Page 41 of One for the Money
The air in the truck is a thick bubble of tension, so I do what I do best.
I pop it.
“Well, I have a few stops I need to make. I need to go to the grocery store, the mall, and then, if we have time, Jude, can you take me toPack’s Paradise?” I casually rake my fingers through my hair, noting the small change in Alex’s body language at my mention of the sex shop.
Jude sputters for a moment, his handsome face turning red at my words. “Why the fuck would I do that?”
“Well, my big, fat knot broke my -”
“Dario!” Jude slams on the brakes and reaches out to cross an arm over Alex’s chest to stop her from slamming forward. “We don’t need to hear this.”
But I’m not listening to him. I’m watching the way Alex stiffens under his touch, how her skin pales as she rolls her lips inwards, no doubt to smother a whine. She leans as far back into the seat as possible, crossing her arms over her chest protectively.
“Jude, I’m not sure why this is something that you are struggling with, but you have to stop touching me.” She’s trying to sound firm, but her voice shakes with every word. “I know you mean well, but it’s getting to unprofessional levels.”
He groans loudly and rubs a massive finger down the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry, but Alphas are tactile, and…”
“And nothing,” she snaps. “If I can control my instincts, so can you. You would have me out on my ass if I so much as whined around the crew, so don’t hold yourself to a different standard.”
“It’s not the same!” he snarls.
Where’s my popcorn? This is some good entertainment.
“It is the same!”
“No! Because you whine when you’re distressed or uncomfortable, and I am sensory seeking all the time!”
The man may be a brute, but he’s not wrong. As a whole, Alphas tend to require more physical contact than other designations. A lot of them satiate this desire by boxing or wrestling, but the ones with Omegas typically get it through sex and cuddling, casual touches here and there.
I’m lucky that my act requires me to touch a lot, or I’d probably be as hard up for it as Jude appears to be.
She laughs hollowly and scoots a little closer to me. I want to bury my face in her hair and see if I can catch a bit of her scent, but I am not going to take advantage of the situation to push my agenda.
My agenda being the desire to get a taste of the pretty Omega doctor.
But, alas, I know it’s not going to be possible to discover what she smells like. She’s got that shit locked down with what has to be industrial-sized doses of suppressants.
Alex narrows her eyes before turning to look out of the window. “Bold of you to assume I’m not always uncomfortable.”
Oop.
I don’t like hearing that.
I may not be a stereotypical Alpha, but that comment makes me feel strange. Like I’m failing at my job.
I am at a crossroads. Do I attempt to redirect the conversation into something less combative, or do I try to figure out what is making this sweet Omega doctor so uncomfortable?
She makes the decision for me.
“So, Dario,” she says casually, turning her back to Jude. “Tell me something about yourself.”
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” I purr, leaning a little closer to her, but not too close to spook her. “We’ve got a bit of a drive, so let’s make it fun.”
She rolls her dark eyes, but I know I’ve got her. “Fine, a question for a question.”
“Ooh, truth or truth. Almost my favorite game. Jude, you joining us?” I ask the big, grumpy Alpha. He grunts, but gives me a short, clipped nod. I clap my hands together, pretending I didn’t see Alex flinch, but filing the information away for later. “I’ll start. Why did you go to medical school?”
That must’ve been the right one to start with, because a beautiful smile stretches across her face. “When I was three, my parents gave me one of those doctor playsets. You know the ones with the fake shot and plastic cast that pops onto the arm of a doll?” I nod encouragingly, leaning against the door of the truck to give her a little more space. I’m cramped as fuck, but it’s worth it to see her shoulders relax a little. “Well, from that moment, I knew. I knew that I was supposed to help heal people. I never feel more myself than when I’m treating someone. When I first presented as an Omega, I mourned the loss of my dream.I thought there was no way that I could make it as an Omega doctor.”
