Page 39 of All Packed Up

Her cheeks heated at the compliment, something weird happening in her stomach.

“It smells like weed in here,” Wendy said suddenly, turning to Tate. He looked so guilty. “Do you smoke?”

“Sure do. Uh… ah… is that okay?” he asked, running a hand through his hair.

She laughed. “Quit sweating. It’s fine.”

He visibly relaxed, pulling another smile from her. “You scared me there, Babes. Want some?” Tate asked.

I don’t know what rules your old apartment complex had, but in my house, there’s no smoking. I better not catch you with this trashy shit again, understand?

That had been… she racked her brain. How many years ago was that? How long had she been following orders like some… like some… kept pet.

“Fuck yes,” Wendy answered confidently. Suck it, Derek. “As long as you don’t call me sweetheart ever again.”

There was a long pause, and she lifted her head to find Tate studying her, cheeks red. “Uhm—yeah. Of course, ma’am.” Tate backtracked and apologized.

Wendy shivered. “Not ma’am either. Makes me feel old.”

“Sure, sure, yeah—okay, just make yourself at home. Yeah,” Tate babbled.

Oh, how endearing. Tate was just precious. She lifted a hand to her mouth to stifle her laugh as Tate sat down at the coffee table.

As the scent of marijuana grew stronger, Wendy studied the room around her.

She could tell it was an alpha’s apartment. Aside from the alpha scents, the decor was something she might call… bachelor chic?

They had more decorations than Nic at least, though that wasn’t saying much. It was leather couches and weird, colorful accents, but at least there were accents. At the center of their living space was a huge television with all the gaming consoles imaginable. The chairs and couch were placed around it on a cushy rug.

The door squeaked as it opened behind her, and she turned to find Arlo holding it open and revealing Nic, waiting.

“Call me if you need anything?” Nic asked, shuffling from one foot to the other.

The sight of the nervous beta made her smile, made something flutter in her belly.

She practically skipped over to him, and Arlo left her at the door, failing to suppress a grin.

“I will call if I need anything,” she promised.

“Good,” he responded, a simple nod of the head. His amber gaze lingered on her for a second. That second lingered into a long moment before he cleared his throat.

“Okay then, I’ll… see you soon?” he asked, stepping back and making room for her to close the door if she wanted.

Wendy followed him over the threshold, leaning after him with one hand wrapping around the doorjamb. With the other, she reached up to cup the back of his neck and pulled him down to her.

Nic’s lips were soft and gentle, and his spring blossom scent put her at ease once more. She pulled back, stomach fluttering with nerves.

But then the beta blinked his eyes open, looking stunned in the cutest way. Wendy bit her lip to keep herself from grinning like a schoolgirl.

“I’ll be back in a little while,” Nic said.

“Okay, I’ll be here,” Wendy answered.

Duh. Where else would you be? Stupid.

“Well, I’d sure hope so,” he teased, finally putting space between them as he backed up and took a hesitant step down the hallway.

She waved at him, waited until his footsteps grew farther away, and didn’t close the door until he’d gone out of her sight.