Page 38 of Crushes and Confections

“I like the way you look at me,” he said.

“How do I look at you?”

“Like I’m the very thing you’ve been waiting for your entire life.”

Before I had a chance to respond, Michelle grabbed my attention, sweeping into the foyer with two bags of food.

She passed them to Vance before smiling at him like he was her new favorite customer.

“I didn’t know what the two of you liked, but I packed a few options. Go on, and get out of here before a mob shows up and tries to have an early celebration before the courting ceremony. Shoo!”

Adrien pulled a few bills out of his wallet and set them down on the counter, and then we were gone, stepping out into the street and heading back for our cars.

“I wish we could all ride together,” I said with a sigh when we got to the truck and Adrien’s car.

Okay, so I didn’t know what kind of car the two-seater was but it was all tan leather and elegance. It was clearly built to accommodate alphas and was the epitome of craftsmanship.

“Why don’t you ride with Adrien?” Riley suggested. “Vance and I can grab the fire pit on the way and we’ll meet you there in no time.”

“If that’s okay?” I asked, looking between Vance and Adrien.

“Of course,” Adrien said. “We’ll get drinks and have everything served up by the time you’re back.”

The inside of Adrien’s car was even fancier than the outside. It smelled like new leather, though I doubted it was a brand-new car. He was just the type to take care of everything.

Which now included me.

That thought had warmth spreading in my chest. Riley and I had always been besties and taken care of each other in our own ways. But the way these alphas swept in and took over blew everything we’d done out of the water.

“Your car is amazing,” I told him as he reached over and strapped me in. Again I wished I could know what his real scent was. It was strange to be in his presence, in his car, his house, and not know what he truly smelled like.

“Thank you,” he said with a small smile. His focus turned to the road as he drove us back to my place. It was a quiet ride but one full of tension. Just as I glanced at him, he was turning to check on me too, and I could see the heat in his eyes even as darkness rolled in.

He shifted his hand to rest on my thigh as if he felt it too.

I was almost relieved when he pulled into my driveway. As soon as the car was in park, I practically ran from the car, needing fresh air to clear my head before I jumped him and made us crash.

Adrien didn’t call me out, simply climbed out and walked over to me, taking the bag from my hands.

“Why don’t we get started on drinks?” he mused, his lips biting back a smile at my expense. “It’s nice to see I'm not the only one affected.”

“I wish I could scent you,” I blurted out, slapping a hand over my mouth when I realized I’d said it out loud. “I’m so sorry, that was too far.”

He chuckled at my outburst before growing more serious. “We’ve discussed stopping the blockers.”

Adrien stopped talking, and I could see the war in his eyes. Before he could say anything further, I put a hand on his chest, bringing his attention to me.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it out loud. It was a selfish thought. You can do what makes you comfortable. I’d never ask you to do something you were against just for me.”

“I didn’t take it that way,” he reassured me. “And I’ll consider it. Sometimes it’s more like a security blanket than a necessity.”

“That’s understandable,” I promised, taking the food back. “Let’s leave that for when you are ready. And for now, we have drinks to find and a movie to pick. If we don’t, Riley will have us on another marathon I can promise you don’t want to be on.”

“Like what?” he asked, pausing in the kitchen as I walked out with the bag of food. “Wait, plates?”

My eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. “Why? We have the takeout containers, and she always gives us chopsticks and forks.”

“But we can’t just eat it out of the styrofoam,” he protested. I sat the bag on the coffee table and tried not to laugh at how proper my alpha was.

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