He chuckles lightly. “Mmmm, sounds tempting, but we’ve been away too long. The ceremony will start soon, and I like the idea of you standing up on that dais without panties and being needy for me.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to respond. Backing away, he finds the doorknob at his back, his eyes drifting to my still spread legs. A flare of heat in the depths of his eyes threatens to burn me alive even more than my orgasm just did.
“Cover up,” he orders, the words threaded with an unnecessary bark that has me dropping to my feet and straightening my dress automatically. I scowl at him as he laughs again. “Good girl.”
Then he’s out the door, shutting it behind him. Slowly, I turn to look at my reflection. My blue eyes are bright with happiness? Love? My cheeks flushed a deep pink against my pale skin, and my lips don’t need a touch up because they have the natural color of being thoroughly kissed.
CHAPTER 34
Rafe
My body is buzzing.I’m pretty sure there is a stupid grin on my face that I can’t wipe away. Lilah still hasn’t reappeared, but I can smell her on me. Her pheromones are like a drug. And they are embedded in my clothing.
Hailey approaches, looking as if she’s trying to play the meek omega. Once she’s close, she sniffs, a look of distaste crossing her features before it’s gone.
“Rafe, can we talk?” she asks softly.
The cameras and boom are further away, focusing on Chad and Miles at the moment. So I lift an eyebrow and give her a bored look. “About?”
She sucks in a breath. “—Us.”
“Hailey, there is nous.”
“I know. I messed it all up. I was stupid. It took coming on this show to prove that to myself. I got scared, Rafe. What we had…it was—” She looks around, searching for a word. “Intense.”
My heart gives a dull thump, and I stare at her. I’m not sure if this is another one of her games, but I’m not playing.This show has done the opposite for me. It has shown me that what Hailey and I had—it was nothing compared to the real thing. To what Lilah makes me feel, even in such a short time.
“You sold my secrets to the pap because you felt too much?” I say dryly. I guess there’s one thing that can wipe the smile away. Hailey.
“Yes—No—I don’t know. Rafe, that’s what I’m saying. It was intense. And your pack, they didn’t like me then either. It was so much. How was I supposed to be with you if your pack didn’t want me? I don’t care now. I want you.” She lays her hand on my forearm, and it feels like a million fire ants are crawling over my skin.
“That isn’t how this works.”
“I don’t care. Don’t you get it? I’m sorry for the crappy shit I did. I love you,” she says. Her nails dig into my arm as if she can inject the words into my bloodstream.
I lay my hand over hers to remove her touch, and she tightens her hold. She leans into me and presses her lips to mine. Attempting to shove her tongue into my mouth. I’m so stunned I don’t move for a second. Then I’m disengaging, pushing her away and stepping back as her nails drag over my flesh, leaving their mark.
But all I can see is Lilah, her mouth slightly parted watching us. Hurt flashes in the depths of her eyes. My heart beats double time, blood racing through my veins and making me lightheaded. My breath lodges inside my lungs, and I take a step toward her, just as Turner Clark slides the glass double doors open and announces for the omegas to gather in the ceremony room while we go to deliberations.
“Lilah, wait,” I say, attempting to follow her as she spins on her heel and heads back into the house.
“The time for talking is over,” Turner says, and I want to punch him.
“It will just be a second.”
He shrugs. “Rules are rules.”
Miles comes up next to me, looking between Turner and me. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to talk to Lilah,” I bite out. Not that it’s Miles' fault that Hailey kissed me and I didn't react fast enough to push her away.
“It will have to wait,” Turner says, blocking my way again when I try to go around him.
I let out a warning growl, and he just lifts an eyebrow.
“The faster this is done, the faster you can have your chat,” he suggests.
Miles drops his arm over my shoulder, holding me back before I even know I’m going to lunge at the guy. His smug ass face needs to be punched for sure. “It isn’t worth it, Rafe. Come on. He’s right.”
