Page 25 of The Alpha Escort Agency
"Weird because this is all very unexpected, but I had a fun time. I enjoy your company.” It's too dark to make out her face, but he's pretty sure her cheeks are burning.
He shifts around to face her, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest, his head a little light. This wasn't what he'd planned. It wasn't meant to end this way with his blood singing at a confession like this. She was meant to realise that he's an unsociable loner with no right to have designs on a woman like her. And he was meant to discover that she was a shallow, spoiled snob.
But she's the most interesting woman he's met in a long, long time.
She lifts her hand and buries her face in it, groaning. “It's my heat in a week and we haven't talked about it.”
He knows. He'd read in her notes that she has a heat every six weeks. And there's the tiniest sweet taste of it in the air. Delicious. Better than any of the foods they've eaten tonight.
“No, we haven't.” He can't help but reach out and remove her hand from her face, her warm hand once again encased by his.
“Is it going to be too weird?” Her words come streaming from her mouth, so quickly his own brain races to keep up. “I'm not sure about all this. And it's early days. But if you come for my heat, will it ruin everything before it's started? Won't it be weird and awkward and—”
He lunges forward, growling, and wraps her in his arms, pressing her against him. “Do you think I'm going to let you spend it with another Alpha?”
Her eyes flutter shut and she whimpers, her breath suddenly quick. “No.”
“Well, then.”
She nods, but she doesn't push away. “I think we should be taking this slow, though … I mean, I want to take it slow.”
“I think that's a good idea.” Slowly, he lets her go. Slowly, he takes a step back. Slowly, he drains the last dregs of his drink.
Yes, slowly Rory, slowly. Leaping in now would be as dangerous as leaping into the dark river below them. It seems so tempting, so peaceful down there, the lulling motion of the water almost mesmerising, but he knows below the surface the currents swirl and swim, pulling anyone that enters down into the depths. There's no rush. He needs to control these Alpha urges, give them both the space they need.
He returns the glasses to the pub and then walks her back to the station.
“Are you catching the tube?” she asks.
“No, the bus.”
Is that a hint of disappointment in her eyes? He stuffs his hands in his pockets and kicks at the ground. Should he kiss her? Her lips are right there in front of him, parted, her breath rippling the delicate skin ever so slightly.
“I'm sorry about that,” he says.
“About what?” A faint line appears between her brows.
“I didn't ask you, what you thought about your heat, what you wanted to do.”
“I want you there, Rory.” Her voice comes out in a faint whisper, almost a choke, and before he has a chance to reply, she's turned on her heels and dashed away into the station, lost in the crowd of people.
Chapter 9
Alice peers across the table at Maria.
Her best friend is not impressed. Her arms are firmly folded across her chest and her mouth is pursed closed.
“Don't look at me that way,” Alice says, shifting on her chair.
Maria opens her mouth, closes it again, picks up her fork and then seems to change her mind and lowers it. “I cannot believe it!”
Alice pushes the pasta salad around its plastic bowl and stares intently at her food.
“I mean, I really can't believe it. How many months have I been trying to set you up on a date with Ed's friend Matt? How many times did I beg you to join Omega Love Match with me or come with me to a speed dating night? But oh no! It was all, 'sorry Maria — the life plan!' And, ‘sorry Maria - I'm not interested in dating.' And—”
Alice's eyes flick to Maria's, her cheeks burning furiously. “We are not dating.”
“You went on a date.”
