Page 37 of Perfectly Naïve
How bad can it be?
After the ambush at home, I’m running late. Sawyer was understanding when I texted him, but I’m fuming as Nigel drives me to his house. Hours of listening to Mother and Carrie talk about my flaws and what I need to change had me battling self-loathing, but now I’m simply mad. Why doIhave to change? It’s like they thought there’s no possibility a pack out there will love me as I am, and the arithmetics of that aren’t arithmeticing. There are over eight billion people in the world. The possibilities may be low, but they aren’t nonexistent. That’s just simple math.
“She means well,” Nigel offers gently as he glances at me.
“Does she?”
“I believe she does. But that doesn’t mean you have toaccept her vision for your life, sweetie. You’re an adult. A brilliant, capable one, at that. Don’t let her steamroll you.”
Reaching across the center console, I give Nigel’s hand a squeeze. What would I do without him? “I know. Thank you. She knows exactly how to make me feel like a child. It’s frustrating.”
“So you spend your time with people who make you feel good about yourself and put some distance between you and your mother.” Nigel glances at me again, his tone turning careful. “Does Sawyer make you feel good about yourself, Livvy? Because if he doesn’t...”
I chuckle. He’s such a protective old man. “He does, Nigel. He really does.”
“Good.” Nigel smiles at me as we pull up in front of Sawyer’s cute little house. He rounds the car to open my door, grinning as I sling my laptop case over my shoulder. “Make sure it stays that way.”
I grin. “Don’t worry. I intend to.” One PowerPoint presentation at a time.
Nigel gives me a fatherly hug, then sends me on my way. My pulse quickens as I step up to Sawyer’s door, my breath harder to catch. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. Even if Sawyer’s pack doesn’t want to help me learn how to please a pack, he won’t back out of our deal. But I can’t lie to myself and deny how curious I am about his packmates, and how much I want to experience their kisses and knots too. For purely scientific reasons, of course.
At least, that’s what I plan to keep telling myself.
Before I can even knock, the door swings open, and Wilder’s smiling face looms over me.
“Sweetness, you’re here!” And then he scoops me up in a hug that leaves my feet dangling off the ground and giggles pouring from my lips.
“Put her down and let her come inside, Wilder.” Sawyersteps up behind the smiling giant and slaps him upside the head, making me giggle harder.
“Harsh, dude. Not cool.” But Wilder doesn’t put me down. He simply carries me inside, my feet still swinging. To me, he whispers, “Hi, Liv.”
“Hi, Wilder.”
I’m deposited on the couch with my laptop case, and my cheeks heat when I see Hayes watching us from the kitchen. I climbed him like a tree. I kind of want to again, but I’ll have to present my proposal first.
“Hi, Hayes. Sawyer.” Their other packmate is missing. I furrow my brow. Well, I can always share my proposal with him when he arrives.
“Vixen.” Hayes's deep voice goes straight to my core. I’m glad he’s not mad at me for practically mauling him. I certainly enjoyed myself, but there’s a twinge of guilt for overwhelming his senses.
Sawyer chuckles before bending down and drawing my attention his way with a knuckle underneath my chin. When I tilt my head up, he smiles softly at me, making my heart flutter with an arrhythmic beat. “Hey, baby.”
I sigh against his lips when he leans down and brushes his mouth over mine. “Sawyer.”
“What’s the laptop for?”
My brain must have been scrambled by his kiss because it takes me a moment to compute what he asked. “Hmm?”
Sawyer chuckles. “The laptop, Liv. What’s the laptop for?”
“My presentation.”
He pulls away, leaving me struggling to catch my breath. “What presentation?”
“About why I think it would be beneficial for me to learn how to be a good omega with your whole pack, not just you.”
“Fucking hell,” Hayes mutters from the kitchen, glass clattering against the countertop. A moment later, he strides intothe room with four beer bottles. He passes them out to his twin and Sawyer before offering a bottle to me. Condensation drips down the side as I take the cool glass in my hand.
Deciding a little liquid courage couldn’t hurt, I bring the bottle to my lips and suck down several gulps. When I lower the amber bottle, I discover all three men are watching me with expressions ranging from amusement to curiosity and heat.
