Chapter 12
Sofia
“Thanks for helping me, love.”
“Of course, Dad,” I say to him. I’ve got a massive tray of Dad's famous pastries that I set down on the outdoor table we have set up. There are three tables with white tablecloths and Grandma’s silver cutlery.
The same cheap glasses that came in six shades, I always had to have green, are set beside each plate.
Candles in the candelabras and fairy lights strung above our heads.
Grandma and Grandpa sit beside each other, talking animatedly with Daphne and Ivy. Sebastian sulks up one end of the table, while Devon, Elijah, and Mack sit with Pops.
“Hey, we’re here.”
Asher throws herself into my arms and hugs me tight. “You are never allowed to leave again.” She lets me go and turns to embrace Mum, who tuts and makes soft noises.
“I have missed you, when are you moving home?” Mum says in a run-on sentence that has no room for air.
Asher laughs. “We’ve only been gone six months.”
“It’s six months too long. Tell me how everything is going? How is the art gallery? Do you need help because Trent owes me, and I could persuade him if you need it.”
Felix groans and pats me on the back. “You have made her very happy,” he murmurs.
“Come home and make her happier.”
Felix leans in and whispers, “Not a chance.”
“Chicken.”
“Bawk, bawk, bawk.”
Cordie stomps around the corner. “Sorry I was late; there was a thing.”
“What kind of thing?” I ask and watch in shock as my best friend’s cheeks turn pink.
“Oh, tell me, tell me.”
“How old are you?” Sebastian snaps, but he’s not looking at me; he’s glowering at Cordelia.
“I met an alpha and a beta today. They are so sweet. They asked me on a date.” She sticks her chin in the air and turns her back on Sebastian.
“Oh, how wonderful,” my mum says. “I’ve been feeling awful about your no-show.”
Sebastian growls. I watch him, trying to figure out what his problem is.
“Sit, sit. We have to have a toast.”
Mum raises her glass. “To our family all together again.”
“To family,” we repeat.
Mack is sitting beside me, and he’s got his arm across the back of my chair. I am acutely aware of it and him. His scent, the heat of his body, the need to lean into him. It’s hard to resist.
We eat slowly, talking and laughing. Mack, Devon, and Elijah fit in perfectly with my family, in a way I didn’t think I ever did. I find myself chatting, laughing, and having a good time. I don’t feel at all like I used to. Did I imagine it?
Dad stands up after he’s done, holds out his hand, and leads Mum to the grass. He pulls her into his arms, and they start to dance.
“Don’t they need music?” Mack asks.
Asher, Cordelia, and I answer at the exact same time. “They don’t need music; they have the rhythm of their hearts.”
We sigh, and I reach for Pops’ hand.
“We’re really thrilled to have you back, Sofia.”
Suddenly, the weight of my secrets is too heavy, and I want to tell my pops. I want him to tell me how I can get out of it. How can I make all the trouble go away without anyone getting hurt or losing face with my family?
I want to tell him how hard it’s been. How much I missed them. How badly I wanted to come home.
“Sofa?” Pops whispers.
I blink back tears. “I’m okay. I'm just so glad to be home.”
He squeezes my fingers but then pulls away to referee Cordie and Sebastian, who have started to squabble again. The moment has passed, and I’m stuck, with the words frozen inside me, unable to find their way free.
“I want what they have,” Mack says to me. “A love that lasts decades, still dancing and in love after all these years. A partnership.”
“Me, too,” I murmur.
“I would love to keep you, but Elijah has a surprise for you.”
“For me?”
Elijah stands up and holds out his hand. “I promised to steal you away for our night date.”
I look around.
“Go, we’ll clean up!” Imogen says.
“I’m going to take Gramps and Gran back,” Sebastian says, almost in defiance. I think he’s doing it to get away from everyone.
“You rascal, how many times have I told you not to call us that!” Grandma snaps.
“I need to hear it at least once more.”
She scowls at him, but Grandma has always had a soft spot for Sebastian.
“Do I need anything?”
“No, Mack and Devon are going to watch Danger. They’re going to snuggle up and watch a movie so he will be perfectly safe.”
I chew my lip, nervous to be alone with him, which is ridiculous, but my awareness of Elijah is different from how I knew Mack and Devon. No, I want to go and have fun.
He holds out his hand, and I put mine in his without hesitation.
“Night, everyone,” Elijah says.
“Bye!” they all call back and then go back to what they were doing.
“How does it feel being back with everyone?”
“It feels weird, like I’m watching it from a distance, but it feels the same, too. I wonder if I’ve changed too much for Sunshine Cove.”
Elijah almost trips.
“Careful!” I say and hold on to his arm tighter. “So, what are we doing tonight?”
“It’s a surprise.”
He leads me down to Main Street. There are a few people walking around, a whole heap on the beach.
“It’s okay. I’ll find it,” a familiar voice says unhappily.
“Harry?”
He looks up from where he’s kneeling under the table, talking to his beta. He grimaces. “Sorry. My bonding ring is gone. I’m looking for it now.”
“Oh, we can help you,” I offer.
He shakes his head. “No, I’ll find it tomorrow when I’m not even looking for it, I’m sure. Isn’t that always the way?”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, go on with you now. Have some fun.”
I wave, and we continue walking. Elijah leads me on a slow walk through town until we end up outside my father’s restaurant.
“Here?”
He smiles and unlocks the door. I walk inside and find myself spun into his arms. He walks me backwards deeper into the restaurant, until I’m pressed up against a wall, with the empty dark around us.
“I just want to kiss you, if that’s okay.”
“Yes.” It’s more than okay.
He ducks his head down and touches his lips to mine. I wind my arms around his neck and pull myself up against him.
Kissing him is both familiar and new. But it is rapidly becoming one of my favourite things to do. Elijah is a sensual creature, and it’s never more evident than in his kiss. He groans and pulls away.
“You smell so good, Omega, but I didn’t bring you here for this.”
“What are we here for?”
“I made you something.”
He…made me something? My heart trips a little. I like gifts, just little things. It makes my omega self shine. He ducks in and brushes his lips softly against mine once more.
“Come on,” he whispers and pulls me to the kitchen.
I let out a squeak when he lifts me up and sets me on the counter.
The kitchen has always been a sacred place that I was rarely allowed to be in, but seeing it closed up and at night has an intimacy that has me watching this enigmatic alpha like he’s candy. The forbidden kind.
He turns on the lights and goes to the fridge. I’ve sat here a few times over the years watching my pops work. Elijah has the same energy. His easy, confident movements around the kitchen leave me feeling like everything will be okay.
He comes back with a bowl and a spoon and steps between my legs.
“Hi.”
I smile back at him. “Hi.”
“Try this?”
I nod, so he grabs a spoonful and holds it up to my lips. The explosion of chocolate that is both sweet and a little bitter mixes with a hint of mangoes and coconut.
I groan.
He continues to feed me slowly. The temperature in the kitchen goes up so it’s almost unbearable, but then he puts the spoon in his mouth, and I almost go up in flames. He leans in.
“You’ve got a little something…”
“Oh, where?” Why is my voice so husky?
He grabs the back of my neck and guides me down to him, and only when he gets close does his tongue dart out and lap at the side of my jaw.
I inhale sharply, my thighs clenching around his hips.
“Eli,” I pant.
“Fuck,” he hisses into my mouth. “We can’t do this here.”
He pulls away, and, for a second, I’m dazed.
I lean forward, chasing him, but he simply steps back and cleans the spoon and bowl.
I slide off the counter, slick has soaked my underwear, my scent is thick and strong in the air around us.
There is a tugging need in my lower stomach that has me shifting restlessly, but he is perfectly composed.
I whine.
He turns.
Okay, maybe he’s not composed. Maybe he’s hanging by a thread.
He grabs my wrist and drags me outside, locking the door behind him.
“Eli,” I moan and bounce into his chest, staring up at him. His hands slide down over my ass and squeeze.
“We can’t do this here,” he murmurs against my lips.
“Alpha,” I whine.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he pants against my lips. “But, oh, what a wonderful way to die.”
I lick the seam of his lips, moaning at the taste of him.
Everything is tight, coiled, like I’m going to explode. I need it; I need him.
“Come on,” he whispers and tugs me to a massive SUV. He gets me in and kisses me again before pulling away and getting in the driver’s seat.
He drives us out of town and to a spot that is only known to locals. It’s up the other end of the cove where few people come because of all the rocks. I can see the lighthouse and the stars, the ocean lapping. I can hear it all, but it’s all so far away.
“We need to talk, Sofia.”
I shake my head, unclipping my seatbelt and climbing across into his lap.
“Oh, shit,” he hisses.
“Need you now, Alpha.”
“Sofia, what did you mean when you mentioned something about your suppressants?” he moans as I latch onto the side of his neck. He gasps and holds the back of my head. “Sofia, are you taking any?”
“Any?” I whisper and lick up to his earlobe, taking it between my teeth.
“Suppressants?”
“No,” I say, reaching for his hands and bringing them up to my breasts.
“Oh, God,” he moans. “We should talk about this, or something.”
“Let’s try or something.”
I crush my body to his, feeling the hard ridge of his cock, hidden just behind his pants. I grind against him.