Page 8 of Faking It with the Omega

I don't know how I'm going to make it through this evening intact.

Jed

The drive to the country club is quiet, but my mind is very far from it.

Every time I take a breath, my lungs fill with the scent of orange blossoms. Bright, sweet, crisp, and currently driving my alpha totally insane. I nearly turned around and walked right out of Aiden’s apartment when he opened the door and his scent hit me for the first time, because my god… if I was having a hard time maintaining a professional distance when he was wearing blockers, it’s become basically impossible now that he’s not.

And that’s not even mentioning the fact that he looks good enough to fucking devour tonight, his pants accentuating those strong thighs, and the fucking glasses…

At least it’ll make pretending to be his boyfriend a little easier. Maybe too easy, because I’m almost starting to forget that this isn’t a real date.

My mind is still half-stuck back in his apartment, compulsively drifting to the way his body unraveled against mine. I thought I could handle a simple scenting, but the second his neck got within biting distance, my self-control vanished into thin air. Experiencing his raw omega scent, feeling him shudder against me, and hearing that helpless, breathless whimper as he came in his pants right before going down on me... Jesus Christ. It had taken every ounce of willpower I possess not to say “fuck the party” and drag him into his bedroom for the rest of the night instead.

It’s just biological friction, I tell myself, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter as I try to pull my head out of the gutter. It’s a strong omega scent, a hot guy, and a fun favor. That’s all. I don’t do attachments or second dates, and I sure as hell don’t catch feelings over a little heat-of-the-moment adrenaline. Really, this is no different from any other casual date. I’m just playing the part, helping out a friend, and enjoying the fringe benefits. Simple.

But even as we step into the party, it’s hard to get my head screwed on straight. The country club is decorated in white linens and filled with decidedly polite-looking people, and to say that we both stick out like a sore thumb is an understatement. I’m the only alpha here with any visible tattoos, for one thing, and I can see why Aiden felt out-of-place growing up, because every omega we walk past is tiny. Like, put them in your pocket, they sleep in a shoebox, levels of petite.

I can practically feel Aiden trying to shrink next to me.

I slip my arm around his waist instinctively, and when he leans into my side I tell myself it’s just to keep up appearances, even if the sour edge in his scent dulls right as my hand settles against his hip. And the spike of pride that has me curling my fingers that bit tighter around his waist? That’s just for show, too. Or a side-effect of the way my scent is still clinging to every part of him, maybe.

Before we can even navigate to the bar, a young omega woman in a stunning rose-gold dress spots Aiden.

“Aiden!”

She hurries over, her heels click-clacking against the marble floors. She has Aiden’s gray eyes and dark, wavy hair. This has to be Lucinda—Lucie, his sister. She throws her arms around Aiden’s neck, and though he stiffens for a second, he quickly relaxes, squeezing her back.

“I’m so happy you’re here, but also freaking that you’re late. Dad’s on the verge of making the transition from disgruntled father to homicidal maniac.”

“Good thing it’s not Dad’s party, then,” Aiden mumbles.

When she pulls away, her eyes lock onto me, and a massive grin spreads across her face.

“And who is this?” she asks.

“Lucie, this is Jed,” Aiden says, his voice tight with anxiety. “Jed, my sister, Lucie.”

“Congratulations, Lucie,” I say with a warm smile, holding out a hand. “It’s great to meet you.”

Lucie ignores my hand and pulls me into a quick, enthusiastic hug. “Oh, thank goodness,” she whispers before stepping back. “I was beginning to think Aiden made you up.” Aiden flashes me a panicked look, and I bite back a laugh.

“Mom!” Lucie calls over her shoulder, beckoning over an elegant older omega woman. “Mom, come here! Aiden’s brought his boyfriend!”

“Jesus,” Aiden mutters under his breath. “Jed, this is my mom, Eleanor.”

Aiden’s mom has a gentle floral scent and eyes that soften the moment she sees her son. “Aiden, darling,” she breathes, smoothing a hand over his cheek before turning to me. “It's so wonderful to meet you, Jed. Aiden’s told us nearly nothing about you—he keeps his personal life so guarded, we were beginning to worry he was spending all his time in that gym.”

“Well, to be fair,” I chuckle, looping my arm back around Aiden’s shoulder and pulling him flush against my side, “that’s where we met. I’m one of the trainers there.”

Lucie gasps. “Wait—how long have you two been together?”

“Four months,” Aiden says immediately.

“Six months,” I say at the exact same second.

A beat of silence falls between us all. Aiden stiffens next to me, his citrus scent spiking with panic. I keep my grin totally relaxed.

“Six months since I started trying to convince him to let me take him on a date,” I clarify seamlessly, giving his shoulder a squeeze that I hope comes across as affectionate. “Four months since he finally agreed. He made me work for it.”