Chapter 14
Arabella
Reid looks like he stepped off the cover of Alphaholics. He’s hot as hell, and with the dark forest green button-up stretched tight against his muscular arms, I don’t have a single pure thought in my mind.
Thankfully, his scent tells me he feels similarly—sweet warmth with a sharp spiciness, just like cinnamon.
I try to focus on it rather than another scent that seems to be taunting me, severely muted but still there, just at the edge of my senses.
It’s got to be some sort of deranged wishful thinking on my part, because they’re not here.
I push the thoughts of them out of my mind but find myself distracted by a new problem.
It’s difficult to focus on polite conversation, as well as eating my dinner, when Reid licks his fingers after finishing his spring roll.
I watch the deft movement of his tongue, feeling like an absolute perv as I imagine what else he could do with it.
And damn, I wouldn’t mind licking something, either.
I take a big gulp of my drink, trying to cool myself down a little when I suddenly feel it again.
That persistent sensation of being watched.
Every once in a while it feels like Reid’s eyes are on me, but when I look up, his attention is elsewhere.
I try not to search the room for the cause of the prickly feeling again.
You can only glance around a room to search for the source so many times before it’s both obvious and odd.
And I really don’t want Reid to think I’m not focusing my attention on him.
“Did you hear that?” I ask, frowning when I swear I hear someone or something growling for the fifth time since we got here.
“What?” Reid lifts his brow and checks the room before looking back at me, confusion plain on his face.
“I thought I heard a growl,” I admit with a wince. “Never mind, can we just forget that I asked?”
I must be losing my mind. Imagining growls and familiar scents.
“Sure,” he replies, chuckling as if he finds my odd behaviour cute. There’s that at least.
“Thanks,” I mumble, tipping my chin forward and blinking up at him as he stares right into my eyes. I feel shy whenever his full attention is fixed on me. I’m not used to being looked at like this.
“You have gorgeous eyes. Every time you look at me, it takes my breath away for a moment,” he says easily, as if showering me with compliments were the most natural thing in the world.
Behind me, I swear I hear a scoff, but ignore it. I need to get my hearing checked, or my brain for conjuring shit up. For now, I’m going to focus on melting into a puddle.
“You’ve given me more compliments in one night than I think I got from my ex the entire time we were together,” I say, not really knowing how else to reply. Denying it would be awkward, and saying thank you seems a little conceited.
“That’s shitty. He definitely didn’t deserve you if that's the case. Lucky me, though. You wouldn’t be sitting across from me, stealing all my rational thoughts, if you were still with him. Can’t say I’m mad that he clearly fucked up, fumbling a beautiful omega like you.”
“You know, you’re very flirty. Did you get in trouble with your exes for that a lot?” I tilt my head, meaning it as a tease, as I rest my elbows on the table and lean forward.
“I like you, Arabella, so flirting with you just comes easily, but you should know something about me.” Reid leans in, dropping his voice so no one can overhear him.
“I’m as loyal as I am possessive. All of my attention is reserved for you, omega.
You don’t need to worry about me flirting with anyone else. You’re my only focus.”
“So, you’re saying you’re a one-omega kind of alpha?” I ask, and when he nods, I shrug, trying not to get my hopes up even as his words send butterflies to my stomach. “My ex said the same thing, but he was lying.”
“Want me to kick his ass? I have lots of single friends. I can send them to steal his girl. Or his car, your choice.”
The offer makes me giggle, loosening the tightness in my chest.
“They’re both very tempting offers, but I should probably decline. I appreciate the sentiment, though.
“Let me know if you ever change your mind.”
“I’m not vengeful,” I say with a shrug. His offer is sweet, in a way.
Mostly because I know he’s just teasing to make me feel better, but the last thing I want is to open any doors that lead back to my ex.
Even if it is revenge. I will honestly die happy if I never have to see his stupid face again.
“You don’t have to be vengeful to want someone to pay for how they hurt you.
Justice and vengeance aren’t the same thing.
” He reaches across the table, taking my hand in his as our eyes meet.
“You’re allowed to feel however you feel, Arabella, but I want you to know I wouldn’t think less of you if you did want him to pay. ”
“It wouldn’t change anything.”
It wouldn’t take back the things he said or what he did, and it wouldn’t give me back the years of my life I spent isolating myself because I feared it happening again.
“It might make you feel better, though? Hm, if grand theft auto is out of the question, we could always key his car instead? Or we could post shit through his letterbox. I’m sure Toast would be happy to help out with that plan.”
I snort at the suggestions but shake my head.
“Honestly? He’s not like us. I don’t think he has real feelings.
He’s emotionally stunted, so at best he feels anger and jealousy.
If you beat him up, he’ll just take pleasure in getting you arrested.
If someone stole his omega, he’d just find another one.
” I sigh, shaking my head again. “Beyond a literal dick measuring contest, I doubt there's anything you can do to shame him.”
There’s a stretch of silence, and what I just said hits me.
“Not that I’m suggesting you do that! Or that I have any idea how big you are…I mean, I haven’t been thinking about how big you are or aren’t.” I snap my jaw shut, eyes wide. “I’m going to shut up now.”
“There are less elaborate ways to get that sort of information out of me.” Reid winks, laughing when my only response is to stare at him with wide eyes and warm cheeks. “You’re cute when you look like you’ve just been caught with your hand in the cookie jar.”
“I think you enjoy making me squirm a little too much,” I huff, unable to conceal my grin.
“I just enjoy you, omega.” His husky words make my stomach flip, and heat rush through my veins.
Why were those words so hot? Part of me wants to warn him what he might be getting into with me, but I just can’t bring myself to say the words.
‘Hey Alpha, I know we’re having fun getting to know each other, but you should know I was on heat blockers for years, and now the floodgates have opened.
So I’m not only a horny hormonal mess, but I’m also going to go into heat a lot more than normal.
And that’s not to mention the fact that I’ve been told I’m too much, too needy for just one alpha to please. '
It’s not exactly a first date kind of announcement, even if I am more comfortable with Reid after just one date than I’ve ever been before.
I bury the worry, delaying it for another time, and focus on enjoying our date.
The food is excellent and the company is even better.
Eventually, I even stop feeling like I’m being watched, fully losing myself in the conversation with him.
We flirt, talk about our lives and interests, and spend an almost embarrassing amount of time gushing over our dogs, pulling out our phones only to show each other a few pictures. The conversation is easy. It’s fun, and I realise I can’t remember the last time I just had fun like this.
Once the dinner is over, Reid takes me home and walks me to the doors of my building. I’m so nervous that my fingers are trembling when I pull him in for a hug, but I don’t let myself back down, breathing him in deeply.
“I had a wonderful time tonight,” I murmur, stepping back and enjoying the way his spicy scent clings to me. I’ll be stuffing this dress into my nest tonight.
Right beside the clothes I wore home from the heat clinic.
Well, I’m only so strong, and resisting any of my instincts right now feels downright painful. It’s so much better to give in. It’s not like anyone else has to know.
“I don’t want to leave.” Reid lets out a breathy laugh, blushing as he stuffs his hands into his pockets.
“I know what you mean.” I bite my bottom lip between my teeth and blink up at him, wanting at least one more thing from him tonight to make it perfect. His hands come right back out of his pockets as he takes a step closer, and hope soars in my chest.
Please, kiss me. Please…
“Fuck, Arabella. You can't look at me like that,” he growls, pushing his hand into my hair and cupping my cheek with the other as he pulls me in for a kiss.
His soft lips meet mine gently, like he’s trying to hold himself back, as if he’s worried he’ll scare me off. The illusion of self-control breaks when I whimper into him, my body pressing against his. The first touch of his tongue against mine is more than enough to set me on fire.
I’m burning in his arms, so fucking turned on I can barely think straight. I bite down on his lip, dragging the tender flesh between my teeth as I attempt to get control over my body.
My scent is like a cloud of honey and jasmine desperation as it saturates the air with my need for him. His grunt would be enough to tell me it’s affecting him, but his own scent rivals mine. Cinnamon and cedarwood have never smelt so damn good.
I want to lick him and find out if he tastes just as intoxicating.
“I didn’t mean to get so carried away,” I whisper breathlessly as I suck in air, tipping my head back so I can see his perfect green eyes.
“You could lead me right off a cliff, and I wouldn’t have even noticed.” Reid smiles, his eyes shining with all the dirty thoughts that must be filling his head.
“You sure know how to make a girl swoon,” I tease, patting his chest and taking a very reluctant step back. I don’t want to ruin whatever this is by taking things too fast.
“I try,” he replies playfully. His expression turns more serious a moment later as he brushes a few strands of my hair out of my face. “I want to see you again.”
“Well, I guess you’re in luck. I want to see you again too. In fact, I’m pretty sure you already promised me a second date, or promised Suki and Toast a date anyway.”
“How about Sunday morning then? We could take the two of them to the dog park and grab some coffee.”
“I think Suki and I would both like that,” I tell him, quickly moving onto my tiptoes so I can press another quick kiss to his lips. His hand slips to the back of my head before I can pull away, deepening the kiss just for a moment before he releases me.
“Good. I’ll call you,” he promises as he takes a step away. “See you soon, beautiful.”
I watch him walk away, a warm flutter in my chest as I slip into my building. That went so much better than I expected.