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One glance at her parted lips wipes all thoughts of doing the right thing out of my mind. I can’t do it. I can’t give her up. I’ll keep testing these boundaries until one of us crosses them. And when that happens, there won’t be any going back.
Chapter 24
Verity
The taste of his name drips off my tongue, sweeter than honey. And the way his eyes light up when I say it… I want more of it. Something shifts between us, though I’m not sure what it is. The air sizzles around us as if electrified. It lifts the fine hairs on my arms, causing goosebumps to ripple as they continue to my legs.
Before I even think of doing it, I’m taking a step toward him like I’m a flower, and he’s the sun peaking through the clouds after a week of rain. Something deep inside me, a part I have no control over, craves his attention.
As if he’s controlled by the same desires, he takes a step closer. “Again,” he whispers, a hesitation to the word showing how much he knows he shouldn’t ask, but does it anyway.
Calling him by his first name feels intimate. It’s the forbidden fruit I can’t help but want…
“Emmett,” I repeat, a slight needy whine infusing itself into the word. It feels taboo to show him how much he affects me, how much I want him when he’s my doctor, and I’m here to find my pack. But I can’t help it. Not when I’ve seen him fight the pull just as much.
“Fuck,” he breathes. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, and he studies my face, committing it to memory for the millionth time before focusing on my lips. He stares at them like he wants a taste. His thumb runs across my bottom lip, dragging it down until it pops open. “One more time, Little Omega. Please.”
I can’t help myself. The temptation is simply too much, the fruit dangling in front of my face. The thought of whether he might taste like his dark chocolate pheromones is running on repeat until I can’t hold back any longer. I have to know for sure. My tongue darts out, licking the tip of his finger. Emmett sucks in a sharp breath, and before I can take his thumb into my mouth, he yanks his hand back like I burned him.
He turns his back to me and covers his face with his hands. “Don’t cross the line, too damn close,” he mutters under his breath. At least that’s what I think he says, it’s a bit muffled. He strides for the door, not turning around as he says, “You’re good. Enjoy your group date today, Miss Graves.” His voice is a harsh, tortured rasp, and I hate it. I feel like I did something wrong, but how could I when everything screams at me that he’s supposed to be mine?
“Wait!” I call, and he pauses with his hand on the doorknob. “You didn’t even check my heat levels.”
His shoulders rise and fall as he takes a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. “I can’t, Verity. You’re too much of a temptation for me. It needs to stop before we cross a line we can’t come back from and if I stay here, I’ll end up caving into my desires.” His knuckles are suddenly white as he grips the doorknob tighter. “Your levels have held steady since you got here. You’ll be fine today, I promise.”
“Emmett.” I choke on his name, pain threatening to rip me apart. “Please, don’t walk away from me right now. This isn’t wrong. It can’t be.”
“But it is, Little Omega. In another world, you could’ve been mine. Just not in this one.”
Chapter 25
Verity
Being an omega certainly seems to have perks, if you can call them that. Instead of getting to make the trek down to the lake on my own like the alphas, I’m being chauffeured. I’d much rather have the time to explore, but the idea of an omega getting a speck of dirt on her is almost inconceivable. I guess my first little stunt really left a lasting impression.
The golf cart driver hits a pothole that sends me flying to the side. A squeak tumbles from my lips as my arm snaps out, trying to find something to hold onto so I don’t go careening off the side, but luckily, Ry is a step ahead of me and wraps me in his strong arms to keep me steady.
The beta driving curses under his breath when the golf cart levels out. “Sorry! This path is a little more washed out than I expected. I’d recommend holding onto something because that probably won’t be the worst one we run into.”
Perfect. Maybe I should’ve insisted on walking anyway, despite the protests. If there didn’t seem to be eyes on me twenty-four seven when I’m not in my room or getting ready, I could’ve snuck down there and no one would’ve been the wiser. But, such is not the way for an omega in the limelight.
“Don’t worry, Ver Bear. I’ve got you,” Ry murmurs in my ear. His warmth seeps into me more than the light of day, and it hits me how close we are. Hell, I’m practically in his lap. Good thing Mark had a technical issue he needed to deal with this morning or else I’m certain the compromising position would be all over the next episode.
“Thanks, Ry. I thought for sure I’d be greeting the ground with my face.”
His hold around me tightens. “Not on my watch, you won’t.”
The path levels out again and Ry lets me go. I do my best to straighten my hair, but it’s no use. Good news is, the messy look will work on the date planned today since it’s outside. Rosey went simple with my outfit, putting me in a summery off-the-shoulder top and a cute pair of jean shorts. The simple bikini underneath matches my top and is perfect for the theme of the day.
Watersports.
This is the first time I’ll actually see the alphas competing against each other, so it’ll be interesting to find out who’s a good sport and who will be a sore loser. Everything about this show is a test. By participating in today’s events, we’ll learn things like, who can be the best alpha? Who’s good at leading the pack? Who’s the best supporter? Are they a team player? Which alphas have chemistry?
I hope the Heat Fiends take note of the same things I do.
“I can see the gears turning in your head. What are you thinking?” Ry asks as the driver hits another hole, but this one is small compared to the first. Annoying all the same, but Ry keeps me from jerking around too much.
“How hot the guys will be shirtless,” I quip, waving a hand in front of my face. He rolls his eyes and shakes his head, but his chest rumbles with a laugh, anyway. Teasing Ry is too much fun to resist. Especially when he woke me up this morning with his head between my thighs and didn’t let me come until I told him every detail about my date with Kyle. So yeah, he deserves to be ribbed a little.
