I’m too horny to figure out what to do.
While I have an internal crisis, Cato pulls a ladder out from behind the tree and sets it up in front of the fireplace, staring at Orion all the while.
Cato then turns his back on him to help me up the ladder.
I’m surprised to find I still have the ornament clutched in my hand, and I carefully place it next to the others.
Orion hands me the next ornament and watches to make sure Cato’s hands stay at ten and two (my hips). Apparently he’s given up on telling Cato not to touch me at all.
Magnus returns and takes in our tense decorating strategy. He doesn’t comment on it, simply handing me another ornament.
I try to ignore Cato at my back, but my hand trembles as I work.
Chapter 17
Magnus
I’m surprised it took this long for Cato to get handsy with Hestia.
I’ve seen how he acts since she joined us. He’s always circling her, tracking what she’s doing.
Still, I thought he’d be off like a shot once we went on break. Yet he spent all day with us (with Hestia, really), and even after we put her in bed last night, he didn’t leave.
I’m not sure how long he can go on like this, but unless he starts showing symptoms, I’ll leave it up to him to manage.
I don’t want to be the one to ruin his happiness. Cato seems to really like Hestia, and I don’t want to remind him he can’t have her. That should be Orion’s job as pack lead, and I’m going to be selfish and leave it to him.
Though if I ignore the broader context, it’s amusing watching Orion jealously watch Cato flirt with Hestia, while Hestia is seemingly unaware or simply pretending that Cato is just being friendly.
I’ve seen how she acts with him, too. Hestia blushes andpouts at his teasing, but she can’t take her eyes off him for long.
As entertaining as it is to watch Orion struggle to hold himself back while Cato has no such misgivings, the joke is on me too. I can’t be with her either.
For today though, no one will know if I pretend we’re a happy pack decorating for Yule with our omega. I’ll keep my hands to myself, unlike Cato, so my little fantasy won’t hurt anyone.
Hestia is playful with him, but that doesn’t mean she wants to join our pack. I’m sure she’s struggled enough to be taken seriously in this field. I don’t want to ruin things by letting on that her bosses are interested in her, even if we like her for who she is and not because she’s an available omega. We’re not allowed to date subordinates anyway, so it’s best to keep my feelings to myself.
Hestia laughs at whatever Cato whispered in her ear, distracting me from the depressing turn my thoughts have taken. Her laughter is warm, like the fire flickering nearby.
I’m going to enjoy today to the fullest, even if it involves a little delusion.
I hand her another ornament, and her big doe eyes dilate as she looks up at me. Her scent gets stronger too, sweet like fruitcake with a little spice mixed in.
Maybe I’m only imagining that last part, my delusions in full swing thinking that she’s just as attracted to me.
We installed a “better” air filtering system, and secretly I’ve been glad that our new system is just as shitty as the old one. It means the filters haven’t been able to completely wipe away her scent.
I’ve never found an omega who smells as good as she does. It’s the best thing I’ve ever smelled.
Her scent has been driving all of us crazy, though wehaven’t admitted that out loud. Instead, we suddenly decided it was time to upgrade our HVAC system. We bought a top-of-the-line, industrial-grade one that’s supposed to filter out hormonal scents, the same kind they use in hospitals.
That marketing was obviously a lie, because Hestia’s scent lingers around the station just as much as before.
She hasn’t complained about living in a building covered in another pack’s scent. We got suppressants and switched to high-strength descenters before she moved in to make things more comfortable for her, but that doesn’t do much for removing our scents from the station, and the air filters clearly aren’t up to the task.
I’m sure it was an adjustment to get used to the scents of alphas hovering just outside her door. Though with the way she’s looking at me now, Hestia doesn’t seem to mind.
She takes the ornament from me, her small hand appearing even smaller next to mine.
