Page 77 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
“Sorry!”
Why the hell am I apologizing? I have every right to be in here. It’s a mixed gender and designation bathroom.
I should move out of the way so he can get to the sinks, but I’m frozen in place.
He hasn’t moved either.
We watch each other in a suffocating standoff as I silently wish I could vanish from existence.
“I didn’t know you were in there,” I blurt, words finally bubbling up out of me in a tense, high-pitched squeak.
He breaks our staredown, glancing back at the toilet behind him. While his expression doesn’t shift, his cheeks flush ever so slightly. “I wasn’t going to the bathroom.”
“Oh, uh, okay. Sure.” I should leave it there and get the fuck out of here to regroup, but I don’t think I’ll be able to face him and say what I need to say if I leave.
River finally moves, stepping up to the sink beside me to scrub his hands in methodical motions.
A ridiculous part of me wants to ask why he’s washing his hands if he hadn’t gone to the bathroom, but that evaporates within a second of his body being so close to mine.
My omega practically trembles, wanting me to roll over in submission to the sullen alpha next to me. I grit my teeth and turn to face my boss, shoving her weak thoughts to the side.
“We need to talk,” I say, voice hoarse.
He flinches almost imperceptibly, but nods as he grabs a paper towel to dry his hands. “Not in here.”
I swallow hard. That’s not a no. “Okay.”
There’s another long beat of awkward silence before he moves, throwing away his paper towel and heading toward the door.
I follow, hoping that’s what he meant for me to do. We pass Holden as I trail after my boss, and I avert my eyes as his gaze slides over me, taking in my appearance.
Great. As if this couldn’t be any more of a shitshow. That smarmy alpha will spread the rumor that I was crying as our boss brought me into his office. Everyone will think that I did something wrong. That I fucked up and got chewed out.
I scramble into River’s office when he holds the door open for me expectantly.
Unlike the office I share with Rick, his has solid walls, so once the door shuts behind us, no one can see inside. I can’t decide if that’s a good or bad thing.
River rounds his desk, pulling out his chair and gesturing for me to sit across from him.
Instead of following his lead, I stay standing, hovering by the door like I might bolt at any moment.
Just get it over with.I clear my throat and shift in place,wrapping my arms around my waist. “Please don’t tell anyone,” I murmur.
A strange emotion passes over River’s face, giving him an almost pained look. He sighs and gestures at the chair across from him again. “Sit.”
I want to stay where I am, if only to spite him for thinking he can order me around, but my omega has me moving to the chair and sliding down into it. My trembling legs are relieved that they no longer have to hold me up.
“Mr. Marlowe, please.” I use his last name to show that I’m still able to be professional. “I know you’re not my biggest fan, but I’m a good employee. I work hard and the only time I’ve ever slipped up was because…” My cheeks burn as I catch myself about to mention my heat, and my eyes drop to my hands. “It wasn’t something I had control over. Please don’t tell anyone.”
“Tell them what?” His voice is tense and the creak of him shifting in his leather chair has my eyes lifting to look at him. To beseech him to take pity on me. Not that I think it will work.
“About what I am,” I murmur. “I don’t want anyone to know. I could lose my job.” My voice shakes a little and I fist my hands into my skirt to hide their shaking.
This alpha holds all the power over me, and I have no reason to expect him to be kind or understanding.
Again, my omega’s urge to show him my neck and bend in submission rises.
River may not be as physically intimidating as one of the built blowhards that work here, and he doesn’t posture or act aggressive, but his alpha isstaggeringright now.
