The Alpha's Secret Human Sugar Baby - Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Aurora’s POV
I feel like half the office is taken over by Ivy, Jackson, or Ethan. I’m avoiding them everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. It feels like each time I turn around, one of them is near me. What’s worse is that Ethan is walking toward me right now.
I scoot around the edge of the lunchroom, but he catches me before I can escape.
“How have you been? I wanted to invite you to dinner,” Ethan says, “I thought you were lovely at lunch the other day.”
“I’ve been good, Ethan, but I’m sorry. I can’t do dinner,” I say, glancing at the door. “Excuse me.”
Before he can say anything else, I scurry out the door. Ethan kind of freaked me out the day Emma had set us up for lunch, and I hoped we wouldn’t run into each other again. I didn’t think he would want to go out again.
Also remembering that lunch makes me think about how Thorne rescued me that day. It wasn’t the first time he had saved me either. He’s done so much for me, helping me at every turn, and all I’ve given him was sex and a few words of appreciation.
I don’t feel like sleeping with Thorne is a proper, sincere thank you.
Thorne has been kind to me when he didn’t necessarily have to be, especially since this whole thing started as strictly physical. Yet, I feel like things between me and Thorne are growing and changing. They’re getting deeper and more connected, like a web being woven around the two of us.
As I sit at my desk and work, my mind wanders. I want to properly thank Thorne, but what do I have that I could give him? There’s not much I could buy for him, but as I write reports and emails, I decide that cooking dinner might be my best shot.
Thorne likes to eat. I like to eat.
Cooking is a personal activity for many people, and the last time I cooked for him, he enjoyed the food. He probably would again. But what will I cook? I don’t know what his favorite food is, or even what he really likes to eat.
An idea pops into my mind as I finish my last task for the day. Jace would know. I pick up my phone and dial Beta Jace’s office number.
“Beta Jace?” I whisper, glancing at Thorne’s office. He’s working and not paying attention to me, thankfully. With his senses, he could probably hear my voice.
“Aurora, is there something wrong?”
“No,” I say softly. “I was wondering if you know Thorne’s favorite meal.”
“Yeah, he likes traditional steak and potatoes with any vegetables. Are you planning something? Do you need help?” He asks, sounding a bit excited. I keep my eyes on Thorne’s office, ready to hang up if he starts to listen.
I can’t spoil the surprise.
“I am planning to make dinner, but I wasn’t sure what his favorite food was,” I tell him. “Does he like it prepared in a particular way?”
“He prefers ribeye, smoky flavors but not spicy, and he likes it medium rare.”
“Perfect, thank you so much, Beta Jace,” I say. “Do you think he’ll like it if it’s cooked in an iron skillet?”
That’s the only way I know how to cook a steak, and I’m not sure how to use a grill.
“Of course. I think if you make it, he’d eat anything,” his words make me smile. I wonder if that’s true. “Have you gotten the groceries?”
“Not yet. I’m about to order them online… oh, does he like sweets? I was thinking about making dessert too.”
Jace hums and there’s a shuffling sound on his end of the phone before he speaks, “Cheesecake. He loves the stuff. Thorne would never admit it, but he could eat an entire cheesecake by himself, especially if it has strawberries on top.”
I giggle at the mental image of Thorne stuffing his face with cheesecake.
“And like I said, whatever you make, I have no doubt he’ll eat it,” Jace says again. “And if you need anything, let me know. I’m glad to help.”
He’s nice to offer, but I want to do this myself. It would be weird to bring someone else in on my ‘thank you’ gift for Thorne. So, I spend the last hour of work searching for recipes and filling my shopping cart with groceries to be delivered to the house. I won’t have time to go to the store before going home.
Next, I search through movies and pick one we could watch, thinking it would be nice to have a quiet night with someone who makes me feel safe.
By the time I’m finished, it’s time to leave for the day. I gather my things and head over to Thorne’s office. I knock and push the door open, poking my head in.
“Hey, I’m headed home.”
Thorne doesn’t even look away from his phone as he replies, “I’ve got plans tonight, so you don’t have to wait up.”
“Oh, okay,” I mutter, and still, he doesn’t look at me. He continues typing on his phone, and the lack of attention makes my chest ache. Thorne doesn’t usually ignore me this much, especially recently. Had something happened?
“I’ll just get going, then.”
I know he’s a busy man and had been away from work for several days, so I should’ve expected he might be busy. However, he also said he had plans, which could mean he’s going out with someone else. I hadn’t seen anything on his schedule, which means these are personal plans. The entire night I planned is ruined.
Maybe I can have a solo date night. I already bought the food and was looking forward to the movie.
Thorne’s POV
“Go home. Our mate is waiting,” my wolf growls. I rub my tired eyes and glance at the clock. It’s nearly one in the morning. I didn’t realize how late it was.
Aurora is probably asleep by now, and as I gather my things, I can’t help but think about earlier. She’d seemed upset as she left, and she went so quickly that I didn’t have time to ask her what was wrong.
When I reach the house, I realize I’ve pulled up to the vacation house and not my house. I realize the light in the upper room is still on, so instead of driving away, I climb out of my car. She shouldn’t still be awake.
As I enter the house, I realize that coming here, coming to Aurora, was my first instinct. I didn’t even know I was coming to the house until I saw her bedroom light on. It was like I was on autopilot, and before I knew it, I was here.
A cry, broken and desperate, reaches my ears, and I’m moving before I realize it. I move toward her bedroom but change course when another cry comes from the living room. Aurora is asleep on the couch, thrashing and kicking. She fights an invisible opponent, crying as she does so.
Just as I reach her side, Aurora’s eyes fly open, and she gasps. Her hand comes out, grabbing my arm and digging her nails into my forearm.
“You’re okay,” I whisper, letting the rumbling purr rise from my chest. I quickly wrap my arms around Aurora and pull her into my lap. She’d been having nightmares, but I didn’t think about them when I decided not to come tonight.
Now, as she clings to me, I’m glad I showed up.