Page 30 of Omega's Fire

“You kissed him.”

I’m aware of Meg’s side-eye burning into me from the passenger seat as she drives, and it’s definitely not a question.

“And did you see his face?” I reply with a laugh. “Priceless, right? The mighty Dr. Thorndike, completely blindsided.”

I focus on the mountains as we drive, unable to meet her gaze. We’re a little distance from the cottage now, far enough that I can no longer see Nash standing there in the road, looking like I just punched him in the face.

I kissed him without thinking. That’s the terrifying part. The impulse to press my lips against his had been instinctive and unstoppable, a force I couldn’t have stopped if I’d tried. I’d wanted to kiss him, but there is no way I will ever admit that to Meg. Instead, I shrug, lips quirking into what I hope looks like satisfaction.

Meg’s laugh fills the car, bright and triumphant. “It was hilarious. I wish I’d known you were going to do that. I’d have filmed it. My god, his face.”

I join her laughter, even as a heavy weight presses against my ribs. Because I had seen Nash’s face. Had watched the desperate hope bloom in his eyes, had felt his breath catch against my lips, had witnessed the exact moment something shattered when I pulled away.

I don’t want you.

That was the moment. Just four words. That’s all it took to break Nash Thorndike. I should be jubilant. I’ve walked away, just as I’d always said I would.

“Seriously though,” Meg leans back in her seat, hair catching the light, “I need every detail. Was it awful? Being stuck there with him?”

My knuckles whiten as I grip the seat. “It was exactly what you’d expect.”

“Meaning?”

“Exactly what you’d expect.” I hesitate, trying to compose my thoughts before continuing. “Thorndike was... predictable. Arrogant. So damn sure of himself the whole time.”

“Did he try to force anything?” Meg’s voice has gone quiet, protective.

“No.” The answer comes too quickly, too defensively, and I have to clear my throat. “I mean, the whole situation was forced, obviously. But he wasn’t... he didn’t...”

Meg stays silent, giving me the chance to choose my words.

“I did have a heat,” I say finally, keeping my voice factual. “There was sex.”

Meg’s expression softens with understanding. “Oh, Leo. You didn’t have a choice.”

“I did.” The ferocity in my voice surprises us both. “But it was okay. I set the terms. I told him it was only about the heat, that it meant nothing.”

Meg eyes me for a moment and then she grins, always trying to use humor to cheer me up. She elbows me in the ribs. “Tell me it was terrible. I bet he’s the worst fuck you’ve ever had.”

Nash moves on top of me, inside me, filling me so completely I can see stars and he is the only thing that exists. I want him so badly I can’t take it. Except I am. He has taken me completely and all I can do is ride wave after wave of crashing pleasure.

Meg’s still looking at me. “That bad, huh?”

I sigh. “No, it was good,” I admit and her eyebrows rise. “He’s right about the chemistry thing.”

“Wow.”

And then I lie, “It was a hate fuck. An interesting experience but I don’t want to do it again.”

I look away because it’s too raw to talk about. I am gone. My time with Nash Thorndike is done and the ache in my chest feels like it is going to destroy me.

Meg studies me, something too perceptive in her gaze. She knows me far too well—usually that’s a good thing, but right now, it isn’t. “Huh.”

We drive in silence for a few minutes, the mountains sliding past us.

“We moved your stuff to a different office,” Meg says finally. “The others fixed it up yesterday. We thought of fixing the door but better that we hide you somewhere. You’re on the ground floor now, near the fire exit.”

I nod, throat unexpectedly tight. “Thanks. That’s... thanks.”

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