“Go to bed, Olly,” I nip, turning around and flashing my glare at him. He pouts. Fuckingpouts.“That’s an order!” I bark.
His eyebrows furrow, and he looks at the ground like he’s about to fucking cry, which is…new.
Something inside of me flips and feels bad.Like, I feel shitty for hurting his fucking feelings.
Jesus, these post-mating chemicals are fucking with my brain.
“Sorry,” I say, clearing my throat. “Didn’t meant to yell, I just—”
“No, I suppose you’re right. It’s late. I should…” He looks down the hall, towards his lab. His shoulders loosen as he runs a hand through his dark hair. The overhead lights cast a shimmer on his smooth locks, and I notice the faintest flex in his forearm.
He’s smaller than I am, but not quite as small as Auryn. I see the guy every day, so I know what he looks like. But I find myself wondering how defined he is underneath his scrubs. I’ve never seen him naked before. He practically runs to the showers first, and we all know enough to give him his space. He’s more solitary than us. More uptight.
But still, I wonder.
“Go to bed,” I say, lighter now. Trying not to sound like an asshole.
“Sleep is good,” he mumbles. “Sleep means I’ll be more efficient.”
I shake my head. “Yeah, whatever.”
He wrings his hands together, chewing on his lip, and I think he wants to say something.
“What is it?” I sigh, knowing it’s best he just says it so I can leave and not feel like a guilty asshole.
“Are you mad at me?” he asks, and it’s almost childish. Like he really doesn’t know or understand.
Maybe he doesn’t.
“Why would I be mad at you? Because you clearly need to watch where you’re going?”
He shakes his head. “Because Auryn and I—”
I laugh. Because it’s so not like him to ask, and also it feels so juvenile. But the look on his face tells me he actuallyisworried I’m mad at him, and something about that changes my tone. I take two steps toward him, clutching my goodies.
“Let’s get one thing straight here, Olly,” I say as I catch his gaze. I tower over him, even though I’m the shortest of the alphas at six-two.
“What?” he asks, furrowing those dark brows again.
“I am not mad at you,” I say. “I don’t understand why in the fucking world Auryn wants you, and maybe I’m a little surprised that you actually know how to use your dick, but I just fucked Auryn with another alpha’s cock inside of her, so I think it’s safe to say I can share just fine.”
His cheeks turn scarlet from my words, and I have to stifle my laugh because fuck, I didn’t think Olly was capable of blushing. The guy’s got two settings, apathetic as fuck or pissy as fuck.
“At the same time?” His voice comes out as a whisper, almost like he can’t breathe.
I grin proudly. “Yes.”
“I see,” he says as he blows out a breath.
A strange ache pulls in my chest as I look down the hall to the quarters. One glance at the clock tells me I’ve got to leave in less than twenty minutes. I need to get rid of Olly and fast, before his smart brain kicks in, and he starts asking where the fuck I’m going.
“So no, I’m not mad if you want to play doctor or whatever the fuck it is that you two do together. I wouldn’t give a shit if you crawled into bed with her right now,” I say, my mind wandering to her naked body in her nest. Without me to keep her warm…
My voice turns more serious. “In fact, I think you should do that. Right fucking now.”
His gaze holds mine, and he looks a little confused, but when he looks down the hall, I know he wants to. When he looks at me questioningly, biting his lip, I think he needs more than just assurance.
He needs permission.
