When He's An Alpha (The Olympus Pride #2) - Suzanne Wright Page 0,95

butting heads with him all the time. You won’t get him to compromise on matters of your safety—no mate ever would, especially not an Alpha.”

“Pure truth,” said Bailey. “And you have to admit that having bulletproof windows is just plain cool.”

Havana folded her arms over her chest. “Hmm.”

It wasn’t long before he arrived at the center. Havana had expected him to text her once he pulled up outside, but he came right into the building and tracked her down, and then hauled her close right in front of God and everyone.

“Hey.” He dipped his head and kissed her. “Hmm, needed that.”

She smiled. “Always happy to be of service.” She didn’t fail to notice how many female eyes drifted his way. She could understand it. He was one of those people you just couldn’t help but look at. That didn’t mean she was good with them ogling him—especially when she was right there. It was just plain disrespectful.

She could be the bigger person and just ignore it. But even as she told herself that, she tossed some frowns at the oglers. They averted their gazes quick enough.

He slid his hand up her back. “You ready to go?”

“I am. Bailey’s going to drive the car you loaned me back to the complex.”

He interlinked his fingers with Havana’s. “I figured she would.”

After saying her goodbyes to Bailey and Aspen, Havana allowed Tate to lead her outside.

Opening the rear passenger door of the SUV, he said, “In you go, baby.” Once she was inside, he slid in beside her while Luke took the front passenger seat. In the driver’s seat, Farrell briefly greeted her as he switched on the engine.

Tate took her hand. “Come back to my place with me.”

She pursed her lips. “Hmm, what’s my incentive?”

“There’ll be food. And sex. Lots and lots of sex.”

“Then I’m in. Sounds better than laundry.”

Tate smiled, satisfied. He wanted some time alone with her. Wanted some uninterrupted time with her. Wanted them to be at a place where people like Dieter wouldn’t show up.

It wasn’t long before they arrived at his house. As he planned to stay home the rest of the day, he politely dismissed Farrell. Luke didn’t see the point of leaving, since he’d be attending the takeout celebratory meal, so the Beta opted for hanging out in the back yard.

When she and Tate were finally inside the house and he’d closed the door firmly shut behind them, his cat rumbled a contented sound, pleased to have her in his lair. Just the same, something in Tate relaxed. And not just because she’d be safe here. He’d always liked having her on his personal slice of territory, but he liked it a fuck of a lot more now that he’d finally acknowledged that she was his mate. It gave him a deep sense of peace that settled into every bone.

He liked that her scent would mark his things and linger after she left. Liked that he no longer had to worry about giving her mixed signals—he could touch her as much as he wanted, could ask her to spend the night in his bed, could pepper her with the many questions that had floated around his brain for months.

Right then, Tate really wanted to tumble her into bed, but he wrestled down the urge. It mattered to him that she felt comfortable here, and he worried that it would taint things for her that he’d only ever brought her here to hook up before now. He wanted her to see this place as her future home, and that meant making her feel at home. He doubted that burying himself inside her right this moment would be the best way to communicate that things were different now.

Walking up behind her, he slid his arms around her waist and rested his chin in the crook of her neck. “Beer? Water? Soda? Coffee?”

“A beer would be good.”

He kissed her temple and then retrieved two beers from the fridge. After passing her one bottle, he took her hand, led her to the sofa, and sank onto the soft leather. His beer in one hand, he patted his thigh with the other. “Sit with me.”

Careful not to spill her own drink, she straddled him and rested one hand on his chest.

He hummed, content that he had her right where he wanted her. He sipped from her mouth. Soft. Slow. Lazy. A deep, raw need stirred to life inside him and tightened his body, but he kept his hunger for her