10
The next morning, I got up, showered, and got dressed in some black leggings and a green tank under an oatmeal colored cardigan. I slipped on my white loafers, grabbed my navy green bag, pulled my hair back and headed out the room. Just as I was exiting my room, Rafael was coming out of his own. He had on a black suit with a briefcase in his hand. His hair was neatly combed, and he looked pretty tired. We looked at each other almost stunned. I looked down some before glancing up at him.
"Didn't sleep good?" I asked, and he shook his head sighing heavily.
"Was thinking about the Morrison case too much." he said raising his hand for me to head down the hall first. I did and he followed keeping a reasonable distance behind me.
"I know you wanted to win… you'll get 'em next time." I said trying to sound enthusiastic and encouraging.
"Thank you I hope so." he said as we got down the stairs together. "You look nice." I glanced back at him and smiled.
"Thank you… um if you want, I can make us some breakfast this time if you want." I said. It was the least I could do for him making us breakfast yesterday. He smiled.
"Honestly some coffee and one of the cinnamon bagels you picked out yesterday would be good for me. I'll make the coffee, you make the bagel?" he offered. I nodded smiling pleasantly and we both entered the kitchen. I opened the fridge and reached in to pull out the bagel slices. "So what's on your agenda at school today?" I pulled out a whole bagel and grabbed a knife from the drawer and sliced it in half.
"I have two meetings after school with my team. We have some dance competitions starting soon and we need to get lists of everyone attending, tickets, ticket prices, fliers made, a stage crew, the works." I replied.
"Seems like you're going to be busy." he said casually moving over to his Keurig machine. I only nodded placing the bagel halves in the toaster oven. I turned and faced him now leaning back against the counter. He seemed to be doing the same so now we were staring awkwardly at each other.
"What plans do you have at work?" I asked and he gave a short smile.
"Gonna prepare for more cases. Crime never stops." he said with a weak humoring tone. I nodded in agreement noticing something off about his suit now that I could see him in the light. His tie was hanging low and it was already starting to bother me. I didn't like things being out of place. I walked up to him and pointed to black article of clothing. He looked down at it.
"May I?" I asked. He looked at me clearly taken back.
"Yes please." he said, and I nodded and began to lightly tighten the tie, so it didn't choke him. I kept my eyes on his neck, even though I could clearly see his eyes just staring at me, studying my face. He had a very foresty smell that just made you think man. I hated myself for inhaling a few more times, for wanting to smell more of him. Once the tie was straightened, I took a step back and smiled shortly at him.
"All better. You must be really tired." I said and he nodded.
"Well my mind was a little clouded while getting ready, I'll admit." he said. I nodded looking down unsure of what I should say now. However, the dinging of the toaster oven made me jump a bit. I turned and moved to grab us two separate lunch plates and placed the two slices on the plate with a butter knife before moving over to the fridge.
"Want regular cream cheese or strawberry?" I asked.
"Mm neither I like butter on mine." Rafael responded as if distracted. My head lifted now upon hearing that bogus answer. I slowly leaned up and turned to him.
"What?" I asked to see he was texting on his face. He looked at me and froze as if he were a deer in headlights.
"Butter?" he asked. I shook my head.
"Uh Uh, butter! No. Cream cheese is where it's at!" I said holding up both containers. Rafael's eye brows lifted as he looked at me as if I were crazy. He then shook his head and scoffed.
"No way. Butter is soft and slides easy, not like that Dunkin' Donuts cream that's hard as a brick to spread." he argued smiling some. I shook my head.
"What are you talking about! Dunkin's cream cheese is amazing." I countered and he just shook his head as I spoke.
"Sorry mami, but I got the good stuff." he said with one hand around a mug of coffee. He moved over to the fridge and pulled out a yellow container called Yellow Stone. "This is good on bread." I shook my head smirking.
"That's obviously for old people." I said and he snorted.
"Have you tried it?" he asked. I shook my head with pride.
"Nope. Have you tried the cream cheese?" I asked and he just shook his head.
"No. I have not… how about this, I try your cream cheese and you try my butter?" he asked. I squinted at him with uncertainty but being someone who liked to try new edible things, what could it hurt. I nodded.
"Okay." I replied and we both sat our containers down, after I put away the strawberry cream one. I opened the regular cream cheese container as he opened his container and we both spread the toppings over the slices of bread and then looked at each other as we slid the plates to the other side. We both picked up our slices and held it to our mouths but froze a bit as if waiting for the other to bite down first. We ended up biting down together and chewing, then doing this every few seconds. I had to admit this butter he had was really good. I inhaled some and nodded more looking up at him.
"I'll admit, it's alright." I replied and he smiled.
"Told ya." he teased before raising his bagel half to me. "And this is good as well." I grinned.
"Yeah I know." I replied and after checking his watch his eyes popped some.
"Shit, we have to get going." he said. I nodded and we packed up our things and I let him share a plate with me for his bagel. We got in his car and he took off. We ate in mild silence. This morning wasn't so bad. I then looked him over thinking of the things I knew about him which wasn't much. He knew about me and my parents and even my education and major. But I didn't know a thing about him except what he does for work. He glanced at me and then the road and I could tell he was worried.
"What's on your mind?" he asked. I shrugged lightly.
"Just thinking, I guess. Where exactly did you grow up?" I asked. Once more he seemed stunned by my question, which I was sure it was because he didn't think I wanted to know a thing about him. I wasn't going anywhere any time soon I might as well know a bit about him if I were to ever see him as anything else.
"I was raised in the Bronx. Had a small group of friends actually." he said. I nodded looking at the road for a second.
"Your parents?" I asked. I know we spoke a bit about them earlier, and I guess I wanted him to feel I was taking a slight interest in him as well. That's what roommates do right?
"My mom's alive and is the principal of a charter school. I was never close to my dad. We didn't have a good relationship. He passed maybe fifteen years ago." he announced, his face almost stoic. I nodded.
"Do you have a good relationship with your mom?" I asked. He nodded some.
"It's better than the relationship I have with my dad." he said. I nodded slowly.
"Any siblings?" I asked. He shook his head.
"Just me." he said looking at me now with a light gaze. "You?" I nodded.
"I have two older brothers." I replied. He nodded.
"And where are they?" he asked. I shrugged.
"I'm not really sure." I replied lowly. He nodded slowly and just looked ahead.
"I liked this talk." he admitted softly. I looked at him for a moment before nodding.
"Me too." I replied genuinely. He smiled warmly in response. He pulled up to the front of the school and it was busy as usual. Students were walking everywhere. Some of my classmates who knew me were looking at me from the student union.
"You're popular." he said. I winced and looked down some as if embarrassed.
"Yeah they're my class mates and they know my stance on alphas and betas so I'm sure they're catching on to who the strange man is that's dropping me off is." I replied glancing over at him. I was sure another fight was coming, but instead he nodded slowly.
"Well you can tell them it's your personal chauffer's car." he said and I gave a soft grin happy that this seemingly good morning wouldn't be spoiled.
"Have a good day at work." I replied and he smiled.
"You too. If you take the bus home just, please be careful. Text me when you're getting on and off the bus?" he asked. I guess it's the least I could do for him. I nodded.
"I will." I replied and got out and headed toward the student union. Immediately some of my classmates looked at me with sly smiles and I just raised my hands.
"I do not want talk about it!" I blurted. Now they began squealing.
"Oh she has a alpha! We need details." Lindsey, a beta, replied.
Rafael's POV
My heart was pounding in my chest and I couldn't stop the smile that spread over my face since I left the university. We had an actual conversation, without fighting. She smiled at me, she laughed, we playfully argued about butter and cream cheese. She fixed my tie willingly and she asked about a part of my life. Were these good signs, I wanted to believe they were. She had a long day at school today, maybe I should get her something for when she comes home. Jewelry. No she already said fancy things wouldn't impress her, but noticing her diamond earrings and rose gold necklace, I was sure she would appreciate the gesture. When it came to diamonds vs pearls, my beta was definitely a diamonds girl.
My mind was already drifting back to her outfit. It was comfy and hung off her frame. I wasn't lying when I said she looked nice. Hell, I would have said beautiful, but I didn't want to make her uncomfortable. God, this morning was perfect. I thought of the pleasant aroma that wafted off her body and onto me as she fixed my tie. God it was enticing. She was so close and I so desperately wanted to touch her smooth skin. My body was reacting to her and I was afraid I'd catch a hard on against her. Kudos to me for holding it together long enough. But I had to wait. I had to be patient.
I wanted the first time we finally lied together to be beautiful, pleasurable for both of us. But as I finally got to thinking about that, I started to think about another important aspect of that part of our relationship. Was she clean? I mean the medical laws were stronger than alpha status. There was no way I could ever ask for her medical records. If I asked her to get tested or if she was clean, then she may get upset. No. I couldn't think that way. Now wasn't the time to think about that anyways. Today was the first good day I had with my beta and I didn't want anything to ruin that.
Amara's POV
Classes weren't even the longest part of my day. I met up with my organizing team and spent three long hours discussing the schedules for the dance competitions coming up in a month. As I departed from my friends and sat outside to think, a shadow was looming over me now and I looked up swiftly wondering who at the nerve to bother me. But my eyes widened, and I gasped happily.
"Billy!" I said happily and got up jumping into his hold. He smiled embracing me tight.
"I missed you." he said in my ear.
"Me too." I replied. He pulled back and looked me over.
"You done with classes?" he asked. I nodded.
"Yeah. I was about to get the bus schedule." I replied. He looked at me with disapproving eyes.
"Nah, it can be dangerous taking the bus. People are crazy. Let me give you a ride home." he said, and I was hesitant but nodded continuing to smile.
"Okay!" I replied.