My face is pressed against warm cotton and solid muscle. My hands are splayed across his chest, feeling the hard planes beneath the fabric. His arms are wrapped around me, one across my back, one still at my waist, and he’s so much bigger than me, surrounding me completely, and I can’t breathe, can’t think, can’t do anything except drown in the smell of him.
My heart slams against my ribs. There’s a buzzing between my thighs, insistent and alarming, and my whole body is trembling like I’m standing in a hurricane instead of pressed against a stranger’s chest.
What is happening to me?
This isn’t normal. This isn’t how I react to people. This is?—
Kai pulls back slightly, his hands still warm on me, and looks down at me with an expression that’s shifted from playful to something more focused. More intent.
“You all right there, doll?”
I open my mouth to respond. What comes out is something between a wheeze and a moan.
His eyebrows shoot up. And then that grin returns, slower this time, knowing, like a cat who’s just spotted something interesting.
“Did you just sniff me a second ago?”
“I—what—no?—”
“Because I’m pretty sure you just buried your face in my chest and took a big ol’ breath.” He leans closer. “Naughty girl. But if you ask nicely, I’ll let you do it again.”
Oh my God.My face and whole body is on fire. My brain has completely abandoned ship and left me here to die of embarrassment. Who in the world is this man? My heart is thundering so fast, so loud.
“I think,” I manage, my voice coming out strangled, “I’m having a heart attack.”
His expression flickers—genuine concern breaking through the flirtation. “Wait, seriously?”
“I don’t know.” I press a hand to my chest, feeling my heart hammering against my palm. “My heart is doing weird things. Is this what dying feels like?”
He studies me for a long moment, those pale gray eyes searching my face. Then he steps close enough that I catch another wave of that scent, and my knees actually buckle. He catches me again, keeping me upright.
“Is that the impact I have on you?” His voice is softer now, but there’s still that teasing edge. “Because I’ve been known to have that effect on women, but usually not this fast.”
I let out a breathless laugh that sounds slightly hysterical even to my own ears. “Are you seriously flirting with me right now? While I’m having a medical emergency?”
“Is it a medical emergency, or is it just me being devastatingly attractive?”
“I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.” He grins, and it’s infuriatingly charming. “You’re blushing too hard to hate me.”
He’s right. My cheeks are burning. I’m probably visible from space right now, a beacon of mortification glowing red across the Montana landscape.
“So tell me,” Kai continues, tilting his head, “how come I can barely scent you? You’re an Omega, right, to have such a reaction?”
The question lands like a bucket of ice water thrown over me.
“I’m a Beta,” I blurt out, too fast, too defensive. “Definitely a Beta. One hundred percent. Totally normal, boring Beta.”
He stares at me for a beat too long. Those eyes narrow slightly, and there’s something knowing in his expression that says he’s not quite buying what I’m selling.
“You sure about that?”
“Positive. This is just…” I wave a hand vaguely. “Low blood sugar. Or altitude sickness. Or a delayed reaction to the trauma of almost face-planting in front of you.”
“Altitude sickness.” His lips twitch. “In Montana.”
“It’s a very high altitude.”
