Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 80 - Jacket Comes Off, Casual Turns On

Chapter 80: Chapter 80 - Jacket Comes Off, Casual Turns On

The transition from terrifying Alpha to a concerned... whatever she was trying to be... was jarring. She didn’t move as I strolled past, showing my back to her as I picked up the plastic bags I’d intentionally dropped.

And the fact that she didn’t do anything does not mean she didn’t desire to. I could feel that proof as goosebumps flaring along my neck and twinges of static from the Intuition.

> This is bad for my heart, Vrika! <

I’m not sure why I bothered to speak to the creature trying to dig a hole out of the fenced enclosure I placed it in. Truly, the silly wolf should not have expressed the desires that it did.

To think, it wanted me to go groom her! I am quite certain that I have never been so forward as to do something like that before I’ve even shared a meal...

"There’s a park that food trucks set up in about two blocks from here."

Her voice came from so very close behind me. At least, that’s what it felt like without being able to see her.

When I step further out of the narrow space, I see she is still a few paces inside and gesturing vaguely down the street. Just my imagination.

"Nothing that fancy, but they have good options. The variety is strong and I’m sure you can find a meal you’d like out of all of them."

I raised an eyebrow while immediately thinking of the many small food stalls in the markets of the royal capital. Places I’d never officially gone, but had snuck into numerous times throughout my youth.

"That’s your idea of proving yourself to me? Street food?"

Even though it sounded so spoiled, so dismissive... only amusement danced in her eyes.

"Would you prefer a five-star restaurant? Where the served portions are tiny by design and everyone there stares at us because of who I am? I thought this way might be more... comfortable."

She had a point about the food, if Helene’s already second-hand television memories of what ’high class’ places could be like was trusted. Though I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of admitting it when there was another part to complain about!

"People are going to stare at you no matter where you go. In that outfit."

I gestured at her pristine white suit and skirt combo with the vibrant red silk blouse beneath. The exact same thing she’d been wearing when we first met - or some identical twin of it.

Kyrie even glanced down at herself, as if just remembering what she was wearing. A hand reached up and undid the single button holding her jacket closed.

> I’m actually impressed she rushed around without undoing that already. <

"You have a point. I came straight from the office. Then when I... sensed there might be trouble, there was no time to change."

The way she hesitated made me wonder what she had actually ’sensed’. Was she simply avoiding saying she’d been following me again?

Actually, I’ve been too worked up to worry about it, but when and how exactly did she get involved in the chase?

"I usually keep a set of more casual clothes in my vehicles. But I was in a bit of a rush and told the driver to just return to the office."

Slipping the white jacket off her shoulders as she talked, revealing more of that vibrant colored layer. She folded the outerwear neatly in her hands, before looking at me with something... I couldn’t quite decipher in her eyes.

"Would you mind holding onto this for me in your backpack?"

My heart skipped in my chest at the seemingly innocent question. Because I ’wasn’t born yesterday’.

Taking it would mean carrying an item with her scent. Potentially mixing it with mine, as my things touch it.

It was an intimacy that she surely understood. And it also meant... I may hesitate to leave until I’d given it back.

A two pronged attack, from a successful businesswoman.

> You want it. I understand that. But please just quiet down. <

I could feel the wolf urging me to use my arms - to reach out and take the garment despite my better judgment. When I spoke, my voice sounded stiff even to my own ears.

"I... think you should keep it. My bags are pretty full."

A lie, of sorts... as while they aren’t empty, they aren’t too full if I had to take the item with me. For just a moment, I saw some disappointment lowering her eyelids.

"Of course."

But she recovered with a graceful nod, then began tying the sleeves around her own waist. The transformation that such a simple solution caused was subtle, but highly effective.

From a formidable CEO to someone still striking - but also more approachable. The glossy, fitted red top, however, screamed of a wealth that was higher than others.

Poise remaining in her whole form placed her as someone exceptionally confident in every step she took. Yet, there was undeniably a casualness in her overall appearance that did not exist before.

> And this woman... didn’t hesitate to take it off. To make this change just because I voiced a light complaint. S-silly of her. <

As I watched her adjust the jacket at her hips, I caught her eyes moving to mine. Then down to my own waist, lingering a bit more than even mine had.

Ah. The realization hit me with embarrassing clarity as her fingers clench around the sleeves again like she wanted to remove it...

> This... this presumptuous wolf is thinking that she wishes I was the one wearing it like that, isn’t she... <

Our eyes met - and I knew she knew I’d caught her. That I understood almost exactly what she was thinking.

She turned her face, cleared her throat, and an only slightly shamed smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. Far... too unphased!

"You know, there is one advantage to looking like I just stepped out of a board meeting when I go out to eat."

> She’s changing the subject! <

Vrika whines back, surprisingly also a little annoyed. But for the spirit, it is because it did not want her to give up - and for her to keep trying to make me wear her things.

My companion is a traitor. Of course I’ve known that for some time, so I take a breath and try to continue this small talk.

"What advantage might that be?"

"The food truck vendors tend to be extra attentive when they think you might tip more than their entire dinner rush profit. Or buy out their whole business."

"Yes, I imagine they would. Have you?"

After a little laugh from her - an unexpectedly velvet sound that makes me anxiously adjust my grip on the bags - she shakes her head.

"No. I have tipped quite well, but nothing so excessive. And... I do not think offering the cook at a restaurant better terms to work for me counts as buying the whole business."

"I see. Well then. We aren’t getting any closer to eating by just standing here."

She smiled at my assertion and we began walking almost naturally side by side. Careful to maintain a distance that could be considered polite between acquaintances.

Despite how persistently the barks and whimpers from my wolf were. Or how my own eyes kept shifting so that my periphery contained her and not the blue edges of the system.

Nothing more than two people that happen to know each other going to share a meal.

Without any anticipation beyond that. At all. I tell myself.

- - - - -

[?]: I’d love for my current readers to drop a comment on the *level* of narrated physical intimacies that they actually hope to see from my couple in the future.

Full explicit details - or implied fades with later ’sensual’ references?

I’m comfortable with writing both forms... but if I get a particularly 50/50 response from you all before the first encounter like that... I will then try to always provide R-18 level chunks into their own separate, narratively *skippable* Chapters.

Let me know your thoughts!