Desire Me If You Can [Novel] - Chapter 74

Grayson opened his mouth but couldn’t speak. He seemed utterly confused, not understanding what to say. Dein became briefly curious. Was this genuine astonishment from Grayson, or merely a learned reflex?
“Pharmaceutical companies need subjects to test on, so they distribute drugs like this. They sell them under the radar, especially to those who can’t get medication through regular channels or when they develop drugs with dubious intentions. And they charge a premium for it.”
Dein unusually spoke at length. Perhaps he felt he owed Grayson some explanation since he had used his money. Grayson thought that must be right.
“Not well-intentioned?” Grayson asked, catching up with the conversation.
“For example, turning a Beta into an Omega or an Alpha.”
Grayson frowned again. He continually seemed puzzled, but Dein didn’t seem interested in discussing it further and changed the subject.
“What are we going to do now?”
“What?”
Grayson, lost in thought, paused before responding. Dein replied in a usual indifferent tone.
“I’m done with my errands. What do you want to do now?”
Grayson continued to frown at him. Clearly, this guy had no idea what a date involved.
Despite having everything figured out, Dein was oblivious to the fact that Grayson doubted him. To his limited understanding, just wandering around together was enough to qualify as a date.
In reality, Dein had never had a proper relationship. Most were one-night stands, and even when he did dine or spend time with someone, it was ultimately for that one purpose, which was hardly different from foreplay.
But a date coming from this guy’s mouth?
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. Was a psychopath supposed to be more romantic than him, who at least had a normal brain? It would have been less confusing if Grayson had simply suggested they have sex again.
In the end, it’s about giving people what they want. Since Darling needed to stay in the hospital a bit longer, Dein had no need to go back early. He hadn’t felt like looking for another partner since the last one had been so intense the night before.
He was still uncomfortably aware of a lingering sensation deep in his body, but not so much that he couldn’t move. He’d pretend everything was fine, spend some time with Grayson Miller, and then head home to sleep.
Spending time together, if not that, then what is a date?
Meanwhile, Grayson felt a sudden emptiness as he watched Dein, who stood with his arms crossed, tilting his head slightly, waiting for him to speak.
What am I even doing here?
He had roamed his entire life searching for a fate worth committing to. He was sure that Dein Striker, just because of his large chest and being an extreme Omega, was the partner he had been looking for, but now his belief was greatly shaken.
The chest is large, and he is an extreme Omega, but is Dein Striker really my destiny…?
How many years had he mistaken people for his destined partner? Almost his whole life. But can he be sure now? Really?
Moreover, Dein Striker was too far from his tastes except for having a large chest. Every partner Grayson had ever believed was his destiny had been gentle, soft, and most importantly, worshipful of him.
What does Dein Striker offer from any of this?
Rough, quick to throw punches, and constantly saying how bothersome everything was… Grayson recalled one last unpleasant fact.
 He sees me as beneath him.
All things considered, there was absolutely no way Dein Striker was his destined partner. An ignorant man who didn’t even know what a date was, just seeking one-night stands-how could this be the fated partner he had waited his whole life for?
The more he thought about it, the more his frustration grew. Although he had lived a dissolute life himself, at least he had excuses. At the very least, Grayson had slept with those he believed he loved, however fleeting those moments were. Even if not, it was an act out of necessity to release pheromones-an act of self-defense.
But this man? Laughing at the idea of love while leading such a messy life.
And he even boldly took a morning-after pill right in front of Grayson. Shouldn’t he have consulted me before taking it? Just take it and inform me? That’s practically treating me like a dildo. And this guy is my destiny?
Bullshit…
Grayson gritted his teeth. Emerging from the private world they had been in, he suddenly felt  enlightened. It was clear he had been momentarily insane from the Omega’s pheromones. He couldn’t believe he had even considered going on a date with this man.
Dein’s chest was regrettable, but surely, when he found his real destined partner, they would have an even more impressive chest. Surely, that chest isn’t the best in the world. It’s impressive, but I haven’t seen every chest in the world… With that thought, Grayson finally let go of the last of his delusions.
“Damn, what a waste of time.”
He cursed out loud just as the sound of loud music approached and a crowd of people gathered. He paused and shifted his gaze, soon understanding the reason. A parade was in progress. It seemed there was some sort of festival.
“I love you! I love you! I love everyone!”
“You look great! Please look here!”
“Blessings to everyone! Love for all!”
At the top of a float, a flamboyantly dressed woman was throwing flower petals, and below her, trumpeters stood at every corner blowing their horns. Behind the slow-moving horses pulling the float, a band played, and various costumed individuals followed.
On both sides of the street, many people who had been waiting for the parade were cheering, singing along, and dancing. It was a lively and joyful scene for anyone to see.
Of course, Grayson was an exception.
“All this fuss, shit…”
He cursed again, frustrated that nothing seemed to go right. He tousled his hair roughly, and as Dein, who had been watching the parade, turned to look at him, he asked,
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going?”
“What?”
Grayson asked absentmindedly, to which Dein replied with his usual indifferent tone,
“You said let’s eat and do something. Do whatever, I don’t care if we split up after standing around.”
See that. This guy places me beneath him.
There’s no way such a person could be his destiny. So why couldn’t he just laugh it off and walk away as usual this time?
For some reason, Grayson kept feeling increasingly angry. Why? Why?
“You…”
Just as Grayson was about to speak,
Bang, Boom, Bang!
Loud noises followed by the ground shaking interrupted him. Startled people screamed and ran in all directions. Grayson and Dein also looked in the direction of the noise. Grey smoke was rising from one direction. Amid the fleeing crowd, someone shouted,
“It’s a bomb, someone set off a bomb!”
“It’s a terrorist attack!”
Chaos ensued as the panicked crowd screamed and scattered in all directions. Grayson, like everyone else, intended to flee. He turned to run in the opposite direction of the smoke.
After a few steps, he felt something odd. Reluctantly looking back, he stopped and stood still.
Across the rushing crowd, a tall figure was quickly moving away. was Dein Striker.
What…
Grayson stood dumbfounded, watching his retreating figure. Like a scene from a movie, people rushed past him. In the middle of the noisy street, Grayson stared in the opposite direction of the crowd and muttered to himself,
“What are you doing, you idiot…”