Until we turn down the hall to my room.
Alpha Tinsley is leaning against the wall, waiting. He doesn't smile when we approach and my hackles begin to raise. Something has happened. Something I won't like.
“Drew,” he greets. “Parker.”
“Alpha Tinsley,” I return. “What's going on?”
“Well,” he starts, scratching his chest. “As you know, Genie Barrett won her Middle Ground challenges.”
He pauses to give me time to respond, but I just wave him on.
He clears his throat. “Right. Well, as you know, winners get to make requests if they win, acceptable requests, nothing dangerous or questionable.”
“Just get to it,” I tell him, cutting off his drawn out explanation. “What does she want from me?” My thoughts go to the shirt I have hidden in the top of my little closet in the plastic container.
I shouldn't have worried. She doesn't want the shirt, or any shirt.
“She wants a night with you.”
My jaw drops. “Excuse me?” I ask, my eyes shifting to Parker's. He's glaring at the floor.
“Nothing like that,” Alpha Tinsley continues. “She just wants to sleep. Literally. No nudity. Nothing risque. Just sleep.”
“Just sleep?” I ask, my jaw still slack.
“Just sleep,” he confirms and hands me a slip of paper with a code written on it. “If you agree, you'll go to the Ridge Suite in residential hall three. The suites provide a little more privacy and room than the regular dorm rooms.”
“Privacy?” I ask, brow raised.
He clears his throat again. “Occasionally, a wolf, or a pair, will need more spacious arrangements in a building that's less crowded. We have had more than a few females go into heat while they are here and these suites give them the room they need to handle that.” He scratches his chest again, no doubt feeling every bit as awkward as he looks. “But the suites are used for other things, as well. Families visit on occasion. Sometimes meetings need to happen in secluded, comfortable spaces. They're really just roomy, neutral areas that can be used as needed. No need to put pressure where there isn't necessary.”
I look down at the code in my hand. “Genie wants to... sleep... with me? That's it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He rubs his palms against his thighs and shrugs. “You'll have to ask her. You don't need to tell me your decision. If you find the terms acceptable, all you need to do is go to the suite. Have a good evening.” He nods at me and then Parker, then he strolls down the hall.
I can't go. I couldn't possibly go. Why would I go?
“Wow,” Parker says emotionlessly.
“What?”
“Nothing,” he shrugs. “I can't believe she did it.”
At this point I can believe just about anything she does. “But really, what the fuck? She wants tosleepwith me?Sleep?”
Parker's eyes meet mine, all snark and judgment gone. “You should go.”
What? “Why?”
He sighs. “Curiosity. Don't you want to see what happens?”
I lick my lips. “I don't know. I don't like being forced into it.”
“You can say no.”
