Page 79 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
Looking at him this close, I’m stunned to realize how beautiful he is.
Sure, I’d recognized that he’s an attractive man, because, well, I have eyes. I just didn’t think about it much because he was my dickish boss. But now I can see the fine details of the black tattoos that decorate the elegant column of his throat. The flecks of gold in his dark eyes glimmering behind hisglasses, and the small smattering of freckles on his high cheekbones.
My omega likes the way he looks. A lot.
I fight back a gasp as slick pools between my thighs. Thank god I have a metric fuckton of scent neutralizer and my omega underwear on.
Clearing my throat, I look away, hating how hot my cheeks have grown and my body’s reaction to him. It’s pathetic to want an alpha who has zero interest in me.
“I’m not interested in being a source of conflict for you pack or hurting the relationships you already have. I’ve been fine on my own…” I swallow hard, and when I speak again, it’s more to reassure myself than him. “I’ll be okay on my own.”
He frowns. “I promise I can handle it. You won’t be a problem. I want this. My entire pack does. Please, at least consider it.”
“I…” I open my mouth to tell him no, but the desperate edge to his tone and the pleading look in his eyes makes me pause.
“I’ll think about it.” I push my chair back and stand, needing to get out of here and find somewhere to breathe.
“Thank you,” he murmurs as I open the door.
I look back over my shoulder at him. “Please don’t fire me if this ends up being a total dumpster fire.”
A strange sound erupts from him, and it takes me a second to realize it’s a laugh. For the first time since I’ve met him, a genuine smile twists his lips. “I won’t. You’re my best employee.”
My mouth falls open in disbelief, but someone calling my name pulls my attention from him. When I turn back, the door has shut behind me, stealing away my ability to check if I heard him correctly.
“Camille! What happened? Are you okay?” Lauren rushes up to me, her eyes roving over my face and wet shirt.
I’d forgotten how much of a mess I am. “Oh! No, I’m fine.” I wave a hand at my face and let out a weak laugh. “Allergies.”
She gives me a disbelieving frown. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
No, I’m not. My boss just asked me to date his pack, and he knows I’m not a beta. Oh, and he thinks I’m his best employee. Also, did you know how gorgeous he is?
I plaster on my best fake smile. “Yes. Everything is fine.”
26
“Everything isn’t fine.”Lauren crosses her arms over her chest, giving me a scrutinizing stare from the other side of the bistro table.
The petite omega ambushed me after my 1 o’clock meeting with DesigNation—which was as aggravating as previous ones due to their CEO’s inability to keep his awful opinions to himself—and hauled me off to have lunch.
The breeze picks up, helping to cool me off as I struggle with what I should admit to her. My hair blows into my face and I brush it back behind my ear, letting out a heavy sigh.
“Okay, everything isn’t fine, but I don’t think we should talk about it.”
Lauren’s deep pink painted lips twist into a frown. “You know, saying that makes me think weabsolutelyneed to talk about it.”
I groan and place a hand over my eyes. “It’s bad.”
“No shit,” Lauren replies drolly. “You came out of Mr. Marlowe’s office looking like you’d been through the wringer. What did he say to you? Because I swear if he gave you shitwhen you’re clearly working your ass off with DesigNation, I’ll go in there and give him a piece of my mind.”
Her fierceness pulls a small laugh from me. “He didn’t say anything about DesigNation.” I pause, a dull heat spreading across my skin as I remember River telling me I’m his best employee. “He actually complimented me,” I add, trying not to betray how much that compliment impacted me. It’s pathetic to be pleased that a man who doesn’t like me begrudgingly thinks I do a good job.
Lauren cocks a brow at me. “Then what happened? Did you tell him…” She glances around like someone might overhear us, despite us choosing to have lunch many blocks away from the office.
“I didn’t have to. He knows.” As soon as I tell her that, I grimace, knowing there’s no avoiding explaining how he found out. “Shit, I really shouldn’t be telling you about this. He’s your boss too, and I don’t want to do anything to put you in an uncomfortable position.”
She waves my worry away, scoffing. “Please. I can handle it. Unless he did something really awful or is a secret creep who is perving on you, it won’t affect my working relationship with him.”
