Page 134 of Rogue & Her Hunters
If he thinks that he is going to win a staring contest, then he’s out of luck. Mars went through a period of trying those with me when he was a kid.
I have a one hundred percent win rate.
I hold Joker’s gaze, until he breaks it with a snarl of frustration.
I am still the Queen of Staring Contests.
Joker prowls to the low workbench, picking up a monitor and fiddling with it like he needs to do something with his hands. He taps on the table.
I follow him. “Are these your inventions? You’re talented.”
Joker glances at me, surprised. “You’re not going to kick my ass for being all mysterious and avoiding your questions? No more rounds of interrogation, as fun as I find them?”
“Unless you want me to stick electrodes on your cock and balls and demand that you tell me the truth or I’ll turn into a mean Alpha.”
Joker licks over his dry lips. “Now I do.”
I smirk. “My role play list is just growing longer and longer.”
When I reach to touch the metal casing of a device on the bench, Joker pushes my hand away.
“Stop,” he cries out, startled.
Joker’s breathing becomes ragged. He staggers.
I grab him by the shoulder.
Joker’s eyes are glassy.
Is he having a panic attack?
“It’s all right, Jokes,” I say, calmly. “You’re here, with me. You’re safe.”
Joker grips onto my arms to ground himself. He leans forward, taking a deep breath of my scent glands.
“There’s no fire,” Joker mutters. “No smoke. Can’t breathe, can’t…smoke…hot…”
My eyes widen.
Joker is having a flashback to the night his house burned down, killing his pack.
Horrified, I flood the gym with my powerful pheromones, knowing that he needs as many signals as possible that he’s not back there but here in the present with me.
“What can you smell?” I prompt.
Joker sniffs my neck. “Creamy, buttery espresso caramel macchiato. Alpha. Pack.Safety.”
That’s how he sees me?
How can he see me as safe?
How traumatic is his past that an Alpha like me can be his safe place?
I hold Joker closer, never wanting to let go. I feel impossibly protective.
He’s both my Beta and my Omega.
My eyes are wet.
