
ESPER
I have another date today. After my last horrid date, I’ve been scared to set up another. I put on my big girl panties though and made another match.
This time I didn’t rush into meeting them in person. I actually spent time talking to them and even let them ask me questions. So now, a week later, we have a date.
Seeing Juni’s Butter and Batter yellow brick building doesn’t calm my twitchy fingers. My nerves are through the roof, and I know Neven and Reed can smell it. I desperately wanted to invite Soren to this date. My omega even fought me on it, but it was way too soon.
Since I realized that he… and Neven… and Reed were my scent matches (or at least I think they are my scent matches), I’ve had to work extra hard to act normally.
I can’t scare them away.
Scent matches are for life. They are your soulmates, the ones destined to be with you, and for some reason the thought that I’ve actually found them flays me open.
I feel raw. Vulnerable. Like my soul is bared out and I have to hold my skin flaps together so I don’t go spilling out.
I’ve dreamed about it for so long, and now that it’s here, now that they are here… I can’t risk screwing it up.
The Heat Seekers app wasn’t necessarily for long-term relationships, let alone scent matches and Pack life.
I have a feeling that’s not why either of them was on the app either.
Quick heat fucks. That’s all it was supposed to be.
“How’s my hair?” I turn towards Neven. Who is smoking hot as ever.
He has on a t-shirt and brown sweater vest with slacks.
Like he’s going to work or something. He dressed it down with silver jewelry.
Rings stacks and earrings. My skin heats as I stare at him, and I have to tear my eyes away before I start something I can’t finish.
I dressed much better than I did when I was stalking Soren.
My hair is curled and I have on a black mini dress with maroon lace tights.
I attempt to glance in the sideview mirror of Neven’s bike.
When he picked me up, he joked that he could taste my nerves all the way from his house.
I chuckled and tried to brush it off, but the whole ride over, I wished for some scent-blocking spray, a pill, something to cover up my scent.
Getting off his bike, I slide off the helmet and silk scarf, handing them and my riding boots over to Neven for him to somehow lock onto the bike. It’s so funny to me how they are such sticklers about my safety and yet all they wear are helmets. I’ll have to change that.
Turning to the side mirror on the bike, I fix the strands that got messed up from the wind.
“You look fucking amazing, Princess,” Reed rasps in my ear as his hands slide down the front of my dress.
He tucks his head into the crook of my neck and inhales deeply.
He presses against me, and I have half the instinct to grind back into him, but I need this date to go perfect, and one of my escorts walking in with a noticeable hard-on isn’t the best look.
“Reed,” I whisper, pushing him back and he laughs, taking my hand and twirling me to face him.
His brown eyes focus on my hair, his large comforting hands coming up to fix a few strands, and once he’s done he pulls me in to kiss him. His soft lips meet mine in the most perfect kiss—not too soft, like others I’ve kissed, but not so rough he might as well be biting me.
“You really do look amazing.”
“Thank you,” I say, giving his lips one more peck and walking towards the door with a hand in each of theirs.
“Remeber, Esper, no pressure.” Neven says as the bell above the door chimes. I nod. No pressure. No pressure, and yet my omega is completely restless.
It’s only been a week of talking to this man, but I’m also oddly protective of him. Something about him just makes me want to protect him.
I made Neven and Reed swear they wouldn’t look him up and they promised. They haven’t said anything to me about him, so I hope we are all starting on the same playing field for this date.
Asher is so funny. Such a freaking hottie too.
He isn’t tatted like Reed or Soren. He is mixed-race alpha, his dad is Black and his mom is white.
He’s got beautiful brownish hazel eyes and keeps his hair super short, practically a buzzcut.
His hair is dyed light brown, super close to his skin tone.
He's tall too, apparently. His profile says six-foot-five.
Which was true, definitely true, as the bell of Juni’s rings above us. I see him heads above everyone else here. Clearly above the booth wall he’s sitting in. I’m about to approach him, eager and anxious all at once.
Then he turns.
His eyes catch mine.
It’s like those cheesy movies where everything slows down, time moving in half-time. I stand frozen at the door, both of us trapped in this first meeting off the screen. He smiles too. His smile is wide and welcoming, and I want to see it all the time now that I've gotten a taste of it.
Asher doesn’t waste any time, his eyes glued to mine as he stands and waves. He wears a long-sleeve shirt that’s loose on him (and even then I can tell he’s got lean muscles), cargo pants like Reed loves to wear too, sneakers that cost more than my books this term walking over to us.
“Hi!” I wave my hand despite being like right in front of him.
Smooth, Esper. Very smooth.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Reed snaps as he rounds the table to stand in front of me. My stomach drops, and I’m confused why he’s being so rude to our date.
He shouldn’t even know him!
“Reed,” I say, but he doesn’t budge. His entire body is tense, his hand gripping mine tightly.
“Red, Hacker— what are… You guys are her other matches?” Asher lets out an incredulous laugh. “What a fucking coincidence.”
“Was it, though? Was it a coincidence?” Reed asks, tilting his head and getting in Asher’s face, letting my hand go.
My omega hates that. I grab Reed’s arm, trying to yank him back, but he’s like a stone wall between Asher and me.
I look back at Neven, who stares between the three of us with a thoughtful gaze.
I switch tactics from pulling Reed to making Neven do something instead.
He’s an alpha after all, and I cannot risk getting another warning from the Juni employees.
They let what happened last time slide because Reed took it outside (well, sort of), but Reed is so pissed off he’s completely focused on Asher and I don’t think they’ll let another fight on the premises go.
“I can’t live without Juni’s cookies. Please do something,” I beg.
“Our omega is hungry, Red.” What a fucking genius. Neven sends a wink my way and I turn toward Asher and Reed, whose eyes have both snapped to me. I swallow my nerves and smooth down my hair out of habit as I nod.
“Yeah, I need… I need a snack. ASAP. Please. Let’s go get something.
” I drag Reed by his arm, and this time he lets me.
His tattooed arm is warm in my grip. Not the comforting kind of warm, but a broiling, angry kind of hot.
His face is slightly red as he lets me guide him to the counter.
He orders me a few chocolate chip cookies, Neven a cranberry crumble bar and a puff pastry.
My gaze snaps to Asher behind us, who shrugs.
I tack on a glazed donut for Asher but pretend it's for me.
Five minutes later, we’re all seated around Asher’s table, Reed next to me, with Neven and Asher in the booth across from us.
“Have you tried their chocolate chip cookies?” I hand Asher one on a napkin.
“If they are as good as you are kind, then I’m sure they are delicious,” he croons, taking a bite. The gooey chocolate dips on the side of his lip and my omega pounces, reaching over and swiping it off his lip. I wanna lick it off my finger so badly.
That’s so weird on a first date, oh my god, get it together, Esper.
Hesitating a bit, I wipe the chocolate goodness on a napkin.
There, decorum won out. Happy?
“Sorry,” I say, realizing I just touched his face without asking. Reed’s hands are on my hips, forcing me to sit back down with a grumble.
I hold my chuckle at the jealous omega. I really hope this won’t be a problem, though. Settling in the booth, we sit silently for a second, their scents mixing in the air. Caramel and pancakes are strong, and so is… pomegranate.
Oh wow. His scent is strong. And so damn delicious.
Oh my God.
My gaze snaps to his, and I can see the realization in his expression. I raise an eyebrow but he gives me a sharp, single shake of his head, and I’m left stumped for a second.
He’s right. I can’t believe I almost slipped. I peer over at Reed who is fuming still, one arm wrapped around me. His thumb mindlessly rubs my hip.
First, broker peace. Then drop the bomb.
“So, how do you know each other?” I ask the table at large.
“They haven’t told you?” Asher says, glaring at Neven and Reed, who both look sheepish.
Stomach, meet Floor.
“Told me what?” I ask. What are they hiding from me? Is it as big as my current secret?
“We’re part of the same motorcycle club.”
My organs rearranged themselves into proper position. “Oh,” I said with a little giggle. “Gosh, you scared me there. I knew they rode bikes. A club though, that sounds fun.”
Asher leans back against the booth, all nonchalance as he says, “We’re also drug dealers and street fighters.”
I choke on my cookie. Sputtering and coughing and in general making some less-than-dignified noises.
They were what?
“Do that again and I’ll haul your ass to the morgue,” Reed growls to Asher as he rubs my back. I grab Neven's water bottle he's holding out to me. Sip it as my throat stops burning at the clog.
My voice is practically a squeak as I ask, “Are you joking?”
I mean Reed has the tattoos, the anger, sure, but drug dealers?
“Yes,” Reed says at the same time Asher says, “No.”
“No. He’s not joking,” Neven clarifies with a sigh.
And, Jaw, meet Floor.
I quickly close my lips and let the silence eat at our table. Eat at me. I hear a harsh kick under the table, and Asher grimaces and leans down.