Page 18 of In Deep
“No, this was …” I close my eyes and swoon, and satisfaction passes over his face. “Are we allowed dessert?” I pat the napkin against my lips. “Or will it interfere with training?”
“What do you want? Let me guess, something with chocolate.”
“No,” I shake my head, smiling at him and causing a smile of his own to blossom across his face.
“What then?”
“Something lemony?”
“Lemony?”
“Yes. I like a little sour with my sweet.”
He orders me a lemon cheesecake and laughs as I moan and groan my way through the dessert. It’s the most beautiful piece of food I’ve ever seen. More art than pudding, with tiny curls of white chocolate, sprigs of mint and swirls of raspberry puree. The cheesecake itself melts in my mouth, and I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anything as good.
“Do you use food to seduce all your women?” I ask him as I pull the spoon from my mouth, sucking every last miniscule of the cheesecake from it.
He leans forward. “I’m not big into seducing women.”
I guess he doesn’t usually have to bother. Is that why he’s been so determined to pursue me? I’m probably a rarity. An omega who’s turned his pack down.
He examines my creased brow. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.” He grabs my cheesecake and pulls it to his side of the table. “Or no more.”
“That’s just mean!”
“But effective. Out with it.”
“I like you, Zane,” I say, giving him the honesty he wants. “But I’m not sure about this. If I trust it.” I hesitate. “If I trust you.”
His eyes widen as if he can’t quite believe my words.
“Why don’t you trust me?”
“Hmmm, apart from the fact you just stole my desert.” I capture the plate between my fingers and drag it back in front of me, taking another large forkful before he can steal it again.
“Seems a minor crime.”
“Uh uh. This is the best cheesecake I’ve ever eaten. Stealing it is a very big crime.”
“What else?” he asks, jerking his chin in my direction. “What else don’t you trust?”
I meet his gaze and hold it. “Your intentions.”
He laughs. “You have me there, Omega. My intentions are not pure at all.”
“But why me?” I blurt out, unable to keep my curiosity at bay.
“Why not?”
I plunge my fork into the lemon cream and sink it right down to the base before snapping a piece off. “Is it because I turned you down?”
I lift the piece to my mouth and my gaze back up to him at the same time.
He leans closer, capturing my hand and swivelling the fork around to meet his waiting mouth. He clamps his lips around the fork and that heat swims low in my belly as I slide the implement from his mouth.
