Page 93 of Not Looking
His scent wrapped around me, and my racing heart started to slow. Tight muscles loosened, and I slumped against him.
“Beautiful Randy,” he murmured against my hair. “I’m here.”
My eyes fluttered shut again. He was right—my alpha was there.
My alpha…
I stiffened—my pulse thundering in my ears. Craig immediately straightened.
“You ok?” he asked.
I swallowed and nodded. I had enough to deal with, and would face that thought later.
He studied me for several seconds. “We have a few minutes before we have to leave. Do you want to cuddle on the couch?”
“That… sounds nice.”
“Come on,” he murmured as he took my hands and guided me to the couch. Then he sat, and I curled up against him.
I was safe there.
Craig held me, but he didn’t ask me to talk—to discuss my fears.
What I needed wasn’t a sounding board, but a rock. And he seemed to understand that.
His scent surrounded me, and his fingers trailed up and down my arm. My racing heart slowed to its normal speed, and my hands stopped shaking.
Exhaustion seeped in as the tension left my body, and he shifted to support me better.
“The offer to say I’m sick still stands,” he murmured as he kissed my hair. “I’ll be the bad guy if it’s really too much.”
I shook my head. “No. I think it’s better to get it over with.”
“Ok.”
We stayed that way for several minutes, until my phone alarm sounded.
My leg bounced on the ride into town, and I was grateful that Craig had offered to drive.
Jessie’s SUV was already parked outside when we arrived at my parents’ house. Craig pulled up behind it, parked, then reached over to take my hand after he turned off his truck.
“Whatever you need,” he murmured, “I’m here.”
“I’m supposed to be introducing you,” I countered.
He snorted. “I don’t care about that. You’re my focus.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
We got out of his truck, and he laced his fingers with mine as we strode to the front door. He leaned in and kissed my temple.
“Hello,” I called as I led him inside.
“Come in,” Mom called back.
We walked through the living room to the open arch that led to the kitchen.
Papa stood at the stove, stirring something while chatting with Yazmín. Mom and Jessie were deep in discussion while standing at the counter.
