Chapter 11 #2
“You’re an omega,” the alpha surprised him by correcting, voice dropping an octave, as though Levi was coming to this conclusion just as he said it. His gaze wandered over to the bed where the nest had been. “A dominant one at that. Dominant omegas are precious.”
“Even synthetic ones?” he couldn’t help but taunt, figuring that was where the caring act would end.
But the alpha surprised him yet again.
“Maybe even more so,” Levi replied. “If something like you can be created in a lab, that’s nothing short of a miracle. Do you know how many dominant omegas there are in existence? Do you know how many of them can tolerate my scent for long periods of time?”
Elm frowned again. “I can’t resist your pheromones either. They hurt.”
“Only when I want them to.”
Admittedly, that hadn’t been very often. He narrowed his eyes. “You know what it’s like to go through a mating period without release.”
“Hurt feelings, omega?”
“You’re an asshole.”
“I never claimed not to be. It’s your mistake for seeking out fairness and altruism amongst the mafia.” Levi’s thumb brushed lightly against Elm’s bottom lip, but the touch was quick, there and gone. “Worry not. You won’t be left empty again.”
“I don’t think that’s as comforting as you mean for it to be.
” Elm searched his expression. “And I do think you meant for it to be.” He should stop talking, but his next few sentences poured out of him anyway.
“I’m not the only one who’s affected by dominant pheromones here.
You’re growing attached to me in the same ways I am, aren’t you? I bet you hate that.”
Levi cocked his head. “You have this uncanny ability to act before you think. Should you be goading me right now? Surely, if you took a moment to consider your circumstances, you would realize it’s not in your best interests.”
“I’m being honest. You should try it sometime.”
“When have I ever lied to you?”
“Not to me.” Elm really, really needed to shut the fuck up.
Instead, he pointed at the alpha’s face.
“You’ve been looking at me differently ever since you found me in here earlier.
” It was actually a lot scarier than the indifference that had been there before.
“I think I’d rather go back to you viewing me as an object. ”
Some of the stony exterior cracked. It was only a fissure, but this close, it was easy to make out the alpha’s confusion, and the second he accepted whatever conclusion he’d come to.
“I’ve never been affected by an omega’s pheromones before,” Levi shocked him by confessing. “I take them to bed when I’m in rut and can’t do without a partner, but rarely otherwise. Almost never for pleasure on its own.”
“Do you not enjoy sex?”
“Fucking is fine. It’s necessary to maintain my health.”
“It doesn’t feel good?”
“You’re starting to sound like a sex addict, omega.”
“No, it’s just…” Elm tried to sit up, but the alpha pushed him back down, and he sighed and stayed put since it wasn’t worth fighting over. “I like sex a lot. Sometimes it’s not great. With the wrong partner it can be disappointing.”
“Betas also need sexual compatibility?”
“Pretty much all species do.” He nibbled on his lips and then blurted, “I wonder if that’s why you’re always so high strung. Maybe you just need to get laid.”
It was obvious he’d caught the alpha off-guard with that statement, and not in a good way, but it was too late to retract so Elm merely lay there and waited for the older man to collect himself.
“Are you offering, omega?”
Elm blinked. “No.”
“Even though you beg me for it every heat?”
“That’s biology,” Elm argued. “That’s my body, not my mind. Not me.”
“Next time, you’ll spread for me and accept the knotting toy, that’s what you’re saying?”
Elm tried to look away, but Levi captured his chin and forced his head back, clicking his tongue at him chidingly.
“What happened to honesty?” the alpha teased.
“Honestly? I hate you, and this place, and all of this. I hate not being in control of my own body. I hate being reduced to a horny, mindless animal. And most of all, I hate that I ever wanted it.” He stilled, eyes going wide.
Shit.
The corner of Levi’s mouth quirked up. “See? I warned you to think before you talk. You wanted this?” He tipped his head back on his lap and ran the edge of his thumbnail slowly down the length of Elm’s throat, causing him to shiver. “Wanted to be omega specifically?”
Elm could lie. It was ridiculous that he’d been so honest to the leader of a mafia. Could say he would have been fine becoming alpha instead, but Levi’s expression had altered again, giving him the sense the man could see right through him, right down to his very soul.
“I thought it would make me important.” All his life, he’d been mediocre at everything except one, but even his best friend was good at that, so it couldn’t even be considered his thing.
“Well? How does it feel now that you’ve gotten your wish?”
“Like regret.”
“Yes.” Levi smiled. “I imagine so.”
“You’re being nice to me to get me to cooperate, aren’t you?”
“Partially,” he admitted, and Elm latched onto what that implied.
“And the other reason?”
“My instincts don’t like it when you’re distressed.”
“That’s…dangerous.”
“Do you know what it’s like between an alpha and their omega?” Levi asked.
“I’ve read up on it. Have friends who are mated. My brother—” He slammed his mouth shut, catching himself just before bringing Sky into things.
“I already know all about Kian’s Possessio,” Levi said, using the term for a Dominus’ partner.
“If you touch Sky—”
“The only omega I’m interested in is you.” The shutter dropped over his eyes so fast, Elm practically got whiplash. “The only omega I’ve ever shown an interest for is you.”
“I’d like to go back to the cell now.” The soothing pheromones coming from the alpha had shifted, not into anything dangerous or suggestive, but the change was impossible to miss, and Elm didn’t like how he couldn’t place it.
“Not yet.” Levi’s hand covered his eyes. “Rest. You’ve had a busy day.”
“I don’t—” The soothing pheromones came back with a vengeance, and before Elm realized it, he was slipping into a deep, dreamless sleep.