Page 7 of Packed Up In Vegas

“Deep breaths.” Kai laced our fingers together. I stared down at where we touched, the fizz of electricity traveling up my arm. “I promise we’re going to take very good care of you. I know I can tell you not to be nervous, but it won’t make a difference, so instead I’ll tell you to keep breathing.”

He had no alpha scent. He was probably on scent blockers like me, but it would’ve been easier to chill out if he could have just shut off my brain with a burst of whatever he smelled like.

The drive was short and I spent most of it internally screaming and trying not to sweat all over Kai’s palm.

“Here we are,” Kai said as he pulled to a stop.

It wasn’t a hotel I recognized, but then I didn’t know any that weren’t on the Strip, and it looked snazzy with teal glass that shone in the sun. The valet took the vehicle, and Kai took my hand again, wheeling my suitcase behind him to lead me inside. The brief stretch of heat between the air-conditioned vehicle and the hotel already had me sweating.

Kai chuckled. “Not used to the desert?”

“No. I’m suffering.”

“Well, I promise you don’t have to leave the AC for a while now.”

Thank goodness for small miracles.

On the way up, Kai dropped his arm around my shoulder and it took every ounce of fortitude not to simply melt against him. I wanted to know what he smelled like. Miles too. Scent blockers might be the courteous thing, but they did absolutely nothing to assuage my omega curiosity.

It wasn’t really polite to speculate, but considering what was going to be happening between me and Kai tonight, I felt a little entitled to know. How awkward would it be if his scent repulsed me? How the fuck would I get through a heat in that case?

“Are you on scent blockers too?” I asked.

“Yep. The other alphas are as well. We all get everything neutralized at the same time.”

“But what if someone doesn’t like someone’s scent? Then isn’t it too late to back out?”

He gave me a cheeky look. “Should I be offended you think my scent is going to be gross, little dove?”

Heat flared in my cheeks. “That’s not what I meant. You could think mine is gross.”

“Basically impossible with how cute I think you are.”

All the blood rushing into my cheeks was making me lightheaded.

“Diego and Amir are the other two who will be taking care of you,” Kai told me as we slipped into an immaculate open-concept penthouse suite.

“Holy shit, this is pretty.” A view of the city filled one wall through an enormous window, and the bedroom double doors were wide open to show off the biggest bed I had ever seen in real life. The bathroom was all white marble and sparkling glass, and the living room was set up with plush couches, a fireplace, and an enormous TV.

Two alphas emerged from the kitchenette area, looking oddly twin-like with their dark hair and eyes, beautifully bronze skin, and athletic forms. The easiest differentiation I could make with a two-second glance was that one had floppy curls and the other’s hair was cut short on the sides with just enough length on top to grab. I flushed at that thought being the first to enter my mind. Floppy Curls also had a sun tattoo on his hip.

“Guys, this is Callie,” Kai said, and then gestured to each of them in turn. “Callie, this is Diego and Amir.”

Diego was the one with the tattoo.

“Hi,” I squeaked.

Kai left me there with them to deposit my luggage in the bedroom and I stood frozen under their scrutiny. What did they see when they looked at me? I wasn’t entirely certain if my coloring had shifted enough so I didn’t betray my recent crying.

All the little hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up when Amir approached me, hooking his fingers beneath my chin. “Questions?”

Fuck me, his touch was full of sparks that had my stomach clenching.

“Only a million,” I said, trying at levity.

“Miles gave her the rundown,” said Kai as he returned. “We can cover anything else.”

“Where is Miles?” I asked. “He said he would be here.”

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