For one, terrifying beat, I considered calling it, shouting pumpkin and going home. But there were steps, and Omega’s Lust had set boundaries.
“Red.” I said clearly, feeling the pressure around my wrist disappear immediately.
The disappointment on the balding alpha’s face was nearly palpable. “Did we come on too strong?”
I stepped away, backing up into the adjacent hall so I didn’t have to put my back to them as I moved quickly away. “Just not for me, thanks!”
“Hey, wait!” the other alpha said. “We weren’t joking about the?—”
I didn’t hear the rest as I turned on my heel, racing around the next bend and through a sloppily concealed door into a dimly lit room filled with so many bodies it had me reeling.
I really must’ve been afraid not to notice the moans and growls coming from the doorway, a knot of people moving as one, froze me steadily in place as I watched them writhe in a tangle of wandering hands and mouths.
I’d just walked into a fucking orgy.
My eyes caught on a couple in the corner, tucked away against the wall and partially obscured by heavy silken drapes. I could just barely catch a hand riding into the other man's toga, bunching the fabric and making it flutter with the steady flick of his wrist. The shorter man threw his head back, a moan I couldn’t hear spilling from his lips. The taller man then boxed them in, cutting off my view, but the damage had been done, warmth spreading from my center down to my toes as I pressed my thighs together desperately.
God, where did Joon go? Maybe I’d just take him up on his offer. It was like all of a sudden the world narrowed to the sounds of my own breathing and the heat warming its way over my body. My vision felt like it was almost moving slowly, the previously loud screaming and music fading into the background, almost like I was standing outside of the party, listening through the wall.
Warm caramelized sugar and sharp, tangy salt coated my senses as thick, muscular arms wrapped around me frombehind. “There you are,” a smooth, low voice crooned, close to my ear. “I’ve come to claim my prize, fuckdoll.”
“Hurry up, slowpoke!”Indigo called over his shoulder as I fought to keep up, finding it more difficult to find breaks in the crowd with my broader shoulders than his more compact frame.
“I don’t know why you’re so eager in the first place,” I called.
He didn’t stop, but slowed just a touch. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I shrugged, able to catch up to him more easily now. “It just seems obvious he isn’t interested.”
He laughed low, but the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes like it normally did. “I would say he’s really interested based on my night last night.”
I licked my lips, trying to choose my words carefully. “I mean, on packing up, with us.”
“He’s just not ready,” Indi said irritably.
“It seems like he might never be ready.”
Indigo stopped completely, turning towards me. “Where’s all this coming from?”
I sighed, stopping with him. We’d always been able to be honest with each other. They certainly didn’t hold back about telling me how much they hated Mindy for me. And it wasn’t that I hated Joon; it was actually quite the opposite. But it was clear he didn’t have any interest. And more than once, I’d watched him wiggle away when someone mentioned packing up, even in passing. “I’m just trying to consider the future. Why waste time on some omega that doesn’t want to pack up when this is a prime opportunity to find someone who does?”
It wasn’t often it happened, but I could see irritation set into Indi’s features. “We’re not here looking for someone else. We’re here to make a good impression on Joon. I thought this would be a good time for you to get to know each other.”
“Seems to me like he just wanted a fun night with some alphas, nothing more. And you and Cameo have been talking about commitment for a long time. I just don’t want you to get hurt by some player omega.” Couldn’t he see I was trying to be reasonable? Look out for him?
“Don’t talk about him like that. Just because he isn’t interested in you and your lack of effort doesn’t mean he wouldn’t want to bond with me. Or damn, probably even Cameo, who’s at least making a bit of effort. You’re the one who can’t open up enough to give him a chance.”
His words hit me like blows to the chest. “I see.” I started walking for real, letting my large strides carry me towards the maze where I was sure I’d seen Joon run off towards.
If he wanted me to open up and get more involved, I would.
I cut around the side of the building, catching up to Cameo easily. He could talk about beating me all he wanted, but the fucker could never run away from me for long with those legs. Though now I ignored his arguing with the attendant—his problems with authority and failure to comply with basic signagewere his problem, not mine. I barely managed to finish signing my paperwork and the safety spiel before Indigo arrived.
“Marcus, come on! Can’t we talk about this?”
“No,” I snapped gruffly, heading inside.
“Excuse me, you need to fill out your forms before you go in, please,” the attendant called to Indigo. I practically could hear the alpha gnashing their teeth as the door swung shut behind me.
