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he didn’t point out that he’d made some dirty promises to her. He’d loved getting her to blush and when he’d discovered telling her what he wanted to do to her did just that, he’d been explicit. Even if he hadn’t gotten to follow through yet. “I care for you, Alyssa. What I said to Ben was a lie. I wanted to get him off my back but that’s no excuse.” The male had been driving him nuts for weeks since Alyssa had arrived in their territory and Reece had been at his breaking point. Ben was a good packmate but sometimes he was like a pup. “I don’t give a shit about aligning our packs. I just care about you and I’m sorry I didn’t show that the way I should have.”
    “I appreciate the apology.” She glanced away from him, the soft breeze ruffling her hair. God, he wanted to run his hands through it, to cup the back of her head as he claimed her mouth. “But I don’t want to mate you. Not now and not in the future. Mates are supposed to have each other’s backs. Always.”
    It was the same thing Grant had said to him last night. It was one of those black and white things in the shifter world. “I know, and I’m sorry. I’m asking for another chance. Let me make it up to you. Please.”
    She looked at him now, wariness in her gaze. He was struck by how vulnerable she appeared. Before Alyssa he’d always been with tougher, more experienced females. She was softer and sweeter than anyone he’d known. He hated that he’d put that look in her eyes. “No.”
    The sense of finality in the one word slammed into him. She didn’t give him an excuse or reason—not that it wasn’t obvious—just a no. Well, he wasn’t giving up. He’d committed a cardinal sin as far as shifters were concerned by not defending his would-be mate but that didn’t mean he was walking away.
    Especially not when he saw her gaze dip to his lips for the briefest moment. Hunger flared bright in her eyes before she glanced away, refusing to look at him.
    As an alpha, he knew when to retreat and regroup so he stood and nudged the bag closer to her side of the table. “They’re probably still warm.”
    He’d be back tomorrow morning and every morning after until he convinced her to go for a run with him, or out to breakfast. Whatever. Something to just spend time with her. Today wasn’t that day though. He could see it in the firm set of her jaw. It was hard to leave, but it was his only option without risking alienating her further.
    “Thanks for the coffee and muffins,” she murmured, clearly not going to walk him out.
    Not that he blamed her. At the sliding glass door, he paused. “You were wrong before. I did make a couple promises to you that I intend to keep.”
    When her brow furrowed, he resisted the urge to cover the distance between them and smooth out the frown lines.
    “I promised to make you come all over my tongue and fingers and to give you so much pleasure you’ll crave me when I’m not with you.”
    “Reece,” she gasped out, nearly knocking her drink over. Her tone was a mix of shock and a little arousal. The first real show of emotion since he’d arrived. Her cheeks flushed and that was definitely desire that sparked in her bright gaze.
    The sight made him instantly hard, but he didn’t say anything, just left through the open door. He hoped that gave her something to think about. God knew he’d certainly be thinking about it.
    * * *
    “Thanks,” Alyssa said as Charlie slid her a bottle of water across the high-top table. She was already edgy enough, especially since Reece had walked into the bar twenty minutes ago. She didn’t need any alcohol to rattle her brain. And with her shifter metabolism it would take a lot to get her even buzzed right now.
    “You’re still thinking about him,” Charlie said with a grin, her voice low enough that no one else would be able to hear them. Not above the chatter of voices and music pumping through the speakers in the martini bar. Red and purple-hued