It had been an entire week and all I could think about was the feel of his lips on mine. It had been the perfect moment, the one you saw in movies and read about in poems, at least, until it wasn’t. The awkwardness following his rejection only amplified the rest of the night. The next morning, he went on as if nothing happened and so did I.

That wasn’t exactly true. I tried to go on as if nothing happened, but something had. Something magical. I couldn’t help but stare at his lips when he wasn’t looking, check out his ass as he walked away, and even caught myself walking a bit too close to him a few times.

I couldn’t help it. Once I got a taste of him, I needed more. I thirsted for him. Basically, I was a hot fucking mess being led around by my lower brain. I needed to talk about it. I ran through so many conversations with him in my head, it was insane. Of course, in all of my imaginary conversations, we ended up naked.

Naked. Maybe that was it. I had assumed he was straight when I moved in, having had an omega female and all. Was this attraction new for him? I mean, his erection didn’t lie, he had wanted me during that kiss. But that didn’t mean he was comfortable with that want.

I was frustrating myself with all the second guessing. He wanted me. He didn’t want me. Work was the thing in the way. His sexuality was the thing in the way. None of it made sense and none of it would until I managed to grow a pair and speak with him. Problem was, I was a chicken shit loser.

I loved my job, loved Chloe, loved living in the burbs. Was it worth messing that all up because of a growing attraction and fondness for my boss? Scratch that, the attraction had always been there even when I was in denial, but the connection and comfort with Wyatt had grown over time. He was more than a friend by this point. He was my family, my alpha. Even if it wasn’t real and only in my head. I blamed my heat for the entire realization. Effing suppressants. I buried my head in my hands. I needed to get my shit together. Chloe had already been napping for a decent chunk of time and she needed me to get my head out of my ass.

“You feeling okay?” Wyatt’s scent hit me at the same time as his voice. I could bath in that cedar and coffee scent forever.

“Sorry, just lost in my head.” I sat up straighter, keeping my head down so he didn’t see the confusion in my eyes. “You’re home early.” I needed to man up and discuss this with him, but only after I got it all straight in my head.

“I have an hour and a half before my next appointment so I thought I’d see if Chloe was up yet.” My shoulders fell. A not-too-small part of me had wanted him here to see me, knowing she’d be asleep.

“She’s not.” I glanced up at the clock to see I’d been in my own head longer than I thought. “She’s been an hour and a half-ish.”

“I guess I’ll head back then.”

He started to turn before I found myself off the couch, calling to him. “You don’t have to.” He looked at me quizzically. Of course he didn’t have to. It was his freaking house. “I mean—stay.” I tilted my head to the couch behind me and then retook my seat. It was a bold, very un-omega move, but I needed him here. Maybe this was the right time to talk.

He came and sat, his body hugging the arm of the couch farthest from me. He was close, yet so far. Baby steps. Only moments earlier he had been ready to bolt because of the elephant in the room. And by elephant, I meant crackling sexual tension you could almost see.

“About the other day,” he began, relieving me of the pressure to start this conversation. I knew it was necessary, yet it still freaked me out. So much could go wrong. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. You’re my employee.”

“I’m not.” It slipped out without thinking. Maybe this was a conversation best approached without thinking. Maybe cerebral functions would only ruin it. Or maybe I already had by opening my mouth. I inched a bit closer, knowing he noticed but not caring.

“You’re quitting.” His eyes opened wide with alarm. Okay, thinking before speaking was a necessity.

“No.” I took a full slide over, forgetting about my inching strategy and grabbed his hand. “Absolutely not.” He looked to my hand and for a brief moment it looked like he was going to take his hand back. Instead, he gave mine a little squeeze before settling our joined hands on his knee. His eyes might still hold worry, but his body seemed to be relaxing, and that was a step in the right direction. “I’m not sorry you kissed me. I wanted you to.”

The words didn’t stick in my throat as I feared they would. They flowed freely, his acceptance of my hand making me braver than I had been seconds earlier. A slight smile crossed his face before he schooled himself. That was a good sign.

“It was taking advantage of you and nothing good can come of it.” It sounded almost rehearsed coming from his lips. Had he talked himself out of things before they started? That wasn’t gonna work with me.

“I’m pretty much thinking a ton of good can come of it, like, orgasms for instance.” I winced at my words. What the heck was I thinking?

I was thinking the alpha beside me was hotter than hot, and from the quick glance I “accidentally” took of his lap, he reciprocated the thought. I closed my eyes briefly, willing myself not to ruin this. As he inched closer to me, relief set in.

“But it could ruin everything we have here. You. Chloe. Our life.” His voice was trembling. I wanted to cover his face with kisses, reassure him this would make things better, not worse. I could feel it.

“Or…” I brought my hand up to his cheek, “it could make things exponentially better. Answer me this. Do you like men?” That startled him back and I dropped my hand.

“I like you.” He grabbed my free hand and brought it back up to his cheek, a silent apology for his almost freak out.

“Not the same.” He gave a subtle nod but I needed to be sure. If he was more into vaginas than cocks, that was a long-term issue. If he was exploring his sexuality, that was a different thing altogether. “Are you bisexual?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Not really. I think I’m more demisexual, but your scent has me questioning even that. It attracted me to you faster than… So no, but I’m attracted to you.”

“That actually makes this less scary.” I dropped my head into the crux of his shoulder, inhaling his scent deeply. This was going to work out. I could feel it. And as his arm wrapped around me, pulling me closer, I knew he did too.

“How’s that?” he asked, the tension easing from his voice.

“Because it means your connection to me is why you are so attracted to me, not my tight ass.” Being attracted only after you knew someone, scents aside, was the best kind of attraction in my opinion. It meant it could stand the test of time. I’d experienced insta-lust, and it had quickly faded. That sucked. This? This I could work with.

“It is a nice ass, though,” he teased, the Wyatt I had known before the kiss-tastophe reemerging. As Chloe would say, it was a rainbow time. When badness turns gorgeous, like when a storm fills the sky with radiant colors.

“Not the point.” I pulled my head back, needing to see his glorious face.

“So what now?” he asked, a hesitant sparkle in his eye. Oh yeah, we were on the same page.

“I don’t know. I’ve never been in a position like this before.” And now it was time for my insecurities to come bubbling forward.

“You mean you’ve never been in the position where your boss had the hots for you but was too terrified to do anything about it?” His lips danced across my forehead. It was the first time he’d been openly affectionate like that, if you take away the kiss-tastrophe. I could get used to it.

“No, that happens a lot,” I joked. It had never happened before. “I meant I haven’t been in a position where it matters so much that it works.” And matter it did. So very much.

“So where does that leave us?” Wyatt asked, his sexy brow furrowing.

“I’m thinking more kissing.” I shrugged. “We can work on the rest later.”

“Works for me,” he said against my lips before brushing them gently with his. I leaned into him, inviting more, which he openly took before Chloe’s bedroom door creaked open and we both snapped apart.

“I think we need to take “fix Chloe’s door” off of the to-do list, Wyatt.”

“I agree. It appears it is quite handy just as it is.” He kissed my lips quickly before getting up and calling for Chloe. I had no idea what was next in all of this, but as I saw her run into the room and jump in his arms, I knew next included both of them. My alpha and the little girl who made my world.