Page 97 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
Her mouth quirks. “Those are my only options?”
A deep chuckle rumbles out of me, almost morphing into a purr. “No, but I figured making decisions after a stressful day is the last thing you’d want to do. So I narrowed it down.”
Camille’s smile broadens, making my breath stutter at how beautiful she is. “Clever. Chinese sounds perfect.”
I pass my phone over so she can pick out what she wants, looking around so I’m not staring at her while she makes her choice. Her apartment is tidy and clean, and the way her scent permeates the space makes my head a little fuzzy. However, from what I can see of the main living space, it’s somewhat…lifeless.
I’d expected Camille’s place to be full of soft florals and color. Things that are as vibrant and lovely as her. But that’s not the case at all. It almost looks like she didn’t bother to decorate when she moved in.
When she passes the phone back to me, I take her hand in mine and guide her over to the light gray couch and take a seat next to her. I note with a small frown that there’s a concerninglack of snuggly blankets and throw pillows. Clearly, she hasn’t indulged in her omega’s need for home comforts beyond what she and Jackson did for her nest.
Which is troubling. On its own, I wouldn’t think twice, but paired with her hiding her designation at work and her worries about going nest shopping, it paints a concerning picture. I know I shouldn’t be in doctor mode right now, but I can’t help it. If something is bothering Camille, I want to help her figure it out.
“How was your day?” Camille asks, fidgeting with her robe again as she gives me a nervous smile.
She’s uncomfortable. I need to fix that.
“Not too bad. Work was calm, but a little boring. Not that I’m complaining,” I add with a chuckle. “My day is much better now that I’m here.”
That earns a pleased smile, but the stiffness in her spine hasn’t eased.
“Camille, can I ask you a favor?” I ask, reaching out to take one of her hands from where it’s gripping her robe and thread my fingers into hers.
“Uh, sure?” Her brow furrows slightly. “You can ask.”
I laugh at her caveat, giving her hand a small squeeze. “Will you let me be in charge tonight?”
Camille’s hazel eyes grow wide, and her scent intensifies. “Oh. Um, I mean, I guess if we…”
I shake my head. “Not for sex, sweetheart. If that comes up, we can discuss it, but I want to give you a night where you don’t need to think at all. My alpha is being…insistent about it, but I don’t want to be domineering.”
“I can’t imagine you ever being domineering.” She narrows her shrewd eyes like she’s trying to imagine it, and giggles at the absurdity of the thought.
“Bossy, then,” I suggest, smiling along with her.
“From what I can recall, I like your brand of bossiness.” A flush creeps up her neck and perfume bursts in the air. She groans. “Sorry, guess there’s no way to be chill or coy when my omega perfumes at the mere mention of things with you.”
“It’s incredibly flattering,” I reassure her. “If I could perfume for you, you’d be choking on oranges.”
She wrinkles her adorably freckled nose. “That sounds like some kind of euphemism.”
“Who says it isn’t?” I raise a brow at her. “Do you not want to choke on my oranges?”
She laughs, pulling her hand out of my grip to shove my chest gently. Before she can move her hand away, I trap it over my heart with mine. Her lashes flutter as she gives me a small smile, and I wonder if she can feel how fast my heart beats for her.
“You didn’t answer my question,” I murmur, stroking my thumb across the back of her hand.
“About your oranges?”
I snort and shake my head. “About me being in control tonight.”
“Oh.That.” Her tongue darts out to wet her lips, tempting me to claim them with my own. “Yes. I’d like that.”
My alpha rumbles inside me and Camille’s eyes widen at the vibration of my purr against her hand. “You like that, too.”
“I like anything involving you, sweetheart,” I rasp.
Her eyes flick away for a second, then meet mine again. “Can I ask a question before I, uh, give away my choices?”
