I saunter toward him, swaying my hips suggestively, hoping to send the signal that all I want is him. All of him. My hands go to his shoulder and I lean up on my tiptoes, pressing my mouth against his. He moans into my lips, grabbing me by the hips and pulling me flush against him.
“You’re playing a dangerous game. We may never eat.”
I chuckle. “I’d be okay with that.”
“Me too.” He places a chaste kiss on my lips and looks down at me. “I wanted to take you somewhere nice. On a date.”
“Zeke,” I warn. “Physical only. I told you no relationships, and dates equal more. I just want this.”
“It’s just food, Tori. It doesn’t have to be anything more.”
He says the words, but the tone of his voice and the way his jaw is working give him away. He’s angling for more, no matter what our agreement was. I should’ve known he’d never truly settle.
“You don’t mean that. You never intended to stop pushing, did you?”
“Friends eat together, Tori. Stop making it more than it is.”
I sigh. “Food? Yes. Dinner date? No. Okay?”
He hugs me before stepping back. “Pizza work?”
“Pizza would be perfect.” I smile. “You go to town and grab that, while I shower and pick out a movie.”
“Who said anything about a movie?” He guffaws, trying and failing to muster the appearance of being alarmed by the thought.
“It’s just a movie, Zeke. Friends watch movies.”
He smirks. “Whatever you say, English.”
I want to push my assurance that watching a movie is innocent, but instead, I drop the conversation for now.
“Nothing too girly, please.”
“Don’t worry, big guy. I won’t pick some sappy romance.” I roll my eyes.
“No dramas either. Comedy or Marvel. We could use a chill night for a change.”
“Noted.”
“Don’t plan on hunting either.”
My face falls. I thought for sure after dinner and the movie, he’d be up for the hunt.
He steps back into me, holding me close and placing a kiss on my forehead. “Until we know what’s going on, we need to be careful. We need to train.”
I nod, knowing it’s the best strategy.
“Go shower. When I get back, it’s just you and me. All night.”
“I like the sound of that.”
He grins, jogging backward to the truck.
I push away the thought of what havoc demons can wreak tonight and head to shower. I’ve given my whole life to the cause. Tonight, I’m going to experience a night of human normalcy, in the arms of Zeke—my own alpha hero. Only as friends. Just friends.
Keep telling yourself that, Tori.
STAY
