Lessons in Love

Chapter 41: Lunch

POV: Beta Ben Westlake

I didn’t doddle when Rick told me to go have lunch with Riley. I hit the kitchen and made a pair of sandwiches before heading over to the school. I walked into the school just as the bell rang. Riley came out of her classroom to find me standing in the lobby. “Ms. Campbell,” I smiled, giving her a nod. “I was hoping to discuss something with you over lunch. If you’re available, of course.”

Riley smiled and nodded. “We can chat in my office.” She said. The students Riley was training smiled politely, but I heard them giggling as they walked away. I immediately felt like I shouldn’t have come. My father was already suspicious of the time I had spent with her, and I didn’t want him to figure out why. I went into her office and closed the door. Riley stood stiffly next to her desk. She was gripping the edge of it and looking at me nervously.

“Is everything alright?” I asked. “If I’m imposing, I can go.”

“No,” she shook her head. “It’s fine.” She smiled as her face went pink.

“I brought lunch.” I said awkwardly, clutching the lunch bag in front of me. “I didn’t think you had time to pack one this morning.” It was my turn to blush.

“Thank you,” she gripped the desk a little tighter. “I didn’t.”

We got quiet, just staring at each other. I raked my hands through my hair and smelled a hint of arousal in the small space. “Is this as awkward as it feels?” I asked.

“I’m nervous.” She said.

“About?”

“Letting go of this desk, slamming into, and cracking three of your ribs hugging you.” She rushed out.

I found it hard to breathe for a moment. I slowly lowered the lunch bag on the chair next to me. “I dare you try.” I said, finding my voice sounded breathless.

She let go of the desk and hesitated for a split second before she slammed into me, her arms wrapping tightly around my waist. I grabbed a hold of her, pulling her tightly against my chest, and let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. Riley was about five or six inches shorter than me. I was able to drop my head forward and feel her hair with my nose. I breathed her in and felt almost lightheaded at the realness of her scent. The potted plants in my suite and office weren’t going to cut it after getting to hold her.

Her stomach growled. “You didn’t have breakfast either, did you?” I asked.

She laughed against my chest. “No,” she said, pulling her head up and looking at me. My heart ached when I saw her smiling up at me from my arms.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“I’m not.” She smiled.

I leaned in with the intent to kiss her and stopped. “We should feed you.” I managed to say, slowly pulling my arms back. I didn’t want to let her go. Riley stepped back and bumped into her desk. She let out an embarrassed laugh and scurried around her desk to her chair. I started unpacking lunch as she took her seat.

“I was a little worried at first.” She said. “This morning when I first touched you, it didn’t seem to help at all.”

“It was immediate.” I corrected her, handing her a sandwich. “I felt something when you touched me. I’d felt it before, but I couldn’t place it, and it made it hard not to be emotional.” I tried to explain. “When you touched my wrist, I felt like I had nothing to be afraid of. I can’t remember ever feeling fearless, but the familiar piece of it … I don’t know. It was … it reminded me of being in battle with Rick.”

“How so?” She asked.

“I just trust he’s there. I know he has my back. I know that no matter what happens next that …” I looked at her. Sweet Goddess, I knew what it was. “That I’m safe.” I nearly choked on the word and looked down at my sandwich. “I think I was just so relieved that I couldn’t stop crying.”

Riley touched my hand, drawing my attention. “You make me feel safe, too.” She said softly. “And possessive.” She chuckled. “I never thought I’d be the type, but I thought I was going growl and call you mine the minute I touched you.”

I had to smile at that thought. “I felt that when I hugged you … both times.”

Riley pulled her hand back, sliding he fingers over my watch, before she reached for her sandwich. “I saw the inscription on the watch earlier. Rick had said it to you last night. What does it mean?” She asked, taking a bite.

“I told him rage was the only way I made it through the beatings. I had to stay angry, or I’d feel the pain. He told me I had to focus on the positives in my life after. That the rage was fine during, but I had to find a balance. Focus and rage became one of those things we just started saying to each other.” I shrugged, taking a bite of my sandwich.

“I like it.” She smiled. “What sort of things did you focus on?” She asked.

“Being a good person mostly. I always tried to do something good for my community or my friends after one of his sessions. I had to find value in my actions so I wouldn’t give up again. Sometimes, it was taking a patrol for a friend or helping one of the neighbors. Sometimes, it was avoiding everyone. It just sort of depended on the threats he leveled during the beatings.”

“You’re incredible.” She whispered, tears in her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I ran my hand through my hair and looked away. “I’m not trying to upset you. It’s just that most things are a direct result of him doing something awful.”

Riley stood up and came around her desk. She stopped in front of me and leaned on her desk. “I’m not upset because of you, Ben. I’m upset because someone made you feel you were less than you are. You’re a force of nature, and I know that because I’ve felt it in your aura.” She reached her hand out and slid her hand through my hair. I closed my eyes as she did it, feeling her hand rest on my cheek.

“You’re amazing, and … I’m glad to have you for a mate.” She whispered the last part, like she had been afraid to say it.

I opened my eyes and covered her hand on my face with my own. “Say it,” I whispered.

She took a shaky breath and wet her lips. “Mine.” There was a growl on the word.

I stood up and pulled her close to me. My chest rumbled with a growl begging to get out. I touched her face, and she nuzzled her cheek into my hand. “Mine.” I growled back, my aura wrapping around us. The acceptance of the bond expanded it further, and I felt a rush of her emotions and aura. The electric sensation when we touched changed from a sharp immediate one to a low hum that was more constant and even.

Her hand went back to my hair, and I pressed my forehead against hers. Her breath mingled with mine as she brushed her fingers through my hair, her fingernails lightly grazing my scalp. We were both breathing a little heavier, the scent of jasmine getting thick in the air around me.

“I think we should finish our lunch before this gets out of hand.” I whispered against her face.

She took a slow, deep breath. “Yup,” she whispered back, but neither of us moved.

“Riley,” I breathed her name and felt her shudder. My grip on her got instinctively tighter. “We can’t. Not yet.” I gritted my teeth.

“I know,” she whispered back.

I let out a tremendous sigh and stepped back from her but couldn’t let her go. She looked up at me as I slowly ran my hands from her shoulders down her arms. She caught my hands and gave them a squeeze before letting go and stepping back.

We finished our lunches and had another lingering hug before I left. The hugging was great, but it was starting to feel like a gateway drug to everything I wanted to do. We needed to wait, just until we were certain there was no curse. I wasn’t going to risk our lives completing the mating until I knew what we were up against.

I went straight upstairs to the Alpha’s suite to see how the investigation was going when I got back. Ken had found a series of maps. I took them back to my office and started reviewing them. One map had X’s on it. One was a spot we knew well. During the war, and after, we’d found Rogues in the area. Even now, four months after the war, that was the number one spot to run into Rogues. My phone dinged, and I saw a message from Rick. MAP as an acronym meant nothing to me, but I was staring at several maps that were clearly trying to tell me something.