“Yeah,” he agrees.
“Okay, I’ll let you rest. Just know that I’m here if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Cove.”
We lie next to each other in companionable silence. The longer I breathe in his blueberry scent, the harder it is to keep my system from releasing soothing pheromones.
I didn’t even know that particular omega-only skill was possible while taking suppressants. It’s complicated, but I fight my natural urge to soothe the frustrated alpha.
He was majorly overwhelmed by the crush of people after our show. All those bodies with different smells… I’m not sure adding my pheromones to the mix would help, especially when they’re super-potent soothing pheromones.
It might help, or it might set him off again. If someone who is autistic is triggered, it can make them overly sensitive to smells. They’re also more likely to be bothered by sights and sounds. The last thing I want to do is add to his stress or send him back into a meltdown.
It’s frustrating because my instincts are convinced it would soothe him, but my mind reminds me how he even pulled away from my touch earlier.
Instead, I lie next to him and just breathe.
After quite a while, he stretches a hand to my side of the pillows and rests it on my forearm. It’s such a small thing, but I smile like a fool. Knowing he willingly touched me feels like a win.
Chapter Ten
Declan
Cove isn’t puking the next morning, and I can’t decide if it’s a good or a bad sign. Their sound check goes off without a hitch, and we eat food from tour catering in one of the greenrooms.
I find myself watching her a little too intently. She is my primary client—Griffin made that clear—so it’s well within my job perimeters to keep eyes on her at all times. That likely doesn’t include scrutinizing every bite that slips between her lips.
Fuck me.
This is a problem.
The longer I spend in the confined space of the tour bus with her delicate orange creamy scent, the more my system yearns for it.
That can’t be healthy.
This is why it’s not recommended to cram unbonded alphas and omegas together in small spaces.
When she walked in on me in the shower the other night, the look on her face about did me in. Some days, I don’t know what the hell I’m still doing here.
Watching Darkest Nights on stage is impressive. Even if it’s not their dream, Ravvi and Damian are natural performers.
My nephews eat up every second of attention they get from the fans, but I’ve always known Riot and Creed are in the industry for the long haul.
Cove is in her element on stage. She’s charismatic, playing to the crowd in a way the audience goes crazy over.
It’s also plain to see how exhausted she is.
Touring isn’t easy.
I saw it as a teenager, but I got lucky with Pops. He originally came to live with Issac, Dexter, Love, Vince, and Jude to be my brother’s sponsor.
God knows Dexter needed one.
I didn’t technically meet Dex until he’d cleaned up his act, but I watched his antics on TV for years before we ever met. I was never interested in being a musician or going on tour with my brother and his family pack. If Pops hadn’t been around, I probably wouldn’t have had a choice.
Pops was a hard-ass, but I loved the hell out of that old man. He may have joined the family to keep an eye on Dexter, but that quickly changed to helping menot end up a degenerate. His words, not mine.
Vince’s grandfather was older than dirt when I met him. Somehow, he was stubborn enough to live long enough to watch me graduate basic training. He died three days later in his sleep.
