Page 137 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
“Anytime.” Jackson gives me a warm smile. “I was kinda hoping you’d smell like Cami since you, you know…” He waggles his eyebrows at me.
I let out a choked sound. “Too soon. Also, if I smelled like her, that’d be a big problem at work. Thank fuck for that industrial strength de-scenter Ambrose buys us.”
Jackson shrugs. “Can’t blame a besotted beta for trying. I mean, look at you. Your alpha made youbondher.”
“Man, it’s not funny! It’s a serious problem and I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do.”
Jackson clamps a hand on my shoulder and squeezes. “Yeah, it’s not great, but come on. It’s a little funny. You’ve been so uptight and worried about being the odd man out for our pack, and then you went and bonded the omega we’recourting. Once we get past the misunderstanding, this is something we’ll all laugh about.”
Can it really be that simple? Am I worrying too much, like always?
I swallow down my protests and nod, making myself have faith in Jackson’s assurances. I can either torture myself until I can speak with Camille, or I can live in Jackson’s fantasy world, where everything works out fine.
With him grinning at me, the choice is simple. “Yeah. You’re right.”
Jackson squeezes my shoulder again before letting go. “Alright, let’s go talk to Ambrose before he has a heart attack wondering what the emergency is.”
“You didn’t tell him? Jackson!” I glare at him as he shrugs.
It doesn’t talk long to get to the clinic, and Ambrose is exiting the building as I pull into the parking lot.
He races over to the car, eyes wide with panic. I barely have time to put the car in park before he’s shouting, “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Is Camille okay?”
My mate’s wild eyes search me for injury or distress as I get out of the car. “We’re all okay, babe. Jackson should’ve been more clear that no one was hurt when he called the front desk.”
The beta rounds the car to stand beside us, crossing his arms over his chest defensively. “I wanted to make sure he was ready to talk when we got here.”
Ambrose’s gaze darts between us, his brow furrowing. “I’m here. Someone needs to tell me what the hell is going on.”
I open my mouth to speak, hesitating for a moment as anxiety about how he’ll react rises in me.
“He fucked Camille and bonded her,” Jackson blurts.
“What the fuck, man?” I snap, glaring at him.
“Sorry, I figured it’d be better to rip the bandage off than let you tiptoe around it.”
“Youwhat?” Ambrose’s brows lift in alarm and disbelief.
“I… She came into my office because she overheard something I said the other night and took it the wrong way, and in order to clarify, I confessed my feelings for her.”
“Which led to him finger banging our omega on his desk and biting her,” Jackson adds.
I barely resist the urge to smack him, focusing instead on Ambrose’s reaction.
I wait for him to get angry. To yell at me. To tell me I’m a terrible packmate and partner.
Instead, a burst of startled laughter falls from his lips. “That’s…wow, love, that’s one way of doing it.” Ambrose steps forward and pulls me against his chest, a pleased purr rattling out of him. “I’m proud of you.”
“You… What?”
My mate laughs again and presses a kiss to my cheek. “You told her how you felt. That’s huge.”
“Yes, but Ibondedher. She asked me to bite her, and I thought she understood, but it was clear afterwards she didn’t.” There’s a stab of guilt in my gut saying it aloud again. “And we did it at work. She could get fired for that if anyone found out, and I would absolutely lose my job. I made things even harder for everyone.”
Ambrose pulls back to look me in the face and shakes his head. “She’ll understand. You didn’t force yourself on her, or do anything she didn’t ask for, right?”
I nod, though the way he asks lets me know it’s not a real question. Ambrose has no doubt that I would never do something like that. He has faith in me, even now. Even when I fear I don’t deserve it.
