“If you’re just gonna stand there and look pretty, you can at least help.”
Pretty?
Did she just—
“Did you just call mepretty?” I don’t think I’ve ever been called pretty in my entire life. Even as a kid.
She scoffs. “You know you are, and it seems so do my staff,” she mumbles that last part, then clears her throat and finally looks up at me. “Just come over here and make yourself useful.”
Yes, fucking, ma’am.
Clearly, I have a new kink. Being bossed around by a beautiful omega. My alpha snarls his approval, forcing me to move before I realise I’m so close I can see the mix of pink strands in her curls.
“Each of these bags needs one of each item. Can you do that?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I smile nice and wide.
Her lips twitch, but then she focuses back on her work.
We fill the small paper bags in silence for a while. I keep trying to take subtle breaths of her scent, but the neutralisers are even worse in this room. I hate it. I’m so desperate to scent her properly. I’m already way too interested. What if our scents don’t match?
Fuck. That thought guts me, my alpha grumbling.
Worst-case scenario, we just wear neutralisers all the time. Yeah, that’ll work. That’s if she’ll ever let me close enough outside of this damn building to smell her.
“I owe you an apology.”
My hand freezes on the string I’ve been trying to form into a bow for way too long.
Her nimble fingers don’t stop, still working away at her bow as she continues, “I was… really unkind this morning. I spoke to you awfully. I swear, I’m not normally like that.” She shakes her head but doesn’t look at me, her long hair covering this side of her face. “I assumed the worst, because I always do. My family are from military backgrounds, and that’s just the way I’ve always been taught to view life. Always think of the threats, always be prepared for something to go wrong… for someone to not come home.”
She stops, pausing over the bag. Then tightens her bow and turns to me.
“I think my staff were a little apprehensive at first, but maybe this is what they needed. An opportunity to see and be around an alpha in a safe environment.”
Her expression is still a little tight, like I can see the regret in that soft furrow between her brows. I want to move closer and smooth it away with my thumb.
“Is this your way of saying you like me, ma’am?” I say instead, my smile slowly stretching into place.
Then she laughs.
Fuck.Me.
It’s a real laugh. Soft and sweet… anddamn. I edge a little closer.
“You’re good for them,” she says, and goddamn, my alpha stands a little taller. Maybe I do too. “I like the positive influence you’ve had. I think I’ve been doing them a disservice by keeping alphas away. Especially kind, good alphas.”
She gives me a sweet smile, and my fingers clench into fists at my side.
I want to show her how good an alpha I can be. For her, I’ll besofucking good.
“Are you single?”
The air rips from my lungs.
Is she… hitting on me?
Stay cool, Luc. Fucking calm down.
