Chapter 10 - Brent
My brain kept going in circles as I walked to the coffee shop.
My instincts wanted me to turn around and wait until my omega walked into the TechSpeed building. But that was a fast-track to getting the cops called on me and being removed for trespassing.
Then there was the part of me that was confused. It felt odd to be walking to a coffee shop to wait for an employee. Dylan could have told me that his SaaS guy—Adam—would call to set up a meeting. Was there a reason he wanted me to wait for him instead?
Still, if I could use the opportunity to get back inside, I would take it.
I was so close to having my mate in my arms.
The Daily Grind was busy, but not as packed as it could have been. Part of me assumed that it was because the area workers were starting to back off for tourist season, while the bulk of the tourists had yet to arrive.
But a small voice insisted that it was slow because fate wanted to ensure I found a table.
I ordered an iced chai latte, then found a seat with a good line of sight to the door.
My phone provided a temporary distraction, but I soon wished that I’d brought something to work on.
The jitters were back, and every second that passed was another that I wanted to find my omega.
The clock over the counter read two forty-five. Dylan’s claim that his SaaS guy would be back any time had turned into almost an hour.
My chai was gone, and boredom had started to set in.
I was about to call and let him know that I would need to reschedule when a text arrived.
Adam should be headed over in just a few minutes. You’re still at The Daily Grind?
I sent back a confirmation, then decided I would order another drink. It was as I was placing my order that something inside said to get the matcha as well.
I just had to hope that it wasn’t some prank that went around the office, and that it was really what this Adam drank.
The clock ticked past three, and I had started to wonder if he was still coming.
The bell over the door tinkled, and I turned to see him.
Omega… Mine…
He was beautiful, brown hair cut in a fade. He was on the soft side of average, and was the perfect height to tuck into my arms.
I suddenly understood the coffeeshop detour. Dylan had noticed my fingers twitching in his office every time the AC turned on. Which meant…
How long had my poor mate suffered like I had?
Somebody trying to leave edged behind him, and that seemed to spur him to move toward me.
I started to stand. “A-Adam?”
He nodded. “Brent?”
I returned the nod, finished standing, and rounded the table. Then I pulled my omega into my arms for the first time and breathed in the scent that I’d been desperate to find for almost two weeks.
“Finally…” he breathed.
I buried my nose in his head. “How long?”
His arms tightened around my waist. “Two weeks,” he replied.
“The beach?”
A pause, then he nodded into my chest. “I… I looked for you. But there were so many people, and I couldn’t track your scent.”
“I smelled you when I was leaving, and I couldn’t find you either. It was right when the morning crowd was going, and the daytime people were arriving. I had no idea if you’d already left or just arrived.”
He took a deep breath. “I’d just arrived when I smelled you. We probably just missed each other as we headed in opposite directions.”
“I’m so sorry. Maybe if I’d stayed a few more minutes…”
He shook his head. “No. Let’s not play that game. We’re here now. I want to focus on that.”
“Ok.”
I held him for far longer than was appropriate in a public place, but I didn’t care. It felt so good to have him in my arms.
“Do we want to pretend to have a meeting?” Adam asked after a moment. “Or do we want to go back to your place?”
“Dylan said you drink plain iced matcha tea?”
“Yeah?”
“I got you one, before… when I just thought we’d have a meeting…”
“They make good matcha here. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.”
“Short meeting it is.”
My body protested as I released him; every inch of me wanting him in my arms again.
We sat, and Adam immediately set one hand on the table. I understood what he wanted and twined my fingers with his.
He was there, my omega. Part of me couldn’t believe it. But it started to sink in as my body switched from the instinct to find him to that to take him home and claim him.
I was mesmerized by the sight of his pink lips against glass as he sipped his tea. His hair begged me to run my fingers through it as light danced among the strands. There was a quiet confidence in his voice when he spoke.
We talked about my teaching, and the different challenges between my high schoolers and the adult students I taught at the community college.
He described how he started working at TechSpeed, and how he’d been in Harris Cove for less than a month. When he talked about his area of focus, SaaS products, I agreed that Dylan had been right to suggest he be the first to talk to my students.
My stunning omega had a passion for apps and how they could be used. He wouldn’t disregard my students’ desires to cling to technology they understood, but would be able to tell them why it was one part of a larger ecosystem.
The level of our drinks got lower as we talked, and my cock got increasingly insistent that it was time to take my mate home.
How beautiful he would be pregnant.
What would it be like to wake up next to him every morning?
Our eyes met, and I could see the same sort of thoughts swirling in his gaze.
“Shall we?” I asked.
He nodded.
“I don’t want you to have a parking fine,” I said. “Do you want to meet and follow me?”
He chuckled. “Actually… I’ve been carpooling with my friend Taal. My rental is in the loading bay at the office, and it’s fine to stay there.”
“Is Taal the alpha I smell on you?”
Adam’s cheeks pinkened. “Yes, but it’s nothing like that. If that’s what you’re wondering. We’re hangout and gaming buddies. He was just spending extra time with me because he was worried, and his scent helped.”
I swallowed. “How bad was it?”
The pink darkened. “Taal was threatening to take me to the hospital if it got any worse.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head. “It’s ok. And…” he chuckled. “The meeting I was in while you were in yours with Dylan… It turns out they had mild fate-sickness too. They gave me some tips on what to expect.”
“That’s good.” I squeezed his hand. “I guess if you’re not worried about parking…”
“Lead the way,” he chuckled.
We stood, took our glasses to the dish tub, and headed out.
I slung my arm around Adam’s waist as we walked toward the parking garage, my hand resting in the dip in his side.
No more searching… waiting… hoping…
He was there.
The parking garage was cool from the shade, our footsteps bouncing off the concrete.
We stopped beside my car, but instead of heading to the passenger door, Adam pulled me down into a kiss.
My cock jumped to attention as I wrapped my arms around him. This beautiful man was mine.
His lips parted, and I accepted the invitation. Our tongues danced between our mouths as we explored each other for the first time.
A single kiss, and I was addicted.
Adam let out a long contented sigh when we finally parted. “I needed that.”
I chuckled as I tipped my forehead against his. “Me too.”
His eyes crinkled as he grinned. “And now I need your knot.”
A low growl rumbled up from my throat. “I can’t wait to see my mark on your neck. And I know you’ll be stunning when you’re pregnant.”
“Only one way to find out,” he replied with a grin.
I slid my hands down his back until I could squeeze his ass.
He moaned softly. “We should go before I demand you breed me right here.”
“I think you’d be much more comfortable in a bed.”
“Let’s go then.”
It still took several seconds before either of us had the willpower to break contact.
We made out for several minutes in the car, then we were on our way to my apartment.