Chapter Eighteen

Jamie

I’d excused myself to get dressed in my room earlier. I needed a break from myself around Eddie, as stupid as that sounded. A break from my mate. Pfft.

When I walked downstairs, Eddie was waiting for me. He had dressed quickly and, when I stepped onto the balcony with the stained glass window, he gasped. Franklin was nowhere to be seen. I felt like an omega about to head to a prom—a prom with a rock star.

Eddie took my breath away. He wore black pants with a salmon-colored shirt, button-down and sleeves rolled up to the elbows.

“You look stunning, Jamie,” he breathed as I reached him. He lifted his hand and drew me to him, kissing my lips gently.

I’d decided while I was getting dressed that I’d been wasting my time with him.

Worst-case scenario, this was it for us. This weekend was all I would get with my mate. I’d reserved myself before but now, all I wanted to do was savor every second I had with Eddie.

It would be work to put aside my feelings and cherish the moments, but I had to.

We took a ride to the restaurant, scheduled by Franklin, and this time when Eddie took my hand in his, I leaned against him. The poor man probably had whiplash from my change of attitude.

If he did, there were no signs of it.

“I can smell the basil and garlic from out here,” I said as we walked in.

“Nothing compared to the scent of you.” My mate brought my hand up and kissed it gently. Gods, I’d been a fool to deny myself any part of him.

Heat flooded my cheeks. “Thank you.”

We sat at a romantic table for two in the back of the restaurant where the waiter lit the candle and placed a rose-colored glass on top. We ordered appetizers, but we both passed on the wine. I wanted to be completely aware and awake for the rest of the night.

I’d wasted enough time and didn’t intend to continue for one more second.

“I can’t believe tomorrow is our last day here,” Eddie said. My wolf felt the sadness coming from his bear. Mate sickness was a thing. Not so fatal as it was in the old tales, but I would feel the loss of his connection as soon as we parted ways.

I sighed. “One weekend is hardly enough.”

Over dinner, Eddie showed me pictures of his cabin. The place was beautiful. A huge log cabin and not another house around for hundreds of acres. He went on and on about going back and finishing up his preparations for winter.

But no word about me being in those plans.

I steeled myself against the idea that tomorrow, this beautiful love of ours would be over before it really got a chance to flourish.

Tonight was it for us.

“Dessert?” the waiter asked as he took away our empty plates. The eggplant parmesan was incredible. And the bread? I wanted to take four or five loaves home with me.

Eddie met my gaze. “Are you hungry for dessert, Jamie?” he asked.

My pants tightened around my groin. I was hungry for him but at the same time, dessert sounded amazing. “Can we get two affogatos?” I asked. Sugar and caffeine. Hopefully, we would need both when we got back to the inn.

“Absolutely. Not on the menu, but I’m happy to make them. Be right back.”

I reached across the table and took Eddie’s hands in mine. “It won’t take us long to eat, and we’ll need the extra energy.”

My mate cocked his head. His smile became wider. “Is that right? I was hoping but didn’t want to pressure you.”

Laughing, I squeezed his hands. I wanted to tell him that I was aware of who he was. That he didn’t have to hide from me. His secret was safe with me. Instead, I chickened out and nodded. “I don’t feel pressured.”

“But earlier?” he whispered.

“I got a little weird. Too many things on my mind. I’m sorry. I’m clear now. I know what I want.”

We were served the gelato with a shot of espresso and didn’t savor it at all. In fact, we finished it in three bites. Eddie paid for the meal while I ordered another ride back to the Bearclaw.

I would pretend that after tonight, I would never see Eddie again. This was my last chance to show him how much he meant to me. How much I needed him. How much my wolf needed him.

Tomorrow would be here soon enough.

We only had tonight.

“The ride back is going to be torture,” Eddie murmured in my ear, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Sweet, sweet, torture.”

Once we got back to the inn, we sprinted up the stairs and tumbled into his room since it was the closest. He ripped my shirt off and stared at me. “I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you.”

I nodded. No time for words when my cock was about to explode. “Clothes off. Now. I need you, alpha. Don’t make me wait.”

“Never, Jamie.”