Sam lifts one shoulder in a shrug as he sets the paper back on his desk. “The Dean asked me to go over a few things from all the fraternities, to make sure everything reported by them is correct. And these are all the cases that my boss wants me to look over.”
I suddenly get frustrated. “Does that even fall under your responsibilities as an intern?”
He gives me an amused smile. “If I say ‘no,’ what would you do?”
“I’d march right to that firm and give your boss a piece of my mind!” I say dramatically, crossing my arms. “I mean, you have a full course load, and you run a fraternity. Does he not know that you shouldn’t be doing things that you’re not getting paid to do?”
Sam puts down the paper he was reading and walks over to me. He places his hands on my shoulders and then moves them down, massaging my upper arms gently. My body relaxes as he uses my omega senses against me and takes care of my muscles. “I know it’s a lot, but I have it figured out, okay? This internship is better for us in the long run.”
I huff out a breath of air. I know he’s always trying to do what he can for us, I’m just not sure if what’s best forhimis in the same equation. Still, I don’t like telling my alpha what to do, and I’m positive that this is something he needs to work out himself anyway, so I drop it.
Sam kisses me on the tip of my nose and I instantly melt. “So, what’s up? You wouldn’t drudge all this way just to see me work.”
I purse my lips at him, offended. “Maybe I would,” I say, although I know there’s an actual reason today, his assumptionis false. I would totally come by just to keep him company while he worked, but I also wouldn’t want to distract him when he already has so much to do. He may be overworked, but he is on schedule with the amount of work, and I guarantee he wouldn’t be if I spent more time in this office.
His office is so…official. I could probably seduce him into some role-playing scenario easily here.
I shake my head and Sam gives me a knowing look. “Like I said… you wouldn’t do itjustto see me work.”
“Oh, shush.” I playfully push him before sitting in the chair in front of his desk. “Okay, I am here for a specific reason. I was wondering—hypothetically—if there were a case of an omega going into heat before bonding with a pack, are there any laws to protect them?”
Sam blinks at me. “Is that something that can happen?”
Keeping it hypothetical, and hopefully vague enough not to lay a trail for Sam’s genius brain to pick up on, I say, “There’s a rare disorder, some kind of hormone dysregulation that can trigger early heat cycles.”
“That’s awful. How do they handle their heat if they don’t have a partner or a pack?”
I bite the inside of my cheek and recite some of the things I learned from my research. “The rumor is that these omegas get put into isolation and are forced to handle it themselves.”
Sam’s chest erupts in a low growl, his apple scent harshening into flamed fruit. His expression is completely appalled. “That’sbarbaric. And it can’t be legal.”
“That’s why I wanted to bring it up. I was wondering if you could find out anything that helps protect these omegas. Medicine can’t, there isn’t enough funding, so I wonder if the law can.”
Sam nods before looking at me curiously. “Why are you so interested in this?”
I shrug, leveling my expression to not give anything away. It’s not my secret to spill, especially when Opal seems so adamant on keeping it private, so I go with something that isn’t a complete lie. “I was just thinking that… maybe if I had stayed in the field, this is something I would have worked on. Researched with funds or whatever.”
His brows raise at that. “Are you thinking about going back into medicine?”
I let out a sincere laugh, shaking my head. “No, no way. I like where I’m at. I’m just saying, you know, in another life.”
He nods, accepting my answer. “I’ll ask around, see if there are any known cases. I’ll also check some of my textbooks, maybe there’s something hidden somewhere that gives a loophole.”
His instant acceptance makes me grin. “So, can I stick around for a little bit?” I ask, hope filling my tone.
He playfully rolls his eyes at me. “As long as you can be a good omega and try not to seduce me until later, then yes. You can keep me company.”
My dick twitches at that, my eyes trailing over him in his suit. And even though we both know it’s a lie, I agree.
Unfortunately, I only last about fifteen minutes before I get incredibly bored. Without my Steam Deck to keep me company, all I can do is sit and watch him read each paper, one by one. He looks sexy, but there’s literally nothing to stimulate me.
I think about Opal again. Not just about what I discovered, but how I can make her more comfortable. How I can show her that I’m here for her in more than just the platonic way we’ve settled into.
“Sam.”
“Yes?” he says without looking up from his work.
“I was thinking about taking Opal out soon. Like… on a date.”
