He taps my nose. “Not quite, sweetheart. If I’m anything, it’s greedy, and I’ll be collecting every single one.”
The nickname feels like cold water dumped over my head. He’s only ever used it sarcastically. I push him back, and he resists for a moment before allowing me space.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Sweetheart?” He lifts a single brow quizzically.
Focusing on straightening my dress, I slip down to my feet on my shaky legs. “Yeah.”
His tone gently mocking, he says, “But…that’s what you are, isn’t it? America’s sweetheart?”
I roll my eyes. “Nicknames should mean something.”
He flashes white teeth at me in a quick smile. “Who says it doesn’t mean something to me?”
Releasing an exasperated breath, I cross my arms and give him a droll stare. “Me.”
“I assure you,sweetheart, it does.” He leans forward, his breath ghosting over the shell of my ear as he whispers the words. A shiver works its way down my spine, and my traitorous pussy cries. Or maybe that’s just slick gathering. Either way, my body should not betray me like this. “I would prove it, but I want to savor my wins. If I use them all up tonight, I’d be very sad. And that look on your face, the lust in the depths of your eyes.All for me. It makes it very hard to stop.”
He straightens, and I swear his nose grazes my jawline as he does. And I’m almost positive there’s a hint of butterfinger in the air. He leans against the door, his eyes on me, as if he’s committing how I look to memory. With one last head to toe sweep, he moistens his lips, and I’m positive he’s going to kiss me again. It shouldn’t be as sexy as it is.
“Is this part of your act?” I blurt.I don’t want to know if it is. Please don’t say it is.
“Are there cameras in here? Other omegas?” he asks, making a point to look as if he’s searching the corners for the recording device.
Heat crawls up the sides of my neck and over my cheeks. “No, but they are right outside, in the hallway.”
He shrugs. “Then I guess America will see just how real it is.”
“But—”
“Are you embarrassed by me?” he asks, tensing up. His eyes do a lap around my face, and I shake my head mutely before he relaxes against the door again. It feels deceptive, like a snake ready to strike. “Does my past bother you?”
“Why would your past bother me?” I ask softly.
“Because of what the gossip magazines have said?—”
I lift my eyebrows, and my lips twist into a sardonic smile. “I think you are forgetting the whole reason I agreed to be on this show.”
He nods slowly. “Right.” His fingers curl around the doorknob at his side, and he’s out of the small space as fast as he entered it. Leaving me wondering if I said the wrong thing.
CHAPTER 28
Lilah
“And then there were eight,”Willow says.
She casts her gaze over the five other omegas not standing with us. Chad shifts on his feet and dismisses them all as he faces us fully. We are all only out here because production told us we needed to be for the show. Guess they are doing the date reveal out here on the patio today.
“Yet we are the only three that matter,” he says, lifting his mimosa up in a fake toast.
She laughs and glances at me. “I’m surprised I’m still here. I don’t think I have a real connection with them. They are nice. But…” she pauses, her eyes settling on the same beta from the other night working the camera. “...You can’t tell me that beta isn’t a snack. And if I’m drawn to other men, is that a betrayal to the alphas I’m supposed to be here for?” She lowers her voice, looking between us.
“A betrayal to the alphas that started with thirty omegas fighting for their attention?” I ask dryly.
Chad pulls his eyes away from the cameraman in question. “He’s cute. I guess. You two would look good together naked.”
“You really need a filter,” I say.
