“Don’t turn the question back around on me,principessa.”
I shrug, unable to describe why I don’t feel concerned about him staying in the small Olympic Village apartment with me. But nothing about him sets off any alarm bells from my omega instincts. In fact, I feel oddly comfortable with him.
“Are you Italian?” I ask, changing the subject as I note what he just called me.
“I was born in the U.S., but my mother is from here. She insisted that I learn Italian.”
That probably explains why he got the job as my security. “Perfect. You can be my translator.”
“I’m your bodyguard.”
“Slash translator.” I bump elbows with him in a playful gesture that somehow feels more intimate than it should.
He looks down at the place our arms touched. “Come on,cucciola.” He takes my arm and leads me toward the front doors of the arena.
“What does that one mean?”
“Puppy, often used with children.”
“That feels like a downgrade fromprincipessa.”
His lips twitch like he’s trying not to smile as he opens the door and guides me out into the biting cold.
3
FOSTER
It’s almost like the Olympic Committee doesn’t want omegas to succeed. And this one’s lack of self-preservation skills has her failing their test with flying colors. Not that she has anything to worry about from me. I’m a professional, and I’d never hurt her or take advantage of her. I hate having people assume I would just because I’m an alpha. But even I have to admit this is inviting trouble.
The apartment they put Raven in is a single bedroom with bunk beds. I almost laugh. There’s no privacy, and the place is stark. Not at all omega-friendly.
White walls, white counters, bright white lighting—the exact opposite of what omegas like. In my experience, anyway. Under the white bedding, lies a thin mattress, the vinyl cover crinkly and militaristic. I’m not sure even a beta would be comfortable here.
I can still hear her coach’s voice booming in the living room, trying to argue with whoever she’s on the phone with that this is a bad idea. ThatI’ma bad idea. As much as I agree it’s conceptually unwise to house an alpha with avulnerable omega, I’m glad I won’t be far from the client on this job.
As soon as we left the press conference, crowds of people pushed toward us. Some held signs protesting omega participation in the Olympics, while just as many were screaming their support. All of it coalesced into an overwhelming amount of noise, and Raven’s body had tensed immediately. My mind went into overdrive, scanning the crowd for threats, my alpha riding me hard.
And once we were through security, three alphas stopped Raven on the way into the building, all of them leering at her with thinly veiled innuendos, and one going so far as to say she doesn’t deserve to be here but would look great laid out on his bed. That one nearly made me growl. She took it in stride, completely ignoring them, but I could tell it got to her. There’s a lot of focus on her in the media right now, and whenever that happens, dangerous people start paying attention.
It’s best that I’m close.
“Do you want the top bunk or the bottom?” I ask.
She shrugs, shifting from one foot to the other and pulling the sleeves of her sweatshirt over her hands. “Doesn’t matter.”
I wish I could scent her to be sure, but it’s pretty clear she’s uncomfortable with this arrangement.
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” I say. “I just want to know where you’ll be.” Purely for professional reasons.
“Oh.” She glances at me before glancing away. “You don’t have to do that. It doesn’t look like a very comfortable couch, and there’s no way you’d fit. You’re massive. You’ll get a crick in your neck, and then I’ll feel horrible. It’s really?—”
“Omega.”
She looks at me with big eyes and bites her plump bottom lip. “Hmm?”
“You’re my client. The most important thing isyourcomfort. Not mine.”
She rubs her toe on the floor, watching the movement for a moment before slowly returning her gaze to mine. “Honestly, I’d be uncomfortable knowing you were squished out there. I’m not crazy about this,” she waves at the bunk beds, “but it’s fine. I’ve bunked with teammates before. It’ll be just like that.”
