Page 59 of Packed Up In Vegas

With a sigh I got to my feet and accepted her goodbye hug, probably the last one we’d have. “You’re a good friend, Fare. Thanks for today.”

“You’re more than welcome.”

“Someone better hurry their ass and snap you up.”

“I think that regularly,” she said with a laugh. “Good luck with your omega.”

I took the long way home, looping the city and blasting music to settle myself. I’d fought so hard to get away from the weight of expectation that had choked me all my life, and every time I thought about Callie, it was like crashing myself against that wall on repeat.

Instead of going straight home, I diverted into Red Rock Canyon. There was nothing much to see in the dark, but it would be quiet and I wasn’t eager to face any of the pack quite yet. When I’d first come out here from New York, I’d gone to the canyon a lot simply to get away from the city. On occasion I’d actually hike, but more often I’d pick one of the overlooks and sit, watching the light play over the stone. It looked so unlike where I’d grown up, and that had always been a comfort, a reminder that I was far enough away that I could create the life I wanted instead of the one expected of me.

I’d have to go home eventually, and I did, turning onto the road back only when I was reasonably certain the others would be in bed, if not asleep, by the time I got there.

The pack house was dark when I arrived. Small blessings.

Tomorrow I would work on making amends.

The moment I stepped inside I was confronted by Callie’s scent. It was everywhere. Her stress, her desire, her mere existence coating every surface and snaking through my system like a venom I couldn’t stop. I hadn’t realized how strong it would be after hours without it. All of my nerves primed, cock tenting, and heart pounding to be submerged in her candied apple scent again.

Fuck me.

I pushed ahead until I hit the doors to the courtyard and stepped out into the night air to get my head on straight.

A sharp inhalation drew my attention, and I turned to see Callie sitting in one of the wicker egg chairs with her phone in hand.

“What are you doing out here?” I asked, trying very hard not to focus on the way the screen light accented the curve of her lips and the barely there nightgown that dipped entirely too low for my brain to manage.

“I couldn’t sleep. It’s so nice out tonight I thought I would read out here for a bit.”

“The others weren’t successful in tiring you out?” I regretted the words the moment her lips pursed. “I’m sorry. I’ve been…on edge.”

Callie snorted. “Is that what you’re calling it?”

I flexed my fingers, trying to dispel the desire to touch her, even though her scent hung in the air like a lure, calling me.

“Why do you always do that?” she asked, tilting her head like it would give her some insight into my internal workings.

“I thought it would be better to do that than to touch you when you don’t want me to.”

Candied apple reached across the distance to me. “Oh.”

“I should go to bed. It’s been a long day.”

“Wait.” Callie set down her phone and padded over to me, bringing that maddening scent with her.

Every instinct tuned to her. I should’ve ignored her and left, but her simple request had me rooted to the spot. “For what?”

“Did you, um, have fun tonight?” She was looking at me with enormous eyes, her breath quickening.

“Not particularly, no.”

“Oh. Why not? I thought you had a date.”

“Something of the sort.”

Her scent turned sharp, her lips bowing into a frown. “What does that mean?”

“It means I went to a lover’s door and couldn’t fucking bring myself to touch them because all I was thinking about was you.”

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