Page 22 of Their Knotty Pack
Kieran shrugs. "I don't see what it could hurt. Worst case scenario, we help an omega with a need she has, and we can try again later."
How can they talk like this? Like having sex with someone you don't know is just a normal, acceptable thing? I know it is for some people, but…How can they even get it up? If I don't have an emotional connection to the person I'm with, my dick won't get hard for anything. I can't go into a heat clinic and fuck someone I don't know. It's not physically possible for me.
I can't tell them that though. They'll think I'm just being difficult, or obstinate.
"I…" Running a hand through my hair, I look around the room at my pack. The way Damien watches with anticipation. Brody, pretending he doesn't care one way or the other. Kieran. Daring me to make the wrong call.
"I can't," I tell them, and before the protests hit, I continue, "but you're welcome to. If you meet someone you like and they're open to it, I'll meet them after."
The three of them exchange a look, then nod. "Alright! Thanks, oh fearless leader." Damien grins, getting up and clapping my shoulder as he passes. Then Kieran pushes off the wall and heads to his room, and Brody stays in his seat, his eyes never leaving me.
"What?" I finally ask, meeting his eyes.
He shrugs. "I'm good at reading people, detective. It's what I do."
"Why do you insist on calling me by my title, Brody?"
"Because, I feel ten times more important when I'm talking to a 'detective'," he grins, "back to my point, I'm good at reading people."
"It's what I do too," I raise a brow, "care to elaborate on yourpoint?"
"Just because you're good at reading people doesn't mean you can'tberead, detective. There's something else going on with you."
Fuck.
"If you don't want to confide in me, that's fine," Brody continues, picking up a book from the coffee table and flipping through it, "just tell me it's not because you don't want an omega."
My brow furrows. "Of course I want an omega."
"Okay." His nod has a sense of finality to it. "Good talk." Then he turns his attention to the book in his hands and I'm left standing there, wondering what the hell just happened.
"You don't want to know anything else?" I ask incredulously.
"Is it something that will hurt our pack? Like an STD or something?" he asks wryly, not looking up from his book.
"What? No!" I nearly shout in surprise.
"Then, no, I'm good. Your issues are your own deal until you decide to share the burden."
…Share the burden?
How the hell am I supposed to do that?
"This isn't something you can help me with." My words are stiff.
"I guess I'll never know," Brody says lightly, flipping another page.
This guy is getting under my skin so thoroughly, I have no idea what to do with it.
There's no way I'm telling him. If I do, he'll tell Kieran and Damien, and I'll be viewed as some impotent loser who can't get it up.
I mean, Ican, but there has to be some kind of established emotional connection first, which we for sure won't get at a damn heat clinic.
But…maybe Brody would understand. Maybe I can invoke some kind of lawyer-client confidentiality agreement…thing.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I let out a heavy breath. "If I tell you this, it stays between us."
"Of course—"
