Page 21 of Omega's Pretend Mate
“Christian?” he asked, breath fanning across my lips.
“If we’re going to have a whirlwind romance,” I murmured, “then we need to look like we can’t keep our hands off each other. Do you really want our first kiss in public to be clumsy and awkward?”
“No…” he breathed. His eyes fluttered shut, and his pink lips parted.
I closed the distance, bringing our mouths together.
Gabe was stiff at first, then he melted into the kiss.
I pulled back far quicker than I would have preferred. I wanted to explore his mouth; taste the sweetness of his breath. But I reminded myself that none of it was real. Every kiss, every touch, would be for show. I would have to lock any feelings for him away.
I was absolutely asking for trouble. But somehow I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
“Well?” I asked, wanting to know if Gabe had been as ok with the kiss as I was.
“I… I think I can do that in public,” he whispered, breathless despite how short the kiss had been.
It’s all for show...
I leaned back and nodded. “Well at least we should be able to pull off the chemistry for it.”
He seemed to recover, and nodded.
“What will be the excuse for such a quick marriage though?” I asked. “Especially since a bonding bite will be off the table, for obvious reasons. Normally it’s the other way around in fast romances.”
He glanced down at his entwined fingers. “I think… that taking advantage of grandfather’s health is the easiest approach. They’ve wanted to see me married for so long, that I can say I wanted to be sure that he could be there.” He paused. “The bonding bite is harder. I know more couples are postponing bond bites, but my family might be pushy. You don’t happen to come from a family that believes in marriage before bonding, do you?”
I laughed, remembering the story of friends walking in on Liam and Alex as they were knotted together right after bonding. “Nope. But…” I rubbed my chin. “Maybe we can use my age, and experience, as an excuse. That’ll also help if anybody saw your proposal at the door. I’m the one slowing things down, to make sure it’s real, and I agree to the fast wedding for your grandfather’s sake.”
“Experience?” Gabe asked.
I groaned and ran a hand through my hair. “Back when I first got out of law school I did family law for a few years. I saw a lot of divorce cases for beta couples during that time, and it was often messy. But I remember one, a fast romance between an alpha and omega that turned sour within a couple years. Luckily there was no abuse, but they loathed each other. It ended up with the omega medically severing the bond. He’d decided that it was better to face the complications for the rest of his life, than be bound to a man he hated any longer.”
Gabe hissed in a breath.
I nodded. “An extreme measure, for sure. And one I will never forget. I’d rather fight the urge to bond, than watch somebody go through that.”
“I think that would make anybody understandably cautious.”
“Will your family understand?”
Gabe was silent for a moment as he considered. “I think so. They’d prefer to see a mark on me, but it’s as good an excuse as any. Plus they won’t expect to see me sporting a bite the day after the wedding either if that’s the reason you’re waiting.”
I studied him, looking for any signs of hesitation, then I leaned in again for another kiss.
“What was that for?” Gabe asked, eyes wide as I pulled back.
“Spontaneous,” I said. “If everything we do is scripted, then it won’t take long for people to see through it. We have to surprise each other.”
“I think I get it.”
“So when shall I pick you up tomorrow?”
“Huh?”
“Seems that it’s time for our first date.”
“Oh… um… seven?”
