“You’re a hard one to chat with,” I say.
She laughs softly, and it’s like the sound of music to my ears. “You look a little busy juggling omegas.”
I glance back over the gathering and nod. “None of them are as bold as you.”
She leans back on the couch with a shrug. “You meannone of them admits that they would climb you like a tree if they scented you? I just have no filter.”
A surprise laugh pops from my mouth, and I grin over at her. “There’s that.”
“What’s your musk?” she asks, her voice lowering as if she doesn’t want the cameras to pick up her question.
“Are there scents that are a turn off to you?” I say without answering.
Her eyebrows draw together as if she’s thinking about the question before she shakes her head. “No, maybe some I wouldn’t pick on my own. But there are none that really are a deal breaker. You’re not going to tell me are you?”
I lift my gaze to the watching camera and smile. “Against the rules.”
She smirks. “Ah, a rule follower. Interesting.”
“If we didn’t have law and order, the world would be in chaos, and as much as Rafe would thrive in that environment, I would not,” I say unapologetically. I know what I am. And if an omega is going to pick me, they should be aware of it too. Rule following is high on that list, probably left over damage by parents that didn’t want me. If I follow the rules, I can’t be found at fault and discarded for it.
“I like that. Everyone needs stability in their life,” she says.
“Hmmm,” I hum, the line of conversation getting a little too close to my scars, “Enough about me. Tell me about what brings you to the show.”
“You didn’t hear about it already?” she asks, shock coloring her tone, her eyes widening slightly.
“I don’t believe rumors. There’s so much the tabloids and news sites get wrong, I rather hear it from the source.” I lean back and face her, pulling a leg up and underneath me. “Tell me your story, Lilah.”
She swirls her drink around the glass, looking down at theuntouched champagne. “Which story?”
There’s a vulnerability in the question that takes me aback. Part of me wants to tell her she doesn’t need to share anything that’s uncomfortable, while the other more selfish part wants her whole story. Every last detail.
“What’s your side of the story for the clubincident?”
She squirms, and I almost think that opening up at all is something she struggles with. But even the most delicate flower blooms under the right sort of warmth.
Her chest rises in a deep breath that she releases slowly. “I was at the club that night because my sister decided that I couldn’t sit around her living room in my pajamas sulking anymore. So I let her drag me out. Terrible mistake.” She shivers and hugs herself.
“Cold?” I shrug out of my suit jacket and drape it over her shoulders. The need to care for this omega is strong, and I’m not sure I can shake it, even for my pack mate. Or despite him.
“I should have stayed home. Because I drank a little too much and threw myself at Rafe before promptly puking all over him. He was actually trying to help me.” She snorts in the most adorable way, then adds, “The real headline should have read, ‘Rafe, Hollywood’s playboy, attempting to save the wanton omega from herself, getting more than he asked for.’”
“I’m not sure even that could have helped his image,” I reply. Memorizing her facial features, I notice immediately when she starts to blush. Her cheeks turn the prettiest pink, and her blue eyes sparkle with the stars in the sky, all while she ducks her head and attempts not to look at me. I can’t have that, and my hand darts out, capturing her chin and lifting her face back to mine. “Can I tell you a secret?”
She laughs, humor flashing in the depths of her irises. “You really like telling secrets, huh? Remind me never to trust you with one of mine.”
I wet my lower lip and drag my teeth over the surface as I look around covertly, as if it’s a really big one. Lowering my voice and leaning into her space, I say, “I’ve puked on Rafe too.”
This time she throws her head back, her laughter catching the envious gazes of all the nearby omegas, as well as the attention of my pack mates. Her smooth throat on display. My chest puffs out.That’s right, I’m the one that made her laugh unabashedly, completely forgetting about the cameras.
She dabs at her eyes as her laughter trails off. Her face is lit up with happiness, and I want to keep it like that.
Rafe approaches first, able to disengage with the best of them, and he drops down on her other side. “What are we talking about?” He leans forward, invading her space completely to speak over her shoulder. Directly into the shell of her ear. She shivers, goosebumps exploding along the side of her neck as she stumbles over words that never come.
“Our shared experience with the pleasure of puking all over your handsome face,” I say with a shit-eating grin.
He groans and falls back, wiping his hand over his face. “Gross.”
