Page 23 of All Packed Up

“Any certain kind of cheese?” She could have given him a little more information. All he could picture were the hanging bags at the grocery store. Cheese had not been on the list.

“Any cheese. But like, the block kind, not the bagged kind.”

So not what he was picturing then. “The kind you eat with wine at fancy parties?” On little toothpicks?

Wendy chuckled. “Yeah, I suppose they are probably the same.”

“I can make that happen,” he told her before he could rethink it. Where the hell would he get fancy cheese at…

Nic glanced at the clock. One in the morning.

Who was even open at this time? He could try the supermarket. But it was at least fifteen minutes away. Was it okay to leave her for that long? Should he stay with her anyway? She’d just cried her heart out. What did omegas want during their heat?

“Nic,” Wendy called. “Nic. Earth to Nic. Hello!” she finally shouted, and Nic jolted, turning to look down at her.

When had he even stood up?

She looks like a dream.

All dark hair spilling over her blanket, pulled up just enough to cover the swells of her breasts but still flirting with the edge of exposure. She looked… soft.

Lovable.

He shook his head. “What?”

She smiled up at him. “I can practically hear your blood pressure rising. Take a breath.”

Nic inhaled.

And exhaled, only doing so to watch Wendy giggle at him. “I want a shower first. You have time to find cheese. And if you don’t find it—”

I will find it!

“It’s okay.”

Not okay. Omega wants cheese. Omega gets cheese.

But first, she wanted a bath. With no further warning, Nic scooped her up bridal style, blanket and all. She gasped sharply at first, hands flying to his shoulders, but she relaxed as he made his way to the bathroom.

Nic liked feeling her weight in his arms, and he really liked the way she looped her arms around his neck and played with the hair at his nape. And making her smile was now his personal mission.

She hissed when he sat her on the cold countertop. “Ass!” she called out, and flicked at his chest.

Her aim was true, and he jumped back at the sting of her nail against his nipple. “Ow!”

“That’s what you get.” She huffed, crossing her arms over the blanket. But her lips twitched and that was all that mattered.

He rubbed at his pec, still chuckling as he turned his back and pulled the shower curtain back. The water came on cold, but he waited until it warmed up before turning back around.

His nipple still stung.

Maybe he should turn the water to cold.

He smirked, and Wendy narrowed her gaze at him. “I don’t like that look, Nic. Stop it. Whatever you’re thinking… just, no.”

“Your bath awaits,” he drawled, and stepped back toward the door. “And when you get done, I will have the cheese.”

Wendy eyed him, a suspicious gleam in her gaze as she lowered herself from the countertop and moved backwards, blanket dragging along the floor. Perfect.