Chapter 3 A Simple Meeting #3
The intense looks I got from each guy told me slow was not what they’d prefer.
Their scents were all over the room, in my clothes, and on my skin, edging me closer and closer to losing control of myself.
The eagerness in their eyes was quite apparent, and my mind battled between being terrified of losing control and wanting to tear my clothes off with lust. I felt like prey being stalked by four predators.
I stood up, needing to stop before I did something regrettable. “I think I should head back to my apartment. It’s been a long few days, and I have all these new, weird sensations I’m trying to grapple with. This is a lot to take in.”
All four stood up as tension filled the air again. Clearing his throat, Demetrius ushered everyone to back off. “She’s right, it’s a lot for all of us. Let’s walk you back to your apartment. The nice thing about the temporary housing is it’s right across the street.”
As we walked towards the studio exit, Isaac took my hand, gently kissing my knuckles. “Don’t walk around by yourself.” Another little shiver ran down my spine. Any more shivers tonight, and I would fall into a seizure of desire.
Preston reached for my other hand. “I made you dinner, will you eat it, please?”
“I…yes.” That’s all I could manage to say to Preston.
“Preston likes to contribute as our resident chef,” Demetrius stated while leading me to the door. “He spoils us with his delicious meals.”
Lukas walked backwards in front of me, talking very excitedly. “I was probably so annoying, taking pictures of you on Monday during class, I just couldn’t take my eyes off you.” He pulled a print from his backpack and handed it to me. “Here’s a beautiful one of you mid-jump.”
Gasping, I took the print from him. “Wow! Your timing at the top of the jump was perfect! Thank you!” He beamed at the compliment, adding a few chassés as he continued to walk in front of me.
We reached the doorway where, around the corner, Dr. Laughlin was leaning against a wall, waiting patiently.
“Well? How’s everything going?” she asked, arching her brows curiously. Her eyes searched mine for signs of hesitation.
Unable to remove a huge, awkward grin from my face, I gave her a thumbs up, earning a round of laughs from the four men around me.
“Good! Time to head back?” She pointed to the front door. “I can take her home.”
“No!” Demetrius commanded as the other three tensed again. He steadied himself before adding, “We would all prefer that one of us escort her to and from her apartment every day.”
Dr. Laughlin chuckled softly, gesturing to them to lead. “Of course, that’s perfectly fine.”
The six of us walked across the street with Lukas excitedly leading the way.
Behind me, Dr. Laughlin and Demetrius talked about beta blockers for the five of us.
Preston intertwined his fingers with my right hand while Isaac softly rubbed my left arm.
Receiving this sort of attention from the pack that ran the company was growing more and more intimidating by the minute.
Luckily, it was a short walk, and soon we reached my floor, waving goodbye to Dr. Laughlin, who left for her loft.
As I approached my apartment door, the intensity returned around the five of us.
Should I invite them in? What if they expected more than I was ready for?
How did I turn them down? My heart pounded while questions tumbled through my mind.
I fumbled with my keys, stalling, when a smooth, rich voice spoke behind me.
“It’s time for us to go,” Demetrius stated. “We don’t want to overwhelm Ivy anymore than we already have.”
I must have let out a visible sigh of relief as they all chuckled a bit. I turned around to face them, eagerly wanting to end this encounter and my embarrassment.
Preston turned to me. “Can I see your phone? I’ll add my number. Actually, we can all add our numbers.” He quickly entered his contact info before handing it off to Isaac. Turning his attention back to me, he gently touched my chin. “Text me when you eat. Let me know if you like the food.”
I nodded affirmatively—speaking to Preston was apparently next to impossible. He handed me a bag full of food containers and caressed my cheek with his fingers, making my heart flip.
Isaac lifted my hand to his mouth, pressing another kiss against my knuckles. “I’ll see you soon. Send me a text as well, let me know if you watch or read anything.”
“Me too,” Lukas chimed in as he nuzzled the side of my neck, forcing a ticklish laugh out of me.
“I’ll send everyone a text, I promise!” I giggled slightly, trying to reassure them as Demetrius handed my phone back.
He stepped up to me last and gently touched my cheek. “One of us will be here every morning to walk you to the studios. Don’t leave without one of us.”
“Okay,” I quickly agreed, knowing I could never disobey him. The desire to obey him must've been an omega trait. I’d never felt an urge to please someone so much in my life.
“Good night, Ivy,” he said, giving me a small smile before turning back to his pack mates. “Let’s go.”
I quickly entered my apartment and locked the door behind me, heart racing and stomach flipping.
Somehow, in less than a week, I went from being a regular beta dancer in the corps to finding out I was an omega, scent-matched with the pack running the company.
That thought didn’t seem real—at all. Tomorrow, I’d probably wake up, realize I was dreaming, and have a good, awkward laugh at myself as I got ready for morning class.
Carrying Preston’s meal over to my table, I sat down and opened the box. A delicious aroma of pan-fried rice with shrimp poured out, making my mouth water. A message was written on the inside of the box. Enjoy!
I most certainly would. I took a bite, just as delicious as it smelled. Taking a quick picture of the meal, I sent a thank-you message to Preston and the group with a note on how delicious it was. Very quickly, I received a reply.
Glad you like it. I’ll need to know all your favorite foods soon so I can make them for you. -P
My heart flipped again as I took another bite. Within five minutes, I was completely stuffed from Preston's meal. Putting away the remaining leftovers, I dropped down on my couch and snuggled back into my blanket as I pulled my phone out.
My fingers quickly punch in my mom's number. “Mom, you’ll never guess the week I just had…”
***
Preston
I looked out the window of the pack’s SUV, watching the city drift by. All four of us sat quietly in the car, each lost in his own thoughts, but most likely thinking the same thing.
There was no denying she was our scent-match.
“What was her scent?” Demetrius asked, sitting in the driver's seat. “Roses?”
“There was a hint of white chocolate, too,” Isaac added, adjusting himself. “If she perfumed one more time, I might have lost my goddamn mind. I was so turned on by her.”
“It was certainly hard to stay focused. How are we going to work around her before we’re bonded?” Lukas asked, sitting in the passenger's seat.
“Dr. Laughlin suggested beta blockers, but she also said the more time we spend with Ivy, the more we’ll all mellow out. The first few months of contact are usually the hardest to get through,” Demetrius answered.
“When are you dancing with her?” Isaac asked me. I could tell he was just as eager as I was for us to work together.
“Sometime this week, whenever she’s ready,” I replied, reviewing in my mind the choreography from Le Corsaire.
I could almost imagine touching her soft waist as I guided her around in a lift.
Was I actually going to dance with my scent-matched omega?
My stomach would not stop doing flips every time I imagined partnering with her.
“How are you going to dance together without attacking her?” Isaac stared at me. “God, I wish I were still performing. Maybe I can get my ankle checked out again…”
“I’m not sure,” I shook my head in reply. “But I have to know what her body feels like in my hands. I’m going mad over here, not knowing how she dances.”
The car grew quiet for a bit. I suspected everyone else was imagining how Ivy would feel in their arms. She was beautiful in a quiet, understated way.
Isaac cleared his throat. “She said she wants to take the courting slowly. Dem, when is her first heat?”
“Less than two months,” Demetrius replied as he turned the SUV into the pack’s neighborhood block.
My nerves flickered as Isaac, Lukas, and I exhaled.
“What are we going to do? Two months is not a lot of time,” I said.
Lukas twisted around in his seat to face us. “A lot can happen in two months. She’s scared right now, but her omega instincts to nest will kick in.”
“Or she’ll not be ready to nest with us, and we’ll go on blockers to dull the heat,” Demetrius added as he pulled into the driveway of our packhouse. “We have to follow her lead on this one. She’s our omega, and we must take care of her.”
The whole car replied in agreement, frustration be damned. She’d definitely be worth every ounce of suffering.