Chapter Thirteen

Shane

"What's got you frowning?" Zhang asked, his hand caressing the top of my thigh beneath the intimate table for two.

"I don't want this weekend to end." We were on vacation. This wasn't life. But how in the fuck could I get up and leave, fly home, without my heart heavier than an anvil. I couldn't. That was how.

"Look at me, Shane." His melodic voice drew me from my catastrophizing. My mountain lion demanded that I be here. Right now. With my fated mate.

"I'm looking." Bending at the waist, I kissed him a few times on the lips, savoring every moment. Branding myself with his taste.

"You are right. We might only have this weekend, so let's spend it together and not get lost in thoughts of what-if and if only." Despite the fact I marked him in the heat of the moment, and at his request, it did not sound like he was going to hold me to that implied promise. Unfortunately.

We smiled at each other. "You're right. You're absolutely right. What are you ordering?" I asked and took down the glass of red wine but declined a second as the waiter approached. I wanted to be present and lucid for every moment I was blessed with, with Zhang.

The white taper flickered between us, and I'd bought him a rose from a vendor outside the restaurant. "I think I'm getting the filet mignon with the parmesan-crusted potatoes. What about you?"

I perused the menu and knew the portions would only be a third of what would fill me up, but here we were. "I am going to have the Chicken Francese. Comes with roasted sweet potatoes."

"That sounds good, too. Maybe I could sneak a bite from your plate."

My heartstrings tugged. He was already there, mastering them all. "You could have the entire thing if you asked, sweet panda."

We ordered and took advantage of the bread basket in the meantime. "I never eat rolls like this. They are so good."

"I eat them every chance I get," he admitted.

I smeared softened herb butter on a piece of roll. "Tell me your plans when you get back," I said before popping the bite in my mouth and succeeding not to moan in reaction. We had shut that topic down earlier, but I couldn't entirely dismiss it from my mind. It had to be on his too, and if I could help, I wanted to.

"I honestly have no idea." Zhang shrugged. Not like him at all. He was usually self-confident and assured. He blew me away with it, actually. Even I shook like a leaf when I walked out on stage.

"I wasn't pressuring you." I ran my fingers through his black hair, noting the softness on top.

"No. I know you weren't, but I should figure something out. I…just don't know who I want to be yet, and the promotion is on my mind, you know?"

He nodded.

"I don't know what to do."

"That's okay. You have time to consider what direction you want to take moving forward. I was forced to figure out who I was and what I wanted to be because of the meanness of others. It fortunately turned into a chain of gyms and sponsorships but, otherwise, I have no idea of who I would be."

While we ate our meal, he talked about some options. Going to school. Starting a business. He had some excellent ideas, but the execution was everything. And a career change carried a steep price tag. More than his savings could bear, likely. I almost offered to help him out with his work, but that would be a commitment of sorts and, while I was there—right there, on the nose, plastered to the bull's-eye—it didn't seem like the omega was.

We left the restaurant and decided to take a night walk through the town, exploring the little shops and street vendors.

"There's a hamburger place up ahead," Zhang said, hugging my middle with his arm around my back.

"Are you hungry?" It surprised me because I could scent it on him before. Now, not at all.

"Not for me, big guy. For you."

I chuckled. "You wouldn't mind. I'm starving."

He laughed hard and loud, burying his face into my pec. "That's why I mentioned it. I want to see how much you can put down."

Four cheeseburgers later, I finally relaxed, sated.

"Look over there," I said, pointing to a darkened park with a pond in the middle. A lighted feature blew water into the air, making a lovely ambiance.

"Wanna go make out in the shadows?" he asked with a bright smile.

"Sounds like the best dessert."

We took the long way around the pond and tucked ourselves onto a bench where darkness made an umbrella over our forms. My lion detected no one around us. We were alone, and I had ideas for my omega. "How naughty are you feeling?"

"What did you have in mind, Shane?" Ah, I loved the sound of my name on his lips.

"This."

I pulled him farther into the shadows and got on my knees in front of my omega, unzipping his jeans and taking his cock deep into my mouth. He did good, keeping his moans to low rumbles as he came, spurting his cum into my throat. While his fingers tangled in my hair.

Once I was done, I raised up to standing and he pulled me in for a kiss. "That was…gods, that was hot, alpha."

I grabbed his hand. "Let's get back to the inn. I'm not wasting one second of tonight with you."