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She and Reggie were the public people. I was the office person. Sure, I hosted fundraisers in designer gowns and spoke at the podium. But on a normal day, I was in jeans, running around making sure the studio was supplied and our young artists had what they needed. My job only sounded glamorous. Most of the time, it wasn’t. Which suited me just fine.
Today was not a normal day. I was going to the pack’s house straight from work, and I was wearing what I thought of as “gallery owner chic.” A pretty patterned wrap dress with splashes of violet and aqua, and heels. My long hair was up in a loose chignon.
I was worried it was too much for a night on the couch watching TV, but this felt like a date. Wearing jeans seemed too casual. But I had a pair in my duffel bag, along with a blouse, in case I changed my mind.
Over the past few days, I’d debated whether I should go at all. Luke didn’t seem into me, and a pack usually had to be of one mind about a potential omega. But there had been enough moments at the café when I’d laughed and relaxed in their company that I thought it was worth another try.
Seeing William after all these years, his earnest interest in me, the way Jonah responded to me, and Toby’s attention… There was something there, and it would be foolish to deny it.
“Just felt like dressing up. I’m not expecting anyone.”
I really wasn’t expecting Jonah to walk into the gallery at noon.
The door chimed just as I was leaving my office to go to lunch, and I looked up to see him come in. He was wearing sunglasses. As he stepped inside, he collapsed a white cane with a red tip that he’d been using, folding it until he could put it in the back pocket of his jeans. His nostrils flared, and he walked straight toward me.
I stood still and watched him. His casual dominance as he moved, the confidence of his steps. The singular focus he had—on me. It was enough to make me flush. And experience other physical effects. My nipples hardened so that I had to hope the pattern of the dress hid the points that were surely visible through the fabric. Wetness gathered between my legs.
Usually, I didn’t have to worry about that very embarrassing feature of being an omega, the highly noticeable perfuming when aroused. I perfumed during my heats, and I thought I’d noticed something during my night with the alpha. But otherwise, I could get as horny as I wanted, and no one was the wiser.
Oh god, not “the alpha.” William.Will. It was still hard to believe it was him, that I was going to his house later. In my mind, he had become something of a myth.
Jonah stopped a hair’s breadth in front of me. A quiet groan came from his chest as he bent to whisper in my ear.
“If you keep smelling like sex and dessert, I’m not going to be able to make it to tonight.”
I wasn’t sure if he was serious, and then he leaned back and lifted up his sunglasses. His eyes contained so much heat they made my knees weak. It was easy to get lost in his gaze.
He was so beautiful. Perfect. With his spicy scent surrounding me, it was impossible to do anything about my own perfume. Judging by how he was looking at me, he was definitely picking it up. He knew exactly what he was doing to me.
Allison broke the spell. “Everything okay back here?”
She was standing behind Jonah, and when I looked past his shoulder in her direction, I saw that her eyebrows were up to her hairline. It pissed me off, but I understood. Even though I was attractive, most betas would never get this kind of attention from an alpha. It was doubtful she could detect my perfume, but his scent was filling the gallery.
If she knew I was an omega, it would all make sense to her, and she wouldn’t be shocked. Because she would expect that biology would be dragging him toward me by his cock.
I suppressed a frown. Had that been what I thought I wanted? Now I was second-guessing everything. Jonah didn’t know me. How could he be this into me so fast? Suddenly, being an omega with a scent felt like the real curse.
He spoke over his shoulder without taking his eyes off me.
“Everything’s fine; I’m taking Sylvie to lunch. But she needs to show me something in her office first.”
His hand came to my elbow, and I let him steer me back through my office door. He closed it behind us and turned the lock.
“What happened out there? You were smelling delicious, and then your scent soured.” His voice was gentle, concerned.
“I’m not used to someone being able to scent me.” And all the implications of that.
“You’re embarrassed? Or are you worried that’s the only reason I noticed you?”
Fuck, he was empathetic as well as scorching hot. I let out a breath and answered honestly.
“Both.”
He nodded like he totally understood. And it was crazy, but I felt like he did.
“First of all, please don’t feel embarrassed about perfuming for me. It makes me feel like a goddamn king. You’re telling me you want me without words, and it’s so fucking sexy.”
I was leaning against my desk. Jonah closed the gap between us, putting his hands down on the wood surface on either side of my hips, not quite touching me. It was all I could do not to push forward into him, but I wanted to hear what he had to say.
