“And change is the antithesis of tradition.” I shoot him a glare. Out of my peripheral vision, I note Emily is staring at me.
“Well, in the name oftradition, it is stated that all eligible shifters without a claim or bond may attend the Social,” Sarah says with a grin. “Which means you are certainly eligible to attend and see how much fun a Social can be.”
“I do not have any formal attire,” Emily says, but Sarah only gasps with excitement and throws her arms around the woman as she says, “Say less, darling. We will find you theperfectdress! Won’t we, Simon?”
Simon chuckles as he picks up his tea. “That we will, darling.”
Simon licks his lips as he smirks that annoying smirk, turning his attention to my brother.
“Oh, that reminds me… Charlie, weren’t you saying you needed a new suit the other day?” Simon asks, turning his glance to my brother. I don’t miss the way my brother tenses, or the slight blush in his cheeks.
But what does he have to be embarrassed over?
“I uh?—”
“What a lovely idea,” Mother says. “Perhaps you could show Emily some of the sights whilst shopping. I’m sure she’d love to see London.”
“You know, I could stand to get a new suit myself,” Simon mutters before turning his gaze to Emily. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? A personalized tour for our pretty little American Omega?”
Emily blushes.Blushes! For this imbecile!
I don’t miss the way her shoulders loosen, or the faint expel of sweet honey in the air. My alpha growls, and I grind my teeth.
“I would love that, actually,” she says, smiling like a fool as she pushes some dark waves over her shoulders.
The growl that leaves me is unmistakable, and I rise from my seat, needing to get some fresh air. Suddenly, I feel quite hot and flustered.
“Excuse me,” I say as I head for the hallway, unsure of where I’m going, but also not giving a care as to where I end up.
“A private tour for theAmerican Omega,” I mock Simon’s snake-like voice.
The nerve of him to ask if I had formally asked her to the Social—in front of myfatherno less, when he knows damn well I haven’t had a moment alone with the woman because he and his sister have been occupying her attention. I’m sure one could argue I would not need to, being as the damn event is being hosted in my bloody house, but I digress. It’s the principle of the matter.
“Hey,” a familiar voice calls out to me. I turn to see none other than the woman in question. The shadows from the hall loom over me, but of course she steps right into the sunlight, which only makes her look more angelic, and I have to remember to breathe. I’m acutely aware of how close she is. Her thick omega scent engulfs me as I take a step towards her. My alpha is on high alert, but so is my bloody cock.
“What do you want?” I bite. My voice sounds much harsher than I mean it to. But this feeling… the wayshemakes me feel… it’s maddening. The past few days, I’ve felt like a volcano waiting to explode.
She steps back, but there’s nowhere to go. Her back hits the wall, and she looks up at me with those crystalline irises, and my alpha pushes forth. The scent of milk and honey perfume around me, thickening around me like a fog and I don’t miss the slight part of her lips or the flush in her cheeks.
I don’t miss the way her gaze flashes from my eyes to my lips, nor do I miss the way her chest heaves from her heavy breath. Those Emily Blue eyes that are somehow brighter than a clear sky. Long, thick eyelashes that frame her cerulean irises. Those plump, pink, glossy lips.
I lean into her space, bracing my palm against the powder blue damask wallpaper as I focus my gaze on her perfect pout.
My cock twitches in my pants, but I do my best to ignore it.
“WhatIwant?” she asks, her voice raspy and low. I watch as her tongue flicks out, licking her top lip.
I reach out to balance myself because I feel like I’m on the edge of something terrifying. Like when you’ve run for miles, only to discover a cliff that leads over a waterfall and there’s no escape. You can’t go back the way you came, because you don’t even know how you got there in the first place. The only way out is forward.
“Think maybe I should be asking you what it isyouwant,” she says, her glowing blue gaze dragging me under like a bloody rip tide.
“After all, you’re the one pitching a damn temper tantrum like a toddler.”
I close my eyes, sucking in a breath. This woman… this omega…
She is so bloody infuriating. So petulant and unnerving.
So delicate and demure in the presence ofSimonand even my parents, but the moment we’re alone…
