Chapter Five
Blade
What the fuck?
I sat in the living room pretending to watch a ball game on TV while Wyatt cooked dinner. I kept running the scenario in the grocery store with Heather over and over in my head. I couldn’t figure out why Wyatt had done what he’d done. He’d seemed almost territorial about me.
We can’t stand each other. Right?
My face warmed as I thought about the energy between us in the car. I was uneasy to admit I’d wanted to kiss him. I’d wanted that so bad I’d been unable to breathe properly. Even now, as I sat on the couch, my nipples pricked with the thought of him putting his mouth on mine. I shifted because my underwear was uncomfortable and tight suddenly.
I rubbed my sweaty face and tried to think about things logically. What had changed between us? Anger was a passionate emotion. Perhaps the constant frustration we felt with each other was being misinterpreted by our bodies as lust. I liked that answer. It made sense to me. Emotions were hard to navigate. I wasn’t good at doing it, that was for sure. It wasn’t hard to accept that I could possibly confuse frustration with arousal.
I attempted to picture Heather naked. It was a pleasant enough thought. We’d certainly enjoyed each other many times. She had big, beautiful breasts, and she was energetic in bed. Why had I stopped seeing her? Probably because I didn’t like dating a girl over a couple of months, or it gave them the wrong idea. I didn’t need them thinking I was looking to settle down. I definitely didn’t want anything serious. I didn’t know how to really form deep relationships; I preferred to keep things superficial.
The one thing I loved was my job. I knew I was good at, and it was the most fulfilling thing in my life. I was well aware I probably suffered from abandonment issues and that might be one reason I was shy about getting into a real relationship. But if I didn’t care about getting married and having kids, what did it matter? I was only thirty and I had plenty of time to figure out that shit. Or maybe I’d never figure it out and I’d be a bachelor all my life. That was my business.
In the old days, omega males had been expected to breed with an alpha female and get her pregnant right away. We were supposed to have lots of babies, and the omega would stay home and care for the children. Omegas had needed the alphas to satisfy our desire for security and a family. But times were different now, and I didn’t need anyone to protect or care for me. There would always be those who looked down on me for choosing my career over having babies, but that didn’t bother me.
Wyatt approached and my pulse skipped alarmingly.
“Do you mind if I have a beer?” He wore a bright red apron he’d insisted on buying at the store. He’d been adamant that he didn’t want to ruin his clothes when he cooked.
“No. Help yourself.”
He started to walk away and then stopped. “Do you want one?”
“No, thanks. I’m on duty.”
He laughed. “You know no one is ever going to come after me, right? Even Tork said this is just a precaution.”
“Until Shield says I’m off the clock, I’m not off the clock.”
“Suit yourself.” He made his way back into the kitchen.
I thought about Darcy telling me Shield and Fist were merging. I wondered how soon that would happen and if Wyatt knew. Would I see more of Wyatt now? I scowled at the TV just thinking about that. We’d always butted heads, but now with this weird energy between us, being around him was twice as awful.
He wandered into the room and plopped down next to me on the couch. He pulled off his apron and then laid it over the arm of the sofa. I was annoyed he’d chosen the same area as me. I gave him a chilly look. “There are other chairs in the room.”
“I can’t see the game from them.” He shook his head. “Don’t flatter yourself that I want to be near you.”
I scooted farther away and put my feet up on the ottoman. “Shouldn’t you be watching the food?”
“It’s simmering. It needs to cook longer to tenderize the beef.” He sipped his beer. “Who’s winning?”
I hadn’t been paying any attention to the game, so I quickly scanned the screen and saw the score at the bottom. “The Angels.”
He grunted.
“What are you making?” I asked.
“Beef Stroganoff.” He crossed his legs. “It’s an old family recipe.”
“Yeah, I don’t have any of those.”
He glanced at me. “Just as well, you’d butcher them.”
“What?” I scowled.
He snorted. “You can’t cook.”
I widened my eyes, and I sat up. “Excuse me?”
He looked a little embarrassed, but he didn’t back down. “I said your cooking sucks.”
“I made you one meal. From that you’ve decided all my meals would suck?” I shook my head. “As usual, you’re an arrogant prick.”
He laughed. “What’s the big deal? I didn’t say you couldn’t shoot. I said you can’t cook. Did you have big plans of competing on Top Chef or something?”
“I never had anyone to show me how to cook.” I scowled. “I’ll bet your mom had you help her in the kitchen growing up.” I wasn’t sure why his criticism of my cooking abilities was bugging me so much. I never cooked anyway. I always ate out.
He pursed his lips, and his gaze was thoughtful. He shrugged. “Okay. You win.”
“I win?” What did that mean?
“My mom did teach me how to cook. You didn’t have a mom, so you win.”
I crossed my hands over my chest. “I had a mom.” She just didn’t want me. “Everyone has a mom.”
An uneasy silence fell. He shifted and faced me. “Did your parents die?”
“What?” I frowned at him.
“You said you were in foster care. How did you get in the system?”
I pressed my lips tight and wrestled with my anger at how nosy he was being. When I didn’t respond, he sighed and leaned toward me.
“You met my mom. What’s the big deal talking about your family?”
I gave him a dirty look. “Why? So you can make fun of me?”
He raised his brows. “What? I wouldn’t mock your family.”
“Yeah, right.”
He made an impatient sound, and he grabbed my wrist. “Blade, I would never make fun of your family. I’m not like that. Family is important to me.”
His sincerity got through to me, and the feel of his fingers on my skin made my heart beat faster. I swallowed and met his gaze. “I never knew them.” My voice was hushed. I’d never told a living soul about my family. Why was I spilling my secrets to this man I couldn’t stand? Something about his hand on my arm made me want to talk to him.
“Never?”
I shook my head. “I was left in a hospital bathroom as a newborn.”
“Shit. That’s nuts.” He let go of my arm.
The minute he released his grip on me, paranoia set in. “Promise me you won’t repeat any of this to anyone.”
“Of course not.”
“I don’t even know why I told you.” I frowned, feeling rattled. “I never talk about this stuff.” Was it easier to tell him because he was an alpha and as an omega I instinctively trusted him?
His gaze held mine, and I could see the pulse in his neck hammering away. “I’m… I’m glad you told me.”
I wasn’t sure I was glad. I was still puzzled as to why I’d said one word to him. Why was everything twice as weird between us lately?
“What were the people who took you into foster care like?” He grimaced. “I mean… I know they must have been assholes because you said you left in your teens. I assume if they’d been great you’d have stayed.”
I wrestled with telling him more, but his gaze was so soft and open, I found myself relenting. “They did it for the money. They fostered a bunch of kids in their house.”
“Oh. Here I was thinking of foster parents as loving saviors.”
“Most of them probably are. I just got unlucky.”
He frowned. “I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “Whatever.”
“No. Not whatever. That must have been unbelievably hard.” His voice was firm. “It’s awful they were jerks. They were in charge of molding you.”
I narrowed my gaze. “Meaning what? They were assholes, so of course I am too?”
“What?” He pulled his brows together. “That’s not what I meant.”
“You said they were jerks and they molded me.”
He winced. “Well, yeah… but…”
I stood, feeling strange and flustered. Why had I told him anything about my past? Since when did I talk about personal crap to anyone? Let alone my archnemesis? He was probably going to spread my sad story all over the place now.
He stood too. “Blade, listen to me. I didn’t mean anything like how you took it. I just misspoke.”
“I should never have told you. You better not breathe a word of this to anyone.” I glowered. “Do you understand me?”
“You’re overreacting.” He chuffed. “What a surprise.”
“I’m not. I just don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me,” I growled, raking a shaky hand through my hair. “That’s why I prefer no one knows.”
“I don’t feel sorry for you.” His jaw was tense.
“You sure?”
“Positive,” he snapped.
I exhaled. “Okay. Then there’s no problem.”
His shoulders relaxed, but he still looked pissed. “Jesus, only we could almost get in a brawl talking about family.”
“I wasn’t that mad.”
He raised his dark brows. “Really? I don’t think you see yourself very clearly.”
“I was just irritated.”
“You were pissed. Don’t kid yourself. I thought you were going to take a swing at me.”
I scowled. “You’re my client. I wouldn’t punch you.”
He smirked. “You mean try? Because I’m sure I can hold my own with you.”
His challenging tone had the wolf in me riled all over again. “Maybe someday when I’m not in charge of your safety we can have a go at each other.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I’d love to put you in your place.”
“And I’d love for you to try.” His gaze seemed bright, and he licked his lips. “I’d be on top of you so fast your head would spin.”
Why did it feel like we were talking about sex? Why did I always feel like we were one second away from ripping each other’s clothes off lately?
“You’re an idiot,” I grumbled.
“Sure. An idiot who could kick your ass with one hand behind my back.”
“Fuck you.” I couldn’t seem to pull my eyes from his lips, and my crotch felt hot and constricted. It was getting exhausting fighting these bizarre urges. I didn’t understand them, but they were definitely intense.
Feeling overwhelmed, I turned my back on him, and he surprised me when he moved closer, swallowing the distance between us. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled, and his hot breath puffed against my neck. I was light-headed as my wolf overwhelmed me, my arms tingled, and my breathing was elevated. What was he doing? What the hell was happening?
I could feel his confusion radiating off him. I suspected he too was under the power of his wolf. He pushed closer still. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’ll go where I want.” I had an internal struggle going on. My omega wanted to submit to him because that was how it was done. But I couldn’t stand him, and I was still uncomfortable about the fact we were both men. Maybe two males fucking wasn’t unusual in our wolf society, but it sure as hell was unusual for me.
“You’re the mouthiest omega I’ve ever met.” He was so close his erection pressed my ass cheeks.
The wave of lust that rocked me almost made my legs give out. “Back off, Wyatt.” My voice shook as I growled my warning.
He put his hands on my hips. “I’m the alpha. You don’t tell me what to do.”
My heart pounded against my ribs, and I instinctively leaned back into his chest. Jesus fucking Christ, I wanted him. Sweat broke out on my face as I struggled with what was happening to me. I’d never hungered for another man, but now I shivered as I tried to hold my need in check. I could smell his arousal. Alphas took what they wanted, and omegas let them. That was how it was. That was how it had always been.
I swallowed against the lump in my throat. Every inch of my skin tingled as I waited for him to make his move. If I fought him, would he hurt me? Did I want to fight him?
It felt like we stood there for an hour, him pressing against me and me shivering with desire. He took a tighter hold of my hips, and he sank his teeth into the back of my neck and a searing pain radiated through my shoulders.
I struggled for a second, growling at the pain, and he whispered, “You need to submit to me, omega.” He sounded nervous, but his voice was thick with lust.
“Never.” My voice trembled.
He reached around me and traced my erection through my jeans. “You want me too.” It wasn’t a question. “Submit, omega.”
A whimper pushed from my tight throat when he touched my cock, and excitement radiated through my entire body. But I straightened my spine, and I forced myself to pull slowly from his grasp. “I won’t.”
“I don’t know what will happen if you fight me, Blade.” His voice rumbled from deep in his chest.
“We can’t stand each other,” I hissed.
“I don’t think it matters.”
I faced him. “Instinct doesn’t control me. We need to fight this.” I could see the struggle on his flushed features. His eyes were dark green with lust and his lips parted. I took two steps away from him, feeling a complete lack of control.
He swallowed and whispered, “What… whatever you do, Blade, don’t run.”
“Why?” Excitement balled in my gut.
“Because I will chase you.” He narrowed his heated gaze. “And I will catch you.”
His enraged growl was the last thing I heard as I bolted from the room.