Page 27 of Alpha Reid

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Reid

Using a pair of tongs, I grab the last piece of sizzling bacon out of the frying pan, adding it to the plate beside the stove that’s already piled high. Despite the chaos of last night, I had a fucking fantastic night’s sleep and woke up feeling refreshed, ready to take on the day. I came downstairs, started cranking Bruce Springsteen, and got to work making breakfast- my mom’s famous French toast that she used to make when I was a kid and two full pounds of bacon.

I turn off the burner on the stove, nodding my head and singing along to the Springsteen hit ‘I’m On Fire’ as I head to the fridge to pull out a carton of orange juice. My favorite line of the song drops and I bust a little dance move as I turn around to set the juice on the counter, reaching into the cabinet overhead to retrieve a couple of glasses. Now all that’s missing is…

I glance up toward the staircase, smiling as I spot Serena on the landing, watching me.

“Hey!” I call, reaching over for the speaker that Bruce’s voice is currently blasting from. I turn the volume down low, looking back up at Serena still perched on the landing. “Good morning.”

A little smirk tugs at her lips and she slides her hand along the railing, beginning to descend the rest of the stairs. “Good morning.”

Like always, I can’t take my eyes off of her. She’s dressed in a tight pair of leggings and a sports bra with an open zip-up hoodie over it, her red hair pulled back into a snug ponytail. She looks like she stepped straight off the cover of a fitness magazine and into my packhouse, and I’m still raking my gaze over her form when she hits the bottom of the stairs, her hand lingering on the rail and her eyes coming to mine again.

“What?” she asks, arching a brow in question.

“How’d you sleep?” I pick up the carton of juice and glasses, carrying them over to the table.

Serena’s eyes go wide, like my question makes her nervous for some reason. She flexes her fingers on the stair rail. “Uh, fine. How’d you sleep?”

I set the juice beside the heaping platter of French toast and a glass in front of each place setting. “Great,” I reply, crossing back to the kitchen to grab the plate of bacon. I glance over at Serena to see that she’s looking to the door- and that’s when I notice that she’s got a pair of gym shoes on, like she was on her way out. “Going somewhere?”

“I was gonna go for a run,” she mutters, watching me as I pick up the bacon and walk it over to the table, her eyes lingering on the meat.

“But that was before you knew I made us breakfast, right?” I tease, setting the plate down and flashing her a grin over my shoulder.

“I…”

I turn to Serena, beckoning her with a flick of my head. “Take a seat, Red. You can go for a run later.”

I see her hesitate for a moment, gripping the stair railing tight- but either my insistence or her own hunger wins out and she strolls over, sinking down into a chair at the table.

I take my own seat at the head of the table, reaching for the juice. I uncap it and pour us each a glass, then pass her the French toast and bacon so she can help herself before I proceed with loading an embarrassing amount of each onto my own plate.

“You made all this?” Serena asks, eagerly cutting into a piece of French toast.

“Mhmm,” I hum in response, my mouth full of bacon. I swallow it down before continuing. “My mom used to make this meal all the time. I can’t cook a huge variety of things, but the few things I can, I do well.” I toss her a wink, taking another big bite out of a bacon strip.

She forks a piece of French toast into her mouth, her eyes slipping closed as she starts to chew. “Mmmmm…” she moans, savoring the bite.

Again, with the sounds she makes while eating. This girl is trying to drive me crazy on purpose, isn’t she?

I draw a breath, my dick hardening as she swallows the toast and her tongue darts out to lick a dusting of powdered sugar from the corner of her mouth. “Serena,” I growl in warning.

She slides her gaze over to me, innocent eyes wide. “Yeah?”

I give her a stern look and watch as a blush spreads over her cheeks.She knows.

“Sorry,” she mumbles, though I don’t miss the smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. She likes getting a rise out of me.Literally.“This is amazing, Reid.”

“Thanks, glad you like it,” I drawl. Her words of affirmation make me feel like a million bucks and my wolf stands up and preens. “Though,” I breathe, stabbing a piece of French toast with my fork, “I have to admit that I did have ulterior motives for cooking breakfast this morning.”

Serena’s eyebrows shoot up. “Oh?”

I shove a forkful of French toast into my mouth, chewing. I see that look on her face again, like she’s nervous or something, and I almost change course… but I’ve set my mind to what I’m gonna do this morning, and I intend to see it through.

I swallow the bite of food, wiping my mouth with a napkin and nodding. “I wanted to ask you a few questions, if you’re open to it.”

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