“No, no, it isn’t.” I shake my head. “I’ve just embarrassed myself in front of all those clients! It takes years to build a clientele in this business, and now they’ll think I’m some raging, power-hungry omega who speaks to people like…that!”
“I didn’t mind.” Luc’s voice is softer, closer. “Did you, Val?”
Our eyes are still locked, and although his expression is calm, his gaze seems to hold a fire.
He shakes his head.
“I appreciate you both trying to make me feel better, but technically, you’re my employees, and the way I spoke to you just then made it sound like… like…”
“A claiming,” Val’s hazel eyes darken as he utters it.
He’s been steadily moving closer, I hadn’t even realised, not until my back hits something hard and warm.
Luc’s chest.
“What?” I half laugh, half scoff.
But Val isn’t laughing. There’s no flicker of amusement on his face.
“Erm, no. That’s not… I didn’t mean it like…” I trail off in a murmur.
Because that’s exactly what it sounded like, as if I was letting every person in the room know they weremyalphas.
“Or.” Luc’s voice is right beside my ear, so deep and raspy I feel the rumble of his chest sink into my spine. “You saw us talking to that omega, and you wanted to make a point.”
I turn sharply to face him. “That’s not itat all,” I say, offended and shocked, but also completely taken abackbecause that does make sense, and there’s no way I’ll admit it.
“Really?” He smirks, but there’s a teasing tilt there, a wicked glint in those chocolate brown eyes that edges onto inappropriate. “Because that’s what it sounded like. That’s what itfeltlike.” He steps closer. “And then this.”
He tilts his head to the tray of food.
I move back until I can’t anymore because Val’s chest is now warm against my shoulders.
“You brought us food, omega?” Val’s deep voice rumbles by my ear, beneath my skin. “You claim us in public, bring us food, then deny it?”
When he tsks, the sound is so strangely erotic, disapproving yet full of heat, that the quietest, softest, unstoppable whine falls past my lips.
The brothers groan, their chests rumbling on a barely restrained growl that I feeleverywhere.
This is my fault. I started it—no, my omega started it. Now it’s getting dangerous.
“Listen, I get how it sounded, and how this…” I nod to the food. “…looks. My omega seems to be a little… protective.”
This time, they let their growls burst free. A smooth rumble of heated approval. I swallow.
“But,”I say, trying to keep the rasp from my voice, “I really don’t think this is appropriate. You work with my brother, you’re his friends—”
“We don’t workwithhim,” Val interrupts.
I frown, glancing over my shoulder at him. “Yes, you do. He told me you’ve done loads of jobs together.”
“We have,” Luc simply adds. “But as his bosses.”
For a second, my mind fills with static.
“What?” My head snaps back to Luc. “You’re hisbosses? He worksforyou?”
He nods.
