Page 26 of Venom Island
I swear I hear her growling through the door as she spins around to storm off toward the main cabin. I’m about to go after her when she turns right back toward the cockpit and practically runs toward me.
Her knock is abrupt. One quick pound, then she jumps back with a look of horror in her expression like she can’t believe she just did that.
I chuckle in response, more amused than I think I have been in a long time.
But as I unlock and open the door, I don’t let her see my humored reaction. I simply peek my head out and utter a polite, “Everything all right, tesoro?”
She blinks big dark eyes at me. “I, uh, was wondering if you need anything to eat?”
I push the door a little wider so I can lean against the frame. “That depends,” I say, looking her up and down. “What’s on the menu?” I’ve been a little soft with her until now, not really flirting with her so much as comforting her. However, that little show I just witnessed put me in a playful mood. And now I want to see how she’ll respond to some clear flirtation.
Alas, she just blinks at me and starts reciting actual food items.
So innocent, I marvel, looking over her again.And so damn beautiful.
She swallows. “Does any of that sound, um, good?”
“None of those items suit my current mood.” Because it’s not food I’m in the mood for. But I don’t tell her that last part.
“Oh.” Her nose scrunches. “Okay. Well, if you change your mind, let me know and I’ll bring you something.”
“Thank you,” I say to her, smiling. “It was thoughtful of you to check on me.”
She nods. “You’re welcome. I’ll just be…” She gestures back to the main cabin and takes a step away from me.
“I wouldn’t mind some company, though,” I tell her before she can escape me. “It’s kind of lonely in here.” A lame comment, but a truthful one.
Her eyes flash up to mine. “Oh. Is it okay for me to be up here?”
I shrug. “I’m the pilot, so I suppose that means I make the rules, and I say it’s fine.”
“You’re also an Alpha,” she points out. “So I think you always make the rules.”
I consider that and nod. “True, dominance is a natural trait. But I’ve never really been in a position where my rules mattered.” Because I was always carrying out Carlos’s wishes—or, most recently, Ander’s wishes—but never my own.
Caja frowns at me. “I thought you were one of Alpha Carlos’s generals. Wouldn’t that have put you in a position to create and enforce rules?”
My heart squeezes at her words. “You know I used to be one of his generals?” Did someone tell her that? Or did she recognize my name after I shared it?
No. It couldn’t be the latter. She would have feared me if that were the case.
But then, why doesn’t she fear me now?
“W-well, no,” she stammers, her tan skin paling.
Never mind. There’s the fear.
Shit.
“Another Omega told me,” she goes on. “I wasn’t sure if it was true or not.”
I grab the back of my neck and blow out a breath. “Yes, I was one of his generals. One of his favorites, actually.” I didn’t really need to add that last part, but I want her to know me. Tounderstandme.
“I… I shouldn’t have asked,” she says, taking a step back. “I know it’s not my place. I…” She frowns. “I don’t know why I’m acting this way around you. I’m sorry, Alpha.”
“It’s Enrique,” I remind her gently. “And what way do you mean? How are you acting around me?”
She glances over her shoulder before leaning toward me and whispering, “I keep asking you questions. I know I’m not supposed to. I… I’ve never done this before.”
