Page 68 of Talk About… Dramay
“I want this more than anything, Oriana. I’ve wanted this since the day I sent you away,” I promised.
“Then keep fighting for me, Cameron. But you have to stop beating yourself up. I don’t know that I can trust you with my heart yet, but I’m willing to listen to what you have to say. My heat is a month away, I need you to be what I need by then, Cam.”
“I will be,” I promised. “Go on a date with me? Just us?”
“Okay,” she said, her smile back on her gorgeous face. Her ocean eyes lit up and I swear it chased away every damn bit of my anxiety.
“Can I hug you?”
She bit her lip and nodded. That was all I needed to pull her into my chest and wrap my arms around her. I breathed in her fresh rain, citrus, and saltwater scent. It always felt so calming and pure.
Right now it was laced in a sweetness that was all Oriana.
My omega.
We relaxed into the hug, her cheek nuzzling into me as she soaked in my scent. Her breathing turned shaky and I squeezed her tighter.
“I’m so fucking sorry, Oriana.”
“I know,” she said, placing a kiss on my cheek before letting me go. Her stomach rumbled loudly and I grabbed the plate I’d dropped and started piling it high before snagging a drink.
“I’ll carry it over.”
She walked ahead of me before settling back in her seat. I put her plate on her lap when she got wrapped up in her cocoon of blankets. It wasn’t often we saw the softer side of her and it brought up old memories of watching movies in her nest.
I wondered if she still had one, or if it had changed.
Before our date I’d have to go buy a few things to add to it if she wanted. Something with my scent, a pledge to her that I’d be ready for her heat. That I would earn her trust.
I stoked the fire while the others made plates, before finally grabbing one for myself. I wasn’t very hungry but I needed to eat so I snagged it.
The lack of conversation was painful. Ori met my eyes, chewing on her lip as she glanced away at the others.
“So, where are you guys from?” I asked, breaking the awkward silence. Ori let out a breath and I let satisfaction fill me at being able to ease this for her.
“We’ve traveled a lot the last few years,” Lane said as he shook his black hair out of his eyes. “For work. We’ve got an apartment a few hours outside of North Grove, but I don’t think we’ve spent more than a few days at a time there.”
“I’m surprised to see you here,” I said casually as I turned to Tate. He hadn’t shown any indication that he remembered me and I couldn’t just let it go. Was it a dick move to bring up what was said around a campfire like this? Yes. Did I give a shit? Fuck, no.
He studied me, eyes narrowed slightly before understanding dawned in his eyes. “You’re the one who talked about losing your dads and pushing your omega away.”
“And you’re the one who hated omegas.”
“She’s different,” he said, conviction in his tone. “And I already told her about that part of my past.”
“He did,” she said, reaching for his hand. He wrapped his fingers around hers without even looking away from me.
“Glad to see you’re figuring out how to fix it instead of drinking yourself to death.”
His words held sincerity and a warning.
“Glad to see you aren’t letting a bad experience with an omega keep you from the most amazing omega there is,” I added, my tone mirroring his.
He nodded once in agreement before we broke the standoff. Instead, he turned to her and used a much softer tone.
“Tell me about this antique shop.”
She blushed, her cheeks warming to a bright red and she turned my way, as if gauging my reaction.