Page 81 of Scheme
Shit.
“Obviously, you’re doing it for Asher’s benefit,” Kit added hurriedly, probably noticing my flaming red face. He paused for a moment, his expression turning thoughtful. “To think, when we made this deal,youwere the one assuringmethat you had no intention of holding me to that declaration. We’ve switched positions.”
“Kit…” I trailed off, not entirely sure what I wanted to say. Or perhaps, not having thecourageto say what I wanted to say.
“I’m at your disposal, Margot,” Kit teased, running his hands absently up and down my spine, tracing the zipper of my dress and dancing his fingers over the curve of my ass. “Tell your family whatever you like. Do what you want with me.”
Nowthatwas a dangerous proposition.
Margot mine.
Not about to die and go somewhere you’re not.
Show me that neck.
What was real and what was just my scent muddling his senses? The only objective way of knowing was to wait it out. To go into my nest alone, go through myheatalone, and emerge clear-headed and clear-scented on the other side.
Just the idea of that gave me phantom cramps, as though my body was punishing me in advance.
“The things you said… Is it just pillow talk?” I rasped, digging deep for the courage to ask, torn between the risk of humiliating myself and trusting Kit not to hurt me if he could possibly avoid it.
Kit’s hands froze for a moment, and I braced myself for rejection before his lips brushed the top of my head.
“It’s not just pillow talk.”
I swallowed thickly, trying to decide if his answer made me feel better or terrified me more.
Even if I took my heat—myscent—out of the equation, Kit was still leaving. His lifestyle still wasn’t conducive to taking a mate, just like he’d warned—
“Don’t panic,” Kit ordered gently, wrapping his arms around me and squeezing me tightly. “I meant every word I said on the beach in Brighton. Every word I’ve said since. I’m already yours, but we’re on your timeline here, Margot mine. When you’re ready for me, you’ll let me know.”
Chapter 19
Iwokeupsticky,hot, and alone.
Strangely, it took me back to the moment I’d woken up by myself in my nest after my first heat, way back when I was eighteen. The only heat where rejection had been the prevailing emotion riding me when I’d come back to consciousness.
He said he was going to get us clothes, I reminded myself.Don’t get all weird about it.
Shaking off the old ghosts, I climbed out of the soaking sheets and darted for the bathroom, immediately flipping on the shower.
I absolutely reeked of sex, and the travel-size bottle of Om-Guard I’d chucked in my clutch to get me through the dinner was absolutely not going to cut it today. Cranking the water as hot as I could stand in, I stepped into the spray and tipped my head back, letting our combined scents wash down the drain and trying not to feel some way about it.
If there was one thing I’d learned from this experience, it was that friends with benefits did not work between alpha and omega. It was one thing to fuck within the defined constraints of one of Bryce and Kane’s parties, but this whole ongoing, spending-time-together thing was an entirely different beast.
“I’m coming in,” Kit called, making me jump. I hadn’t even heard him come back into the room.
He appeared in new shorts and a t-shirt that had clearly been folded on a display rack before he put it on, judging by the lines. I twisted away, watching him over my shoulder. I must look a fright, I hadn’t taken off my makeup last night.
With asmoulderinglook that should quite frankly be illegal, he set down a bag on the counter.
“I grabbed you some clothes, a new bottle of that scentshield lotion you like, and there’s breakfast and coffee on the table when you’re ready. We’ve got late checkout.”
“Stop that,” I ordered, narrowing my eyes at him over my shoulder.
“Stop what?” he asked, baffled.
“Being so…” I gestured vaguely at him, keeping one arm banded over my boobs.
