Page 74 of Violet Moon
Sera was equal parts touched and mortified and sat there with her lips parted, saying nothing.
Parisa stood still as stone with a bewildered expression on her face until she shook herself out of it.“I’m not sure how I feel about everyone toying with their Alpha.”
“It wasn’t toying with you.We were helping,” Emmaline corrected her as a hush fell over the rest of the group.
“And none of you thought to tell either of us?”Parisa asked.
“You can’t force these things,” Emmaline continued.“You can give little pushes, but you can’t force anything to happen.”
Parisa looked at Sera, her cheeks dusted a rosy pink.Sera knew she was far more red because she could feel it spreading up her neck and meeting her bright, wide smile.
Days passed as the pack helped Parisa prepare and Sera spent the night cuddled up next to her in bed.It was just like Sera had wanted everything to be — like before, but better.
Leaving the greenhouse with a handful of brightly colored autumn mums, Sera hurried back to the pack house.The second duel was the following day and she had a plan to hopefully help with Parisa’s nerves.The flowers were the first step.The second part was asking her out on a date.Sera had everything planned.It was going to be bold, new, and out of their ordinary.
She had a short speech prepared, something more eloquent than she could usually manage, and was ready to tie the flowers together with some ribbon then knock on Parisa’s door, but she came face-to-face with the object of her immense affections as soon as she opened the back door.
“Pari!”Sera squeaked.
“There you are,” Parisa said.Her cheeks were flushed and she was dressed in casual clothes, skin glistening with a thin layer of sweat as though she’d just been running.“I was looking for you and could sense you were around here somewhere.”
“Flowers!”She blurted, holding out the tiny, loose bouquet.“I got you flowers.”
Parisa took them.“They remind me of the sunshine outside today.”
“A date!”Words were flying out of her louder and faster than she wanted.“I’m here to ask you on a date.Well, not here exactly.I was going to ask you in your study and had a whole thing planned, but now you’re here, and I already gave you the flowers, so now’s the right time, I guess.And maybe it’s not the right time, but I thought you might want a happy distraction tonight, but now I’m second guessing everything and, honestly, whatever you need to do to prepare tonight, I will help.”
“A date sounds perfect.And not as a distraction, but as a wonderful way to spend the evening.”
“Good.”Sera caught her breath.“Good,” she repeated, not knowing what else to say because the way Parisa was looking at her wiped her brain clean of all thoughts.
“What’s the plan for tonight?How should I dress?”
“Anything you want.I’m going to try to look nice, but you always look nice, so you don’t have to worry.”
“I always look nice, do I?Even like this?”She tugged on the end of her sweatshirt.
“Yes.”Sera could feel her skin warming.
“I’ll do a bit better than a matching sweatshirt and pants tonight.”
“You could wear that and still be the most perfect person in the room.”
Parisa pressed her palm to Sera’s cheek.“Your words are sweeter than honey and yet somehow I still believe them.You flatter me.I’m a sweaty mess right now.”
“You look strong.”
Parisa licked her bottom lip as she held Sera’s gaze.The heat in Parisa’s stare sent a shiver through Sera’s body.
“Thank you, my Beta.I feel strong today.And I’m certain a night out of the house will only improve my condition.”
“I have everything planned.Be ready around nine?”
“Looking forward to every moment of it.”
Sera’s eyes fluttered shut as she leaned into the heat from Parisa’s palm.
Parisa kissed her other cheek and Sera’s eyes shot open.She grinned, a pleased laugh rumbling up from her chest.She swept Parisa into her arms and peppered her with kisses until they were both smiling too hard to continue.
