6

         We walked out of the hotel and instead of giving the valet his ticket, he looked back at me and asked, “Walk with me?”

         “With you, of course,” I answered using his own words against him, kind of hoping they made him feel like I felt when he said them to me.

Hand in hand we strolled the city streets, people watching and peering into whatever shops were still open. Passing by the slightly lit streets, it gets darker the further we walk. We end up in a quiet little park away from the city racket, all the lights, and bustle hidden by the large trees. He guides me to sit on the bench and pulls me in tight next to him.

“Thank you for making quick friends with Brylie. Gunnar’s been down about her being homesick and today was the first time, she’s been genuinely happy. You had a big part in that, and he will forever be grateful. The conversation tonight she had with you was probably the first meaningful conversation she’s had since moving to our pack. And speaking of them, mind filling me in on why I could see hearts and stars floating around my Beta couple?” he chuckles.

I grin and wiggle my eyebrows, “I’m pretty sure they’re going to be making your Beta heir tonight.”

His eyes open wide as he exclaims, “Really?! Brylie has been so timid around Gunnar that I’m surprised they had even marked each other. You think she’s ready for that?”

“Oh yeah! She just needed a little self-confidence and an outsider to whisper a great piece of advice to have her see that what she wants isn’t too far out of her reach.”

“You are one of a kind, Laynie,” Colt says as he kisses the top of my head.

This feels like so much more than anything I’ve had in my other relationships. But I keep repeating in my head, rule four, rule four, rule four. And never mind Colt’s rules, I had my own damn rule. No more love, keep my heart out of this. Nothing good can come from me catching feelings for someone who’s not my mate and when I need to leave for another contract next month.

“Laynie, you spaced. Are you okay?” Colt asked.

  “Oh, yeah, just lost in my thoughts, sorry about that. Thank you for a wonderful dinner,” trying to change the subject. I turned my head and kissed his cheek. He turns to look at me and our faces are so close to each other. Our noses touching, our breaths mingling. I can feel his breath on my lips. It hits me just at this moment that we haven’t kissed each other yet. His lips look so full and plump, and I haven’t felt them against my own.

It's like we’re stuck in a trance. Sitting in the middle of a park on a bench, gazing into each other, breathing each other in, yet both of us were afraid to move one more inch closer to have our lips touch.

“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, Layne,” his voice comes out barely above a whisper. His hands trail up my arms and land behind my neck. His thumb ran over my cheek. He’s so fucking warm. I lean into him, just wanting everything he wants to give. I nuzzle into the warmth his hand is providing. “This is turning out to be better than I could’ve ever imagined.”

         “How so, Colton?” I practically purr and he shivers as he hears his full name from me.

         “You are so much more than I thought you’d be. This is going to be the best month ever.” My heart swells and then pops at his reminder that I’m only with him for the month. I quickly shove down my disappointment and reply with a sultry, “If last night is any indication of how the rest of the month is going to go, you couldn’t be more right, Alpha.”

         His eyes flashed gold, twinkling like the brightest star in the night sky. I think his wolf likes me or he just likes hearing me call him Alpha. My wolf pushes forward too. She is becoming very attached to Colt. Not sure how she’s going to handle me leaving for the next assignment after this month.

I continue to tease him and his wolf by continuing my train of thought, “Last night was fucking…” I take a long pause, leaving him to think about how he wants to describe how it went, and then I finish, “…except we didn’t fuck.”

         His eyes are dark and lusty, and I can see the gold swirling showing his wolf is still very present in this conversation. “Is that what you want Laynie, do you want to fuck?” His voice was so fucking husky. If we weren’t in the middle of a park, we’d end up fucking right now.

         Just as I’m about to answer, we hear some rustling around and a jogger running through the park for a night run breaks us out of our lust bubble. I shake my head trying to figure out how I went from wanting to feel his lips against mine to almost begging him to fuck me on the bench in the middle of the park. It’s almost comical.

         “Come on, let’s go back home,” I say already off the bench and taking a step back toward the direction we came from. I close my eyes as my back is to him inwardly cringing at my choice of words. Could I sound any more desperate? I just called his pack house ‘home”. What the hell is wrong with me?

         He sighs, joins our hands, and continues with me as we make our way back so we can pick up our, for fuck’s sake, his car from the valet service. We walk in a non-awkward silence, just comfortable being with each other. In fact, nothing is said we get in the car and start driving back to the packhouse.

         “I’m really glad you’re here, Laynie. You’re helping me in ways I didn’t even know I needed help in.” He looks over at me with a humble, boy-ish grin.

         “Of course, Colt, that’s what you pay me the big bucks for,” I say chuckling.

         We pull through the gates and up the driveway before he parks the car in the garage. He turns and looks at me, “Seriously Laynie, money and contract aside, I’m really glad you’re here.”

         I smile back, but quickly rush out of the car so he can’t hear my heartbeat pick up with excitement at what he’s telling me. Opening the door, we enter the dark house. I turn and peck his cheek, whisper out a good night, and make my way to my room. I need space from him.

         I get into my room and close the door and slump down to the floor. I close my eyes and think, in another world, at another time, without the weight of the world on my shoulders, maybe I’m right where I’m supposed to be.