Page 12 of Castaway Heat
Ronin frowned. “Stop what?”
“Staring at me?” Shiloh murmured, never looking up from his menu.
“What if I tell you that I can’t?”
Shiloh’s gaze whipped to his for a second before moving back down. “I feel as if I’m something on the menu you plan to devour.”
“Maybe you are.”
Shiloh took a shaky breath before lowered his menu and lifting his gaze to Ronin. There was a warning there, but there was also that glimmer of need.
“I know I might sound forward, but I’ve been waiting nearly a decade for you to be ready for this,” Ronin whispered. “I’m trying to maintain my restraint, but there’s not much left of it at this point.”
Shiloh’s gaze softened.
“Good evening,” their server said, arriving at their table. “Can I interest you in hearing our chef’s special tasting menu of the night?”
Ronin struggled to drag his gaze from Shiloh. He eyed the server and nodded, forcing a smile. Maybe they’d needed a pause before he said the wrong thing. “Absolutely.”
Shiloh barely heardwhat the server said. All he could focus on was the intense, dominant alpha seated across from him. Not just any alpha, buthisalpha.
Ronin Drake was his alpha.
He had to be dreaming.
Shiloh pinched his leg under the table and winced with pain.
The wince didn’t escape Ronin’s notice. He narrowed his eyes and tilted his head, a question in his eyes.
“I think that sounds wonderful,” Ronin said to their server. “How about you, Shiloh?”
Shiloh had no idea. He wasn’t all that interested in eating anymore. Whatever was brought to the table would be fine. He wasn’t even sure he’d taste it. “That’s fine.”
The server smiled and nodded. “I’ll go inform our chef and then bring out the sake. I’ll be only a moment.”
As soon as he was gone, their menus in hand, Shiloh shook his head. “What did we just order?”
“I can’t remember,” Ronin murmured.
Shiloh chuckled. “I barely heard a word.”
“Hopefully we ordered well,” Ronin said, the corners of his mouth curling up. “It’s a special tasting menu. How bad could it be?”
“I don’t know how much appetite I have at the moment,” Shiloh said. “I’m a bit overwhelmed with this information.”
Ronin sat back, watching him. “Is there something else you’d rather do?” He cringed. “Or do you need some time to yourself?”
Shiloh shook his head. Since the second Ronin’s admission had fallen from his lips, all Shiloh could see was them in bed together. He’d never wanted with that kind of intensity in his life. “I want you.”
Ronin closed his eyes, looking as if the last vestiges of his control were held by frayed strings. He clutched the edges of their table, drawing in short breaths. When he reopened his eyes, Shiloh nearly moaned there at the table without a single touch from Ronin.
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life,” Shiloh whispered.
He rose, holding out a hand. “Let’s go.”
Shiloh lifted his shaking one to Ronin’s and was almost yanked out of his chair. Ronin led him past, barely pausing when he saw their server. “I’m sorry. My omega’s become ill. We need to leave.”
