Chapter 35 Summer
SUMMER
Lucien drove with his hand on my thigh. I don’t think he did it on purpose. He was very focused on the road as we headed to Boston for his work gala. Safety first and all that.
And it was just…there.
I didn’t say anything because I was a masochist.
His grip tightened when my stomach rumbled loudly. “You’re hungry?”
“A little,” I admitted sheepishly. “It was really busy at the patisserie and I didn’t have time to sit down to eat.”
A soft tsk left him. His turn signal flicked on at the next exit, and before I knew it, he was pulling off the highway.
“Where are you going?”
Lucien’s eyebrow raised. “To feed you. Obviously.”
“Will we be late?”
He didn’t dignify that with a response. I was about to insist I would be fine until dinner but then golden arches came into view. “Maybe a little snack,” I said brightly.
“Hmm.” I could tell he was annoyed that I hadn’t said anything sooner.
Lucien didn’t even flinch when I asked him to order me fries and a soft serve to dip them in. I hadn’t eaten the combination since I was a kid, and that nostalgic sweet-and-salty combination was exactly what I was craving right now.
“This was a bad idea.” I popped a fry into my mouth as Lucien pulled back onto the highway. “I’m supposed to fit into a corset dress.”
“If your dress is uncomfortable, we will stay in the hotel room, order room service, and find something else to do,” he said matter-of-factly.
This alpha . For someone who never wanted an omega, he certainly knew exactly how to care for one.
“You really know a way to a girl’s heart,” I said softly.
“Holy shit.”
Lucien stopped in his tracks when he caught sight of my reflection, his tie slipping through his fingers. He was gorgeous, too, his hair neatly styled and shoulders filling out his tailored suit. I played it cool, taking my time fastening on my earrings even as he strode up behind me.
I did lean forward while I did so. Lucy had spent a lot of time making sure my butt looked fantastic in this dress and I needed to properly show off her handiwork.
She had given a simple black evening dress some extra structure to cinch me in at the waist and push my boobs into stratospheric proportions. Tastefully, of course.
“Good enough for your gala?” I turned slowly to give him a proper look.
“Good enough for me to keep you here all to myself,” he growled, stopping me mid-twirl to yank me against him.
Acceptance really was freeing. Now I didn’t need to analyze every little thing he said for some sort of hidden meaning. I could just giggle and remind Lucien we would be late if his hands went searching for treasure underneath my dress’s thigh slit.
It was tempting, though. Lucien had booked us a luxurious hotel suite, and it would be a waste to not end up bent over at least one piece of fancy furniture.
Soft lips pressed along the nape of my neck. “I’ve never seen you with your hair up like this,” Lucien murmured between kisses.
“I put my hair up all the time.” It was in an elegant low bun with a curled tendril framing my face.
“Ponytails, yes,” he conceded. His hand splayed even more possessively across my waist. “This is different. I’m not usually able to do this.”
Lucien marked me with his cheek along my neck and shoulder, leaving his lush, verdant scent on my skin.
For a brief moment, I imagined how it would feel if he bit down. Marked me properly. Claimed me.
Nope, that’s not happening. Get it out of your head, Summer.
Stratton Capital had taken over the hotel’s grand ballroom. Floral arrangements everywhere, crystal chandeliers dripping from the ceilings, and a string quartet to welcome us in. It looked like they had spared no expense and I told Lucien so.
“No, they’ve definitely spared some expense,” Lucien said frankly. “This is just for their employees. The client Christmas party is where they actually put real money to properly schmooze everyone.”
“Jesus, where do they hold that one? The moon?”
“Not too loud, you’ll give them ideas and have me sitting in budget meetings for months.
” Lucien groaned. “But don’t feel bad, there’s an open bar and no clients to be on their best behavior around.
Everyone will take full advantage, as they should, but I’m going to have to…
mingle.” He shuddered and held me flush against him.
“Thank god you’re here. If I need to hide with you behind one of these curtains you’ll know why. ”
Knowing he saw me as a safe haven from the ensuing chaos was heartwarming and bittersweet. Aaand we’re going to detour around that feeling. Back to lighthearted fun . “You want to hide behind curtains? Is it for a sexy reason?” I asked archly.
His thumb was dangerously close to my breast. “You’re making it very difficult to find reasons not to turn around and go back upstairs,” he warned me.
It was probably for the best that one of his colleagues came over to greet him. A cockblock, sure, but a necessary one.
“Lucien! You’re alive.” They exchanged a firm handshake. “How the hell are you?”
“What do you mean I’m alive?” Lucien’s mouth pursed in a very specific way—distaste and vexation all in one—and his colleague was oblivious. “You thought my emails were sent by a dead man?”
“I dunno. Maybe you hooked your inbox up to ChatGPT.”
Oof. I was surprised this man’s eyebrows weren’t singed off by Lucien’s glare.
“Chris, this is Summer, my date.” His gritted reluctance over having both of our names occupy his mouth in the same sentence was actually quite funny.
“Summer, this is Chris. He’s the business partner in charge of legal. ”
Chris whistled. “Nabbed yourself a pretty one, haven’t you?”
Before Lucien could retort, I cut in. “I sure did. And Lucien is so flattered you think he’s pretty,” I said, saccharine-sweet.
It took Chris a moment (okay, several) to understand. He roared with laughter and waggled a finger at me. “She’s sharp.”
The novelty of being referred to in third person right in front of me was rapidly wearing off. Lucien excused us and worked on putting the maximum distance between us and his bulbous toad of a business partner.
“Are all your colleagues as wonderful as Chris?”
“I will never let him speak to you again.”
Luckily Chris’s sliminess was an outlier. We found Lucien’s team and they were friendly, welcoming, and a smidge giddy over my presence.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Summer!” Angelina was a senior associate and already one champagne down. “Oh my gosh, I love your flower earrings.”
“Thanks! I picked them up at my town’s Christmas Eve Eve festival last year.”
“This is very exciting.” Lucien’s executive assistant Dani said as she sidled up next to me. “ You are the first evidence that Lucien has a life outside of Stratton Capital.”
Angelina nodded furiously. “Yes! Before his sabbatical, we thought he might sleep upright in his office cupboard.”
“Feed himself using the life force of difficult clients.”
“This seems like as good a time as any to go to the bar,” Lucien said grumpily, already starting to whisk me away.
Dani gave my arm a friendly tap. “Summer, come find us later if he’s caught up talking to someone boring!”
“I will! But um…should I be worried that he hisses when I cook with garlic?” I threw over my shoulder nervously.
The girls tittered and Lucien pretended he didn’t like that his team had taken me under his wing.
His light-hearted friendship with them outside of work was clearly a reflection of the kind of manager he was and the respect they had for him.
During the presentations over dinner, Lucien handed out awards to the top performers.
His speeches were sincere and tailored to each individual.
He was invaluable here. So many people relied on and looked up to him. This was where he thrived. Where he belonged.
I downed the rest of my wine after that realization. Hot, competent, well-loved, and had-no-future-with. Everything you could want in a guy. In fact, somehow I had managed to find three guys with the exact same checklist. I ought to buy a lottery ticket.
Ugh, I was not about to make tonight about me. I pushed away my empty glass and poured myself some water. No descending into a pit of depression. No letting down Lucien. I was here for him, and I wanted to be a good date. It was the least I could do for him.
The last thing I could do for him.
All right, Summer, rein in your maudlin thoughts before you wind up drunk-requesting the Titanic sinking playlist from the string quartet.
Once the presentations were wrapped up, Lucien was deep in conversation with his boss near the stage. I excused myself from the table to head to the bathroom.
And was promptly intercepted by Chris.
The immediate, rancid wash of beer and bad breath had me fighting back my gag reflex. I pressed my lips together tightly and tried to sidestep him.
“Bet you loved seeing him up there. Everyone loved it, didn’t they? Big man Lucien,” Chris rambled condescendingly. “You know he reduced my role during the restructures, right? Asshole.”
Couldn’t imagine why Lucien would lessen his proximity to other humans.
“And now he’s here with you.” He leered. All the way down my body. I needed to shower and scrub the oily sensation off my skin. “How long has Lucien been courting you? He’s never mentioned anything about it.”
Talk about salt in the wound. I didn’t need the reminder that Lucien wasn’t courting me and would never court me.
“He’s not,” I said shortly, hoping that would end the conversation.
“You’re kidding me. An omega like you…” He eyed my bare neck like a prime rib. “I would have you bonded and knocked up at your first heat.”
What a knot-brained fuckwit.
My retort was loaded and ready to fire off when Lucien appeared in an incandescent rage.
“Do. Not. Fucking. Speak. To. Summer. Ever. Again.” Lucien’s dominance galvanized every word, and I was one well-timed alpha growl away from needing to change my panties.
Chris held up his hands in surrender. “Hey, man. I didn’t mean…you know how it is, alpha to alpha, right?”
“Go home before you embarrass yourself further.” Lucien’s voice dropped, low and chilling. “Then on Monday, you can convince me to let you keep your job.”
Oh, I definitely wanted to be alone behind a curtain with Lucien right now.
“I had it under control,” I assured him, even as he led me to the quiet foyer right outside the ballroom.
“Well, I didn’t,” he said tightly. “I’m sorry, Summer. I looked away for one second and—”
I clasped his cheek. “It’s not your fault.”
His eyes were electric. Bluer than I’d ever seen them. My world tilted, the sky at my feet. Lucien frowned at my anxious swirl of perfume as he anchored me with his arm around my waist.
“Summer, what’s wrong? Your scent…it’s…”
He dove in, determined and intense. Breathing me in as well as scent-marking me. Guess my scent must’ve given away my inner turmoil. Stupid pheromones. And stupid, hot, persistent alpha who was purpose-built to soothe me.
“I’m all right,” I lied, hoping it would be enough.
“Are you sure?” Lucien scent-marked me again.
God, he was using his tongue now. Little heated licks.
On my wrist. Along my neckline. He was beginning to meld with me.
Resin and citrus oils taking over. I blinked and for a moment saw the boughs of overhead trees.
Pinpricks of light peeking through the fruit-laden branches and an offered lemon in a familiar palm.
I had never ever had an alpha scent hit me this hard before.
“I probably need some more food. That’s usually the answer to most things with me.” I forced out a chuckle. Was I speaking clearly? My brain was sludgy and hot.
Lucien sat down on one of the rich velvet armchairs and pulled me onto his lap. He flagged down a waiter, and a few minutes later, a plate with the next course materialized in front of me. Lucien watched me like a hawk until I’d eaten every grain of risotto.
My stomach seized as soon as I was done. I tried my best to hide it. Lucien had already spent enough time away from the party on my account.
“You should head back in,” I encouraged him brightly. “I have to use the bathroom first.”
Another cramp hit when I was in the stall. The overhead lighting was too harsh. Strange shadows and the wrong color. I nearly vomited when the air freshener emitted a cloud of artificial berries with a mechanical hiss. Wrong, all wrong. I wanted citrus and basil and the sea.
The boning of my dress jabbed like dull knives as I bent over the basin. I ran a paper towel under cold water and placed it on the back of my neck. A flushed, glassy-eyed stranger stared back at me in the mirror and doubled in my smeared vision.
Shit.
The briefest spark of clarity finally cut through the haze.
You’re going into heat.
How could this happen? I’d been diligent with my suppressant use ever since I started sleeping with the guys. I was so proud of myself, too. I used to follow the dosage instructions like they were a suggestion.
But I did just get a mega-hit of alpha scent pheromones, thanks to Lucien’s possessiveness. Was that really all it could take? I guess any hormonal medication was prone to being thrown out of whack if something changed.
Like frequent exposure to three extremely compatible scents.
They could be your scent matches.
I was terrified by the thought. The implication. If they were who I was meant to be with, then I was only a few weeks away from losing them all.
Get through this heat first.
Don’t do anything drastic when you’re moments away from slipping into oblivion.
Lucien hadn’t listened to me at all and was waiting for me outside the bathroom.
“There you are.” Relief quickly turned to alarm as his face paled. “You’re in heat.”
“Not right in it, yet,” I gritted out. “But soon.” A booming bass shook the floor, and a loud cheer went up in the ballroom. “My timing’s great, isn’t it? Right as the party is getting started.”
“I don’t fucking care about that.” Lucien tucked a sweaty curl of hair behind my ear, taking in my rapidly declining appearance. “I care that I can’t get you to your nest in time.”
I was scared. It had been years since I had a heat. And now I was in an unfamiliar city, miles from my nest, staying in a room with none of the things that made me feel safe.
I shivered, hot and cold all at once. “What am I supposed to do?” I asked in a small voice.
Lucien immediately removed his jacket and laid it over my shoulders, blanketing me in his scent. Bliss . The silk lining was heaven on my heated skin.
“You’re mine to take care of, Summer.”
Did I hear him correctly? There was so much fuzz across my senses.
Lucien picked me up like I weighed nothing. I let my head fall against his shoulder, having no choice but to trust the alpha who would eventually leave me behind.