It goes hand in hand with my love and lust.

And now, as I keep working and surreptitiously watch Casey mop the floor, I feel that place inside me grow warm.

Then cold, when he drops to his knees.

“Casey! Dammit.” Abandoning the machines, I sprint across the room to reach him. The broom crashes to the floor and he sways forward.

I grab him under the armpits and lift him against me. “Hey. Come sit down for a bit.”

I march him to the far wall where a bench is set against floor-to-ceiling mirrors. At first, he tries to shove at my arms, but then he just lets me manhandle him. I sit him and press his head down, between his legs.

“Try to take deep breaths,” I instruct. “Are you light-headed?”

“Yeah.” His voice is gritty.

“Skipped lunch?”

“Yes.”

“You shouldn’t have.”

He lets out a strangled laugh. “Figured.”

My heart is screaming at me to ruffle his hair, lift his chin, look into his eyes. Put my arms around him and keep him safe. It’s a struggle to remember that he’s a grown-ass man and will probably resent me getting my paws all over him.

His scent…Fuck.Sitting down on the bench beside him, I try not to inhale too deeply. Vanilla laced with musk and pepper and hints of caramel and cinnamon, and… My dick was hard when I hauled him up and pressed him to me. Now it’s an iron bar inside my pants.

If I ever had any doubts about being attracted to Casey, I can safely put them to rest.

I mean, he’s not in heat, or I’d be suspicious of my dick’s and heart’s behavior, but although his scent is strong, it’s not the kind that makes alphas lose their ever-loving mind.

Except I’m losing mine, anyway.

“Let me go grab a sandwich from the deli next door for you,” I say.

He glances up, dark hair mussed and gray eyes round. “No, I’m okay.”

“You almost passed out. You need sustenance. You work too hard.”

“Funny, Gigi said…” He swallows hard, straightens. “Said the same thing.”

Gigi…

The sound of her name distracts me while he braces one hand against the mirrored wall and struggles to his feet. “Hey, what are you doing?”

“Getting back to work.” He doesn’t look so steady but he manages a smile. “I’m fine.”

“The hell you are.” I’m in his way instantly, towering over him. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing.”

“The truth, Casey.”

He sighs. “It’s the suppressants. I have to take too many or they won’t cover my scent. They’re heavy as fuck. They make my stomach turn.”

“Maybe you should change brand.”

“I already did. Please, Zayne. Don’t tell the owners. I’m good, I really am. I can work.”