Page 25 of Rut Bar

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The smellof coffee right by my nose wakes me, and I grunt and fling an arm over my eyes to shield them from the sun. Why the fuck are his curtains so ridiculously sheer? “It’s too early.”

Jamie chuckles, and the bed dips as he sits, and then a hand ruffles through my hair. “It’s nine. You said you wanted to get to Rut early today.”

I heave a weary sigh, then crack my eyes open and regret it immediately. “You’re right. Thanks for waking me.” I take the hot mug from him and sip it gingerly. The first hit of caffeine is almost as good as the first cigarette of the day. “What time did you get up?”

“Six.”

“Masochist.” I scrub a hand down my face and wipe the crust from my eyes.

He chuckles and rises to shower and dress, and I take a moment to appreciate the view as he strips his wetsuit off and hangs it up. God, he’s gorgeous. His blond hair is wet and dark from the ocean, and he’s still absolutely delicious after only three hours of sleep. I don’t know how he does it. No matter what position I sleep in, I always look like a depressed goblin nightmare boy first thing in the morning.

I drag my sorry ass out of bed before the temptation to roll over and go back to sleep can claim me. While he showers, I throw on my dirty clothes from last night and head out to his balcony with my cigarettes and coffee.

The ocean might not be as fun for me to swim in as Jamie finds it, but the view sure is nice. An elderly couple dressed in matching pink polo shirts and white visors walks by and waves. I return the gesture with my coffee mug before I drain it. The wind tousles my hair and I shake my head to get it out of my face.

“Those’ll kill you,” Jamie says behind me.

“Not fast enough.” Our routine is familiar. The words never change, and that’s comforting in its own way, even if it’s scary. I’ve never doneforeverbefore. It’s nice, though. Especially with Jamie. He’s the only alpha I’ve ever met who doesn’t, on some level, think he’s better than me because of our dynamics.

I flick the ash into the ceramic ashtray he bought for me and placed here where I like to smoke. We’ve never spoken of its appearance, but I know it wasn’t there the first night he brought me to his home.

“Do you want a protein shake?” he asks as he heads back inside to the kitchen. Jamie pulls out his blender, then rifles through his fridge.

“Nowthatshit will kill you.” I snub my cigarette out, then pull the sliding glass door shut behind me until it latches.

“How?” he asks, his nose crinkling with amused confusion as he looks back at me.

“Sadness.” I plant a kiss on his cheek, mindful of my cigarette and coffee breath and my dire need of a toothbrush, then grab my things. “See ya later, babe.”

“You’re not riding in with me?” he asks.

“Not today. Got work to do. Love ya.”

“I love you too.”

There’s not enough time to stop by my apartment if I want to get to Rut early so I drive straight to the club. I should probably keep a change of clothes and a toothbrush in my car if this is going to keep happening.

I hope it happens again.

Rush hour traffic is almost done at this hour. That’s one perk of this job. The main perk is working with Veronica. Now all I need is to figure out how to get the stubborn omega to bend. My fingers tap with the rhythm of the radio as I pull into the parking lot and park in my usual spot.

I’m the first one here.Good. I pull my visor down, flip the mirror open, and run a hand through my hair until it’s less insane-looking, and then I head inside with the help of my key. I flip the lights on and make sure everything’s in order, and then I take the stairs to her office two at a time. I have the key to this door too, since I have to come in early sometimes to take keg deliveries.

There’s only the faintest hint of her orangey scent since the fans have been working for hours to exhaust all the pheromones. I cross to her desk and flop into her chair, then pull her drawers open one by one. When I find one that has personal effects in it, including what looks like a brand new bottle of scent-nullifying body spray, I grin.

Perfect.

I pick the bottle up, lay her panties down and spread them out so the first thing she’ll see and scent is Jamie’s enormous cum stain, and then I spray her desk down with the nullifier, shove the bottle into the back of the drawer, and shut it. When she digs around for her nullifier, she’s going to find her present instead.

“That was easy.” I lock her office and head downstairs to start prep work and throw some food in the fryer because I’m fucking starving and my hard work’s earned a treat. With my phone synced to the speakers, I blast some music and get to work.

There’s a lot of planning and prep we have to do if we want to make Vee admit how much she needs her pack.

ChapterSeven

VERONICA

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