I drag my eyes to the alpha. More like my eyes snapto him, who stands as frozen as I am. My words caught in my mouth as I take him in. This hunk of a man is taller than anyone I’ve ever met. He’s got muscles darn near the size of my head–okay, so maybe not that big, but he resembles more of a Tarzan than your average Joe.
Nothing about this man is average. Not his brown shoulder-length hair. Not his pantymelting brown eyes, or nude pink lips. He’s dressed in a long-sleeve shirt that wraps tightly around his every muscle and jeans that fit like a fucking dream.
My strapless mid-length dress tightens across my chest as my breathing quickens. I breathe like a maiden with a corset on five pulls too tight, and I can almost feel the drip of my hopefully imaginary slick down my thigh as I stare at the man.
The faster I breathe, the more his scent overwhelms me. The more I want to rush the giant of a man and climb him like an actual tree. Lock the door and rip off my dress and–
I need to hit the switches on all my humidifiers around the roomnow. He’s probably smelling my attraction from across the room, and I curse being an omega with such obvious signs.
Swallowing my nerves, I move. I grab my little cardigan as if that will give me the strength to pull myself together.
Whether or not this store is open, anyone whowalks through that door is a potential sale, and I have to treat every person as such.
And that’s when my heart drops.
Every person is a potential customer.
He’s an alpha in a blanket store.
My cheeks flush. Was I eyeing another omega’s alpha?
That thought gives me the push to hit the switch, scent blocker spraying into the room. Walking to the next one, the only sound in the room is the click of my heels as each humidifier brings me closer and closer to the alpha still standing at the door.
Walking right in front of him, I bend down to press on the two humidifiers I have by the door.
Clearing my throat, I force a smile onto my face, meeting his eyes. “How may I help you today?”
Seeing him so much closer, there is no way his omega lets him out alone. I look over his shoulder, or try to, but he’s plastered to the door. My gaze drifts back to his face. He’s got a scar over his left eyebrow and light facial hair over his jaw and chin. He doesn’t smile. He just stares down at me, watching me study…yes, studyhim.
“Are you shopping for your omega? Do you know what textures or colors they like?” I ask again. Quiet alphas come in often, but never alone. They provide support for their omega as they look around. Rarely does an alpha come in by himself to get a gift.
Well, hold on, Noa, omegas aren’t the only designation to buy blankets. Maybe he wants one too.
“Or maybe you are here for yourself?” I ask, trying to kill the hope blooming in my chest.
“Yes.” His voice is deep and rumbly, and I want to hear him again.
“For yourself? No omega?” I could slap myself for being so damn forward. I’m sure there is a law against flirting with your customers. I take a step back and notice how close I am to him.
“What are you looking for? Do you have anything in mind?” I ask, walking towards the first table on the warm side of the room. “Do you want to browse around alone? Or I can walk you through it?”
The words are tumbling out of my mouth as the giant follows behind me. I grab one of the plainer-style blankets with rows of stitching down it, making it appear as stripes. Gripping it in my hands, I turn to face him again.
Glancing down at the blanket, I look back at him, straining my neck a bit. The blanket is yellow, maybe too bright for him, but I guess I’ll see.
“This is one of our smoothest styles. It’s got a thick border for weight, and for a comfortable grip in your hand, but otherwise a texture-free blanket.” I ran my hand over the top, as if he needed a demonstration.
He nods, his eyes not even dipping down towards the blanket.
I move further down the table. “This is our more textured blanket, and we start to enter the crocheted ones. Which also jump in price point because they are handmade–”
“By you?”
“Yes. All of them are, but they are washed with unscented detergent and white vinegar to give you the chance to add your scent. With the scent blockers in the room, we can touch them without leaving our scent. You’ll also get some detergent and softener with your purchase so that you can wash it at home.”
I ramble through the care instructions, and he just stares intently at me, so I keep going.
“The crochet ones are harder to get the scent out of, because they are the closest to me when making them. I have a display here, and people can touch the crochet texture and see if they like it, but I have customers refrain from touching those unless they are sure of purchase.”
