Page 40 of The Mating Game
“Good?”
“I imagine it’s scary,” he says. “What you’re going through. So it’s good you aren’t having anything too wild happen.”
Not again, I’m sure he’s thinking
“For now, at least,” I mutter.
I immediately regret it, because his eyes widen a little, no doubt thinking of thelasttime something “wild” happened.
I can smell how fucking wet you are.
I clear my throat again, pushing those thoughts aside. “Anyway, good choice on the stain. I’ll tell my brothers.”
I’m turning around to escape when his voice stops me.
“Tess.”
I turn slightly, looking back at him. “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
I pause, tilting my head. “What for?”
“For…being so harsh with you the other day,” he says. “It’s been eating at me. I know it isn’t your fault, I do, it’s just…I’ve had bad experiences in the past. With omegas. I know that’s not yourfault either, though I reckon that’s why I acted like an ass about it.” He rubs at the back of his neck, nudging his beanie he’s wearing a little and making it sit slightly off-kilter. “My alpha has been…restless. I know we barely know each other, but that doesn’t change what we are or that I’ve been worried about you. I don’t want you to think you have to go out of your way to avoid me.”
Ah, so he noticed. Great.
“Your…alpha?”
“It’s hard to explain,” he says. “It’s like there’s this wilder side to me. Almost like my wolf runs the show sometimes.”
“Will that happen to me?”
“Probably,” he tells me. “After you come into it more, I imagine. Anyway…Again. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I say after a beat. And, weirdly, I mean it. “It’s actually a relief to know that I’m not the only one losing it because of some hormonal bullshit.”
He chuckles softly, the low sound enough to warm me from even a few feet away. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “You’ve really dealt with this before?”
He looks aggravated, like maybe he said more than he meant to, but nods heavily. “Like I said…you’re not the first omega I’ve met.”
Wow. The pure shock of something that feels dangerously like jealousy coursing through me is powerful and potent. And ridiculous. Definitely ridiculous.
He heaves a sigh as he goes on. “What we are…it’s like we’re designed to be drawn to each other. The more time we spend together…likethat—the more we’ll want it. It’s just our nature. It’s not…youthat I’m wary of, Tess. It’s the situation. I’ve played this game before and lost. But I want to help you if I can.” Hisbrows shoot up as he realizes what he’s said. “With questions, I mean. If you have any. If I can answer them.”
“Well, I mean…that’s good, I guess.” My lips part as I shake my head. “Forme, at least,” I correct, laughing awkwardly. “I’d definitely love to be able to ask questions if they come up.”
“Of course,” he says. “Anything you need.”
It’s a foreign sensation for me, the possibility of needing someone, and I don’t know what to make of it. Normally, it might irritate me, the thought of having to rely on someone, but for some reason, with Hunter, it just…doesn’t. Is that what he was talking about? Is that just what we are?
Anything you need.
All I can do is hope that it doesn’t come down to me needing his dick again, because will I really be strong enough to not go to him next time? I don’t know if I can survive another embarrassment like that.
“I appreciate it,” I tell him. “Really.”
