Page 54 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
“You don’t know me,” I whisper. If my omega could strangle me right now, she would, but decades of dating and relationships have taught me that when something seems too good to be true, that’s because it probably is.
My words are like ice water poured over the heat between us. Ambrose moves back, and the loss of his touch makes my body sag.
“You’re right,” he sighs, running a hand through his hair.
There’s a long, tense silence where I think he’s going to pretend nothing happened and proceed with my appointment, but then he shakes his head and gives me a small smile.
“Camille, do you know what a scent match is?”
It sounds vaguely familiar. Like something from one of the cheesy romances I read as a teen. “I assume it means what it sounds like. People matched up because they have compatible scents.”
Ambrose nods, his smile broadening. “Yes. It’s when you find someone whose scent overwhelms you with how right it is. It’s an instinctual recognition that this person is special. That you belong with them.”
The weight of his gaze on me as he keenly observes my reaction to his words makes butterflies kick up in my stomach. I swallow hard. “Oh.”
“We’re scent matches, Camille. It’s why I’ve desperately needed to take care of you from the moment we met. It’swhy your omega wanted me during your heat, and why I came.”
I blink at the gorgeous alpha, trying to absorb his words. Trying to discover the lie in them. But my omega knows what he’s saying is the truth, even if my skeptical ass thinks it’s crazy.
His hands ball at his sides, like he’s fighting to keep from reaching out and touching me.
A small smile spreads my lips. “That definitely explains some things.”
Ambrose releases a relieved chuckle, the tension in his posture easing. “I thought it might.”
He takes a step closer and pauses, still not touching me. “I don’t want to overwhelm you, and if you want me to drop it and pretend we’re only doctor and patient, I’ll do that. You… you don’t ever need to see me again if you’re not interested in exploring our scent match.”
His eyes shut and his throat works as he fights to not show his emotions, even though it’s clear the thought of never seeing me again is killing him.
“I just need you to know where I’m coming from. That I’m not saying I want to make you mine because we had mind-blowing sex, or that I know even a fraction of what there is to know about you. It’s because there’s this innate connection between us, and if you’re willing, I want to explore it.”
My heart aches at how earnest he sounds.
How the hell could I say no to that? Even my jaded, avoidant ass knows that I’d be an idiot to not give Ambrose a chance.
I reach out and take his hand in mine. “I want to explore it, too.”
Starting a romantic relationship while I’m trying to come to terms with being an omega and hiding my designation atwork is a recipe for disaster, but I can’t bring myself to care. I’m starving for more affection and connection now that I know what I’ve been missing.
Ambrose lights up, squeezing my hand back. “Oh, thank god,” he says with a relieved exhale.
I giggle and lean forward. Our mouths meet in a kiss full of promise and potential. He pulls away far too soon for my liking, and I let out a frustrated groan as his lips leave mine.
He smiles sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry, sweetheart, but if I keep kissing you, I’m going to end up fucking you right here. You deserve better than that.”
“I do?” I don’t mean to ask that aloud, and flush as soon as the words come out.
Ambrose laughs and nods. “Yes, you do. I want to court you. Well, actually…”
His hesitation sends a spike of unreasonable fear through me, worrying that he’s changed his mind.
Fear shifts to shock when he finishes his thought. “My pack wants to court you.”
“Your pack?” I don’t know why I’m surprised. Of course Ambrose has a pack already. He’s handsome and smart and wonderful. Anyone would be lucky to have him in their life.
“Yes. We’d given up on looking for an omega, but then you showed up here at the clinic and rocked our world.”
My excitement sours. Rocking the world of an established pack doesn’t sound like a good thing. Astrid made me watch those reality shows where packs get torn apart in the search for their omega. Most of them are probably staged, but it’s enough to make me wary. “I don’t want to mess up anyone’s relationships or make things complicated with your pack.”
