He disappered back into the room, but not before I caught a glimpse of Liora sound asleep on the bed, a sheet pulled over her. She looked peaceful right now. Unhurt, untraumatized. I wished we could jump back to before we tore her heart out and stomped on it.
"We should be at work," I sighed, when the door clicked shut behind Geo.
"That's what got us into this mess," Mace growled. "I'm done with pretending it's everything. You know it's not more important than she is."
"But does she know that?" Aiden asked. "We have to figure out how to make this up to her. She went through hell because of us and now she's terrified of alphas. We're damn lucky she let Geo in that room."
"We are." I drummed my fingers on my knee. "Let's take shifts. One of us here, two at the office."
"I'll stay," Mace said, his eyes dull. "I'd be useless in the office anyway."
Aiden and I drove to the office, the place where it had all come to a head so many years ago. All our success was bittersweet now, knowing that we'd prized it over love and affection. I wanted to slap myself. Instead, I took the elevator up to the top floor, where our offices were.
There, I sat in front of the computer, unable to concentrate on anything. One of the secretaries came in with a coffee and eyed me oddly.
"Sir, isn't your omega in heat?"
"How the hell would you know that?" I snapped. "I don't even have an omega. Not anymore."
"Sorry." She set the coffee down. "It's just that I can smell heat pheromones on you, but I've overstepped, I'm sorry."
"No, it's fine. There is an omega in my house and she is in heat, but she's not mine." The words tasted like ash on my tongue.
As she turned to leave, I called out, "Olivia, wait. You're a woman . . . how would a man get you back if he fucked up really, really badly?"
She turned, eyebrows raised. "I'm not an omega."
"No, but you know how the female mind works." I ran a hand through my curls. "I'm desperate here. Any kind of insight could be good."
She paused, thinking. "I mean, how badly did you mess up?"
"Think of the worst fuckup ever and multiply by ten."
Olivia winced. "You sure you want her back, she might resent you forever."
"I do, but it's not even about that," I said, realizing as I spoke that it was true. "I just want her to be okay. I want to show her how sorry I am."
"You need to make a grand gesture, of course," Olivia said. "But even better, dozens of little things to show that you care and that you're sorry. What does she like? Make sure you give her those things. Send her notes. Apologize every time you see her. You have to be believable."
"I can do that. Little things she loves." My brain was already spinning. "Thanks, Olivia."
"Good luck." She left the office and I sat there until my coffee went cold, scribbling ideas on a piece of paper. Everything I could think of that Liora liked. Everything that might show her that I meant what I said. But how do you rebuild trust when you've broken it so thoroughly?
Chapter 22
In the Heat
Liora
Geo was gone. I rolled over in the bed and whimpered, my body too hot and needy to be left alone. Instinctively, I knew the toys wouldn't be enough this time. The hunger was digging in, threatening to break me apart.
The toilet flushed in the bathroom and water ran in the sink. Then he was back, walking into the room with a rush of sweet grapefruit scent and smiling at me.
"How do you feel?"
"Like I need a knot." I reached for him. "Please, can we try again?"
"I washed the toy." He turned to grab it but I shook my head.
