My body burns for him. I can feel him everywhere.
He slips his hands down my neck, gently drags them over my breasts. I ache for him.
But the kiss feels like it’s over just as it’s beginning, and he pulls away. He looks up at me with wild eyes, swollen lips, and a heaving chest.
“We can’t do this.”
It takes a moment for the words to settle inside me, and once they do, I nearly fall to the ground in my haste to get off of him.
“Wait!” His voice is strained as he rolls off the bed onto the floor, kneeling in front of me as he grabs me by the hand. “Stop, honey. Wait.”
I cannot speak. Words won’t come when I try. I want him. I want him with every part of me, and he doesn’t feel the same way.
What the hell was I thinking?
Of course, he doesn’t want the stupid little Omega who couldn’t get her groceries off the curb without help.
“Honey.” The pet name makes my stomach cramp. How many times has he called me that over the years?
“Don’t.” Tears run down my face as the gravity of the situation hits me.
I met my scent match.
I met the man I have loved for a decade.
And he doesn’t want me.
“Ariana, stop!”
The power of Derrick’s bark washes over me, and I freeze in place A whine claws its way out of my throat.
He grabs my chin and forces me to look him in the eye. “I’m not rejecting you.” Just the word makes me cry out, gasping an embarrassing sob. “I’mnotrejecting you. You’reburning up. I think you’re having a heat spike, and I’m not going to take advantage of you.”
There’s no way. My heat isn’t due for another two months. Filming was scheduled around it. They didn’t want to start as soon as my heat was over, just in case I had some breakthrough spikes, but I’m in the clear. I’m regular. My heats have always been regular.
There’s no way I’m having a heat spike.
“Your body temperature is elevated. Your scent is thicker, richer. You’re needy. I bet you’re cramping, too. You wouldn’t want me if you weren’t in a spike. I know you’re not ready for that.”
“Who are you to tell me what I’m ready for?” I yank out of his grasp, stumbling backward. “I shouldn’t be surprised. You’ve already proven you’ll make decisions for me. What’s one more, right? This is just another situation where you think you know better than I do.”
He swears under his breath and rubs his hands over his face. “No, Ariana. I’m trying to be a gentleman here. Do you not understand how hard this is for me? I’m in love with you. I have loved you for years. You’re my scent match, and you’re standing in front of me, slick and begging for me, and I have to push you away. I’m trying to be a good guy, because if I give you what you’re asking for right now, if I fuck you right now, you will never forgive me. I want your bite. I want to be yours. That will never happen if you come out of this heat spike on my knot.”
“You’re not supposed to have a knot!” Tears run down my heated cheeks. I don’t bother dashing them away.
Let him see the effects of what he did. Let him know how much he hurt me. I won’t hide it from him.
“Too fucking bad, Ariana! I do. I have a knot, and I’m your scent match, and I’m Sax, and I lied to you, and it’s all too fucking bad because this is our life now. You and Ihave always been destined to be together, and no amount of hiding away is going to change that. You’re scared, and you have every right to be. And you’re mad, and I will never try to tell you you shouldn’t be. But I’m trying here. I’m trying not to take advantage of you. I’m trying to make decisions that we can both live with when your base instincts no longer control you. I won’t ruin this.”
His sweet pecan scent is drowning me as his Alpha pheromones fill the space. I ache for him, my body screaming for a touch, a taste. But my mind is processing his words. I’m warring within myself, fighting against the parts of me that don’t value logical thinking over instincts.
The door slams open as Ivan and Grant pile into the room.
Just what I need, more delicious scents going to my head. Grant’s sweet, soft floral scent is nearly overpowered by the cozy, spicy aroma of pumpkin bread.
“What is - holy fuck.” Grant’s voice is pained as he stumbles toward me. “Baby, you smell like heaven.”
So do they. I want to rip my clothes off and rub myself against them, covering them in my pheromones. I want to kiss Grant again, this time in a way I can appreciate more. I want to suck on his tongue, kiss down his throat, nibble his ears, and lick a stripe up the bottom of his cock.
