There was a long pause. When he spoke again, his voice was different. Vulnerable.
"I don't know," he admitted. "But from the second I walked into you exam room, it's like my entire world shifted. Your scent, even under all those suppressants... it's like coming home."
My heart was racing so fast I thought it might burst. No Alpha had ever affected me like this, had ever made my body respond against every logical thought in my head.
"This is just biology," I said weakly. "Pheromones. Compatibility markers."
"Is it?" The stall door rattled slightly as he leaned against it. "Then why does it feel like more?"
I didn't have an answer for that. Couldn't explain why being near him felt like standing in front of an avalanche, terrifying and inevitable.
"I have to go," I said. "I need to get home before something insane happens."
"I'll drive you."
"Absolutely not."
"Harper." My name on his lips was a plea and a command. "You can't drive like this. And if your heat hits fully... you need to be somewhere safe."
He’s right,I thought.
I could feel the heat building, slower than usual thanks to the emergency pills, but building nonetheless. Driving would be dangerous. But being in a car with him...
"Knox, you and I…it can’t happen," I murmured softly.
"I won't touch you," he said, his voice low and quiet like a storm building out over the Pacific. "Unless you ask me to."
The promise in those words made my thighs clench. The idea of asking Knox Maddox to touch me, to help me through what was coming...
"Fine," I said, hating how breathless I sounded. "But you drop me off and leave. That's it."
Even with a door in between us, I could tell he had a shit eating grin on his face. "Whatever you need, Doc."
I waited until his footsteps retreated towards the door. "I'll be out in two minutes. Pull your car around back."
"Already on it."
When I finally emerged, my legs barely holding me up, the bathroom was empty. But his scent lingered, wrapping around me like a promise.
Or a threat.
I wasn't sure which was worse.
Chapter 4
Knox
The crazy fucking part, was the joke wasn’t even that bad. I’d heard worst shit when I’d done pee wee hockey as a kid. But the second that motherfucker Peterson’s mouth, had carved itself into that stupid ass smirk, talking about everything he wanted to do with the uptight doctor’s ass and mouth….
My Omega,the thought had rode itself down my spine like lightening.
Well that shit had sent me into a primal frenzy and red had taken over my vision. Even my skin seemed to be on fire and the Alpha instincts inside of me had hummed to life.
My gloves hit the ice first, then my stick. Peterson had about two seconds to realize his mistake before my fist connected with his stupid fucking jaw jaw.
"Knox, what the fuck man!" His eyes had gone wide when he realized what was going on.
I hit him again.
