Page 52 of Noah

“Oh! What do you deliver?” she asked.

Noah could have sat in the front, instead, he shifted his bulk into the back seat, sitting flush up against her. Adrienne’s fingers clenched on the seat. If he didn’t give her space tonight, she was liable to jump him.

Ignoring the heat of his body she refocused on Finley. “…anything. I take postal deliveries first.”

“Wait! How do you get the post?”

Finley chuckled. “We have a special agreement with the post office. It gets delivered to the front gate. We collect it and there’s a delivery office on the ground floor of the hub. We sort and disperse from there.”

“I see.”

“Most people prefer to collect their post. We’re social people. We like any excuse to leave our homes. Anyone who wants post or other deliveries to be delivered to their home can go to our app and tick that box. It all gets sent to our post office and I get the list. Well, me and my colleagues.” Finley liked his job; it was clear from his excited tone as he spoke.

“Finley is one of Drey’s people,” Noah told her.

“Ah, so you’re one of his honorary family members.”

Finley smiled and opened his mouth when Noah put in, “It’s not real family. It’s just what they say.”

Finley’s face fell.

Adrienne frowned. Was that what Noah thought?

Didn’t he see how they wanted to help him?

Drey had sensed something was wrong with him and turned up to give him a sounding board.

Everyone had helped him to try to get him interested in something. Briar spent every morning of the past week helping him figure out what he wanted to try. Finley was here driving them both and she suspected it was because he wanted Noah to know he was part of the family.

Adrienne glanced at Noah to find him staring at the passing trees. Absolutely clueless. He truly didn’t see the efforts they were making.

Adrienne cleared her throat and asked Finley, “Do you have a mate?”

Shaking off the awkwardness, Finley flicked his eyes to the mirror and looked at her as he answered. “No. I’m open to finding someone, but it hasn’t happened for me yet.”

“I’m sure some lovely female will snap you up.” She was certain the even-tempered male wouldn’t be short of company for long.

Finley’s smile was slow to return. “I’m hopeful,” he answered.

Noah edged closer to her if that was possible. She hardly had room to breathe. His hand found its way to the back of her neck, and he growled low.

Adrienne frowned at him. “If this is how you are going to be all evening we may as well turn back,” she grumbled.

Finley coughed and looked away.

Noah’s hand clenched on her neck. His eyes were furious, but she had no idea why. He let her go slowly, breathing out roughly. “I apologise.” Noah was sincere and when she saw his hand fall into his lap, she took it instinctively. He needed to get rid of the tension.

Noah’s shoulders moved back, and his chest expanded. She saw his eyes twitch and wondered what the hell was going on with him.

Like he sensed her ire, he began stroking the inside of her wrist. “Still working on my manners,” Noah murmured.

Finley’s smile when it came wobbled slightly.

Adrienne wondered if Finley’s dominance was equal to Noah’s. There were noticeable patterns of behaviour in dominant males.

Female differences were beginning to show. At first, it had been assumed that females were all equal. Now they knew if they were, then they would be tearing each other apart.

Lila told her, “Females show rank differently. Our submissive females are quieter and need more touch than any of the Numbers. It doesn’t make them less than any other member. We’re beginning to realise Numbers need the variation.”

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