My gaze darts to his plush, kissable lips.
I hear the other HOs talk. They whisper about Icarus as the ultimate fantasy Alpha.
It’s their dream to bond with him.
Yet none of us can because it’s rule four that no staff member can have a romantic relationship. Icarus is allowed to consensually help any Omega through their heat or pair up for his ruts.
But romance?Love?
A pack bond?
Maya would send her General Manager to the Alpha Center if he broke the rule. She would make sure that Ollie suffered.
It’s the main reason that I am protecting my heart from Icarus. It will shatter if I let myself feel too deeply. I can allowmyself to feel like a pack but not hope for something that can’t happen.
At least, not until I can work out a way to break Maya’s stranglehold on this hotel…and family.
She took advantage of my dad when he was vulnerable and she’s been taking advantage of every Omega ever since.
Now that we’re away from the ventilators and scent blockers, I can smell Icarus’ familiar scent of hot apple cider and nutmeg.
He’s not my scent match, but I still luxuriate in my best friend’s delicious scent.
It means safety.
Care.
Home.
He slides his hands down from my shoulders. My skin tingles, as he traces over my sides and hips, as if checking that I am not hurt.
That I am still alive.
“Are you forfeiting the bet?” I taunt.
Icarus growls. His pheromones become thick enough in the air that my knees buckle.
I know how to play my Alpha.
NotmyAlpha.
My friend.
Who doesn’t enjoy friends with benefits? Especially when that benefit is a knot?
Also, because Icarus is thorough in everything that he does, full discussion of consent, safewords, and negotiation of our kinks and limits.
Icarus grips my chin harshly, before lowering his head to capture my lips.
The kiss is hard and punishing.
I moan, kissing him back just as hard.
Then he draws away, kissing across the corners of my lips, then tipping my head to kiss across the light freckles on the bridge of my nose.
I laugh. “Are you done?”
“Are you?” He kisses me again. “Do you know how severely you would have been punished?”
