“I missed you,” I blurt out, then hold my hands to my cheeks in embarrassment.
“Hey,” Vic moves closer, “I missed you too. Don’t be embarrassed.”
I pull my hands from my face, which is now flushed with pleasure instead of embarrassment. I’m destined to just have a red face, apparently. I set my hand down, not paying attention to where it lands, and then realize I’ve landed directly onto Vic’s hand. Fuck. I didn’t want to touch him, I don’t want to know if we Match or not. I won’t be able to tell, and while I don’t think Vic would lie, what if he doesn’t want me like that?
Panic starts to overtake me as my thoughts spiral. This is the end, isn’t it? Even if we’re not a Match, he’s going to see me panicking and want nothing to do with me. He already knows I’m broken, then add in random panic? My breathing picks up with the irrational thoughts, and I look up to meet Vic’s blue eyes. His eyes bore into me, and I need to know how he’s going to respond to my touch. I take my hand off his in an attempt to avoid further awkwardness.
ten
VIC
Josie’s hand lands on top of mine, and my world freezes. She’s always extremely careful not to have skin-to-skin contact since she can’t feel when a Match is found. In the past, I never pushed it, wanting to respect her boundaries. Now thought? I absolutely feel it, and it’s almost like time stops as the realization sinks in.
I was right.
I’ve thought we are a Match for years, but with how careful Josie is, I’ve been respectful not to touch her skin to skin. The closest we come is when I put my nose in her hair to smell her, even then I’m careful not to touch her scalp. When she touches my hand, though? A rush of energy zips through me, lighting my nerve endings up and bringing an awareness of her that I didn’t have before. It’s almost like seeing color for the first time. Everything’s the same, but there’s more depth to it now.
Her eyes shoot up to lock on mine, and I can see the panic running through her. She didn’t mean to touch me, and I’m sure she’s having an internal meltdown over the “what ifs” now. When she lifts her hand from mine, I have my own panic moment and quickly grab it back. I thread our fingers together,and she responds exactly the way I’d hoped, by accepting the touch.
“Josie,” I whisper, needing to clear my throat before I can go on.
“It’s fine, Victor, really, um, we can just pretend I didn’t touch you and… and just…”
“Listen,” I tell her more sharply than intended. She stills and focuses on me. “I have suspected we are Matches for a long time. However, you are more important to me than having a Match is. I am fuckingelatedto tell you I feel the Match, but I also know you. I know you’re not really ready for it, and that’s okay. I’m not leaving you. Okay? You’re still my Josie Girl, and I’m still your Vic.”
“Do you promise?” she whispers.
“Yeah, sweetheart, I promise.”
I see her breathe out and relax her body, and the tension she was carrying starts to drift away. This girl needs to be touched and cuddled by someone, and now that she knows we’re Matches, maybe she’ll let me. My touch will actually help, rather than drain her. Not as much as a full Bond with a Pack, but it will help a little.
“Can… Can we snuggle?” I ask, “It might help since the Match is there. I’m not asking to solidify anything tonight.”
Josie smiles, “I think I would really like that.”
I shift on the couch, using its L shape to move into the corner where I can prop myself up and stretch out my legs. Holding my arms out, Josie takes the bait and wedges herself between my body and the couch. Her hand darts out to grab a fuzzy blanket, so I help her pull it over us so we’re cozy and toasty.
Her cheek rubs into my chest where she’s getting comfortable, and I wonder if she’s aware that she just scent-marked me. I haven’t had a chance to see this side of Josiebefore, so I’m curious to see what else she’s going to surprise me with. I can’t wait to find out.
Josieand I snuggled for hours before I realized how late it was getting. So, I left and now I’m walking into my house, still feeling like I’m on cloud nine. It’ll be a slow process courting Josie, but it’ll be well worth it. I know Simon will love her, and everything is going to be fine. Even if he doesn’t Match, he’ll be happy to be Pack with her.
I find Simon on the couch, watching a reality baking show. Taking a moment to admire him, I stand quietly, leaning against the wall. He can’t quite see me from this angle, but I can see him, and I love watching all the microexpressions that cross his face. Grinning, I take a seat on the couch next to him.
“I thought you’d never sit down,” he comments in that deep bass of his.
“How’d you know I was standing there?” I pout.
He’s still looking at the TV as he speaks, “Your scent. It’s stronger than usual, and you smell like someone else.”
Frowning, I look between the TV and him. “Are you upset with me?”
He sighs and pauses his show. We sit in silence for a moment while he gathers his thoughts.
“I’m worried about whose smell you have on you. You’re super happy, I can tell that much, so either you’ve finally met an Omega you want or your Match. I’m not mad, just… well, I don’t know how to put it into words.”
“Josie. You smell Josie. She’s my Match, her hand accidentally touched mine, and that confirmed it for me,” I tell him softly.
He finally turns to look at me, and I can see the confusion and heartbreak on his face. Does this asshole really think I’m going to leave him? God, why do the two people I love seem to think I’m going to leave at any moment? I refuse to lose either of them. I reach a hand out to him.
