Chapter 10 My future with Miles might just include me gaining a million pounds because the guy can cook. We're sat at the small table in the breakfast nook of the kitchen, and I'm devouring the dinner he made me like a freaking pig because it is. So. Good. Red wine braised short rib with creamy mashed potatoes and steamed veggies, I'm in comfort food heaven. A small moan of pleasure leaves me when my fork enters my mouth, and my eyes drift shut as I savor the flavors. 'I can't believe you cooked for me,' I tell him, my eyes fluttering open. He tears his attention away from my mouth, blinking rapidly as he clears his throat. 'Both my parents are chefs. Thought it was important that I learn to cook from a young age. ' 'I can't wait to meet them.' I smile, taking a sip of wine. His face pales considerably, and suddenly I'm worried I came on too strong. But come on, last night he asked if it was too early to say 'I love you', surely this is less crazy than that? 'Unless...unless that's too much too soon,' I say quickly, trying to wipe that troubled expression off his face. 'I mean, I already told my parents about you, but only since they have insight, seeing as they're a scent-matched omega pair-' Miles' expression shutters as he quickly shakes his head. 'No, little nymph, that's not...' He sighs, sitting back slightly as he runs a hand through his hair. 'My parents...they don't know I'm an omega.' My heart drops into my stomach. 'What? Why? How?' He sighs again, wiping a hand over his face. 'I grew up in a community in Colorado, close to Denver...well, they believe that female alphas and male omegas aren't 'natural', and are blasphemous against the gods.' His words shock a gasp out of me, and my hand flies to my mouth. Not natural? What does that even mean? He gives me a look like he knows exactly what I'm thinking. 'I never put much stock in what they said, and while Mom and Dad never pushed the issue, they never openly disagreed with it either. They're both betas. I've never been the type that people thought would present as an alpha, so when nothing happened at eighteen...well, it was normal and expected and I just went on with my life. So when I turned twenty and my perfume came in, at that point I had already been away at college for two years. It was easy to get heat suppressants and go on scent blockers when I would visit them.' The emotion in his face makes me want to go to the other side of the table and wrap my arms around him, but I'm not sure if this is the kind of subject he needs space to talk about. I can't imagine hiding something that big from my parents. It must be eating him alive, to have to pretend to be something he's not. 'You don't think...' I trail off, trying to find the right words. 'What do you think would happen if they found out? It's not like you can change your designation.' He gives me a wry smile. 'I don't know. I just...I just can't stand the thought of them looking at me differently.' His voice catches, and he blinks rapidly. 'They're so proud of me, just the way things are now, and I don't want to do anything to change that.' Unshed tears shine in his eyes, and this time, I do get up, walking around the table until I reach him. When I pull him to my chest, he wraps his arms around my waist and rests his head on me. His hair is feather-soft as I run my fingers through it. 'I don't know your parents...but for what it's worth, I don't think they would love you any less.' My voice is quiet. 'And...my parents said they'd love to talk to you if you have any questions. Especially my dad. He knows a thing or two about being a male omega.' Miles snorts. 'Hopefully more than a thing or two, because I need all the help I can get.' Before I can answer, he turns his head, burying his face right between my breasts and sighs. 'Fuck. Boobs really do make everything better.' I choke out a laugh, and attempt to dislodge him. 'Nope, you did this,' he says in a muffled voice. 'These are mine now. Get used to it.' The pressure of his face on my breastbone is nice. 'Well, alright then, but at least let me sit down.' Without a word, he pulls me around so I'm standing between him and the table, and moves his plate to the side so I can sit on the edge. His face re-buries itself in my chest and he groans. 'Dammit. Your scent is so strong here.' 'Hey, Miles?' I ask, my fingernails absentmindedly scratching his scalp as his blueberry-dark chocolate swirls around us. 'Hmmm?' He asks, shivering under my touch. 'The food is going to go cold.' I smirk as he pulls back long enough to scowl at me. 'Fine. I guess we'll never finish dinner if my face is being smothered by your magical tits. But I am sleeping like that.' My head falls back as I laugh. 'Deal.' He reluctantly lets me go back to my side of the table where I try to finish my food before it really does go cold. 'So I have one more question,' I lean forward slightly as he meets my eyes. He looks considerably more relaxed than he has all evening. Huh. Maybe my boobs really are magic. 'What's that, little nymph?' He takes a bite of his short rib. 'This house...I mean...what's the deal? You live in this huge place by yourself? There has to be at least seven bedrooms.' 'Nine, if you count the two offices downstairs.' He grins at me. 'But, yeah. So, this house belonged to my great uncle and his pack, and they were voluntarily child-free. Shortly before I graduated college, my great uncle passed, and the house went to my family. My parents let me have it, since they have no use for such an 'obscenely large home',' he does finger quotes and a deeper voice that I'm sure is supposed to mimic his father, 'but I wanted to fix it up and sell it myself.' My mouth drops. 'Sell it? But it's so beautiful-' 'I'm not selling it now. It didn't take me long to fall in love with the place, and I decided to live here as long as I could, and with you by my side, I'm determined to make that a very, very long time.' He gives me a hesitant look. 'I mean...if you want to.' 'Did you just...' I shake my head, trying to piece together what exactly he's saying. 'Are you asking me to move in with you?' 'I mean...yeah, I guess I am.' His expression is determined as he takes me in. 'Listen, you're sleeping on your best friend's couch, you don't have a nest, and we're scent-matched. We're going to end up living together at some point, so why not just do it now? If it makes you feel better, you can claim one of the rooms as yours so it's not like we're 'living together'. We could be...roommates.' The last sentence seems to physically pain him, and since I've finished my food, I stand from the table, eyeing him as he does the same. 'I don't want to be roommates, Miles,' I tell him, my hands coming up to rest on his chest. 'If we're doing this, I'm going all in. What about you?' A smile that makes me feel like I'm staring at the sun graces his features, and he leans down, his mouth stopping an inch from mine. 'All in,' he says on a whisper, and when I nod, he captures my lips with his. I can't help but smile into his mouth as he claims me, and my arms wrap around his neck. All fucking in. 'I have to warn you though, I have a lot of plants.' My lips brush against his with my confession. 'I wouldn't expect anything less from you, little nymph.' A Fated Encounter movie summary talks about Emma Brown who is forced by her father Henry to take her sister Bella's place and marry Tommy Anderson to save her business. Unlike the rumor Tommy turns ou...