Page 9 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
“Ms. Clairmont?—”
“Camille,” she interrupts. “If you’re going to give me bad news, I’d rather not have the formality.”
“Camille,” I say, correcting myself. “I don’t think thatyou’re starting menopause. Your temperature, cramping, and slick production are all classic signs of the start of a heat.”
“But… I’m a beta and… I’m old!” she protests.
That makes me chuckle. “If you’re old, then I’m ancient.”
She relaxes a little at my joke, and my pulse quickens as her eyes scan over me. A flash of hunger crosses her face, followed by another bloom of her thick coffee scent.
Fuck me.I clench my fists so that I don’t do something crazy, like reach out and pull her against me so I can bury my nose against her neck.
Camille's lips twist into a small smile. “Okay, fine, not old. But definitely past the point where I would’ve revealed as an omega, right?”
It’s true that 96% of omegas reveal within five years of puberty, and 99% within ten years. But there are rare cases where they don’t reveal until much later. “There are documented cases of omegas revealing later in life.”
“God, I don’t want to be a documented case. Or go on Omega’s Choice,” she grumbles.
My brow furrows. “The reality show?”
“My friend thinks that I should capitalize on being an anomaly. That I should try to play up my ‘omega MILF’ status’. I’m not a MILF! I don’t have any kids.” Camille’s hands fly up in exasperation, her voice growing higher and louder as she speaks. “I don’t want to be an omega. I don’t want to have to throw away my panties in bar bathrooms and worry about the puddle I’m leaving on the paper on this chair because I can’t stopgushing. I feel like I’m empty inside and need to be filled up, but how the fuck am I going to fit a knot inside me when I haven’t even had a dick inside me for years? I can’t do this. I?—”
My brain snags on the mention of her slick, immediately thinking how she doesn’t need to worry because I would take my time stretching her until she’s begging for my knot.Dammit, I’m not doing anything involving her and my cock. It’s easy to move past the absurd lust when tears start rolling down her cheeks and my alpha finally recognizes that this is an omega in distress, not one that needs my dick.
I move on instinct, wrapping my arms around her. Camille doesn’t resist—no, she pulls me in tighter and burrows her face against my shoulder. I can’t stop the purr from rumbling out of me. It’s beyond inappropriate. I should let her go, but I can’t when everything inside me is screaming at me to comfort her.
4
“It’s okay,Camille. Take a deep breath for me.”
A fresh burst of slick pools between my thighs as the world’s hottest daddy doctor holds me against his chest, which is rumbling. No,purring. This sexy alpha is purring for me because I’m freaking out too hard.
I’d worry about seeming pathetic, but that ship has sailed after I rambled about gushing and not getting any dick. I do my best to breathe in deep, and catch the faintest whiff of something delicious beneath the scent blocker he must have on. Something citrus-y and herbal. Refreshing, like an ice-cold lemonade on a hot day.
I wish I could drink him down.
I almost gasp at that pornographic thought, trying my best not to show how aroused I am from smelling him. Please let him attribute any scents he’s getting off of me to general heat horniness, not wishing I could suck his?—
“Good. One more,” Ambrose says, interruptingmy thoughts.
I inhale again, shivering as I get more of his suppressed scent. At least I’m not crying anymore. Or telling him incredibly inappropriate things.
He moves to release the hug, and I choke back a whine at the loss of contact. He looks down at me, his thick dark brows knitting together as he scans me to see if I’m still on the verge of having a panic attack.
Oddly enough, I feel a lot better after the hug. “Thank you.” I sniff and wipe the tears from my face. “Ugh, guess I’m a stereotypical omega now, needing a big, strong alpha to soothe me.”
I can’t hide the distaste at the idea in my voice. I’ve always appreciated that part of being a beta meant not being subjected to the over-the-top urges of alphas and omegas. Experiencing omega hormonal surges firsthand must be payback for the smug sense of superiority I secretly harbored.
He gives me a look somewhere between sternness and care, his gray eyes piercing into me.
God, why is that so sexy? I never thought I’d be attracted to the daddy type, but the alpha in front of me exudes that energy out of every pore. I doubt he’s even aware of it, which makes it even hotter.
“There’s no shame in needing physical comfort, no matter what your designation is. We all need touch, and while that may be an even stronger urge for you as an omega starting her heat, it doesn’t make you needy or weak. Touch and physical intimacy have been scientifically proven to have health benefits.”
When he puts it like that, it doesn’t sound so bad. “So, are you going to write me a prescription for hugs?” I ask, my lips quirking.
He laughs, and the deep, rough sound of it sends more arousal coursing through me. If he keeps up being so nice andhot, I’m worried I’m going to jump him. Spread my legs and beg him to make me come all over his salt and pepper beard.
