Page 56 of Claiming Xan
It wasmy first day off after five in a row, and I was tired of TJ’s bullshit. I was thankful to have a whole day to spend with River—if he’d stop being so damn secretive.
He’d been rooting around in the kitchen this morning, but when I offered to help him do whatever it was he was doing, he pretty much ordered me to go into the living room and play video games.
“It’s a surprise,” he told me.
“Oooh, I like surprises,” I said, complete with a grin and a wink. “Tell me!”
“Then it wouldn’t be a surprise,” he replied, shooing me off into the other room. I pouted, but did as he asked, but I was curious as hell.
I could barely contain my excitement when River finally joined me on the couch and took my hand.
“Sooo?” I leaned in so that we were practically nose to nose.
“So what?” He feigned innocence.Nowwho was being a brat?
“So, are you gonna tell me what my surprise is?”
He smirked. “What makes you think it’s for you?”
I slapped him lightly across the chest, then got a better idea. Swinging my leg over his, I straddled his lap. I ran my hands up his chest to rest on his shoulders, then leaned in and kissed him. It was soft and teasing, a brush of my lips on his.
“Because. I just do. So tell me…” I murmured.
When he didn’t elaborate, I deepened the kiss. I stroked my tongue along the seam of his mouth. River groaned and gently pushed me back. “Xan. You make it hard to think straight.”
“Good.” I batted my lashes. “We could always take it to the bedroom…?”
“And miss out on your surprise?”
Damn it! “Gah! Tell me already!” I cried out.
His lips curled into an almost shy smile. “I wanna take you on a date,” he admitted, fidgeting a little. Was he nervous? River? My big, growly Alpha mate? Nervous to ask me out? Aww, he was so adorable.
“Oooh, where?”
“A picnic, at the lake,” he told me. “It’s nice today. I thought we could enjoy the sunshine and some roast beef sandwiches and watch the waves.”
I grinned. “So that’s what you were doing! Sneaky.”
River chuckled, but I kissed him silent. He sighed against my lips, his blond lashes fluttering shut, and I let myself enjoy this moment.
When I pulled back, it was to gaze up into his two-toned eyes. Sparkling sapphire and glistening tiger’s eye. “I’d love to, River. It sounds like a wonderful way to spend my day off.”
Around noon, I drove us out to Lake Greymercy. We parked, one of the few cars in the lot, and toted our stuff down to the beach. A picnic basket swung from River’s hand—the one that wasn’t tucked inside of mine, anyway.
We laid out a blanket on the warm sand and sat down cross-legged. My stomach grumbled in anticipation as River pulled outthe lunch he’d prepared for us—roast beef sandwiches with steak sauce and provolone, salt-and-vinegar potato chips, macaroni salad, and Little Debbie snack cakes for dessert.
“I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.” I groaned as I bit into the cream-filled chocolate roll. Sweetness assaulted my tastebuds. The baby was definitely a sugar-holic.
“You don’t have to stroke my ego,” River said around a laugh. “I know the date was a bit last minute and on a budget, but?—”
“River?”
“Hmm?”
“Shut up,” I told him. “I love it. All of it. It’s sweet and thoughtful, and that’s what matters.” I leaned against his side and watched the gulls peck at the bread crust I’d thrown out onto the sand.
It was mid-September, but it was warm. Warm enough to swim, maybe? I glanced out at the lake, still except for the occasional ripple as the breeze skimmed the surface. It gave me an idea.
