Gosh, that would be nice, but also… “No, that’s okay. I don’t trust many people, but I trust you, Grant.”
“Do you? I trust you as well.”
We talked about all kinds of things until my phone rang, bursting our bubble. “I have to get this.”
“That’s okay. Go on.”
It was the kitchen manager asking what was taking me so long. “I delivered the order to one of the villas and…” My brain went blank. I couldn’t exactly say that the delivery was to my mate and the new owner of the whole freaking resort and we were chatting and eating cake.
“Here, let me.” Grant took the phone from my hand. “Hello, this is Grant James. I’m the owner of this resort. Ches is off for the night. He is helping me with a special project tonight. Find a replacement, please.”
Then he hung up.
That was the moment I cracked. Laughter bubbled out of me, and I took the phone back and tossed it over my shoulder. I wasn’t on duty anymore, thanks to the alpha beside me. Who cared? Not me.
“What are you laughing at?”
“You know what they think a special project is, right?”
He blanched. before his ears turned red in the most adorable way. “Did I just start trouble for you?”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Tomorrow, there will be new gossip. Preferably about someone else. I’ve had about enough of my own.”
Grant looked at me and worked his bottom lip between his teeth. “Omegas stay with alphas in their rooms sometimes?”
I nodded. “It happens. We get hit on constantly. Some offer money, like we’re prostitutes.”
“This is none of my business, but do you ever take them up on it?”
We hadn’t talked about it, but this man being sweet and incredibly generous was my mate. Of course, he had a right to know if I was…partaking of offers. “I don’t. I’ve been waiting for my mate.”
I left out that the wait was over.
Chapter Fourteen
Grant
I didn’t mean to make Ches’ coworkers assume anything about him. Yes, he was my mate, and I hoped he’d feel the same, but right this moment, he was, in the eyes of the others, an employee who brought me food and didn’t return in a timely manner.
“I hate that people treat you and the others in such a disrespectful manner.”
He shrugged. “It’s better than some of the experiences I had in the past. Until last night, I had always managed to discreetly turn down the alphas who made me offers. With or without payment. But it galled, for sure.”
“You should know, this will never happen again. Not to you or any other staff member, not without repercussions.” I chose not to mention the repercussions I hoped the males who harmed him would face.
“I hope not, but it’s difficult to say what will happen behind a hotel room door. The guests at this resort have a lot of money and are used to having their way. Some of my coworkers have agreed to various, ummm, acts either because they need the money or they feel pressured, or sometimes they are even attracted to the alphas.”
“Since I’ve already kissed you, this may sound hypocritical, but we will have a zero-tolerance policy about that in the future. I think I know how the resort will change, and it’s going to be a situation where there will be a whole lot more sexual activities going on. I’m not sure how you’d feel about that.”
“Sex? Like in public?” His eyes were round, confusion shining out. “So the alphas can hit on us not just in the roomsbut anywhere they want? I don’t think I’ll like that. Where would we feel safe?”
“Everywhere. That’s how kink works, or at least it does in legitimate, honorable situations. A few things to know about me. I’m a dom as well as an alpha, and when I have a little spare time, I go to a kink club for the evening.”
“You do?” His voice came out in a faint whisper. “Isn’t that where people get tied up and beaten up?”
“Oh, no. That’s not it at all. Kink can be so many things. It’s whatever a person needs or wants deep in their soul. It’s a part of you, you may have never dreamed existed, and it can be healing in ways you never knew you needed.”
“Wow. You make it sound like therapy.”
