Page 53 of Heat Clickbait
"What's working?"
"Whatever your actual goal was for this date. The chemistry thing. It's definitely confirmed."
His hands tightened on my waist, and I felt him inhale sharply. "That wasn't... I didn't plan this to seduce you."
"I know." I pulled back enough to meet his eyes. "That's why it's working."
He kissed me then, tasting of salt water and sunshine, his hands tangling in my wet hair. It was different from our heat-fevered encounters, slower, more intentional. When we broke apart, both breathing hard, his eyes had gone dark with want.
"We should probably—" he started.
"Get out of the water before we scandalize the fish?"
"Something like that."
We made our way back to shore, where he immediately wrapped me in a towel like I was something precious.The gesture was so careful, so contrary to his usual casual physicality, that it made my chest tight.
"Tell me about your family," I said as we settled back on the blankets, letting the sun dry us.
His face lit up as he talked about his three sisters, his mom who could guilt-trip in three languages, his dad who cried at every milestone. He showed me photos of family gatherings where everyone talked over each other, food piled high, cousins everywhere.
"They want to meet you," he admitted. "My mom's already planning the menu. Fair warning, she'll feed you until you can't move, then be offended you didn't eat more."
"Sounds like Milo's kind of person."
"They'll either bond over feeding people or have an epic battle for kitchen dominance." He paused, suddenly serious. "Would you want that? To meet them?"
The question carried weight. Meeting family meant something, meant we were more than just biology and proximity.
"Yeah," I said softly. "I'd like that."
His smile could have powered the city, dimples on full display. "They'll love you. My sisters are already half in love from your streams. They say you're savage in the best way."
We talked as the afternoon wore on, sharing stories and fears and dreams that had nothing to do with streaming or pack dynamics. He told me about wanting to open a community gym someday, free for kids who couldn't afford training. I told him about my fear of becoming my mother, letting biology override choice.
"You're nothing like that," he said firmly. "You chose us. Every day, you keep choosing us. That's the opposite of giving up control."
As the sun started setting, painting the sky in oranges and pinks, he pulled me against his side. No performance in it, just comfort and growing affection.
"Thank you," I said.
"For what?"
"For letting me see Eli, not just Blitz."
He pressed a kiss to my temple, his voice soft. "Thank you for wanting to see him."
The drive home was comfortable, his hand finding mine over the center console, thumb tracing patterns on my palm. Sandy and sun-tired, we looked like any couple returning from a beach day, not an Alpha and Omega navigating the complexities of modern pack dynamics.
When we got back to the house, the others were in the living room, and they all looked up with knowing smiles.
"Beach was good?" Nova asked, though our sun-kissed skin and sandy everything made it obvious.
"Beach was perfect," I confirmed, heading toward my room to shower.
"Callie?" Blitz called after me.
I turned back.
