I catch the soft tilt of his lips as he places his device on the side table and comes to me.
Hands around my waist, he lifts me out easily, but doesn’t place me down. Instead, he pulls me to him, resting me against his chest, bridal style.
“Bathroom?” he murmurs quietly. I nod.
Now that I’m pressed against him, his scent wraps around me. A rich, dark oud, deep and resinous, stronger than the others, settling in my lungs like warm smoke. When he found me at the hotel, I remember only snippets of it. I was too busy spiralling to appreciate it. But now I indulge with heavy inhales.
“You smell incredible,” I breathe, my nose nuzzling his throat. “You all do.”
His chest rumbles softly beneath my cheek. “We smell better because of you,” he murmurs.
Once down, he encourages me in with the soft tilt of his head, and I gently shut the door behind me, glad he couldn’t hear the thumping of my heart.
I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
My cheeks are still flushed, maybe from this bug, or maybe because Kaiden just lifted me out from his tangle of packmates without strain.
I’m a feminist, through and through, but Jesus, I’m imagining how he’d throw me around the bedroom.
Maybe to another packmate once he’s done with me...
I shake my head clear of those dangerous thoughts and start running the shower, unbuttoning my shirt, when there’s a soft knock on the door.
When I open it, I find a towering Kaiden. He walks in without invitation, handing me a glass of water and a small packet of tablets.
“Thanks, but I’m feeling much better.” I smile. “I don’t think I need—”
“Take them,” he cuts in, voice firm.
I scoff, arching a brow.
He softens his tone. “Please. You might feel better right now, but maybe not later.” I don’t drop my brow. He sighs. “I’m just trying to help. Sorry. I’m not trying to be—”
“A pushy alpha?” I offer, but it loses any bite when his grey eyes darken.
“Yes. But it’s very hard to keep him from behaving so... possessively.”
He leans back against the door, closing it with a hard click, and those stormy greys trail all over me.
I swallow.
“Especially when you’re kissing every member of my pack except me.”
My mouth parts, but there’s a teasing glint in his gaze now, and I find I want to play along.
I shrug. “Maybe I don’t like you.”
His lips twitch, so do mine, until he starts moving closer in what can only be defined as a prowl.
“You don’t like me, omega?” he murmurs.
Whyis that question so sexy? Maybe it’s the way he’s towering over me as my hands find the marble counter behind.
I shuffle up onto it, hoping the added height will help.
It doesn’t.
“That’s a shame...” he says, voice low as his sight drags over my bare legs, landing on my thighs, lingering where my shirt hits midway.
