Page 14 of Rut Bar

“The pay is pretty good, but I made more money pro surfing.”

“What?” I had no idea he surfed. I don’t know much about his personal life outside of the club, actually. And he’s been with me since the early days, almost since our doors first opened.

“Yeah, some competitions pay a lot in prizes. Plus, there are sponsorships. And I taught lessons too. One time I got a brand deal for a board wax that still pays pretty good every month. My money guy says I’m pretty set, but I don’t like being stuck in the house all day and I’m too old for the circuits. I’ve got mad respect for the dudes still hitting the competition waves, but that’s not for me anymore. I like my little slice of beach and this. Dancing at Rut gives me something to do when I’m done surfing in the morning. And all the dancing is good cardio.”

He catches my eye. “Plus I get to see you. I like seeing your face every day. I’d like to see it every day forever if you’ll let me.”

He likes seeing my face every day,is my first thought, followed quickly by,and that’s why he’s always late.Because he’s surfing before work.

I lean against the bathroom wall for support because suddenly it feels like the rug’s been pulled out from under my feet. This isn’t a brief infatuation or an offer to be heat fuck buddies. It’s not an offer to do my laundry, either. That was a bullshit excuse. He knew what would happen if I let him into my nest during a heat. We both did.

That’s why I had to say no.

And that’s why he wanted me to say yes.

His expression is devastated, and I put that kicked puppy look on his face. I feel like the worst sort of person in the world. It might not seem so bad if I wasn’t actually attracted to him, but I am.

And it’s not only because he’s hot, but also because he’s sweet and thoughtful.

He offers to walk me to my car so I’m not alone in the parking lot late at night. He’s always so cheerful even when I’m in a shit mood. And he makes the other dancers laugh. Being around him feels good. Easy. Natural.

“You work at Rut forme?” I ask.

“Yeah. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you,” he says.

We’re both silent as I digest this. It’s like the planets are realigning in my universe. This hulking, gorgeous alpha—the one whom half of LA wants to fuck and the other half wants to be—said he wants to fall to his knees before me.

And maybe it’s the preheat or being bathed in Brendan’s pheromones for days that’s wrecking my self-control, but that’s exactly where I want him.Stop it.Once the idea’s in my head, I can’t get it out.You can’t.The idea of Jamie on his knees for me crowds out every other thought.It’s wrong.

My tastes are… peculiar. Could he actually swallow his pride and do it? Most alphas won’t. They get too caught up in the idea of what an alpha should be. They take the dynamic stuff too seriously with their endless posturing and pecking order bullshit. But Jamie is easygoing. He’s never balked at following my lead or refused a command. The alpha staff who aren’t okay taking orders from an omega don’t last long at Rut.

But taking orders from a boss and taking orders from a lover are different situations. If I tell him what I want, what I expect, he’ll balk like all the others. Once he’s refused, shown me his repulsion, I can finally get over this crush. Chalk it up to pheromone driven nonsense.

This is a bad idea.

A terrible one.

It’s probably not going to end well.

But I realize I’m going to do it anyway, and a calmness settles over me now that I have a plan. He won’t give up until I show him exactly why he doesn’t really want me. And a part of me wants to see how far he’ll go. There’s only so much temptation one omega can resist.

When I tell him what I want from him and he says no, then it’s not my fault this didn’t work. Things can go back to how they’ve been.

“You want me?” I ask him.

“Yes.” His eyes light up with hope. “More than anything.”

“Then prove it,” I command. My heart knocks against my ribs as he stares at me with those puppy dog eyes. “Get on your knees and crawl to me, alpha.”

If he thinks the command is odd, he doesn’t question it. Jamie sinks to his knees on the bathroom floor and goes down on his hands, and then he crawls. The entire time he does the humiliating gesture, his attention never wavers. I search his face for a hint of disgust or anger but find none of that.

Oh, shit.

Instead, he stares up at me like I’m a goddess he wants to worship.

I’m so fucked.

Because I really like the way he looks when he’s on his knees at my feet.

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