Chapter 8
NAOMI
Kellan was pressed against my back, his arm heavy across my waist. Rowan had his hand splayed possessively over my hip.
They were both still asleep. And I needed to leave.
The night was over. That was the deal. One night, no strings, walk away before it became complicated.
But god, leaving was harder than I'd expected.
Another cramp twisted through my abdomen, much sharper this time. Probably just my period coming early. Stress did that sometimes. The last thing that I needed was to start that while laying here between these two delicious men.
I carefully extracted myself from them, moving inch by inch so I wouldn't wake them. Kellan made a sound of protest in his sleep and reached for me, but I slipped away before his hand could find purchase. Barely…
My dress was still on the floor where I'd dropped it. I pulled it on quickly, not bothering with my bra or taking off the t-shirt they’d given me. It didn't matter that it was on. I had to get out of here before they awakened. That was my only goal.
The t-shirt smelled like them and made it easier to keep moving though everything inside me demanded that I stay. I should take it off. Should leave it behind. But I wasn’t. I’d keep it until I got home. Then I'd take it off and forget this ever happened.
Liar.
I grabbed my clutch and heels, casting one last look at them. Rowan's now calm features, Kellan's tattooed arm reaching across the space where I'd been. Beautiful. Dangerous. Everything I couldn't have. I slipped out the door and closed it softly behind me.
The ride home was torture. I requested a rideshare, and the driver, a chatty woman in her fifties, kept trying to make conversation while I pressed my forehead against the cool window and tried not to think about what I'd just done and walked away from.
"Late night?" she asked cheerfully.
"Something like that."
"Well, you look like you had fun. That's what matters."
I didn't respond. Couldn't. Because if I opened my mouth, I might cry. Which was ridiculous. This was what I wanted. One night. No complications. Back to my life, my plans, my carefully constructed plans. So why did it feel like I was leaving part of myself behind?
Kira was waiting when I got home, curled up on the couch with coffee and her phone.
She looked up when I walked in, her eyebrows shooting up. "Walk of shame at 5:45 AM? Damn, girl."
"It's not a walk of shame if you planned it."
"Fair." She set down her coffee and studied me. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you look like someone just kicked your puppy." She patted the couch beside her. "Come on. Spill."
I sat, curling into the corner and pulling my knees to my chest. "There's nothing to spill. We did what we did. It was amazing. Now it's over."
"And you're okay with that?"
"I have to be. That was the deal."
"Fuck the deal. Do you want it to be over?"
Yes. No. Maybe.
"It doesn't matter what I want," I said finally. "They're powerful, successful Alphas who could have anyone. They don't want some random Omega with trust issues and a learning center to build. Every Alpha that I know has never wanted their Omega to have their own dreams."
"Did they say that?"
"They didn't have to."
“Did you ask them?”
“Kira, no. Why would I?”
Kira sighed. "Nai—"
"I have a headache," I interrupted. "And a meeting with Danny at nine. Can we not do this right now?"
She looked like she wanted to argue, but something in my expression must have stopped her.
"Fine. But we're talking about this later."
"Sure." I muttered as I stood up. I stopped and looked at her, because she deserved the truth. “They made me feel safe, cared for, and like any and everything that I could want would be mine if I asked it of them.”
Kira’s eyes softened, and I couldn’t take it. I didn’t need her to feel sorry for me.
I went to my room and tried to sleep for another hour, but the cramps kept waking me. And every time I closed my eyes, I saw them. Felt their hands on me. Heard their voices.
You're perfect.
Trust us.
At 8:30, I gave up and got dressed for the meeting.
The building site was in Red Hook, a former warehouse I was converting into the learning center. Danny was already there when I arrived, clipboard in hand, looking frustrated.
"Morning," I said, climbing out of my car.
He looked up and his nostrils flared. Just slightly. Then he took a step back.
"Morning. You—uh—you okay? You look flushed."
"I'm fine. Just didn't sleep well." Another cramp hit and I pressed my hand to my lower abdomen. "What's the issue with the measurements?"
"The—right. The measurements." He shook his head like he was clearing it. "The east wall. I measured it three times and my notes say three different numbers. I needed to verify."
We walked through the space together. I tried to focus on what he was showing me, but I kept noticing the way he was standing, always several feet away, always slightly upwind.
And the way he kept sniffing.
"Danny, are you okay?" I asked.
"Fine. Yeah. Just…" he cleared his throat, "allergies."
"In February?"
"Early spring. Happens every year."
It was a lie. I could tell. But I didn't push.
We finished the measurements, he was right, the numbers were off, and he made notes about what needed to be corrected.
"I'll have the crew fix it Monday," he said, still maintaining that careful distance. "And Naomi? You should maybe go home. You really don't look well."
"I'm fine."
"Your scent," He stopped. "Never mind. Just. Take care of yourself, okay?"
My scent? What about my scent? But he was already walking away, practically fleeing to his truck.
Weird.
By the time I got home, I was burning up.
I drove with all the windows down despite the February chill, letting the cold air wash over my overheated skin.
It didn't help. Inside the apartment, I cranked the AC and collapsed onto my bed.
Just a quick nap. Just to shake off this headache and these cramps and whatever the hell was wrong with me.
I grabbed the t-shirt I'd worn home and pressed it to my face. Just for a minute until I felt better. I was asleep in seconds. Finally starting to feel better.