Page 34 of The Rogues

Her champagne scent brightens, making me drunk with lust. “I wanted to sweep you away. Say ‘fuck it’ to the meeting and find some dark boardroom so I could have my way with you. Keep you knotted on my dick until someone came looking for us.”

The quietest whimper escapes her parted lips, and champagne explodes around us in droves, sweet and heady and mine. “What—” A brief swallow. “What held you back?”

“I pride myself on my control, Josie. But in that moment, you caused it to slip away from me. By the skin of my teeth, I reined it back in and remembered we had a job to do.”

Her breathing grows heavy, her eyelids drooping slightly at the arousal in my scent. My hand almost moves to grip her knee, but flexes instead to stay in place.

“I wish I could show you how I really feel,” I say in a hushed tone. “I want to make it up to you.”

She shakes her head, the lust in her scent turning to fear. “You can’t.”

“Why? Because you won’t be able to resist?”

She quickly picks up her drink, throat bobbing with each swallow before she puts it back down. “I have to think of my best friend.” It’s an uncommitted reply, like she is reminding herself rather than telling me.

It never occurred to me before that Josie might not know about Cleo’s drug habit. By the look in her eyes, she seems so hopeful, like she can change Cleo with her unconditional love, and that makes something in my chest crack.

I open my mouth to ask, but she continues before I can get the words out. “This happened so much differently than I thought it would.”

My brows lift. “What did?”

“I’ve always wanted the fairytale moment,” she confesses. “Where my scent match and I meet, and there’s nothing we can do but collide with one another. It’s what I always dreamed of. I mean, I guess I did have that with Remi but⁠—”

She bites her lip, her eyes shining with tears once more.

“And you deserved to have that,” I say in a whisper, my throat dry. I look over at her, meeting her disheartened eyes, and my heart breaks. “I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t mean for my baggage to ruin that moment for you.”

Josie takes that in, her head moving in a firm nod as she processes my words. My heart pumps with anticipation, hoping for… something. I’m not sure what, but then she turns to me, determination mixing with her natural softness as her scent singes slightly in the air.

“I accept your apology,” she says. “But I need some time, and I can’t do that if you guys are always there. Give me the time I need to come to terms with this, to figure out how to help Cleo so this news won’t tear our friendship apart.”

The hope in my chest deflates immediately as I’m forced to accept this turn of events. “Okay.” The words escape quietly, compliant, despite the roaring protest my alpha tries to send up my throat. “I’ll tell the guys to back off.”

Her features remain reserved, and her eyes flicker with an unspoken grief that’s already settling from her words. “I’m sorry,” she whispers in a breathy rattle, her scent hardening around us.

My eyes snag on her shriveling chin. I want to smooth out those wrinkles, pull her to me and comfort her the way an alpha is supposed to comfort their omega. Seeing her heart break right in front of me is tragic, but not being able to ease her suffering? Not having permission to be her safe place when she so desperately needs it? That is the most distressing thing I’ve ever had to endure.

“Please don’t—” I clear my throat, trying to soften my stern words. “Please don’t cry. Not when I can’t do anything to help you.”

She nods, blinking back tears. “You don’t have to help me.”

“I do,” I grit out, feeling my alpha stir uncomfortably. “I will agree to your terms. I will tell the guys to stay away. I will do anything you ask, but please don’t ask me to sit here while my mate is upset and not do anything about it.”

She blanches at me, and it takes me a few seconds to realize what I said.

I just called her my mate.

“Fuck, I’m sorry—” I start to say, but then Josie leans forward and slides her arms around my center. The instant smoothness of her body against mine lulls me, and I can’t help but accept the hug as I wrap my arms around her and pull her closer. Her champagne scent brightens the longer we mold together, the bitter edge easing into something luminous. I swallow a groan, loving the way she relaxes in my arms, loving the way she folds into me like she doesn’t want to be anywhere else.

I refuse to let go until she does. This tiny reprieve she has gifted me is everything, and my chest erupts into an unexpected but steady purr.

She burrows further into me, like she’s trying to pull the sound into herself, and lets out a breathy sigh.

When she pulls back, I can’t even protest because my alpha is sitting quiet in my chest once more.

“Thank you for understanding,” she whispers, her lips so close to mine I can almost taste them. My eyes move there, watching in fascination for a second before I look back up into her eyes, noticing how green and intentional they shine in the dimmed hotel lights.

“I will always try to understand you,” I confirm, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She lets out a sharp inhale at the contact, but I don’t push. I simply pull my hand back and lean back into my seat. “Please take care of yourself. And if you ever need us, we’re here for you. No matter what.”