“Is that so?” I breathe in deeply, catching her sugary lemon scent—like summer itself wrapped in warmth. “What was your favorite subject?”
“Ballroom dancing,” Autry says so quickly it’s almost as if she had the answer locked and loaded. But her expression is a little tight, making me wonder if it’s the truth.
“Ballroom dancing?” I repeat, trying to gauge her reaction. “Really?” I narrow my eyes, not allowing her to look away. It’s well-known that omegas struggle to lie when making eye-contact with alphas… at least that’s what I was taught back in high school.
“Well.” Her smile falters for a breath, and she bites her bottom lip. “I enjoyed it a lot.”
The thought of this graceful omega gliding across a dance floor stirs something in me, but I want to know the truth. “What else did you like?” I lean in, voice dropping, holding her gaze. “What class made your heart race?”
Her lips press together, then finally she says, “Chemistry.”
I raise my brow, genuinely surprised. “They teach chemistry at the omega academies?”
“They did, at Beechworth.” She curls her fingers tightly around her nightie’s hem, nerves clearly flickering beneath her calm. “There were only two of us in the class, but we got to do so many amazing things.” I can feel her restrained excitement in the air.
“Like what?” I ask, eager to see her smile again.
“Honestly, it was a lot of basic stuff.” She pauses, furrowing her brow. “Do you really want to know?”
“Desperately.”
Her smile returns, soft and full of light, and my heart soars. “We did that experiment where you combine chemicals to make this thick foam.”
“With hydrogen peroxide,” I say, recognizing it from my own high school days.
“And potassium iodide,” she adds quickly.
A whole new fantasy jumps to the front of my mind—Autry in a tight, white lab-coat, her soft cleavage pushing up out of her blouse as she leans over her little experiments.
Fuck me.
“We also made polymer bouncy balls and hot ice.” Her energy doubles, like she’s been waiting her whole life to talk about this. “It was all silly stuff, but I loved it. It made me feel smart.” She rolls her eyes like that’s ridiculous.
“You are smart,” I say, pleased when a flush rises in her cheeks.
“I don’t know.” She looks away, flustered. “I’m really not that?—”
“I’ve never met anyone who can make a polymer bouncy ball or hot ice.” I drop my voice to a rough, teasing purr. “And I don’t even know what hot ice is.”
Her eyes widen, pupils dilating, consuming the oncesoft hazel color. “Thank you.” Her voice is dreamy as her milky thighs press together. “That’s very nice of you to say.” She lets out a nervous little giggle. The sound is heavenly.
In fact, everything about this omega is perfection: Her calm nature, her scent, her subtle flirting, and even her passions. I love the idea of having a brilliant omega who can teach our children all the amazing things she knows.
“Y’all done chatting yet?” A gruff alpha steps up next to me, leaning into my space.
Rage slices through me, and my body tenses. “I have a few minutes left.” I glare at the alpha, not looking away until he backs up.
Ten minutes.
That's all the time we’re supposed to have with each girl. It felt like an eternity when I was talking to the other omegas, but with Autry, it isn't nearly enough time. I want to hear her voice and see her smile. I want her to share more stories of her time at the academy and find out what she wanted to be when she was young. I need more.
I need her.
And just like that, I’ve made up my mind.
“I would like to place a bid on you,” I say to Autry. “Would you be okay with that?”
The omega’s eyes go wide as if shocked I’d ask her permission. “Yes. Of course.” She holds out her hand, allowing me to see the number written on her bracelet. I pull the bidding slip out of my back pocket and write her number down.
