For some reason, his words make me blush harder. Most people who appreciate the tree are either elderly couples or families with young children. People my age usually laugh at the thought. And since the city is now flooded with college students and young adults, the city council decided the funds would be better spent somewhere else.
We turn the corner, and there it is! Covered in bright red and green sparkling lights and standing at about forty feet in height is the beautiful tree. Piles of extra-large wrapped gifts decorate the area. As expected, there’s a huge crowd of families and little kids waiting to hang their wishes. Disappointment fills me.
Goddess, he must think this is boring. What single alpha wants to have a romantic date, and then go somewhere with a bunch of screaming children running around? I freeze when my words hit me. Romantic date? Can I even call it that? I mean, yes, he saved me from Fergi What’s-His-Name and then we had dinner, but was it an actual date?
Becausethisfeels like a date. My eyes wander back over to the crowd, and I sigh. What are the chances he would want to wait such a long time just to hang a piece of paper on the tree?
“Hey, check it out! They have photo booths set up,” he says, pointing. “Looks like there are a few open. Wanna take some photos with me? Commemorate this lovely night? Maybe after, we can get some hot cocoa and wait in line. I’d love to add a wish to the tree. I’ve never done anything like that before.”
My head whips up, jaw falling slack. “You want to do all that? With me?”
“Yes. Of course. I like you.” He lifts our laced hands and kisses my knuckles. I giggle at the way his plush lips look, kissing the material of my glove. This time, he tugs me forward, leading the way. Shrugging off our coats, we settle into the booth, and he swipes his card. Out of habit, I frown. I don’t know why it bothers me so much when an alpha just assumes and pays. Thorne is the sweetest guy I’ve ever met, yet I can’t shut that part of my brain off.
“I’m sorry,” he says.
My face scrunches in confusion. “Sorry for what?”
“I should have asked you first. Maybe you can treat us to hot cocoa?”
I blink, my heart pounding. He noticed? Goddess, of course, he noticed; this man pays attention. He listens—not only to my words, but to the meaning behind them. He doesn’t just stare at my body with lust; he pays attention to my body language.
Fuck me. I’ve never been more flattered and turned on.
Unable to control myself any longer, I push him down on the bench and climb onto his lap, straddling him. I press myself in close.
“Hayden,” he groans when my ass settles over his groin. “What are you doing?”
“Showing you just how much I like you, too.” I close the distance between us and press my lips to his. Then, I kiss him with everything I have. It’s as if there’s some primal urge I can’t control. There’s this animalistic need to claim this alpha before anyone else does. I suck his bottom lip, tugging on the plump flesh with my teeth and licking it. He tastes sweet, like the sangria he had at dinner.
Thorne moans, and that only encourages me. Have I ever made an alpha moan like this before? He’s so responsive, and it’s such a fucking turn on. I’m vaguely aware of flashing lights as I make out with my alpha.No, don’t call him that. He isn’t mine.
After what feels like hours, Thorne pulls away. “We should probably go before we give some poor family a show,” he chuckles.
I blink my eyes open, and it’s as if the whole world comes whooshing back in. The ruckus of the crowd and the children cheering. Christmas music plays from speakers off to our left. The hard bulge of Thorne’s erection pressed against me.
His lips come into focus, and holy shit, they are red and swollen. His hair is a mess from my fingers, and I’m sure I look just as wrecked. Thorne wraps an arm around me, holding me still while he leans forward and reaches for something.
He hands me the strips of photos. “What do you think, omega? Did the machine capture my good side?”
Laughter rumbles from deep inside me. “Oh fuck. These look like a promo teaser to a porn shoot,” I say, flipping through them. The two of us are frantically kissing, sucking each other’s faces while running our hands all over each other. Thank goddess the photos were deposited here inside the booth and not outside for anyone to see.
He plucks one of the strips from my grasp. “I definitely need to keep this one.”
I study the two of us in the photos. There’s one photo of me smiling in between our kisses. My heart soars. Is that why he wants to keep this one, because my face is clearly in the shot? Shuffling through the remaining photos, I pause when one has an image of him looking at me with a heated gaze that looks almost tender.
“This one.” I decide. “I need to keep this one.”
He presses another light kiss to my lips before placing me on my feet. “I should probably cover my…situation,” he says, puttinghis peacoat back on and zipping it up. I laugh when I see it hides hisveryobvious erection.
I pull my jacket on. “Yeah, I’m gonna need a minute. Unfortunately, my jacket isn’t that long.”
Once I’ve given my body enough time to settle down, we order hot chocolate at one of the stands, where he lets me pay. I smile, remembering that his allowing me to pay is what set me off in the first place. Goddess, I’m such a weird omega.
We make our way toward the tree. “If you hop in line, I’ll go over there and grab us a few strips of paper and a pen to write our wishes.”
When I return, Thorne grins at me, placing an arm over my shoulders. I snuggle into him. “Fuck, why does everything feel so right with you?” I ask. “We don’t even know each other.”
“Well then, little human,” he teases. “Since we have plenty of time, why don’t we fix that?”
