Chapter 8 - Gabriel #3
“Only if you give me one first.” I stood back and struck a pose, my chin in the air and my free hand on my hip. “What do you think? Andrew chose this outfit for me, and I think it is a bit much.”
Bridget exhaled a laugh. “You look incredible, obviously. I think it would be hard for you to look bad in anything.”
“Excellent work, fiore mio,” I said, nodding seriously. “Now I can tell you that your eyes are the piercing blue of the Italian sky, and we can move on to other topics.”
“Like what? What could be more important than complimenting each other?” Bridget asked with a mischievous grin. She really was beautiful, like a princess from a storybook.
“I am curious how an Omega comes to be a researcher,” I said carefully. “I have worked with Omegas before, and they would not have been able to have this freedom.”
Bridget’s posture went defensive again. “If you’re here to tell me I should be at home making babies, we’re going to have a problem. No matter how much you compliment me.”
“I do not mean that at all. In Italy, I worked for a pack who wanted me to protect their Omega. They were… wicked men. And their Omega was precious to them, but like an object, not a person. Matteo was not allowed to do many things.” I looked away for a moment, at the sea of wealthy people around us.
“I know things are changing, but it still surprises me to meet an Omega like you.”
I didn’t tell her what had happened to him, or why I had come to Fairview City. That was too much for a gala, surrounded by strangers.
“I got lucky, I guess,” Bridget said. Her eyes had softened. “My family pack was a lot like that. But I got out and eventually went back to school. I have a health condition that makes my Omega pheromones less… potent, which helps too.”
“I did not mean to pry,” I said quickly, touching her elbow again.
“No, no, it’s fine. I mean, it is strange. But most of the time I pass as a Beta.”
I hummed. “That is probably a blessing, no?”
Bridget smiled sadly. “Probably.”
I regretted making the conversation so serious. “Is there a reason you have designated yourself as a wallflower? You cannot pretend to look at the ceiling all night, carrissima.”
“I don’t like crowds,” Bridget said simply, but her tone implied something beyond just a dislike.
“Eccellente. That will give me an excuse to stay away from all of these rich cogliones. ‘Sorry, I cannot talk right now, I am helping my new friend who does not like crowds,’” I said airily, as if I were speaking to the red-faced man from earlier.
“‘Cogliones?’”
I suppressed a laugh. “A very crude word. I am sorry to add this to your Italian vocabulary. Let me give you a better one: fiabesco. It means like a fairytale. And I believe you fit that description very well tonight.”
Bridget colored again, a lovely pink flush. “Is Andrew okay with you shamelessly flirting like this? Don’t Alphas get territorial about that kind of thing?”
“I am Italian, carrissima. Flirting is like breathing. But I think he would like that I am flirting with you in particular.”
An Asian man I didn’t recognize, with a fresh, woody scent and an impressive scowl, approached us. He didn’t even look at me; he focused squarely on Bridget. I stepped slightly in front of her on instinct.
“Are you alright?” he asked Bridget, still ignoring me. “Lisbeth was making me talk to some funders, or I would’ve come over sooner.”
“That’s why I’m hiding over here,” Bridget said with a sigh. “And I’m obviously fine. Gabriel, this is Dr. Nathan Manalo, the senior researcher on the study.”
The Alpha finally looked at me. It was clear from his body language that he felt something for my new friend. His brown eyes were like two chips of stone. “A pleasure to meet you,” I said, holding out my hand. “We did not get a chance to meet the other day. I am Andrew St. James’s partner.”
“Oh. Right. Partner?” He gripped my hand, but a bit of the tension left the corners of his eyes. He had categorized me as ‘not a threat.’
“Yes, last time I checked.” I pulled down the side of my turtleneck to show my bondmark.
It was a reaction I was used to, even if it was still insulting.
Many people didn’t expect an Alpha like Andrew to bond with a mere Beta, and a man at that.
“A gay man should not be so shocking to you in this day and age.”
Dr. Manalo blanched. “I apologize. That came out completely wrong. I have no problem with… I don’t… I just didn’t realize Mr. St. James was bonded.”
“Nathan is not good with words,” Bridget said with a pitying look in his direction. “I thought he hated me until about a week ago.”
I inclined my head as graciously as possible. “I will forgive you this time, doctor.”
At that moment, the lights dimmed, and a four-piece band walked onto the stage. They struck up a jazz song I didn’t recognize, something that was clearly designed to match the aesthetics of the ballroom. A few couples made their way to the dancefloor, but most of the crowd ignored the interruption.
I felt the pull of Andrew in our bond, looking for me. I sent back a quick nudge of acknowledgment. It was time to go, but I found I wasn’t quite ready to leave Bridget.
“Carrissima, would you do me the honor of a dance?”