Chapter 15
Nadia
“So they bought bags full of expensive sex toys.” It was several days later, and I was with Helena at a bar for Friday drinks, which is why I looked around furiously before hissing at her to lower her voice.
“They edged you for ages, gave you your first multiple orgasm, cuddled you, and then sent you on your merry way?” She shook her head.
“When the fuck am I meeting these boyfriends of yours, because I need to know if they have brothers that are single.”
“They’re not my boyfriends. They’re…” The first bit came out instantly, but then I was forced to consider the second part of my reply. “Friends with benefits, I think?”
“Friends with benefits?” She settled her elbow against the bar as one brow rose slowly.
“Friends…” A barman appeared, and she ordered us another couple of wines.
That probably wasn’t smart, but I’d need it to get through this interrogation.
“That’s not friend behaviour. A quick fuck and then, if you’re lucky, he’ll throw you an old t-shirt for clean-up.
That’s the usual FwB bullshit. So, when are you going to see them again? ”
I took a sip of wine to both settle my nerves and give myself some time to formulate a reply.
“I’m not sure,” I ended up saying, which was accurate.
“Not sure? What the hell? This is the first time I’ve ever seen you with sex face.”
She gestured in my direction.
“Sex… face?”
“Y’know, that smug look people get when they’ve been getting the good D.
” With a grumble, she looked down at her phone and started scrolling through her contact list. “The one I’d very much like to be wearing right now, but nope.
” The phone was set aside. “If it was me, I’d be clearing my roster for these guys, booking them solid before someone else gets their claws into them. ”
And that was the problem.
“Someone will,” I said. “They might call me omega as a kink thing, but they have an actual omega out there, fated to be their one and only. I can’t let myself catch feelings for them. They are literally not my men.”
“Ugh, fine…” For a second, Helena settled back on her stool, but when she looked out across the crowded bar, she obviously saw something she liked. “Well, if you’re not gonna lock the hot alphas down, how about him?”
Turning around was a mistake. Turning around and seeing Christian Harris AKA The Hottie Upstairs, was an even bigger one.
While our office was filled with men in suits, no one seemed to wear one like Christian.
One of the young, up and coming lawyers in our legal department, he strode through the office seemingly unaware of the feminine sighs he left in his wake.
Being on the receiving end of that sexy, crooked smile of his was enough to make anyone’s day.
And apparently, he was about to make mine.
We looked around at the exact same moment, which was bad, but right when I went to glance away, he smiled.
“Fuck, he’s smiling at you,” Helena said. “Nads—”
“There’s no way.”
I looked back, expecting to see some gorgeous woman behind the bar, but unless Christian had a taste for middle-aged men, that wasn’t it.
“He’s coming over!” Helena exclaimed.
To buy a drink, I reasoned, swallowing a big mouthful of mine. For the friends he’s hanging out with.
“OK, let’s get you ready,” my bestie hissed. “Undo that button.”
“What’re you doing!” I shout whispered back as my cleavage suddenly deepened.
I’d been forced to buy new shirts to deal with my stupid pre-menstrual breasts.
“Damn, are these guys amateur plastic surgeons as well?” she said, staring at my boobs. “Because I don’t remember you being that busty.”
“Everything’s kinda swollen right now.” I clutched at my shirt neckline. “Pretty sure I’m getting my period.”
Except this wasn’t my usual shit where even the lightest of touches on my breasts felt like razor blades. No cramping or bloated stomach either. If anything, it was flatter. The waistband of my pants were starting to gape, despite absolutely no attempt at dieting on my part.
“Well, let’s make PMS work for us, not against us for once,” she whispered, right before sitting back and smiling.
“Ladies.”
Goddess, his voice was as deep and sexy as I remembered it.
I looked up, thinking he was talking to Helena, only to find him staring down at me.
Hazel eyes, I hadn’t realised they were that colour.
It felt like I could count the green flecks in them, right before they creased around the edges as he smiled.
Reminding me of another set of eyes that were quite a different colour.
“I’m Christian.” He offered me his hand, but I just stared at it. “Christian Harris. I’m up in—”
“Legal.” I almost barked that out. Feeling my cheeks flush, I smiled ruefully.
My hand took his and whoa, I felt a little flutter in my stomach as he gripped it.
Or maybe lower. “You’re upstairs in legal.
” He looked at me expectantly, probably because I hadn’t let go of his bloody hand.
“Sorry, I’m Nadia, this is Helena. We work down in finance. ”
“In finance?” Damn, this guy’s voice was like a velvety purr.
“Well, I’m glad I don’t venture down there often.
” His eyes slid down, down my now open neckline, and for some reason that had me feeling kinda restless.
“I’m fairly sure I’d forget all about my expense receipts if I walked into your office and saw you lovely ladies.
” Those hazel eyes met mine. “Can I buy you two a drink?”
“Ahh—”
“You can buy Nadia one.” Helena downed the rest of her glass, then grabbed her bag. “I need to get home. Got an early morning Pilates class.” Pilates? I mouthed at her from behind Christian’s back. Getting her out of bed before twelve on a weekend was a rare thing. “Have a lovely evening.”
“I intend to.” Christian said that to me, not Helena, as he sat down in her spot, then placed an elbow on the bar to lean closer to me. “Now, Nadia, how long have you worked in finance?”
You know how sometimes people are smoking hot, until they open their mouths?
Well, sadly that was Christian. That question about my job was the last time I was asked for input.
Instead, I was treated to a monologue about his job, the travails of being a junior lawyer and the arduous climb up the corporate ladder, his gym routine, his meal plan, and his supplement stack.
Oh, and the importance of regular ejaculation for prostate health.
I’d drunk one glass of wine, then another, trying to get a word in edgewise so I could make a quick escape, only to fail each time.
And that was bringing back some seriously uncomfortable memories.
Grant used to lecture me too, about the economy, politics, the state of the world and what needed to happen many times, even when I asked him to stop. My lack of interest didn’t register, because it wasn’t needed. He just wanted an audience when he was speaking, and it didn’t matter who they were.
“So you see, creatine is great for women too,” he said, making a slow inspection of my body. “Like you look amazing, but imagine how you’d look after a few months in the gym?”
Well, I didn’t owe Christian anything.
That realisation had me slipping off my stool and grabbing my bag as I yawned theatrically.
“Sorry, Christian, but it’s been a long day,” I said, cutting him off mid-sentence. “Generating all those finance reports takes it out of a girl.”
“Oh?” That feline smile was back and, for just a second, I felt a pang of regret at what I was about to do. “Well, if you need someone to help work out some knots…”
Knots? He had no way of knowing that was a trigger word for me.
I’d left the guys’ place swollen, aching, and yet had never been so satisfied.
My cunt clenched right now, sending out a frantic Morse code that she would like a repeat performance at my earliest possible convenience.
As I went to reply, my phone buzzed, forcing me to pause and grab it out of my bag.
Nadia. Tex was straight to the point. If you’re still sore, I need to know. That was days ago and if we hurt you…
I stopped reading to look up to meet Christian’s expectant gaze.
“My boyfriend,” I explained, and his look of shock had me doing something stupid.
“One of my boyfriends. We’re in a polycule and the four of us went a little hard the other night.
” The sigh that came at the memory of what happened was not at all feigned.
“They’re just checking in to see how I’m going, so I better go. ”
“But…”
I didn’t wait for his reply, his response, anything, and instead headed for the door before reading the rest of the message.
We need to make it right, Tex had written. Whatever it takes, omega.
Hey, Nadia. That was Ethan. If you get this, can you let Tex know if you’re OK? He’s about this close to taking fur and letting his wolf find you. Trying to talk him off a ledge, but not getting real far. Help me out here?
I shook my head and smiled, only to see another had come through.
If I made you uncomfortable or hurt you in any way. I could almost hear Grey’s sober tones as I read the text. I can promise you it’ll never happen again.
I went to formulate a reply to each one of them, then jumped into the group chat.
I’m fine, I wrote and sent that first to help dampen people’s concern. Not sore so much, but I needed some recovery time. The other day…
How the fuck did I describe a series of orgasms so intense they brought me to tears?
Me being super messy and crying into Grey’s chest was half the reason I hadn’t replied to them.
The tenderness with which he held me, bundled up into a blanket while the others fussed, making sure I had a drink of water, was the other.
I deleted the half-finished sentence and then went with this.
Just needed a bit of space, I replied finally.
We can give Nadia that, right, Tex? Ethan wrote.
She could have all the space she wants at our place, came Tex’s reply.
That had me laughing, right as I looked up and down the road for a taxi rank.
And get in the way of all the ladies lined up outside your door? I replied as I began to walk down the footpath.
No ladies here, came Tex’s reply.
Look, I’ve gotta find a cab, I typed out. Drank more wine than I intended to.
Listening to Christian blather on, but I didn’t type that. Instead, my heels clicked along the concrete as I walked past packed bars and noisy nightclubs.
Where are you? That was Grey. Tell me where you are and I’ll come and pick you up.
You don’t… My thumbs moved to tap that out, then stopped. If he wanted to give me a lift, I could let him. Friends did that kind of thing. Better than waiting around on a cold night by myself. I sent the address instead.
There’s a bar just near your location, he said. Stay there until I arrive.
So overprotective, I thought, blowing my hair out of my eyes, but… We weren’t serious, never could be, but in that moment?
I couldn’t have been more envious of their fated mate, wherever the hell the bitch was.