by Alicia White
“Beth, order up,” Mack barked from the kitchen.
“On my way.” She hurried toward the kitchen, slipping her notepad into her apron.
Beth grabbed the burger and fries from the large window and looked down at the table number. She wasn’t the only waitress working. Mack’s son Gavin helped out as a waiter-slash-bartender as well. She wondered where Gavin was, but then shrugged. It didn’t really matter. She was here to work and make money.
Smiling, she headed toward table eight. It had taken her three days to remember where each table was. She’d actually drawn herself a picture and studied it each night, not wanting to make a fool out of herself while working. Now, she practically dreamed about serving food. Who knew that she could actually be happy serving food and chatting with customers?
She bit her bottom lip when she saw who was sitting at the small table all alone. Kaden Schiller. Her heart fluttered in her chest. Kaden was the best-looking man she’d ever seen, and that was saying something. Hell, he should be in Hollywood strutting in front of a camera. That first night, he’d walked into Mack’s when she’d been working the dinner shift and he’d been coming in each night ever since.
She remembered their first meeting. For a man that good looking, he sure hadn’t been as cocky as she’d expected. Although, she was sure that it was because he wasn’t used to being around women. Maybe he was shy. Living in Alaska, the ratio of men to women was severe. Here, in this small community, the ratio was even higher. There were at least ten to twelve men to each woman.
Hi, welcome to Mack’s. I’ll be your server, Beth. What can I get you this evening?”
The man stared at her with his mouth slightly open, looking way too shocked for words. Mack had told her quite a few times that she didn’t need to be overly formal, but she wanted to make a good impression on the patrons. Yes, this was a bar and grill, but that was no reason for her not to do her absolute best. Plus, if this was going to be her job for the time being then, she wanted the boss and the people who frequented the place to like her.
“Sir, would you like to start with something to drink?” He didn’t say a word, so Beth pushed forward. “Um, perhaps you would like a soda, a beer, or something from the bar?”
“Mate?” he whispered as if in complete awe, and Beth arched her brow in confusion. She had no idea what the man was even talking about.
Blinking rapidly, he cleared his throat. “Yes, thank you. I’d like a beer. Whatever’s on tap is fine. I’m not picky. And a burger with everything.” He rubbed his flat stomach.
He stayed quiet the rest of the time he was at Mack’s. He barely touched his food, dropped a huge tip on the table, and rushed out the door as if the hounds of hell were on his back.
Beth was glad that he’d come back though. It made the scenery inside the place a lot better when he was around. He was a god among men. Extremely tall, even from his seated position, it was obvious he was a big man. He had deep green eyes, the color of the trees surrounding her cabin. Thick, full lips that looked so damn kissable it was hard to keep her mouth to herself. His dark brown, short hair was soft. She’d managed to touch a few strands when he wasn’t paying attention. Beth really wanted to shove her fingers through roughly though. Looking down his body, Beth took in his wide shoulders and the fantastic chest visible through his T-shirt he wore. Mmm…mmm…mmm, he’s sexy as hell.
Ever since seeing him that first night, she’d been dreaming about his broad shoulders and how amazing his ass looked in a pair of jeans. All men are the same. She began the silent litany she went through every time she thought she would break down and throw herself into the man’s arms. She was never going to learn. She had just left a cheating liar. She did not need to get involved with another man. Even if she really, really wanted to. It’s too soon.
Beth carefully set the plate down in front of him and tried not to sigh when Kaden’s dark green eyes looked up at her. Men shouldn’t be able to look this good. He was a work of art. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
He smiled. That got to her, too. He had perfectly straight white teeth, exposing one little dimple in his cheek. He was also so polite. “I’d like another beer, please.”
“No problem,” Beth said, her voice way more breathy than she’d intended. She picked up his empty glass. “I’ll be right back.”
Beth turned and walked toward the bar. Gavin was standing behind it, filling various glasses.
“What can I get you, darling?” The man asked as he winked. He always flirted with her, but it wasn’t serious. Actually, it seemed to be Gavin’s normal personality.
“Another beer for Kaden, table eight. I’m not sure what you gave him before.” Beth liked Gavin. He was funny and kind, if not a little too loud and flirty at times.
“Sorry about that, I was getting another keg from the back when his order came up. Hope he didn’t give you any trouble.”
“Who? Kaden? No, he’s always very polite.”
“Good. That man can be a real bear, trust me.” He winked and a few customers that were sitting at the bar started to chuckle.
Beth wondered what was so funny. The man was always so kind. Hell, if he wasn’t, she wouldn’t be the least bit interested. That’s not true. You’re always attracted to complete losers who pretend to be amazing men. Hmmm, maybe he’s not such a nice guy? Shaking her head, she refused to believe that Kaden wasn’t a decent man. It made dreaming about him at night easier. She wished he was an ass. It would make her life a hell of a lot easier.
* * * *
Kaden wasn’t sure how much more he could take. Being this close to his mate every night was literally killing him. The worst part was that every time Beth came around, he could barely speak clearly. All the blood rushed to his cock, completely abandoning his brain. He was sure that the beautiful woman thought he had some sort of mental disorder.
The first night he’d come into Mack’s for dinner, he’d been in awe. She practically glided toward his table, an angel that came down to earth just for him and Jason. Dark brown, wavy hair that stopped at the middle of her back, beautiful chocolate brown eyes, full pink lips. The goddess had enchanted him with one look, calling to him. She had curves that went on for miles, and Kaden couldn’t wait to start exploring.
Her scent alone made his mouth water, and when the food finally arrived he couldn’t eat a bite. The only thing on his mind at that point was getting home to call Jason. He needed his brother to get back to Alaska, fast.
Jason was on his way back. It was taking a damn long time in his opinion. Fate had chosen Beth for them, but she sure didn’t help get Jase home. First, his brother was down near Portland, which was at least a two-day drive if he didn’t stop. Then, the truck broke down. He got a flat tire and a speeding ticket. His poor brother was dealing with a lot of issues, but he still wasn’t back.
“Here’s your beer.” Beth’s voice was breathy, sexy.
She touched him, rubbing his hair between her thumb and pointer finger. It almost seemed as if the action was done unconsciously. He never called her on it and he wouldn’t as long as she kept touching him in some way. Her arousal circled him, and Kaden had to breathe through his mouth, but that didn’t help. He tasted her. I’m so fucked. He groaned internally, trying to figure out what to say to her.
“Would…” He coughed then cleared his throat, not wanting to mess this up. “Would you like to join me?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. I’m working.”
“Of course.” Duh, she just served your food. “Would you consider going out with me some time?”
He could see the uncertainty on her face and felt his heart drop. Did she really not want to go out with him? Wasn’t she attracted to him? He knew she was, the thick scent of her arousal confirmed that she was definitely attracted to him. Didn’t she feel the connection? Fate chose her for them. He wished more than anything that Jason was sitting with him at this exact moment. His brother could talk to anyone. He was outgoing and charming.<
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“What is there to do around here?” That one question gave him utter hope.
“Well, I guess that depends on how adventurous you are. I love the outdoors, so there is actually quite a bit of things to do. Hiking. Fishing. There is a lake nearby. Kayaking is a lot of fun. If you’re not the outdoors type, we could always watch a movie.” Kaden was willing to do pretty much anything to spend some time with his mate.
Hell, they could do cartwheels for all he cared, just as long as they were together. He could tell that she was a bit skittish and hoped with some time she’d trust him. He was a big guy and wondered if his height or perhaps his width scared her a tad. She was the safest person in the world when it came to him. He’d do anything and everything to protect her.
“I haven’t done much exploring since coming here, but I do enjoy hiking. I haven’t been fishing since I was a little girl. My dad used to take me, but I wasn’t allowed to talk. He said that I’d scare all the fish away. I’ve never been kayaking before, but I’ve always wanted to try it.” She cut herself off then, looking a little frazzled, as if she hadn’t meant to tell him that much about herself.
“Let’s start with a hike and then go down the list. I’d love to take you fishing and kayaking, but you have to promise to talk. I want to get to know you.”
“Okay, it’s a deal,” Beth told him.
As quickly as he could, Kaden pulled out the piece of paper he’d been carrying around in his pocket since the second night he’d come to Mack’s for dinner. He wanted to be prepared, so he wrote down his phone number, address, and every bit of important information he could think of. Handing Beth the piece of paper, he watched as she put it in her pocket before walking off. Relief washed over him, making him feel giddy.
I have a date with my mate.
Chapter 7
Beth couldn’t remember ever being so nervous. As she stared at herself in the mirror, she wondered if agreeing to go out with Kaden was a good idea. Her brain and heart seemed to be taking different sides in the argument. Her mind wanted Kaden, completely and totally. She wanted to rub her hands down his muscular body and feel that hard cock she’d spotted behind the zipper of his jeans. Her heart wanted her to stay far away from the man, it couldn’t take any more abuse than it had already experienced.
Could she keep Kaden out of her heart? Having had zero contact with Kirk, she felt a million times better. Avoiding emotional abuse had triggered a form of healing. Although it hadn’t been that long, she was starting to feel like her old self, the “real” Beth. In previous relationships, she’d always changed for the man she was with. She couldn’t do that anymore, she had to be strong.
Looking down at her outfit, she felt good. She was wearing her favorite jeans, the ones that made her ass look spectacular, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and a pair of hiking boots that had only been worn once. Beth grabbed her keys and jacket before plucking up the piece of paper Kaden had slid her.
She still laughed every time she saw it. The man hadn’t just given her his address and phone number. Nope, he’d actually written down his social security number and driver’s license number. To top it off, he’d given her references that included his parents and Alpha. What kind of man gave a woman that kind of information after only a week of knowing them? She wasn’t sure if she should feel flattered or concerned. The jury was still out on that one.
It was a nice change though. Not many men would consider going to such extreme lengths to get a date. References? Jeez, if every man came with that, life would be a hell of a lot easier. If she had gotten the opportunity to talk with Kirk’s parents and a few exes, she wouldn’t have gotten involved. Scoffing, she shoved him out of her mind. She wouldn’t let the day be ruined thinking of that man. Nope, not going to happen.
Setting her GPS, Beth followed the directions down the main road and off a dirt path. She was glad she wasn’t driving one of those tiny smart cars. Otherwise, she would’ve been stuck in one of many ditches that were carved out in the ground from the weather. Beth took her time maneuvering down the path. She was relieved when she saw a house come into view. The place was at least double the size of her cabin. It was beautifully situated with the natural environment, giant pines surrounding it, making it appear more fantasy than reality.
Parking her SUV next to a truck out front, Beth climbed out. She’d barely made it two steps when the front door opened and Kaden stepped out onto his porch. Wearing jeans, a flannel, and hiking boots, the man was sinfully delicious. Again she was blown away by the sheer size of him as she approached. At five foot five inches, most men were taller, but Kade towered over her.
“You ready to go?” His gruff voice had her glancing back up at his face.
“Yeah.”
“You look great.” She watched his eyes skim down her body, inspecting every inch of her.
It felt like a caress, even at the short distance separating them and she shivered. The man definitely had an effect on her. Did he like what he saw? If the hungry expression on his face was an indication, then the answer was a resounding yes. There was a pull as if her body was connected to his, forcing her to move forward, to touch, but Beth managed to hold herself back.
“Thank you, so do you.”
The grin that spread across his face was worth any compliment, and she wanted to tell him several more in that moment. She liked the fact that she’d been the one to make him smile. It did funny things to her stomach and made her heart beat frantically in her chest. Wow. Acting as normal as possible, she took a deep breath and tried to calm down before walking toward Kaden.
“I thought it would be easier if we just set out from here instead of driving somewhere. I hope that’s all right with you.”
“Sounds good. Lead the way.” Beth had ulterior motives. She wanted to check out his tight, muscular ass as he strode in front of her.
Kaden didn’t disappoint. He stepped off the porch and strode off toward the tree line. Beth’s eyes dropped a bit and stared at his tight butt in the most amazing pair of blue jeans she’d ever seen. Biting her lip, she wondered if biting that ass would show bad manners. Could she take a nibble on the first date? She wanted to laugh but didn’t dare when Kade looked over his shoulder and winked. Busted!
“Do I measure up?”
“Huh?” She looked at him as if she had no clue what he was talking about, but it was obvious he’d caught her checking him out.
“My ass…Does it look fat in these jeans?”
Beth threw her head back and laughed hard and loud. She couldn’t prevent the hysterics from bubbling out. He sounded like such a woman in that moment. The serious look on his face calmed her down considerably and she wondered briefly if his question was actually serious.
“God, you look even more beautiful when you laugh.”
“Thank you. You look so serious that I actually believe you.”
“It’s the truth. If there is one thing you can always believe, it’s that I’m always honest, bluntly honest.” She’d like to trust him.
If it hadn’t been for her previous experiences with men, she wouldn’t have even an ounce of doubt. Damn those other men in the past for screwing her up.
“I respect honesty. I’d rather know the truth and be hurt than hear a lie and be temporarily happy.”
“I feel the same way.”
Kaden held out his hand, and Beth didn’t think twice as she intertwined their fingers. The way their hands fit together made her think of two puzzle pieces coming together. Her hand fit inside his perfectly.
* * * *
The two of them walked through the thick forest, hand in hand. The pace was slow and she appreciated that Kaden took half steps for her benefit. The fresh scent of pine in the air made her think of Christmas. The gorgeous man on her arm made her feel like the lead cheerleader of the varsity high school team. She wanted this feeling to last longer than one afternoon hike, or their stroll through the woods.
They talked about the weather, sticking to casual
topics of conversation, nothing too serious, and she was relieved. The moments of silence stretched out. It wasn’t awkward. She didn’t feel the need to fill the space with meaningless words. She cherished the moment, inhaled the clean mountain air, and looked at her companion. The man was just so beautiful. That word normally didn’t apply to men. They were usually referred to as handsome or sexy. In the silence, Beth fantasized about what it would feel like to kiss those full lips.
It wasn’t just kissing she had in mind either. She wanted to nibble, lick, and if he approved, bite. Never before had she felt that way. She tended to be the more passive partner, but with Kaden she wanted to be dominating. She wanted to push him up against a tree and have her wicked way with him. Actually, she wanted to force him to have his wicked way with her. Hiding her smile, Beth wondered what he would think of all the dirty thoughts floating around inside her head.
“Want to play a game?” Kaden asked her, his voice full of mischief.
The odd question threw her off a bit, jerking her back to the moment. What were they going to do, sit down and play Monopoly? From the look on his face, she assumed that her initial guess was completely off base. Hmmm…was he offering to play a sex game? Was she interested? Hell yeah!
“What did you have in mind?” Beth asked grinning.
“Hide and seek?”
“In the woods? How could you possibly find me?” This place was huge. If she got a head start, there would be no way for him to locate her. She could be stuck waiting somewhere for hours or even days.
“When I find you, I want a prize.”
“A prize?”
“Yeah, I’m going to claim my prize. I’m going to undress you, spread you out, and lick all the sweet cream I can smell flowing from your pussy. When I’ve drowned my senses in the taste of you, I’m going to fuck you with my tongue, lick more of you, then listen to you scream my name as you come.”
Holy hell! Had a man ever said anything sexier? The words came out of his mouth in that calm tone he used as if he were ordering lunch instead of offering to give her pleasure. She was going to melt into a puddle at his feet. Her legs felt shaky and slightly weak. She squeezed her thighs against the sensations in her clit from the mere words. The swollen, sensitive bud throbbed with need. When had a man ever been so desperate to touch, taste, and pleasure her? Even my own…Beth nipped that thought, cutting it off before it could develop and ruin the moment.
