Page 18 of What A Croc
Before I could finish–or even start–pointing out the reasons we wouldn’t be a good match, he cut me off. He didn’t use words. Instead he brought my hand that he was holding up to his warm lips, and ever so gently placed the softest, sweetest kiss into the middle of my palm.
That was it.
That one tiny gesture rocked my entire world.
Desire swooped low in my stomach, startling me at its intensity. It had been so very long since I had felt it, it felt foreign and weird. Yet deliciously good. My hole grew damp with my slick, also a surprising development.
Taking his eyes off the road just long enough to give me an almost sad look, he quietly said, “Robert, I know what you’re going to say. You’re going to tell me, again, all the silly reasons you think we aren’t a good fit. That despite the fact that we are fated, we just won’t work.”
My mouth flapped, closing and opening, while my brain swirled. That had been exactly what I was going to say, but how had he known? “I–”
He shook his head, his attention focused on the road, “No.”
Blinking, I repeated the word back to him, like I didn’t understand him. “No?”
Another head shake. “I’ve enjoyed texting you this week. A lot. But I want to have an actual conversation with you, over a nice meal. I want to ask you stupid, silly, get-to-know-you-first date questions. I want to sit across a table from a, frankly,” his eyes gave me a quick hot glance, that caused my entire body to shiver, “sexy, gorgeous omega, and I want to remember what it feels like tofeel. Because I really haven’t for a few years now, but I do with you, Robert. You make me feel things. You make me want things. And afterwards, you can go down your list of bullet points and we can discuss them properly.”
Nibbling nervously at my bottom lip, staring at the beautiful alpha, I wanted that too. Wanted one night to feel what it was like to be with someone who wanted me. Who wanted to listen to what I had to say. Who wanted to touch me, even nothing more than holding my hand gently in his. Wanted to feel what it was like to be treated like an omega should be treated by their alpha. Even if it was just one night, if this was all we had, all I allowed us to have, I wanted it.
Nodding my head, I swallowed hard, before whispering, “Okay.”
Chapter Eight
Jackson
The host led us to our table, and my hand that rested on the small of Robert’s back felt like it was on fire. Through his light shirt, heat radiated from him, and I wanted to sink into it. My croc was cold blooded, and I sometimes had trouble regulating my body temperature. It was one of the reasons I loved summer and laying in our yard, basking in the warmth of the sun.
“Thank you,” Robert murmured softly, after I helped him into his seat and made sure he was comfortable, before taking my own.
“It smells good in here,” I commented, as we both perused the menu of the popular steakhouse Brendan had recommended. “Have you eaten here before?”
Robert shook his head, “No, I haven’t, but I’ve heard good things. Wyatt and Becks come here a lot on their date nights. I’m usually watching Julianna, and well, I wouldn’t want to be a third wheel. And I don’t really like eating alone in restaurants.”
Smiling over the menu, I liked how his cheeks grew rosy at his rambling answer. “I’m sure they appreciate having you so close.”
Robert shrugged, “Wyatt and I have had a…complicated relationship most of his life. But we’re finding our footing. I’m enjoying being a grandpa, that’s for sure.” He beamed, his eyes sparkling. “I love that little girl beyond words. I wouldn’t be upset if they decided to have another one soon. I keep dropping hints, but Wyatt is pointedly ignoring them.”
Our waiter arrived then, our conversation put on hold while he went over the specials and took our drink orders. Robert just ordered ice water, and I decided on a glass of the house red. Because I was driving I would stick to just one glass. “Would you like a glass of wine, or something stronger?”
He shook his head, “No, thank you. I’m just feeling a bit parched, and warm.” He waved his hand in front of his face. “Honestly, I almost canceled. I thought I might be coming down with something, but then I felt better.”
Frowning in concern, I worriedly asked how he was feeling now. He seemed fine when I picked him up, and in the car on the drive to the restaurant.
“I’m just a little warm, but I feel okay.” Looking down, he played with the napkin on his lap. “It’s really nothing.”
It felt like there was more to it than that, but our waiter arrived with our drinks and took our orders. Robert gulped half the water down, looking better when he sat the cold glass on the table.
“I know we said we’d wait until the end of the night, but I think you should know that this heat,” he ran a finger down the condensation on the glass, “well, not heat likethat, but this hot flash is likely just that. I…” he nibbled at his lower lip once more, something I had noticed him do in the car. The gesture made me want to reach out and smooth the red skin with my thumb. “My doctor has confirmed that I’m beginning the omega change. I’m in the early stages of it, but apparently I’ve decided to skip ahead and have some of the not so fun symptoms.”
His eyes were filled with hesitation, resignation, and just a touch of sadness. Wanting to reassure him that it didn’t matter to me, I took his hand in mine, the heat of his hand warming my slightly colder one. I knew the implication of what he was saying; there would be no children between us even if I convinced him we were meant to be. “You should know that it doesn’t matter to me.”
At the look of hurt that flashed in his honey colored eyes, my eyes widened when I realized how my words must have sounded. “No! What is happening to you matters to me. I meant that you–us–not being able to have a child doesn’t matter. It’s a non-issue for me.”
“Jackson–” I could hear the disbelief in his voice. Could see it on his face and in his eyes.
Squeezing his hand tightly in mine, I shook my head. “I told you that my hus–” I cut myself off before saying the word husband. Because it somehow didn’t feel right to refer to Levi as such while sitting across from my fated mate. There was a hard battle waging in myself on how to show my deceased mate respect, while also being respectful of my fated mate’s feelings. “That Levi was ten years older than me?”
He nodded but said nothing.
