“Are you okay?” he asks softly.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” His brows furrow, and he shakes his head.
“It’s something both of us ask each other. Isn’t that what a pack does?”
“Are we a pack?” I ask.
“Maybe not a fully solidified one, but that’s the plan, right? That’s what you want?”
I may not know what I want to do with my life, where I see my professional future, but on this, I find myself feeling sure. “It’s what I want.”
His other hand cradles the other side of my face, and my hands automatically go to his waist.
“I wish I could be what you need right now,” he says, and I shake my head. His hands don’t leave their soft position against my jaw.
“You are. Is there something you need? Are you okay?” I turn the question back on him.
His thumbs rub against my flesh, and I can’t deny how badly I want him at this moment. Not even in a feral way where our pheromones are running the show. I just want Owen. I want to be able to kiss, cuddle, and be casual with each other without this fear of what might happen.
It’s not just that I sexually want Owen, no matter his designation or the fact that we’re scent matches. I want him because I’m attracted to him, and I want to make him mine.
“I haven’t felt this good in years. Between living here with you and Alexi and the new medication, I feel… less angry, less alone, and not as run down. You and Alexi gave me that, and I want to give you two everything back in return.”
I smile at him and grip his waist a little tighter, and he groans.
Surely a kiss wouldn’t set everything off?
Our faces are only a few inches apart, his strawberry citrus scent luring me in like a siren song and his touch bringing me so much comfort after my long day.
His thumbs rub my cheekbones, and he sighs, pressing his forehead against mine. We’re even closer than we were before. One of us just needs to lean just a little closer, and we would be kissing. I would finally be able to taste him.
“We can’t. I want to. So fucking bad. I swear I spend half of my day thinking about what it would be like to kiss you and touch you. Can you wait for me?” he asks.
I nod while our foreheads touch.
“You’re worth waiting for.”
He pulls back and smiles, his scent drowning me. While I was tired when I came home, all I feel is wired now, and I need some way to expel all this sexual tension.
“I think I’m going to go for a run.”
“Okay, I think… I think I might need to spend some time with Alexi.”
As badly as I want to watch, I fear I don’t have as much restraint as Owen had the other night. Thank God we have Alexi in more ways than one. Part of me feels guilty that he isn’t also Owen's scent match, but it’s evident that he’s the glue holding us all together. Without Alexi, there is no pack, regardless of me being Owen’s scent match.
“He’ll take good care of you.”
“You… you could come up too,” he says softly.
“I don’t know that I could hold back. Go see your Alpha. I’m going to go for a run.”
I drop my hands from his body, but he doesn’t let go. “Soon,” he says, and I sigh.
“Soon.”
* * *
My heart is thumping in my chest. I really went on this run with no destination in mind, so I shouldn’t be surprised I wound up in front of Charlotte's house. I’m a sweaty mess, but I’m already here. Clearly my subconscious knows I need my best friend.
