“I just want some ice cream. There’s a van on the other side of the park that’s better than the stuff at the market, but don’t tell them that.”
“And that’s omegas only?”
“It is when I have to watch you licking it all up. I could barely stand you eating that pear. It’s not fair if I have to watch that as well.”
“And how do you think I feel?” I ask before I catch myself.
I think he’s going to give me another snappy reply. What throws me off is how Luke instantly closes up. I thought it was happening, that my test had paid off, that we were moving toward something. But his face hardens and he steps further away from me with a look of disappointment or sadness or something that isn’t the deep lust that’s nearly making me dizzy.
“I think we should go back to the car,” he murmurs, with no space for me to answer as he turns on one foot and takes off.
I’m left there, confusion blooming inside me before I jog after him. I don’t know what to make of his reaction. Does it prove that he really isn’t here to trick me, or have I fallen into another trap?
Ollie
I’m giving up at this point. My heat is coming, I can’t stay away from Timber, and Kane knows my secret. I don’t know why I’m still pretending to be Luke when it hurts more than it’s worth.
I’ll find another way to pay the hospital bills. I can sort it out without lying to Timber.
I’ve come to visit my brother in the ward to tell him that this is enough. Then I’ll talk to Marilyn and confess that we have extenuating circumstances and we can’t work with Timber anymore. Obviously, I won’t tell Marilyn the full story. If anyone finds out what I’ve done, it’s straight to jail.
I just have to put on a brave face for Luke. It’ll be easier if he’s whining and complaining about being in the hospital, so I can woo him with promises of going home.
There’s chattering from behind his curtain, and I wonder if Noa or any of his other friends are visiting.
Until I slide it open, and look who’s there. An annoyingly handsome hockey player lounging back in a chair.
My brother and Kane turn to me with big, innocent smiles, like the assholes haven’t been conspiring against me.
“Well, hello, sweetness,” Kane purrs, his face lighting up.
Snapping the curtain closed, I stare at the dark blue material while holding back a groan.
I’ve been pulling my hair out because I’m so wound up about Timber that I can barely stand it. I don’t know if I can be in the same room as Kane without blowing my top.
The curtain slides open again, and he grins, his lavender scent instantly washing over me. I relax straight away, my body sighing in relief that my other alpha is near enough for me to rub on like a stripper pole.
I don’t want to leap on him and tell him how deeply I’ve missed him. That could give him the upper hand.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, trying to be casual, but it comes out as grumpily as Timber on a good day.
“Hey, I’m just having some fun.”
I stay quiet as I glance at Luke. At least he looks healthier than he did a few days ago, and maybe Kane contributed to that.
“And how did this little party happen?” I ask, eyeing up Kane, refusing to tremble as I push past him. Lavender brushes overmy arm, and my eyes flutter briefly as desire burns through my body. Why do I have to be so weak to them? I need to put out a missing persons alert for my backbone.
Kane will smell my slick straight away, but I have to keep my head up. I covered myself in scent-blocking cream before I left the house, but good luck with that now that my alpha is here.
“Kane and I have become best buddies since he started visiting me,” Luke beams as I drag a chair from the other side of his bed and plonk myself down. I could have left the chair where it was, but I know my omega side won’t shut the hell up for the rest of the day if I’m too far away from him.
“Isn’t it such a coincidence?” Kane asks brightly. “Out of all the places, I just happened to find his exact ward.”
“Uh-huh,” I say, folding my arms. I’ve taken my binding vest off to come and see Luke because my nipples had been aching from being constricted for so long. Even with a loose T-shirt, they’re still going to point like two beacons announcing to Kane that I’m ready to rock and roll. “And it doesn’t have anything to do with how we met the last time at the hospital?”
Kane’s shrug is exaggerated, and my gaze goes straight to his chest. He has to be wearing the thinnest Lycra in the world, because I can see every fine detail as it clings to him.
It’s literally painted on, from his abs all the way up to his hard pecs. How does he know I have a penchant for fluffy chests like that?
