Page 6 of Talk About… Secrets
I swallowed hard. “Then we don’t have to hide anymore.”
He considered my answer, those fathomless, dark eyes studying me as he thought it over. All I could do was breathe in that campfire and smoky vanilla scent while I waited, the pheromones wafting off my mate breaking down the layers of my armor and begging me to let him in.
“Fine.”
“Fine?” I parroted, eyes going wide. He stepped forward again, tucking a stray curl behind my ear as he leaned down, breathing deep.
“Yes. I’ve waited thirty-three years for you, Grace. I can wait a week. But, I want this weekend. Your family won’t be here, there won’t be any outshining involved. Let me have you this weekend, then we can pretend to be friends until this is over. I’ll have my pack come down. There’s two more members you need to meet.”
My omega perked up, my body instinctively leaning forward. He was offering this weekend without watchful eyes to get to know them. To meet his pack and let go of my inhibitions.
“Let me make it very clear that I have no intentions of walking away after, Grace. I’ve waited for my mate a long damn time. You’re mine.”
Beck was making it obvious that this was it for him. Just like that he was all in? It felt a bit too far-fetched to wrap my wounded brain around.
I’d heard that before. At least in some capacity. My ex and I had kept our relationship quiet, then he was gone without a single glance back. I was left behind and forgotten.
Would they do the same?
Could I even be that omega? Give him a taste, then hold back. Would they stick around after it was all said and done and reality crept back in?
This week would give me time to come to terms with my pack, for them to show me they could honor my boundaries.
Yes, this was perfect. It was the perfect reason to sneak moments of quiet and to process this mindfuck.
The urge to touch him when he was this close was so strong I had to curl my fingers into my skirt, holding it tight.
“Okay,” I relented, feeling so out of my depth it was insane.
I just hoped it didn’t break me having a taste of him, then being forced to pretend he was just my friend.
Beckett
She said ‘okay’ like she agreed, but her pretty blue eyes were swirling with uncertainty. There was hope mixed in, like she was begging me to help her embrace this.
That I could do.
We had a week to show her we could respect her while also forming this pack properly. The moment Hailey and Nolan were off on their honeymoon, then the real fun begins.
My fingers itched to pull out my phone and make the call but she looked so damn fragile I didn’t dare move, yet.
“Before we unload, should we walk around a bit, check out the venue?”
She nodded numbly. “I’m supposed to send Hailey some pictures and figure out these last few things.”
“We also need to check in,” I reminded her. I’d slip a bit of money to the receptionist if I could snag us a room side by side. If I had my way, we’d share one room.
“Good thing my bags are in the trunk. We can leave the decorations a bit longer,” she said with a shake of her head.
“Just give me one moment,” I said, stepping away and calling Spencer and Cade, lighting a fire under their asses to get here as quickly as possible. It was a short flight and I trusted they wouldn’t waste time.
The walk around was quiet, both of us just soaking in the feeling until she seemed less likely to bolt and I was soaking her scent in.
When we entered the dining hall an hour later, a waiter offered us a few snacks. I embraced every distraction to simply spend more time with her and waste time until they arrived.
When I shrugged out of my suit jacket and rolled up the sleeves of my button down she watched, eyes glued to my forearms as her tongue darted out.
Oh, this was going to be fun.
