Page 11 of Alpha Reid

I arch a brow. “Do you like it?”

Serena blows out a breath, looking to the array of shopping bags on her bed, then back to me. “Reid, this is too much,” she says quietly.

I give a shake of my head. “Nah, it’s the least I could do. I want to make sure you have everything you need here.”

I don’t tell her what I’m really thinking.

I want to take care of you.

I want to provide for you.

I’m not trying to scare the girl off by coming on too strong, too soon, even though I do want those things.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” Serena breathes, a pretty pink blush staining her cheeks. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” I say with a casual wave of my hand, though her reaction makes me feel like a million bucks. “I’ll let you get settled in. If there’s anything they missed, just let me know and I’ll get it for you.”

She nods, and it takes every ounce of my willpower not to cross the room to her right now. Not to wrap my arms around that slender waist, kiss those plush pink lips. Run my hands through that fiery red hair. Twist it around my fist and tug until her head falls back. Lick along the column of her neck. Strip her bare and learn exactly how and where she likes to be touched, what her moans sound like when she’s in the throes of passion…

“I’ll be downstairs,” I grind out, turning away so Serena doesn’t see me adjusting myself in my slacks.

My hard dick strains against my zipper as I make my way back downstairs and try to focus my mind on anything else, anything but that tempting little redhead occupying the room next to mine. I’m saved by the bell when the chime of the doorbell rings out- which is odd, both because I’m not expecting anyone and because the doorbell’s rarely used; I don’t typically lock the front door of the packhouse until I go to sleep. I make my way over, flipping the deadbolt and pulling it open, coming face to face with hell on wheels Fallon Eastwick.

“Where is she?” Fallon asks, stepping past me into the packhouse and looking around.

“Hello to you, too,” I chuckle, moving out of the way as Quinn, Brooke, and Astrid pour in behind her.

Fallon spins around to face me, throwing her hands on her hips. “Well?”

I fold my arms, chuckling in amusement. “Upstairs, second to last room,” I supply, nodding toward the staircase.

Without another word, all four girls all take off in the direction of the stairs.

“Try not to overwhelm her, huh?” I call after them, but I have a feeling my words are falling on deaf ears. The welcome wagon has officially arrived for Serena, and if I know my friends’ mates, she’ll have no choice but to humor them.

I laugh softly, shaking my head and turning back toward the open door right as Gray steps through.

“Sorry about them, man,” he sighs, crossing the threshold into the packhouse and clapping me on the shoulder.

“As soon as they heard about Serena, they insisted on coming over here to meet her,” Jax says, pushing inside behind Gray. “Believe it or not, we actually held them off for a few hours.”

“Oh, I believe it,” I smirk, giving Theo and Brock a nod in greeting as they file in behind Jax and Gray.

“Wish I knew you guys were coming, I would’ve bought beer or something,” I remark as I kick the door closed behind the guys.

“Please,” Jax scoffs, heading straight for the fridge. “You know Cy keeps it fully stocked.” He pulls it open, peering inside. His eyes light up and he reaches in, his hands full of beers when he pulls them back out. “See, what’d I tell ya?”

“You’re lucky,” Brock grumbles, casting a glance my way as he takes a beer from Jax. “My beta just drinks the beer; he doesn’t stock it.”

“Can you ever keep it stocked between him and your brother?” I tease.

Brock smirks, twisting the top off of the beer bottle. “Astrid’s cracking the whip these days when it comes to that stuff. We actually have groceries now on a regular basis.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “She’s too good for you, man.”

He tilts his beer my way. “Don’t I know it.” A rare smile graces Brock’s lips as he brings the bottle to them, taking a long swig.

“We were able to dig up some info on your girl,” Theo says, holding up a large envelope as Jax doles out beers to the rest of us. “You ready for this?” he asks, swishing the envelope back and forth in the air.

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