Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
ALFIE
She had sad eyes.
I hated it. Hated that the world had somehow let her down so much that her eyes looked sorrowful and unsure. I'd fix it. I'd make it my mission to make her happy, even when Luka seemed so dead set on removing her joy.
I placed her bag in the hallway and turned. "How about you explore tomorrow? Tonight, let's feed you and show you to your room. Do you like grilled cheese? I make a mean grilled cheese sandwich. It's not much, but it is late and it's quick."
She nodded her head, agreeing. Felix ushered her forward, using his hand to guide her in the direction of the kitchen, while Luka disappeared. Not the welcoming alpha he should be, but I hoped that she grew on him. How could she not? She was a stunner. Not the typical omega, but gorgeous just the same. And the glasses, well... that did something to me.
"Sit," I ordered when we entered. I pulled out a barstool and waited for her to take a seat, then I made my way to the kitchen to collect the things I needed. With a stack of ingredients pulled out of the fridge, I looked over the bar at her, her eyes wide as she took in the large kitchen. "Do you cook?"
A nod. "Only what they've taught us."
Felix busied himself taking out a cutting board and some fruit, then sat next to her, chopping the fruit into the bowl, silently listening to our conversation. His shoulders nearly touched hers, his body taking up so much space next to her small frame.
"I love to cook," I admitted. "Any time you want to cook together, let me know. Felix here is a master chopper and, well, Luka... eats."
"W-what do you like to do, Felix?" His name coming from her lips caused one of his dimples to surface as he concentrated on cutting up strawberries.
"In truth, we don't have much time on our hands. We own and run a security company. When we aren't working, we have social events and such to attend. But, if I do have some spare time, I like to woodwork. I've a shop out back. And read. I rarely go to bed without fitting in a little reading."
"I like to read, too." She smiled shyly as he placed a slice of strawberry in front of her.
"What books do you read?" he questioned. "Alfie and I have a pretty good library going; you're welcome to it at any time."
"I- We were only allowed to read books on how to build a home for our alpha and his unit. But… I read them often." Her eyes were focused on the countertop, and I hated that she did that. Despised that this organization had made her think that her thoughts and actions didn't matter. That she wasn't enough. That she was flawed.
I tossed a slice of butter into the pan. "Well, we don't have those here. But we've got any genre of fiction you could imagine. Thrillers, mystery, romance. Anything you'd find there." I glanced at her for a moment, seeing the shock on her face. "What? Don't let that moose next to you fool you. He's a softy at heart and loves himself a good romance book."
Felix's chest shook with silent laughter before he admitted, "It's true."
The silence took over the room, but it was comfortable. After I placed the first two sandwiches on the griddle, I turned my attention back to our omega. "So you like to swim?"
"Yes." She bit her lip as she watched me.
"We'll get you a swimsuit tomorrow then." I had to breathe deep to get through the image of her thick little thighs on display. I wondered what her curves would look like in a bikini. "What size do you wear? I'll have some delivered to try first thing."
She bit her lip to stop the quiver. Why the hell was it quivering now? What had I done? I thought she would be happy to have a swimsuit so that she may enjoy the pool.
"If you don't know, we could have someone come take measurements," I offered, wondering if maybe that was the problem.
Her head shook from side to side. "No."
"No what?" Felix asked.
"I know my size."
"Then what's the problem, love?" Felix had stopped chopping to watch me. When she didn't answer, only looked like she was seconds away from bursting into tears, he assured her, "You can tell us."
"It's just…"
Damn, I hated seeing her this distraught. "Just tell us darling. You're working yourself up over nothing."
A tear fell from her eyes as she spoke. "Eighteen."
"Perfect," Felix responded. "Just how I like my women."
Her brows furrowed. "You do?"
"We do," I confirmed.
"But the organization—" she began, and I cut her off, slamming both my palms onto the bar in front of her as I leaned in to speak, looking into her beautiful eyes.
"The agency forces women into boxes they don't need to be in. I'd prefer my omega to be authentic, not the same as every other omega I've seen." I'd never make her feel like less than because she wasn't what we were promised. Fuck Luka for making her question that. "Now eat up so we can show you to your nest."
"My nest?" she asked as I placed a sandwich in front of her.
"We thought maybe you'd want your own space."
"Why?" She blinked a few times, confused. Those big blue eyes were magnified by those glasses that were perched on her button nose.
"To feel more comfortable. Though you're welcome into our space, if you wish," I offered because I'd give anything to have her in our bed, sleeping with her bare skin next to mine. Though I'd settle for having her in a room close to ours.
"And… and you…" She seemed so confused. "Sleep together?"
"It's easier to sleep when our unit is together," I offered. "Your nest is off of our room, so connected still. And we share a common bathroom and closet area."
She concentrated on her sandwich. "I see."
I watched her take a bite, her chewing slow. My eyes were fixated on the way her mouth worked, and I shifted uncomfortably. Fuck, she really was going to become an obsession. I'd heard about it. Heard about the effect an omega had on their unit. That once an omega entered the fold, they were never the same again. I just – well, I never believed it until this moment.
I tried not to be a creep as she ate, letting her enjoy her late-night meal while Felix kept pushing strawberries and melon onto her plate when she wasn't looking. We'd never let our omega go unsatisfied; that was a promise I made myself. Not after she had spent so much of her life in that building, being filtered inaccurate, outdated information about what we wanted. No, I knew what we wanted. And it was her.