Page 101 of One for the Money
“That’s not it,” I snap, immediately regretting it when Dexter stirs awake.
I watch the Omega’s heart break in real time when Dexter realizes where he is and what he did, attempting to scramble away from her with fear in his eyes.
But he can’t go anywhere, because his knot hasn’t deflated. Alex has to watch as he tries to escape her, trying to give himself as much space as possible and get away from her.
This isn’t what I wanted, but maybe we should get through all of this now. Perhaps it’s best we find a way to keep our distance from her for the rest of her contract, scent match notwithstanding.
I start to regret starting this conversation when I see the hurt on Alex’s face as she watches Dexter’s walls go up again. No one is messing with her emotions more than he is, but I bet I’m a close second. He hates her, then he tries to help her get better; he’s fighting against this connection, but then he says he’ll try.
Eventually, he’ll have to pick a side, and at this point, it’s a coin flip as to which one it is.
We all know precisely when his knot goes down enough for them to separate, because he scrambles across the floor away from our Omega.
Alex pushes herself to her feet, still naked but unashamed of her figure. Not that she should have anything to be ashamed of. She’s soft and sensual, with wide hips and soft, teardrop-shaped breasts tipped in dusky pink nipples that make my mouth water. Scars I never noticed before litter her skin and remind me of my own. But the ones down my arms and chest are from numerous bar fights before I got sober, and based on Alex’s history, I know that’s not the case with hers.
She rustles around for her boxers and shirt, pulling them on, her movements stiff. “Well, now that all of that istaken care of, I’m going to return to my trailer for some rest. You all should do the same, you have a show tonight.”
Fuck. We have a show tonight.
How am I going to get these guys to perform to standard with everything that has happened?
It’s got to be three in the morning now, and we’ll have to get up with enough time to do a dress rehearsal. The other acts can’t carry the show again by themselves, despite how good they are.
“Right,” I say slowly, unsure if I should keep pushing the doctor. “We’ll talk about your contract later.”
Goddamnit. Why did I say that?
Her spine stiffens nearly imperceptibly, but I catch it. With a terse nod, she strides out the door.
None of us stop her.
I expected at least Matteo to, being as they’re bonded now.
But he doesn’t, and our Omega walks back to her trailer alone, in the middle of the night, when she’s already been attacked and had her nest destroyed.
I’m tempted to follow her, to make sure she’s okay. Matteo must read the thought on my face, and he shakes his head. “I can feel her. If she’s scared or hurt, I’ll know. We need to give her some space.”
Do we? How does he know that? It’s not like she can shout that down their bond.
Instead of questioning him, I take him at his word and slip into my bedroom, shutting the door behind me as I torture myself with the smell of my Omega tangled up in my sheets.
“Looking great, Calvin,”I tell the fire breather. He has added a few pieces to his routine, which has expanded to include fire eating and a mesmerizing dance where he appears to set himself on fire.
The Alpha, a Black man with tight braids gathered at the base of his neck, smiles. “Thanks, boss. I’m having fun with it. Trying to give the audience something fresh.”
“Well, it’s working.” I pat him on the back as I move to the other side of the ring, where Rex, the contortionist, is climbing out of a glorified shoebox.
“Hey, boss!” he calls cheerily, unfolding himself to his full, staggering height. The Alpha towers over me, probably close to seven feet tall, with willowy limbs that make me feel like a strong breeze may blow him over. “What’s up?”
“Checking in to see if you need anything before tonight’s show.” His spandex bodysuit is a dizzying neon green with white vertical stripes, making it hard to look at, so I keep my eyes planted firmly on his smiling face.
“I was going to go see the doc, actually. My antidepressants are running low, and my prescription has expired.” Rex has always been open about the fact that he has had depression since he was a kid. I encourage my team to be frank and honest with me about their struggles so that I can provide them with the best support. Sometimes I have to restructure the show when Rex is in a depressive episode, but it doesn’t happen as much as it used to now that his meds seem to be working.
I run my fingers through my hair with a sigh. “Can you uh, let me know how she is after you see her? Like, if she seems alright?”
He narrows his eyes at me, then breaks out into a smile. “I knew you had the hots for her.”
“It’s not like that!” I protest.
