Page 71 of The Packaged Deal
“Alpha, you’re growling?”
I stop moving. “Am I?”
“Mmm, something on your mind?” She tilts her head back and flutters long lashes at me.
“Only that you look perfect tonight, Omega.”
Blackberries fill the air. I find myself smiling as we reach the first group. It fades as I look them over.
“Jade, this is Pack Newell.” The words are torn from me.
She grins at them and speaks, but I’m lost in the way her lips curl. She uses her hands to verbalise. I hadn’t noticed that before. I love it. The column of her long white throat. Shimmers in the shine of her lilac hair. The hint of cleavage. Nope, I can’t do this. I grip her arm and turn away from the pack, dragging her with me.
“Adrian, what are you doing? I was talking to them!”
“Not anymore, you aren’t.”
I lead her out to the dance floor. The orchestra starts a new song, something slow and romantic, and I sweep her into my arms without another word.
She laughs into my chest. “You could have said you wanted to dance.”
“I could have said I made a mistake. If I said anything, I might have said the thought of you with anyone else makes me sick. I should have told you I’ve been fantasising about killing everyone who smiles at you since you reminded me of my stupidity. That I feel homicidal thinking about anyone touching you.”
Her eyes are huge lavender pools. “You do care.”
“Of course, I care, Jade. It’s not a matter of care. It’s a matter of what’s right. But to hell with right. I’m a selfish alpha. There is no resisting you. I am your alpha for now and always. No more running.”
“You won’t leave at the end of three weeks?” She stares up at me, vulnerable, hopeful, so expressive. My dream that I never realised.
“No, Jade. I’m not leaving. Whether we end up a pack or not, I can’t walk away from you, and I can’t watch you walk away from me. I am yours.”
She smiles up at me, her eyes twinkling. “You folded quicker than I’d hoped.”
“What?” I fake growl at her. The way she giggles lights up my freaking soul.
“I don’t want to meet anyone else but you,” Jade admits. “I was hoping you would see me and keep me.”
“Your plan worked, little omega.”
I dip my head down, touching my lips to hers. Blackberries explode on my tongue, and when she opens her mouth further, I slip my tongue in. I don’t care where we are or who is watching. All I care about is her. I feel shook, like I’ve hit this spot in my life that has exploded into a new pathway. Like my entire purpose has changed. I’ve been asleep, and now I’m awake. This is the first kiss. Our first kiss. It’s perfect, magical. I will remember it forever because nothing I’ve ever done in my life has felt as right as this moment and the decision I’ve just made. I pull back reluctantly.
“Alpha,” she whines.
“We should leave,” I say huskily.
“No, we can’t leave,” Sven barks as he interrupts us. “We’re here because you won an award, Addy.”
Jade does a double take. “You won an award?”
“A small one,” I say through gritted teeth as I glare at Sven. How dare he ruin my evening! He huffs, but he can’t tear his eyes away from Jade’s ass.
“Dance with us, Sven,” I whisper-tease him. It will punish him in a way nothing else will.
The alpha hesitates, but Jade turns in my grip and steps into his space.
“Dance with me, please?”
He glowers at her, then lifts his eyes to me, and I see his resistance crumble. Triumph surges through me.