Chapter 5 A Complicated Dance

Valentino's POV

We all moved to the dining room table. The younger kids under thirteen were at the kid's table, which was in an adjacent room to the dining room. My Dad set at the head of the table, the Koa's father, Channing sat at the other end. Both of their wives sitting next to them. Both Vin and I looked at each other, neither of us wanting to sit right by our mate, but also neither one of us wanting to be too far.

"Vin, you and Tino can sit in the middle, between the families." I turned to Nonna as she said that and she had a smirk on her face.

We both sat down and across from me Koa sat, and across from Vin was Kona. Of course, Zay was ecstatic at being across from our mate, but I on the other hand was not. I was a messy eater. And we were eating pasta. So much pasta.

I met his eyes and he was so unnecessarily intense. I needed him to relax, cause then I would relax.

"Are you okay? Why are you so tense all the time?" I asked him, awkwardly rubbing my arm and leaning back in my chair.

"You think I am tense?" He raised an eyebrow slightly at me, and I almost jumped with excitement. This was the first time I had seen anything on his face move and I was happy it was happening because of me.

"I think you are intense, and you need to chill. Or at least smile. Or else I'm going to freak out."

I grabbed my wine glasses and took a giant swig. Koa leaned back in the hair and for a moment I thought I was imagining it. HE SMIRKED. It was small, nothing crazy. But my goddess was it attractive...I can't even imagine what it would look like with his teeth.

My Dad stood up and clinked the glass to get everyone's attention. All eyes were on him as he began to speak.

"Tonight is about unity. Connection. Family. I am grateful to each of you. And I am grateful for the Mickaya's joining us, and bringing their pack to join us in protecting all that we hold dear. Cheers to the goddess."

"Cheers to the goddess." We all clinked our glasses and took a sip.

Conversations started to occur all over. Nonna talking with my Grandpa and VIctoria talking to Koa's younger sister. Vin was talking to Kona, but he was stuttering madly and it was hilarious to hear.

I looked forward and HIS eyes were already looking at me, but this time there was a playful glint in them. It made me twitch in my seat.

"Um...hello. Can I help you?" I questioned and he crossed his arms at my question.

"Does my looking at you make you uncomfortable?" He raised his eyebrow again and slightly tilted his head to the side. I don't know why but that was so unnecessarily attractive.

"Yeah, dude. If you're going to stare at least say something." He hummed in approval and he grabbed his wine glass taking another sip.

"Okay then, let's talk." I don't know why but that was even scarier than his staying silent. "What do I smell like?"

My eyes basically popped out of my head at the question. My cheeks started warming up, as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, gaze intense as usual.

"What?" I knew what he meant, I just want ready to answer yet.

"You know what I said." Dominance was dripping off of him. It was taking everything in me not to bend to his will.

"Good, I guess." I shrugged.

"Be specific, Valentino." Goddess when he said my name it always sent a shiver down my spine, in the best way. I hate that. But what I hated most was the fact I answered so quickly.

"Peaches, and sea salt." I kept my gaze down, my voice low. Koa hummed in satisfaction at my obedience. "What do I smell like?" I teased in a mocking way.

"Chocolate. And caramel." He answered so fast and so easily like me asking that didn't affect him at all. This wasn't fair. Not at all. I wanted to know if I affected him the way he affected me.

"Cool, cool. Cool. Good to know."

"Why did you run from me after class?" Oh, he noticed...

"No reason." I knew he could tell I was lying, I mean I wasn't the best liar. I was the worst. And the way he looked at me was like he could see right through me.

"You think me a fool?"

"Koa, why do you talk like you live in medieval times?" I was exasperated, but when I looked at him, he was stiff. Well, stiffer than usual. His jaw ticked slightly and his fingers tapped on the table. I was confused at his sudden change, had I said something wrong?

"Don't do that." He gritted out through his teeth.

"Do what?"

"Say my name around a bunch of people. My self-control is not as strong as you think, little one."

First, let me start by saying that it should not have turned me on as much as it did. Secondly, was it bad to wonder what it would be like if he did lose his self-control? 'No, no it wouldn't, matter of fact, let's see what happens...' Zay said and I laughed at that. And thirdly...

"I'm not little, you weirdo." I huffed out and grabbed the bowl of pasta and plopped some on my plate.

"You're little to me." I rolled my eyes in annoyance and before I could stop myself, my instinct kicked in and I found myself not only making my plate but Koa's plate as well. It wasn't until I was finished I realized what I had done.

Koa watched me intensely as I stared at both of our full plates. What the hell? Did I just go full autopilot? Yeah. I did.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize--" Koa cut me off by taking a bite of pasta, completely ignoring the fact I just made his plate.

I followed his actions and let silence fall over us and I started eating. It was awkward for a bit, any time I looked up we made eye contact. I could feel my cheeks heating up at each glance. I hated that it was so easy for him to get me so riled up. He seemed so calm and cool.

We finished eating and I kept my eyes low. It seemed that Vin was having a nice conversation with his mate, and I couldn't help but feel slightly jealous. I wish it was that easy between Koa and me...but I didn't even know if he wanted me. Sure he flirted but that was that. I couldn't tell, I couldn't read any of his thoughts.

"Are you okay, Dolcezza?" My Nonna asked me and I smiled at her, reassuring her.

"Yes, I am okay, Nonna." I leaned in and gave her a kiss on her forehead and went back to staring at the plate. Wishing that I was in my room and the evening was over already.

"Dolcezza...what does that mean?" Koa asked pulling me from my thoughts. I loved the way he said it. He said it with a perfect Italian accent too. He was killing me.

"It means sweetie, in Italian."

"Good to know, dolcezza."

I'm sure my face was bright red. I was getting frustrated with myself and how easily I was giving in to him. I hated this. I politely excused myself from the table and headed to my room. Zay was yelling at me, telling me to go back and be around our mate. But right now it was all too much. I couldn't handle it. He just made me feel so...bashful. I hated it. I wasn't some pretty princess, I was a MAN.

It wasn't until I was pretty close to my room that his scent hit my nose and I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned and he was standing there with a confused look on his face. Wow was that emotion I just saw?

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I crossed my arms and kept my head down. Again. Bad liar.

"Tell me the truth, Valentino." He walked forward and I took a step back. we continued this until my back was pressed against my bedroom door. He hovered over me, my head hitting right under his chin.

"You keep doing shit. It's making me blush and I hate it. And you sit there with your blank face. And your...eyes. And your proper fucking English." I huffed out and rolled my eyes.

"You are unsure of how I feel?"

"Yes, Koa. I'm unsure of how you feel." Just then his eyes switched to black as he looked down at me. Zay was rolling around in my head and purring at the action.

"I'm not sure you can handle that, dolcezza."

My cheeks were on fire. And his hands were leaning against the door frame. Not touching me. I hated that I wanted him to touch me. But he was right, I don't think I could handle it. Because as I was looking his mask fell. I could see the desire in his eyes. His gaze was locked into mine. I was drowning in it.

"Is this what you want to see?" His eyes flicked from my eyes to my lips, and I instinctually flicked my tongue out to wet my lips. Koa growled in response and I immediately stopped. His desire was covered all over his face as he looked at me. His lips parted open just slightly as he looked at me.

Before I knew it, his hands went into my back pocket, grazing my ass. And my breath caught in my throat. But that quickly dyed down when he pulled out my phone and put it to my face to unlock it.

He moved away from me and from what I could tell he was putting his number in my phone. I definitely would have protested before but I was caught up in the moment. He texted himself because I could hear his phone buzz in his pocket. He gave me my phone back and backed away.

"I will see you in the morning, dolcezza."

Goddess, I'm fucked.