“What?”
“You can do your dissertation on Ocearus. I’m approving your request. It’s why I told your roommate to have you come see me during my office hours. I’ll even give you some funding for a small excavation.”
“Wait, am I hearing you right?” Her gaze swings to Caspian, who’s just beside me, like a watchdog standing guard. “You’re going to give me the grant I requested?”
“Not the amount you requested, but enough.” My nostrils flare as the excitement in her scent sweetens the notes. “And I have stipulations.”
“Is this just because you feel bad for me after what happened with my parents?” Her eyes widen. “Or is it because you want,” she swallows thickly, “something else from me.”
“Oh, I want something else from you, Madison.” I lean closer, my left hand going to the wall next to her head, caging her in without touching her. “But I won’t bribe you for it.” Unable to resist, I twirl a lock of her hair between my fingers. Just as soft as I imagined. “I won’t take what you don’t offer.” We’re so close, I can see the gold lacing her light green eyes. “And I won’t touch you until you’re not a student under my supervision.”
Pushing off the wall, I back up. Caspian lets out a slow breath as our gazes clash. I nod once, and he surprises meby dragging his upper teeth across his bottom lip in a movement that can only be described as suggestive. He’s going to invade my dreams tonight as much as Madison will.
My omega doesn’t say anything, but I can feel her stare, heavy on my back. I unlock the door, pausing before opening it. “Schedule an appointment during my office hours, and we’ll go over my requirements, Miss Grant.”
“Caspian will be joining me,” she says, all in one breath.
The jealousy I felt when I first learned she bonded with someone is nowhere to be found now. I rake my gaze over Madison, then Caspian. The hard bulge between his legs is impossible to miss in those slacks, which I’m sure is the same for me. I make a show of adjusting myself.
Later, I’ll berate myself for my behavior tonight. But right now, I want my mate to see exactly what she does to me. There’s no way she knows she’s my scent match since I’m still on blockers—I use them more often than not, even when I don’t have to—but she’ll know soon enough. Once she’s done with her doctorate. Once we’re on even footing. I’ll make damn sure she knows exactly what she is to me.
She’s mine.
And that means Caspian will be mine too.
I open the door to find Phoenix lounging against the wall opposite the bathroom. He perks up when he sees me, a wicked grin splitting his lips. Then his gaze travels behind me to Madison and Caspian. He throws them a flirty little wave.
“Unfortunately, youwon’t be able to finish dinner with your parents,” Phoenix says. “They’ve been escorted from the restaurant and asked not to return.”
“How did you manage that?” I ask.
“Called Sebastian.” Phoenix shrugs.
“Right.” I don’t even want to ask him to explain. Nix has a way of making things happen and none of us need any more stress tonight. I turn away from my oldest friend, and dip my chin toward Madison. “I look forward to seeing you both on Monday.”
21
“What just happened?” My mate is still staring at the closed bathroom door. The scent of her is sweet, tinged with confusion and anxiety I sense through the bond. All of it mixed with a lingering lust that matches my own. If I hadn’t felt her arousal, I would have stepped in when Anderson advanced, but it was clear she liked the older alpha’s attention. I don’t blame her.
I pull her to face me and kiss her cheek. “That man wants you.” Her skin is warm beneath my lips as I move down her neck, a little thrill trilling through our bond.
“Dean Anderson? No. No way. He just?—”
I cut her off before she keeps lying to herself, a difficult falsehood to maintain when his desire for her was so evident. “He wants you. He looks at you the way I do. Hungry. Desperate. Willing to do anything for a taste.” I pull her close enough that she feels the extent of my need. “You could see the effect you were having on him, starfish. Don’t deny it.”
I lick a stripe up the valley of her breasts, exposed in the dress she’s wearing. “And you want him, too. Don’t you, my mate?”
She doesn’t answer my question, only whimpers, and her aroma deepens. “What is your scent, starfish? It smells of a fruit I’ve never tasted before.”
I suck on her pulse point as I cup her tits through her dress. Her nipples are hard, ready for my needy mouth, so I oblige them, pulling aside the top of her dress and sucking on one tight point through her lacy undergarment.
“Piña… oh god… piña colada.” She arches into my touch. “It’s… it’s a drink. I’ll get… fuck, Caspian… I’ll get you one sometime.”
I chuckle darkly. My mate is so responsive.
“Mmm, well until then, maybe I’ll need to get my fill straight from the source.” I try to drop to my knees to worship her, but she stops me, gripping my shirt and tugging me to stand.
“Not here! In a public bathroom! Who knows what’s on that floor? What if someone walks in?” She looks around, nervous, but her protests die out when I suck at my bond mark on her neck.
