I gritted my teeth and forced myself to take a deep breath.
Stop being a coward.
The elevator slowed, and I took one last shaky breath before the doors parted, opening directly into the foyer of the penthouse. My heels clicked as I stepped onto the marble floor and, for a moment, I was distracted by the ornate white and gold trim adorning the walls in an art deco style. I didn’t stay distracted for long. My eyes went directly to the massive alpha standing in the doorway separating the foyer and the living room.
He wore a black button-down with rolled up sleeves revealing his thick, muscular forearms and dark jeans clad around equally thick thighs. His dark brown eyes watched me intently as he ran his fingers through his short beard. A little thrill of fear and arousal went through me. He was one of the largest alphas I’d ever met… and he was even more attractive than his photo.
“Ava?” His voice was low but gentle.
“Yes.” I hoped I sounded sultry and not terrified. “Nox?”
He nodded, confirming what I was sure was a fake name.
The two of us stared at each other, the silence stretching between us. My mind was flitting back and forth between sheer panic and deep attraction. I couldn’t stop myself from trailing my eyes down his arms and across his broad chest. Our eyes met again, and I blushed when I realized we’d both been checking the other out.
“You are so stunning,” he breathed, something like awe tinging his voice.
“Thank you,” I responded, my voice a whisper before I realized I was supposed to be confident and experienced. He wasn’t supposed to know this was my first time doing this.
“Can I take your jacket? I can get you a drink. Come in.” His words came out in a rushed jumble.
Was he... nervous?
Nox wiped his hands on his thighs as he waited for me to say something.
I removed my coat and closed the distance between us.
“A drink would be great.” I gave him the flirty smile I’d perfected in the club. His nervousness made me feel bolder.
Nox blushed and a gentle purr rose in his chest before he cut off the sound by loudly clearing his throat. He awkwardly turned towards the living room and I followed him, stunned by his purr, which was usually seen as something intimate and vulnerable to be shared between lovers.
I wanted him to do it again. I wanted to press myself against his chest, feel the vibration of his purr through my body, and take in his scent. Except I wouldn’t be able to since he was covered in de-scenter—a Sugar Nest requirement to avoid alphas and omegas from going too feral in each other’s company.
I took a deep breath, trying to get myself under control. I was here for the money and to see if being around an alpha eased my health symptoms, nothing more.
I draped my jacket on the back of the couch and sat down while Nox tinkered with something on the bar cart.
“What would you like?” He turned to face me.
I eyed the bottles of alcohol. Should I be concerned about him tampering with my drink? My overwhelming feeling of safety made it hard to believe this alpha wanted to harm me.
“I’ll take a Negroni if you have it.”
Nox’s face split into the most gorgeous smile I’d ever seen. I might have stopped breathing for a moment—it was that glorious.
“My favorite drink,” he said.
My underwear grew damp as I watched his strong, capable hands mix the cocktails.
“Here you go.” He held the glass out to me before sitting next to me with one of his own. It even had an orange peel garnish.
He’d left an entire couch cushion between us. That surprised me. Most alphas were aggressively handsy, seeing omegas as property. And this alpha was paying me to be here, so he had the right even more than the average alpha. Maybe I had disappointed him in some way? Did he no longer want this?
Nox shifted forward, discreetly trying to hide the growing bulge in his pants.
No, he was definitely interested. Maybe he was just shy?
“The payment should have gone through on the app,” he said, breaking the silence. “But you can check to make sure.”
