Angels & Wolves | Book One

Chapter Twenty-Six

Oz's POV

"Stop flirting with the waitress," complained Rio. Oz's eyebrows rose to his hairline. All his life, he'd known Rio. And all his life, she'd never been so forward about anything such as flirting with waitresses.

"What happened to you in England?" asked Oz.

"Nothing. Why?" Rio seemed to have been taken aback.

"Never mind." Oz shook his head and waved away the question. Moving onto a different topic, he asked, "Why can't I flirt with the waitress?"

Rio cracked an amused grin. "Well, for one, you're on a date with me. Two, you're on a date with me and it's really bad manners. Three, what would you be feeling if I were to flirt with the next hot guy that came along?"

Oz pressed his lips together and pretended to think. He shrugged and said, "I'd probably just let you flirt."

"Oh really?"

"Uhm... Yes."

"Why's that?"

"You'd obviously get bored with him and then come running back to me," explained Oz.

Rio quirked an eyebrow. "A little cocky are you?"

"No. Not cocky."

"Then what?"

Oz shrugged. "You like me a lot better than the next guy who'd come along. Trust me."

Rio hid her laughter as she sipped at her drink.

"You still trust me, don't you?" he asked, suddenly serious. He didn't want to chance the fact that he was going too far. He'd already ruin their relationship once several years ago and he didn't want that to happen again. As the Alpha of the de la Vega pack, he had to learn patience and when to back off. He was constantly practicing the two virtues when he was with Rio.

One moment, he just wanted to mate her right then and there, but then he'd remember that she's human and there was no way she would be able to become the Luna of the pack. His birthday was in four days, and he needed a mate by then. But he was too picky to actually look for another wolf to become the Luna. He wanted Rio, and only Rio.

But wanting her and having her are two very different things. He had to back off whenever he got close to saying something he shouldn't or acting in a way that a human wouldn't. He couldn't be possessive of her when she wasn't his. And he couldn't be overly protective when she wasn't in his pack. If, in some strange instance, she were to be insulted by another guy, then he was allowed to stand up for her. Because it was the gentlemanly thing to do. And Oscar de la Vega was a gentleman.

"Of course I trust you," answered Rio.

"Then do you trust that I wasn't flirting with the waitress? And I was just being polite?" asked Oz.

"Yes...?"

"Good. How do you like your Chicken Parmesan?"

Rio narrowed her eyes at him. "You're changing the subject."

"Maybe," Oz smiled and gave her a little shrug. "Or maybe I'm just concerned that you'd actually leave me for someone else."

Rio wasn't sure if he was teasing her, or if he was serious. Unsure how to act, she twirled her fork around the spaghetti that came with her dinner. Then she gazed at him with her dark eyes.

"Hypothetically, if we were actually together," she said, "I would never leave you Oscar de la Vega, because you're too perfect and too kind to ever let go.

"I don't know how to explain it, and maybe I'm crazy, but I feel like I could stay with you for the rest of my life," said Rio. "Is that weird to say? I mean we just started dating."

"No. It's not weird at all." Oz's smile widened to a grin. Rio blushed and glanced at her plate of food. Oz continued, "Besides, I've had a crush on you since you moved in down the street."

"Really?" Rio's dark eyes were on Oz. "You've really had a crush on me all that time? Why were you so rude to me?"

"I had to get you to talk to me somehow."

Rio blushed. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"What would I have said? Anything I did to get your attention, you hated me even more."

"I don't think I hated you..."

"Oh?"

"No. To be honest, I thought you were super cute. And somewhere along the way, you turned..." she trailed off.

"I turned what?" an amused Oz asked.

"You turned super sexy," admitted Rio. There was no way she could hide the raging blush on her cheeks. She may be Mexican, but she blushes like no one's business. Oz pressed his lips together.

He inquired, "Am I 'super sexy' now?"

"Absolutely."

How 'bout that Loves!?

They finally admitted they liked each other forever!

Could Oz get any cuter!? No.

Well... maybe.

I think I hear wedding bells.... :)

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Until next time Loves!