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“Come on,” he says, making sure I’m stable before rushing behind the desk to collect his things. He gestures to the door. “We have to leave. Can you walk?”
Part of me wants to say no so he’ll sweep me into his arms and carry me to the car, but the larger, more stubborn part nods. Of course I can walk to his car–I’m not completely helpless. it just might be difficult the longer we wait.
For a split second it looks like he wants to argue, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he flings the office door open and we turn left down the hall, walking as quickly as the pangs of pain in my stomach will allow.
We head toward the back of the building, ignoring the crowd of people I can hear still lingering in the restaurant, and a few seconds later we’re out the back door. We cross a short parking lot to his black camaro that’s parked near the sidewalk.
Alessandro opens the passenger door, and I crawl into a ball in the front seat, my knees drawn up to my chest for the comfort it brings. as well as the slight pain relief the position provides.
“Hold on, babydoll,” he says, his voice growly as he starts the engine. “We’ll be home in no time. Just a few minutes.”
I nod and squeeze my eyes closed tightly as he whips out of the parking lot and we fly down the road. The ache in my abdomen intensifies as the seconds tick by, and I can feel slick pouring between my thighs, soaking through my panties. I’ll probably be swimming in a pool of slick by the time we get to his house.
A groan escapes my lips as we ride in silence, the heat and the steady ache in my middle making the edges of my thoughts hazy, and a familiar sweetness hits my nose.
Oh no.
I take another breath, deeper this time, and I can make out the fruity, beachy pineapple and coconut of my perfume.
“Goddamn it.”
Not only is the heat blocker failing, the scent blocker isn’t working either.
“What is it?” Alessandro asks, but a sharp inhale tells me he’s scented me too. A growl rumbles in his chest, and I can only imagine the look on his face as he tries to keep his eyes on the road. “Oh shit. You smell delicious.”
A strangled chuckle escapes at the compliment. “Thanks. I take it I’m not your scent match though.”
An uncomfortable beat of silence follows.
“No,” he says gently. “But I’m glad you’re not.”
I pry my eyes open to find we’re already rolling past the downtown city limit. It won’t be long now until we’re pulling into Alessandro’s driveway and I’m racing upstairs to throw a nest together.
Just the thought alone of finally being able to nest, of drawing all Alessandro’s blankets and pillows up around me, burying myself in them, has a whine balancing on my tongue, eager to escape.
“Why are you glad?” I glance over in his direction, a single brow arched.
The corner of his mouth lifts into a smirk. “Because you know I would do anything for you, go to any lengths for you, regardless of a bond or match. I choose you because I need you, not because an instinct tells me I have to, and to me that’s much more valuable. Don’t you agree?”
My heart skips a painful beat, and I stare at him in silence, mouth hanging open.
Yes, I do know, because I feel the exact same way about him.
Fabled scent matches might be coveted and rare, but what if I scent match with someone I don’t actually like? Is that even possible?
What Alessandro says makes so much sense and tugs at just the right heartstrings that the corners of my eyes prickle, and I’m not sure why. I’m not sad. I’m not even in a lot of pain, just uncomfortable.
Could I really be on the verge of tears fromhappiness? That would definitely be a first.
My chest lurches a second time and I turn to look out the window, more desperate than ever to get to his place.
“Yeah,” I finally say, clearing my throat to keep my voice from breaking. “I do.”
thirty-six
JESSA
My mind is hazy when we arrive at Alessandro's house, and I carefully make my way to the front door, feeling drunk. My vision swims, and I’m vaguely aware of Alessandro on my heels.
