Chapter 12
Octavian
I shake my head with a scowl as Floyd tugs me toward a tree.
Whether it’s intentional or not has yet to be seen, the way his head tilts sometimes throws him off course and he ends up walking in a circle.
Or at the very least, he walks in a wide arch.
Limps. Floyd limps in a wide arch or a circle, the same way I do if I get too carried away with my thigh.
Two peas in a pod, as Gran would say.
That’s not why I’m scowling, though.
No, I’m scowling to myself while I watch my disabled pooch attempt to lift a leg and pee on the tree he’s still two feet away from because I accidentally went on a date with the alpha who’s been driving me nuts.
That was definitely not how someone should handle an intruder. If I started dating everyone who tried breaking into my store, or causing some sort of chaos when they were in it already, I’d have a list of exes that put the town census to shame.
My building sat abandoned so long that there were squatters even after I bought it, and a lot of the local youth still tagged the sides or broke windows.
Especially since it took another year before I was able to start the renovations and order products.
I had a lot of unwelcome guests for a long time, even broke up a few parties in the basement, then throw in the twin alphas from hell, I have every right to be paranoid about my building.
Which is why Bentley shouldn’t have broken in.
Not that he knew any of that, but who does that?
Break into a whole ass building because they were slightly concerned about why I was closed?
That’s nutty behavior, and coming from someone like me means it’s probably crazier than that.
Then again, I was the one who ended up going on an accidental date with my would-be intruder.
Who the hell does that?
And likes it?
That’s why I’m irritated with myself.
I went on a date I never intended to have, and I fucking liked it.
Not that I have a lot to compare it to. That’s probably why I was all giddy omega on the inside.
I’ve been on three dates since I moved out here, just three, and they were all so disastrous, Bentley probably could have kidnapped me, chained me up in his murder van, and given me nothing but bread and water, and it would have been better than what I’ve experienced before.
I’m pretty sure he doesn’t have a murder van, and something is telling me bread and water wouldn’t even make the cut in terms of a snack for someone his size, so those aren’t things I need to worry about when he’s around.
I won’t rule out the kidnapping, though.
The simple fact that he openly admitted to stalking me probably means very little is off the table when it comes to that alpha getting what he wants.
I just don’t know why he wants me.
Frowning, I watch Floyd squat then drop, falling down dead asleep mid-poop.
Why would someone like that gigantic himbo cowboy want someone like me?
That alone supports how unstable he is.
I know I’m not bad looking. I have good hair, pretty decent features, and I take good care of my body.
If you don’t include the obsessive compulsion to cut when my intrusive thoughts get too bad.
I’m tall for an omega, I’m fit. I’m extremely clean and well groomed.
A lot of people like the tattoos, but that’s not why I got them.
I like them, sure, but they cover a lot of the scars I have, and I don’t need physical reminders of where I come from when my mind keeps a well of them on tap for me.
All of the physical aside, my personality works as a very solid repellent most of the time and I haven’t exactly toned it down with Bentley.
It’s been the opposite, actually.
Swinging on him, trying to kick him in the balls. I’ve pulled out all the stops, but nothing has slowed him down let alone stopped him from coming to see me.
Yeah, there has to be something seriously wrong with Bentley.
With a sigh, I scrub my hands over my face, pushing my glasses up into my hair briefly as I close my eyes and tip my head back.
I really don’t need another alpha hanging around trying to get into my pants.
Bentley isn’t anything like Kassie and Kyle, though. Not even close. The only thing they have in common is their designation and the buck stops there.
Well, almost.
All three of them have obsessions with me that border on unhealthy, but again, the cowboy is nothing like those two in the way he handles it. Those two are awful, horrible, disgusting humans, while he’s pretty fucking genuine and kind of sweet.
If I’m being totally honest, I like the attention I get from him.
I’ll never tell him that, not if I can help it, but I like when Bentley comes around, and the way he’s attempting to woo me makes me feel good about myself for the first time in years. Which is something else I’ll take to the grave if I can help it.
“We’re almost matching.”
My eyes snap open and dart to the left, my head whipping in that direction so hard I send my glasses flying, but I don’t need them to know who’s talking as they walk toward me.
“Both of us outside on a beautiful day wearing sneakers and sweats,” Bentley says as his blurry outline bends down next to me. “Mine are blue like my eyes. You know, the ones you like to get lost in.”
“And mine are black like my soul,” I grunt as he gets to his feet and hands me my glasses. I immediately start cleaning them the second I have them, mumbling about the dirt under my breath before I slide them on.
My breath that gets stuck in my throat when I blink at the behemoth next to me.
“And I’m shirtless.” He grins as my eyes go wide. “So our coordinating outfits stop there, but I’d be happy to help rectify that for you.”
I clear my suddenly dry throat and go back to watching Floyd sleep next to his shit. “By putting on a t-shirt? Because that would be great.”
“Not what I had in mind, sweet cheeks.”
I start walking toward my dog as he finally starts to stir, a sorry attempt to hide the blush I really don’t want him to see, but of course, Bentley follows me. “Taking your stalking up a notch, are we? Following me when I walk my dog now?”
“Yes.” I glance at him as he stops next to me, flashing me a pretty smile as he plants his hands on his hips then looks at Floyd. “Is he okay?”
“He’s over your bullshit, too.”
Bentley chuckles but ignores what I said in favor of asking, “How about we take him to get a drink? That smoothie place by your building caters to dogs, too. He could rehydrate, and maybe we could all have a snack?”
Before I have the chance to protest or argue, the pain in the ass alpha has us back on the sidewalk and heading in that direction.
When we get there, he plants Floyd and I at a table outside, pulls his tank top from the back of his sweats and puts it on before he goes in and orders for all of us, not even giving me the opportunity to put up a fight, or tell him what I want.
If he’s going to start buying me things, I’d like to have a say. I’m picky and I can use that to my advantage. No one wants a high maintenance omega, not even me, and I am one.
“You didn’t have to walk me all the way up to my door,” I grumble as I fish for the keys to my apartment.
“Sure I did.” Bentley places his hand against the small of my back as I open the door. “I wanted to make sure your cameras were still in position, and I needed to know you got in safely.”
I shake my head as a small smile touches my lips as I let Floyd off his leash and shoo him inside before I turn in the doorway to block him. “The only person I have to worry about breaking in here now is you, and since you’re already here, I think I’m safe.”
My entire face flames as he grins, the look he’s giving me one of satisfaction, of pride because I basically gave him the ultimate alpha compliment.
Sure, he’d have to twist it a little to get there but it’s obvious Bentley did just that.
Why else would he be beaming at me over what I said if he didn’t take it as me saying that he makes me feel safe?
“I mean, I just…” I grab the doorknob, trying to backpeddle while keeping him out of my loft. “I meant you can’t break in because you’re already here and…”
“Mhm,” he grunts as he steps into me, putting us chest to chest and almost nose to nose. “Sure.”
“I did.”
“Right, Tav.” I try to scowl in his face but I can’t, not when he dips his chin and rubs his cheek against mine, his scent flooding my senses and making me lightheaded. “You didn’t mean I make you feel safe, not at all. Definitely not because you’re mine, so it’s totally natural.”
My heart hammers against my ribs as he meets my eyes, Bentley staring straight into my soul regardless of how black it might be.
He looks at me for a few moments, searching my face with a knowing grin and just when I want to tell him to get out of my building because I feel like I’m seconds from perfuming or slicking or something equally embarrassing, this asshole does something that makes all of the above happen.
Bentley kisses me.
He cups my cheeks in his enormous hands and slams his lips against mine so hard he steals my breath.
“Tell me you want me to leave,” he grunts as he starts backing me into my apartment.
When I open my mouth to do just that, Bentley shoves his tongue into it instead, kicking the door shut behind him as he pulls me flush against him.
He sucks on my lower lip and smiles when he releases it with a pop. “It’s the only way I’ll go.”
“Then, yeah, you should…” I whimper as he kisses me again, sweeter this time as his hands slide down my sides to my hips, his fingers flexing as he walks me backward toward the couch. “You should…”
“What, Tav?”
I’m so goddamn hazy with lust I’ve forgotten what I’m supposed to be saying. Or doing. Or thinking. I haven’t a clue what’s going on but all I know is that I’m definitely slicking and he needs to fix it.
Bentley chuckles against my lips as my calves bump into the edge of the couch and when they do, a sharp pain shoots up my thigh and I wince.