Page 109 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
The door to her office is open, but I knock on it anyway, not wanting to invade her space without permission. I know better than to do that to an omega, thanks to Ambrose’s expertise.
Rick, Camille’s office mate and an all-around decent alpha, rotates in his chair to greet me, a friendly smile spreading on his face. He’s harmless, aside from his cloyingfloral scent. I hadn’t noticed it much before, but now that I’m in the space he spends all day in, it’s enough to be unpleasant.
Shit, if it’s bothering me, it has to be bothering Camille. I spy a little fan by her desk, angled to blow indirectly across her face. The breeze rustles her bouncy red curls in a way that draws my eye to the long line of her pale throat.
My cock twitches and I yank my attention back to Rick before he notices how my gaze wandered to the tempting omega sitting on the other side of the room.
“River! Good to see you. To what do I owe this pleasure?” Rick asks, still all smiles. Unlike Camille, he’s not worried I’m going to be an ass to him. We’ve talked plenty of times and have decent rapport. Enough that he uses my first name.
“Good to see you, Rick,” I say, keeping my eyes on him even as I feel Camille’s attention land on us as soon as she hears her coworker say my name. “How did Bebe’s soccer final go?”
The older alpha beams at me. “They won! It was close, but they pulled it out thanks to my girl’s defense skills.”
My smile broadens at his enthusiasm, and my chest twinges with an ache that I refuse to put a name to, because I definitely am not wondering what it would be like to have kids and experience a similar pride. “That’s amazing.”
Unable to resist looking her way any longer, I turn toward Camille. My smile falters when her brows furrow and her posture stiffens the moment my eyes land on her.
I clear my throat. “I’m here to see if you have time for a quick chat. In my office.”
God dammit, that came out way too stern.
Why can’t I be normal with her?
Camille’s expression grows even stormier. “Uh, okay. I guess I have a minute.”
Rick chuckles. “Don’t be too hard on her, boss. She just got off a call with that chode from DesigNation and then thatknothead Holden was sniffing around, asking her inane questions.”
Camille’s eyes widen at his colorful language, and the alpha snorts, shrugging. “Sorry, guess I shouldn’t call my coworker a knothead.”
“Probably not,” I say, then lower my voice. “Even if he is.”
Rick lets out a loud bark of laughter and Camille stares at me like I’m some kind of alien creature. Does she really think I’m that humorless?
I try to smile at her again, willing my hands to unclench since they’ve tightened at my sides at the mention of Holden harassing her. “I promise it’s nothing bad. Just wanted to ask you some questions about, uh, the potential new merger. Get your thoughts on it.”
God, that sounded so awkward. I’m shit at this. The second she looks at me, my alpha goes haywire and I forget how to act like my nice, normal self.
Camille’s expression softens a touch as understanding sets in. “Oh! Well, as long as it’s nothing bad…”
I shake my head. “Not at all. I’m not going to punish you or anything.”
Her eyes widen and my cock twitches again. Fuck, did that sound suggestive? I didn’t mean to make it sound suggestive!
Luckily, Rick laughs again. “That’s his secret. River here is a big old softy.”
Camille quirks a brow at him. “Maybe to you.”
I could be soft for you too, angel, if things were different.
The thought and inappropriate pet name rise unbidden. Unwelcome. I can’t think like that.
I force out a laugh and incline my head toward the hall. “I’ll be in my office whenever you’re ready.”
She stands, smoothing down the pencil skirt that clings to her generous hips and thighs. “I’m free now.”
We walk in silence to my office, the sound of my hammering heartbeats drowning out the dull buzz of conversation and the click of Camille’s heels as we move through the hallway.
I want to walk slower. Walk behind her so I can get a view of her ass and legs in that tight skirt, knowing how fucking perfect the view is from watching her walk around the office countless times.
