9. Sterling #2
Yesterday was something else entirely, though. My cheeks flame just thinking about it. I basically perfumed in JP’s arms. That should not have happened. It’s so embarrassing I want to crawl under a rock and never come out.
“I don’t get it,” I mumble, shaking my head. “I shouldn’t have been releasing any scent. I’ve been on suppressants since my first heat. I don’t understand why they suddenly seem to be not working.”
“Hey, I’m just here to support my girl,” Daisy teases. “And also to point out that suppressants don’t usually fail unless something’s messing with them. Like, oh, I don’t know…two gorgeous, unbonded Alphas who basically make GQ models look like they crawled out of a landfill.”
“Might want to look in on that,” she sing-songs.
I laugh it off, forcing a breezy, nonchalant tone. “Right. Sure. Like I’m just going to march up to them and ask if their ungodly attractiveness is somehow scrambling my biology.”
“Maybe you should.” Daisy smirks. “It’s not like they’d be against the attention. Trust me, I saw the way they were looking at you. And I’m guessing you didn’t mind it either.”
I open my mouth to argue, but nothing comes out. Because she’s not wrong. My mind flashes back to JP’s hands on me, how his voice rumbled against my ear. The way Cass’s gaze cut through me like a physical touch. But then I remember JP jumping away from me like I burned him.
“I doubt they’d be interested in me at all,” I say, keeping my voice level. “JP didn’t seem to want anything to do with me by the time we got back to the dock.”
Daisy’s voice goes softer. “JP’s an idiot and I can guarantee that what I saw yesterday had nothing to do with wanting to leave you alone. Quite the opposite, actually. Trust me, I’m his sister and have seen his idiocy firsthand.”
I swallow hard, trying to force the memories down, trying to bury the longing that curls through me. But Daisy’s right.
I was definitely throwing off some serious come-hither pheromones. I wanted to lick every single one of JP’s tattoos, run my fingers through Cass’s hair, rub my cheek along theirs…
“Sterling?”
I blink, snapping out of it just as Gentry clears her throat, grinning like she can read every scandalous thought running through my head.
“Hate to say this,” she muses, reaching for a handful of popcorn. “You know, because of the whole ‘I just met you’ thing, but you’d be crazy not to get in the middle of all that.”
I freeze mid-sip of my wine. “What?”
Gentry waves a hand. “Pack Redgrave. They are so deliciously Alpha, I think they broke the mold. Muscles, tattoos, funny, and brother to this gnome.” She points at Daisy.
I flop down into my chair with the kind of dramatic sigh that would make any theater kid proud, sinking so deep into the cushions it feels like they might swallow me whole. It doesn’t matter if Pack Redgrave was into me. I’ve basically sworn off the opposite sex, anyway.
“I’m not interested in Alphas, no matter how good they smell.”
“Okay, I'm going to say liar, liar, pants on fire. Care to explain..?” Daisy says, gesturing to my nest and the alpha contraband, eyebrows wiggling as she leans forward with the kind of devilish grin that makes me immediately want to backtrack everything I’ve ever said to her.
“There’s nothing to explain,” I mumble, yanking my knees up to my chest like it’ll somehow keep all the feelings this conversation is threatening to unearth firmly buried.
“Well, all I’m saying is my brother and Cass don’t usually show interest in women. Period.” Daisy raises an eyebrow, her grin downright smug. “And yesterday? That was all interest. Deny it all you want, but clearly, biology has other ideas.”
Lily hums in agreement, sipping her wine from the ridiculous cat mug I gave her—the one with a cartoon kitten proclaiming ‘I’m Purrfect.’
“Mmm, facts. And you’re an unbonded Omega with a pack showing interest? How can you not at least be curious?” She fans herself dramatically, her eyes sliding to me. “You haven’t met Quinn yet, but trust me…Pack Redgrave will make you change your mind. Whew. If you don’t take advantage, I might.”
“Right?” Gentry chimes in. “Pack Redgrave is like…the holy grail of hot, unavailable Alphas. Rugged, broody, and total man-children who don’t know how to properly grocery shop.” She grins. “What’s not to love?”
“The town’s been making bets for years on when they’ll take an Omega,” Daisy adds, nudging me with her elbow. “I think they’ve just been waiting for the right hot, sex-starved Omega to claim and dote on.” She winks. “Why not you?”
I sink lower, wishing the chair would just open up and swallow me whole. “You all are insane.”
“Nope.” Gentry smirks, tossing popcorn at me. “We just have eyes.”
“And noses,” Daisy adds. “I’m pretty sure the whole town could smell you after that boat trip.”
“Oh my god,” I groan, mortified.
“Besides,” Lily says, her tone way too casual for my comfort.
“Rumor has it, Cass, Quinn, and JP are…well, let’s just say, very attentive when they want to be.
” I’ve never had a pack or been with more than one Alpha.
Or more than one anybody for that matter.
The idea makes me too warm and my limbs feel rubbery.
I groan and chuck a pillow over my face, my voice muffled but desperate. “Can we just watch the movie? Please?”
They all share a look before bursting into laughter.
“Alright, alright. Movie night.” Daisy gives a mock salute before grabbing the remote and pulling up Can’t Buy Me Love on Netflix.
She pulls me down between her and Gentry. And we snuggle in to watch a very young Patrick Dempsey.
I try to focus on the movie. I really do. But between the cozy blankets, the wine, and the fact that I’m sandwiched between two giggling Omegas who won’t stop giving me that look, it’s impossible.
Their voices keep filtering in, teasing and prodding. And it’s not just the relentless interrogation. It’s the memory of Licorice and spice, of briny sea breeze and pine. Their scents are tangled up with my own, making my head feel light and my chest tight.
The way Cass’s sharp eyes flicked over me like he was peeling the clothes off me. The way JP’s hands felt wrapped around me—solid, steady, too much and not enough all at once.
I wanted to scent-mark their skin, drag my teeth over their throats like some touch-starved animal just to see what they’d do.
I squeeze my thighs together. Nope. Nope, nope, nope.
I take a big sip of wine. Not helping.
Daisy nudges me with her foot, her gaze too shrewd for my liking. She laughs again, her smile wicked.
Lily smirks. “I know that look.”
Gentry just grins, shaking her head like she’s watching a particularly juicy soap opera. “She’s doomed.”
I try to focus on the movie. I really do. But all I can think about is how tangled up my life has become.