19. Hannah
Hannah
M y jaw drops as I pull up to the literal mansion that Noah sent me the address of. This is…insane. How well does Titus pay his employees if he can afford to live in a place like this? Is he by himself? If he's not…does he have a bunch of roommates?
My brows furrow as I pull the car into the damn circular driveway .
This is…weird. It's a similar style to the De Lucca's Spanish hacienda-style home…
but bigger. I can hear music coming from inside the house, a country song pulls on the strings of my memories.
Did…did my dad listen to this? I hate to stereotype, but this does not seem like the kind of music Noah would listen to.
Maybe metal or alternative, definitely not country.
The music cuts off after I ring the doorbell. A few seconds later, the front door is opening and I'm met with…
"Austin?" I choke out, my eyes nearly bugging out of my head at the sight of the burly alpha, wearing gray sweatpants, no shirt, and a damn apron that reads "Real Alphas Bake Cookies."
Austin bakes ? Why the hell is a man who knows his way around a kitchen so hot? His lemon-mint scent, that I now realize has an undercurrent to earthy-ness to it, like a tall glass of iced tea, envelops me and my breath stutters for a moment, some of the pain from my head fading.
Shit. This really is the answer. Most of the time, I love being an omega. This, though? I hate this. I hate needing an alpha that doesn't want me.
"I—Hannah?" There are thin, honey-brown rings around his blown pupils, and his pale, freckled face is quickly turning bright red.
Embarrassment radiates off him in waves, evidenced by the slight tent in his apron.
He's embarrassed that he's attracted to me?
What the fuck? I know I'm not like, an LA ten, but I'm a solid Starbrook seven, if not eight.
He doesn't want me? Fine. "Noah sent me this address," I say stiffly, not meeting his eyes.
Austin clears his throat, scrambling to take off his apron, then seemingly realizes he's not wearing a shirt, revealing his very freckled torso, and ends up holding the apron over his chest like I'm some kind of lecherous skeev preying on his innocence.
Before I can tell him to stop freaking out and I promise I won't look at him, Noah appears, a shit eating grin on his face.
"Princess!" He gathers me into a hug that I melt into, his cinnamon and clove surrounding me like an embrace.
I relax immediately, and realize I'm no longer dizzy, and my head feels great.
I can't stop the scowl that forms on my features though as Noah gives me a guilty smile. "Why don't you go hang out in the living room? I'll be right there. It's just down the hall."
Nodding, I turn my back and disappear around the corner right in time to hear Austin hiss, "You didn't think to tell me she was coming?"
Despite already knowing mine and Austin's connection is only scent-deep, hurt still blooms in my chest at his words.
He doesn't even know me, and he's upset I'm in his home.
I don't hear Noah's response, since I'm hurrying down the hall to the living room.
As I go, I catch hints of Enzo's leather and tobacco, and something else too, but it's so faint I can't pick it out.
Their scents haven't permeated the house yet, and that tells me they haven't been here that long.
My steps falter as I step into the living room. For a minute, I really consider running. I've got my hit of their scent. Maybe one of their throw pillows smells like them and I can steal it, take it back to my nest, and pretend like none of this ever happened.
Ha.
"You okay?" Noah's voice sounds right next to my ear and I jump, grasping my chest as I whirl around to face him. I ignore the way his little smirk makes my knees weak. Then his lips dip into a frown. "I hate that I can't scent you."
"Just came from work." I shrug, looking down and kicking my foot at the carpet. How do I tell him? How do I explain that I'm so broken my omega is latching onto him and the rest of my scent matches so hard I'll get sick without their scents?
"Hey," his hand gently grasps my neck, his thumb tilting my head up so I look at him, "don't do that."
"Don't do what?" I try to blink the tears from my eyes, wondering if there's something seriously wrong with me because Noah's hand on my neck…it should scare me. It should feel threatening. But all I feel is grounded.
Safe.
"Don't hide from me, princess," he says gently, his thumb now gently rubbing my pulse point.
But then a pained look crosses his face, and his brow furrows.
"Shit, I'm sorry, but I can't take this.
" His words pierce through my heart, and I expect him to release me.
To step away and put as much distance between us as possible.
Before I can react to that though, he's talking again.
"I can't stand seeing you upset. Can…can I kiss you? "
Oh.
He hates that my omega is in distress, and he wants to fix it. He isn't disgusted by me, or put off by my whininess. He can tell that I'm upset, even if my scent is covered up.
Noah Jameson is just full of surprises.
Wordlessly, I nod, and he sighs in relief. "Thank fuck."
The next moment, his lips are on mine, a gentle, yet possessive kiss that communicates all of his feelings. His hand stays loosely on my neck, a soft claiming.
There's no grinding or groping this time, just a man and a woman connecting on a most primal level. And his intent is crystal clear.
He's mine.
And I'm his.
All too soon, he pulls away, punctuating our silent proclamation with a little nip to my lip, making me gasp into his mouth. A feral grin lights up his face, and his hand is still braced on my neck. "Now, do you want to tell me what has you upset?"
Emboldened by his affection, the words come out easier than I had thought they would. "You didn't tell me you lived with Austin."
"I've always lived with Austin," he says easily, moving his hand from my neck and wrapping his arms around me.
His t-shirt is soft against my cheek and I find myself nuzzling into it.
"First, when his parents took me in as a foster kid, then, when he moved out here with me so I could go to Cal-Tech. "
"You've lived here this whole time?" I pull back, arching a brow at him. "Are you also some kind of tech mogul on the side when you're not doing Titus' dirty work?"
"Ah, yeah, not exactly." Noah looks suddenly sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. "We just moved in with the rest of the pack this last weekend."
"Well you might've told me I was coming to pack house when I asked if I could come over!" I'm seething. I signed up for Noah. Singular alpha. Not a whole-ass mansion where the rest of my scent-matches reside.
"Baby, you obviously wanted to come over for a reason, and I knew if I told you, you wouldn't come.
" The smug ass doesn't even look repentant about the whole thing, just infuriatingly satisfied.
I can't even bring myself to be mad though, because every moment I'm in this house, saturated in their scents, my head feels clearer.
In fact, I feel better than I have in months.
"Hey guys? Um, Hannah?" I look around Noah to see Austin standing in the entryway, a nervous expression on his face. He threw a t-shirt on, and his apron that reads "Real Alphas Bake Cookies", is nowhere to be seen.
"Yes?" Damn, my voice sounds so much breathier than I meant for it to.
His Southern accent is thick like honey, smoothing over my skin. "I just…I just finished some pumpkin muffins, if you…if you want."
He baked…muffins? And he's offering me some? This guy is giving me whiplash. First, he insists on driving me home, then he leaves me at my front door like his ass is on fire, then he acts scandalized that I saw him shirtless, and now he's offering me muffins?
Maybe he's just as confused as I am.
"Not cookies?" The teasing comment is out of my mouth with a smile faster than I can think better of it, and Noah chokes on a snort.
I half expect Austin to get embarrassed or to blush again, but instead a little grin quirks at the corner of his lips. "Darlin', if cookies are what makes you smile like that, I'll bake as many as you want."
It's my turn to flush pink this time, Austin's flirty response taking me by surprise. "Let's um…" an awkward laugh leaves me. Shit, I am bad at this. "Let's try the muffins first, shall we?"
Noah chuckles and heads to the kitchen, and I swear I hear him say something like, "So fucking cute".
Austin and I give each other tentative smiles and he accompanies me to the kitchen.
Noah seems to be attempting to give us some space to get to know each other, but neither one of us really know what to do with it, and the space is filled with awkward, empty silence.
Are my instincts roaring at me to climb him like a damn tree?
Absolutely. But, I'm trying to have some dignity and save the alpha-climbing for one that I'm sure absolutely does want me to.
Luckily, the kitchen is relatively close to the living room, and I'm greeted with the mouthwatering smell of pumpkin, along with something a little more sweet.
" Fuck, pumpkin cream cheese muffins?" Noah groans around a mouthful of food, causing me to giggle. The kitchen is all stainless steel appliances, and I don't know a lot about cooking, but this looks pretty state-of-the-art. How did they afford all of this?
"Ya call yourself a gentleman, Noah?" Austin chastises, coming around the counter where he has a plate of pumpkin muffins with cream cheese filling in the middle. "Ladies first, brother. 'Specially when it's our omega."
"I never called myself a gentleman." Noah shoots me a wink over Austin's shoulder, causing me to bite my lip. "But you're right, next time I'll wait for our omega." His enunciation is for my benefit I'm sure, that whether or not I decide to take it slow, he's all in.
"Here ya go, darlin'." Austin brings a muffin on a plate and sets it in front of one of the barstools at the kitchen island. "Would you like anything to drink? Iced tea? Coffee? Water?"
"Coffee would be wonderful," I tell him, moving to sit at the island.
The little pocket of cream cheese is slightly caramelized on top, and when I take that first bite, it's like a mini-orgasm.
Seriously. There's a hint of cinnamon in the bready part of the muffin, and the cream cheese fillings complements it perfectly.
"Oh my gods," I moan, closing my eyes. "This is the best fucking thing I've ever tasted in my life. "
Austin, whose back is turned at the coffee maker, straightens his shoulders a bit at that, and then brings me over a piping hot cup of coffee and a bottle of creamer from the fridge.
"Where did you learn to bake?" I ask, taking the mug and pouring some of the vanilla creamer in.
"My Mama noticed me takin' an interest in her bakin' when I was around seven," Austin says, taking a muffin and putting one on a plate for himself. "She taught me everythin' I know, and made sure I had the opportunity to learn whatever I wanted."
"That's amazing," I tell him truthfully, sipping on my coffee. "She sounds like a great woman. You must miss her. Noah told me how you moved out here with him."
Before he can answer, we hear the front door open and shut, and in the next moment, Enzo is popping his head into the kitchen. " Reinita ," he purrs, striding over and pressing a kiss to my cheek. "What a pleasant surprise. I was wondering whose car was in the driveway."
I'm a little confused by Enzo. He says it's a pleasant surprise, but he hasn't tried to see me since Saturday. The scent match should be riding him just as hard as it's riding me. "That's me." I smile weakly, sipping some more coffee.
"Austin, these smell wonderful." Enzo moves from my side to grab a muffin.
"I must find the recipe for cinnamon rolls that my grandmother used to make.
I've tried to replicate them, but they're always too dry.
" The sight of these three men in the kitchen, eating muffins and talking together, seems so… domestic. I kind of love it.
"I'll take a look at it," Austin nods at Enzo, and walks around the counter like he might sit next to me.
"There's one thing I can't figure out," I take a bite of muffin, closing my eyes at the creamy goodness, "we have a hacker, a baker, and a professor. How do you guys end up in a place like this ?"
Before anyone can answer, the sound of the front door opening and closing again has everyone freezing.
Noah's brows furrow. "Is that…?"
A familiar voice leeches all comfort out of my body, making my spine go straight. "What the hell is that delicious smell—" Charlie. Fucking Charlie stops in the doorway when his eyes catch on me. All the air escapes my lungs as my hands release my coffee to the counter with a small clatter.
What…what is Charlie doing here?
It suddenly makes sense. He paid for this house. But why would he do that unless…he's one of my scent matches.
Just like Doctor Mejia said.
And I can't fucking breathe.
There may be multiple people calling my name.
There may be a hand running down my arm.
I don't hear or feel any of it, though. It's like I'm underwater, everything is muted except my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
All I can do is lean over the counter, grab two muffins in my arms, put my head down, and rush past Charlie out of the house.
His scent almost sends me to my knees.
Coconut and sandalwood, just like I remember but so much more .
Refreshing.
Comforting.
Home.
His scent was that faint whiff of what I couldn't place earlier, and having all their scents surrounding me is almost enough to send me running back into the kitchen, straight into their arms.
Almost.
They knew Charlie was one of my scent matches and they hid it from me. How can I trust any of them?
They were trying to trick me. They knew if I had any inkling that Charlie was a part of their group, that I'd run. So they kept it from me.
Fighting a sense of betrayal, I rush to my car, putting my muffins in the cupholder as the tears start to flow. Already I can feel my headache creeping back in. Dammit. I should have stolen a shirt or something.
I don't trust myself to make it all the way home, so I gun it the three minutes it takes to get to Cady's house.
My only hope is they aren't fucking like rabbits when I get there.