Chapter Ten
Every intention I had of keeping my head on straight flew out the window coming into Maxwell’s house. His home felt like home to me. Not his home but my home as well—our home.
Every fabric and room was saturated with his scent.
Even when I showered, though I used my own soap and shampoo, the alpha imprinted on my senses. I knew I would be staying in the guest room, but the roasted coffee scent of him penetrated even this room and bathroom.
All this time, I had indulged my craving to see the world but standing there, with my alpha just on the other side of the door, all I wanted to do was stay with him.
Stay with my alpha.
I blew out a long breath and opened the door.
“How are you with a salad?” he asked, smiling over his shoulder.
“I’m actually an excellent sous chef. What smells so good?” I asked, realizing the double entendre.
“Garlic steak bites and some baked sweet potatoes. If I knew I’d be having company, I would’ve planned a better meal. I hope you like beef.”
“I haven’t met a predator shifter who doesn’t.” I made myself at home, finding the bowls, cutting board, and knife with no trouble. I made a simple salad of lettuce and shaved Brussels sprouts, along with some odds and ends from Max’s refrigerator. Though he had bottled salad dressing, I made a vinaigrette. Okay, a part of me wanted to impress the alpha.
A big part.
“That looks great. Let’s eat.”
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d shared three meals in a row with someone—in fact, I didn’t think I ever had before.
Maxwell’s home reminded me of one of those social media posts where you have to choose one place to spend a year in. The living areas were tidy and clean but didn’t have that cold, hospital-like quality that made me think of a hotel. The sofas worn but taken care of. Throws along the back of the sofa called to me. I could easily see myself tucking into Maxwell’s side, him holding me close with one of those blankets draped over me while we watched a movie or read books.
“Is something wrong?” Max’s voice broke me out of my fantasizing. “I can make something else.”
“No. I’m sorry. Caught up in my thoughts, that’s all.”
He nodded. “You do that a good bit,” he commented. He was sincere, not judging me criticizing, simply stating. And he was right. I did that.
Usually I thought about the next place I would visit but now, my thoughts centered about the possibility of staying put—something I’d never considered before.
“I do.”
More than once, our feet and thighs touched under the table. We ate, ignoring the elephant in the room, that we were mates. If I could feel it, then so could the alpha.
I wanted him to do something about it. Push me up against the counter and claim my lips with his. Take me on this table. Give me a reason to stay. To be here with him.
“How about dessert?” he asked and winked.
Had he read my thoughts?
“What do you have?” I asked as my lips rose in a smile.
He chuckled. The sound shot straight into my gut and dissolved somewhere in my pelvis. Meeting my mate, well, I didn’t expect it to go like this.
Couldn’t have planned it better myself.
“Help me put all of this away and we’ll see what we can come up with. Okay, omega?”
I tipped my head back, undone by the way he called me that word. “Sure.”
We worked around each other, putting up the minute quantity of leftovers in no time. I crossed my arms over my chest, watching Maxwell’s every move. He was broad and thick, but his steps were graceful yet calculated.
An alpha in all definitions of the word.
“I’ve got ice cream,” he said, opening the freezer. “Cherry cheesecake flavor.”
“Sounds great.”
He walked over to me, container in hand. Deep-brown eyes nailed me. I gripped the counter behind me, hoping, praying he would ditch the ice cream and choose me for dessert instead. He put the frozen treat on the counter and leaned in, so close his breath tickled the rim of my ear. One arm braced on the counter while the other moved above my head. Gods, was he going to do that book thing where the alpha braced his hand on the wall and kissed the omega into a stupor?
“Getting the bowls,” he whispered, his groin pressing into mine.
Max put the bowls on the counter and then reached into the drawer beside me. “Now the spoons.”
At this rate, I would be melted before the ice cream. I shook with need.
“Ah, omega, tell me what you need?” His warm hand cupped my cheek. “Is there something else you want for dessert? Something you need?”
I burned with desire for this man. None of it made sense. We had only met this morning and yet, I couldn’t, for the life of me, come up with any cohesive thought other than wanting his kiss—his touch. “Kiss me, alpha. Forget the rest and kiss me.”