Page 30 of The Omega Project

With just a pane of glass between us, there’s no disguising the heat in his stare, and I feel an answering flush in my body. He might not be in a rut, but the dominance coming off him is all alpha. “It would be better for the report.”

He nods and walks back into the bathroom to collect the medical kit. He places it on the table, then pulls out a mouth swab and a plastic vial. Holding them up for my inspection, he opens his mouth and runs the sterile swab around a few times before putting it into the little vial of fluid. “It’s an endocrine test, so if it turns blue, it means I’m displaying the sex and stress hormones of a strapping, healthy alpha. If the result is anywhere between purple and a murky grey, then I’m going into a rut.” There’s still a note of teasing in his voice as the liquid turns a bright, deep blue. “I think we can safely say I’m in my ‘lover not a fighter’ phase.”

“But you’re registering as an alpha.” I mark that on the form, then scroll to the next page. “What about your aggression levels? Any changes from yesterday?”

He slides a glance at his neatly made bed. “Do you mean have I felt the urge to pummel any pillows or claw any comforters? The answer is no. I slept like a baby, and I even folded hospital corners on my sheets.”

“That’s great.” I make a note, wondering at the change. His notes said he rarely has periods where he’s not in an extreme state, caught between a painful heat and a furious rut. But right now, we could just be a pair of uni students sitting in the quad, talking about our projects.

Only, Sorenisthe project, I remind myself as I scroll down the screen. “There’s a questionnaire next…”

“Let me get comfortable first.” I expect him to head to the table, but he sinks to his knees, then slides onto his butt until he’s cross-legged in front of me, his bare toes brushing the glass. When he tilts his head back, I can see the long line of his pale throat. Soren is strikingly pretty, but he’s also undeniably male, and it’s hard not to react to that. “Lay it on me, Emily.”

I flush at the glint of challenge in his eyes, but after a glance at the visitor chairs behind me, sink into a matching pose. “Yes or no answers only, unless I ask for follow-up.”

“Okay, but if you really want to get to know me, we could just play truth or dare...”

That warm flush under my skin grows hotter, but I shake my head, keeping my gaze firmly on the screen. “Maybe some other time. But the first question asks if you’ve engaged in a violent thought in the last hour.”

He pauses, biting his lip. “Not exactly.”

“Follow-up. Can you provide a little more detail?”

“Well, I got pissy about the runny eggs at breakfast this morning, but I ate them. Then I had a bit of a rage fit over the choice of shower gel, but that’s just because I’m addicted to Tom Ford bath products.”

I smile at his sassy response, because if there’s one thing I can relate to, it’s this. “I did the same thing, actually. We were out of body wash, and it was a toss-up between my nephew’s Spiderman gel or a sliver of soap the size of my thumbnail.”

He leans in and takes a hearty sniff through the glass. “Well, you smell pretty amazing to me, so I guess it was Spiderman to the rescue.”

I shrug, but there’s no denying I get warm all over at the compliment. “Next question. Have you engaged in a violent act in the last twenty-four hours?”

He huffs out a breath and casts a thumb over his shoulder at his bed. “I think that qualifies.”

“But nothing else?”

“Other than stabbing the eggs with more force than necessary? No.”

I mark the form then glance at the next question.Oh, boy.“Have you engaged in a sexual thought in the last hour?”

Soren squints at me. “Are you asking if my shower had a happy ending?”

“Um… you’re skipping ahead to the next question. It asks whether you acted upon any sexual thoughts.”

“Well, my mind and deeds kind of go hand-in-handy, if you know what I mean.”

He gives me an exaggerated wink, and I squirm a little, trying to block the images that flood my mind. Unfortunately, it’s a losing battle, because everything about Soren is calling to me. He’s funny and cute, but also cool and clever, and the longer I’m in his vicinity, the more my skin prickles with need.

Focus, Emily. You’re paid to interview him, not drool over him.

“Okay. There are a couple of follow-up questions…” At his sly smile, I shake my head and scroll on. “Forget it. You’ve already given me enough to work it out.”

He leans his head against the glass and murmurs, “Spoil sport.”

I couldn’t agree more. But the itch under my skin is now getting uncomfortable, and it’s an effort to focus on the screen.“Next question. If you were provoked to anger right now, would you be able to control it?”

His face twists a little, but he gives a jerky nod. “Yes. I could walk away, assuming the guy provoking me did the same.”

I make a note of his comment, then read the last question. It’s another doozy, and I feel a bead of sweat trickle down my spine. “If you were sexually aroused right now, would you be able to control it?”

---