Baiting Him (How to Catch an Alpha #2)(34)

“That’s good news, baby.”

“Yeah.” It is good. My mom has seemed more like herself the last few times we’ve spoken, and her making an effort with Christmas is a huge step, especially after the way last year ended.

“How about you stay with me Christmas Eve, and we spend Christmas morning together?” he asks, and I melt into him.

“How about you stay with me, since you don’t have a tree, and I’ll make you my cream cheese–stuffed french toast?”

“Sounds good.” He smiles while running his finger along the edge of my hairline. “My mom’s coming in for New Year’s, and I’d like you to meet her while she’s here.”

My heart starts to beat a little faster. Making plans to see each other on Christmas and him wanting me to meet his mom tell me he’s in just as deep as I am. He’s so different from all the other men I’ve dated. He’s honest, which makes me feel secure; I never have to question what he means when he says or does something, because he tells it like it is. If he were any other guy, I’d be questioning how quickly things are progressing between us, but with him this just feels right.

“I’d like that,” I say, and he looks pleased with my response. “My brother and his boyfriend are flying in to ring in the New Year with me, so I’m having a small gathering at my place. There’s not going to be a lot of people, but my best friend and her husband are coming. I’ll have food and drinks. I’d love you to be there, and your mom is welcome to come.”

“I work that night, but maybe we can split things up. You can come to the club, hang in VIP with your people for a few hours, and then I’ll come back with you, and we can ring in the New Year before I go back to work.”

“I like that idea. Let me just talk to Leah and my brother and see what they say.”

“Is your mom going to be here for New Year’s Eve?”

“I’m not sure. I mentioned it to her, but she didn’t say yes or no.”

“I’d like to meet her sometime,” he says, and my stomach drops.

I still haven’t told my mom about him. I guess I wanted to be sure she was actually moving on with her life before I told her about Gus. I didn’t want her negativity tainting what we’re building, but I do plan—if all goes well on Christmas—to tell her about him then.

“I’m guessing from the look on your face she doesn’t know about me,” he says casually, and he doesn’t look mad, just reflective.

“It’s really creepy that you can read me so easily.”

“Talk to me,” he orders, leaving no room for argument.

“Fine,” I sigh. “The night she called me freaking out about my dad taking his wife to Hawaii, she made me promise to never trust a man the way she trusted my dad.”

“That explains you going from hot to cold that night,” he mumbles while absently playing with a lock of my hair.

“I want to tell her about us,” I say quietly. “I just want to make sure she is really in a good place before I do.”

“I get that, baby.”

“You do?” I ask.

“I’m not saying I’ll be happy if you don’t ever tell your mom about us, but I understand why you haven’t yet. When the time is right, you’ll know, and when that happens, I’d like to meet her.”

“Are you an alien?” I blurt, studying him in disbelief.

His brows snap together, and he asks, “What?”

“You can’t possibly be from Earth. First, you’re too hot.” I hold up one finger. “Second, your skills in the bedroom are out of this world.” I hold up another finger, and his lips twitch. “And third, you’re too understanding.” I shake my head. “The only explanation is you’re not actually from here, but from some far-off galaxy, and your spaceship crash-landed, leaving you stranded on this planet for the rest of your life.”

“As much as I enjoy you pointing out that you think I’m hot, amazing in bed, and smart enough to know what battles to pick,” he says, with humor lacing his tone, “I’m sorry to disappoint you, babe. I’m just your everyday earthling.”

“You probably wouldn’t tell me if you were an alien. It would be unfortunate if the government found out about your existence, kidnapped you, and started experimenting.”

His head falls back to the pillow as he laughs; then he mutters, “Yeah, that would be unfortunate.”

“Especially the probing. The probing would probably really suck.”

I start to laugh as he growls, sitting up with his arms wrapped around me, but I stop laughing and start breathing deeply when he rolls me to my back and settles himself between my thighs. “I think we should test out this probing you’re talking about.”

“I think that would be smart,” I agree breathlessly as the head of his cock nudges my entrance.

His eyes lock on mine as he slides slowly inside me, and I tighten around him every way I can. My fingers dig into his ribs, my legs lift to wrap around his hips, and the walls of my sex contract. I watch the muscles in his strong jaw twitch as he fills me completely, and I relish the slight sting of beautiful pain that always comes when he is deep within me. I soak up the look in his eyes as they bore into mine, then moan as he slowly pulls back his hips.