Page 47 of The Omega Project

I can feel the grin stretching my face, both hungry and flirty at the same time. “You really want me to do my worst?”

“Only if that’s your best.” He arches a brow at me as he stands and flips the dishcloth over his shoulder. “After all, there’s no greater turn on than getting hammered by a worthy opponent, am I right?”

Emily

“Why are you dressed like that and where are you going?”

I’m not sure if Langston is a fan of the Spanish Inquisition, but it seems like he can’t leave the house without igniting my clingy tendencies. He’s paused in the front entryway, while I’m still in my pyjamas and nibbling on my third crumpet of the morning.

He turns from where he’s scooped up his motorbike helmet, smiling at me in his crinkly Paul Newman way. “I have an Anthrop 101 class I can’t get out of, but I’ll be home straight after.”

I huff, even though hearing the word ‘home’ roll off his tongue makes my insides light up like a party sparkler. “That’s what happens when you’re the hottest PILF on campus. Students riot if you palm off your classes to your TA.”

He gives me a smug grin as he stalks back across the foyer, his helmet balanced on his denim-clad hip. I’m certain there’s never been a professor in the history of higher education who wore a sexier pair of jeans, but I keep that to myself as he stops in front of me. “The only person I’m interested in palming isyou, mentee.” He leans down to nuzzle his mating mark, and I can’t help but cling to the edge of his jacket. I haven’t had a chance to roll around in his leather collection yet, but the scent of bee pollen is enough to steal my breath. “Do you want to come? You could sit in the back of the class and make moon eyes at your hotmentor.”

I wrinkle my nose at him and tap the top of his helmet. “You sure your head is going to fit into this thing?”

He laughs, pulling me closer and licking the honey from my lips. “Who can blame me for my big ego when I have the sexiest mate on campus?”

I preen as he slips his tongue into my mouth, deepening the kiss until our mate bond is fizzing in my chest. I’m pretty sure he’s on the verge of cutting class when I pull away and pop the rest of my crumpet in his mouth. “Give me a second to get changed and I’ll wait for you in the library.”

He raises a brow but doesn’t argue as I dart upstairs. Now that my heat seems to be over, Finn left early for a business meeting, and Derek is holed up in the spare office, trying to hack into his computer system. I’m not quite sure what’s going on, but I’m enjoying the little zaps of heat I keep picking up between them. As alluring as Finn is to me, the thought of him and Derek together is even more enticing.

But I push those thoughts aside as I hurry into the enormous walk-in closet and start flicking madly through the racks of clothes. At first, I assumed it was a communal space for all of our stuff, but Lang told me he’d ordered everything he thought I might need, and to let him know if I needed additional colours, sizes, or fabrics. I’d been so dumbstruck by his crazy generosity, Soren had offered to give me CPR.

I’m still feeling slightly lightheaded as I flick through the racks of silk dresses and tailored trousers. As beautiful as they are, I can’t see myself wearing them in my dusty corner of the library, and I feel a sliver of panic until I get to a section that feels more familiar. There’s some denim, at least, and I pull out a midi skirt and what’s technically a band tee, even though it has a Versace tag and is adorned with more crystals than a chandelier. “What’s going on, sweet girl? Oh. I really like that one.”

The way Soren nuzzles the back of my neck makes my lashes flutter, and I breathe in his smoky alpha allure with relief. Finn told us to be on the lookout for sweeter notes in his scent, which might signal his omega side on the rise. While I’d love for him to switch back to his original designation, I would hate for him to be caught mid-switch again. He says he’s no longer in pain, but the dark circles under his eyes are proof that his healing still has a way to go.

“You like this one?” I hold up the Sweet Addiction tee with its glittery sugarcane emblem on the front. Recently, the members of The Sundowners formed a new group, and I’ve been bingeing their latest album for weeks. “I have to admit, I have a thing for Kobi Grace. There’s something about him that’s just so…”

“Delicious,” Soren purrs, gently biting the skin around my claiming bite. I shiver as I pull the tee on, his dark eyes gleaming with approval as he turns me in his arms. “You know, Finn could get you tickets to their next show. Maybe just don’t mention you’re crushing on Daddy Grace.”

“What?” I screech, almost headbutting him in my excitement. “Seriously? But the tour’s been sold out for weeks!”

“Finn has his ways,” Soren grins, running his fingers along the waistband of my silky underwear. He pouts as I pull on my denim skirt, but then his hands start stroking the crystals on my shirt. “I’m pretty sure he’d get this tee signed by the whole band, now that he’s courting you.”

“Oh my God.” I slump against him, my knees too weak to hold me up. “I cannot wrap my head around that concept. What does a date with Finn even look like?”

“Your wildest, most secretive fantasy, no doubt.” At my blank look, Soren laughs. “Haven’t you worked out yet that he’s the nosiest stalker on the face of the planet? He probably knows more about you than your own mother.”

I smile, but my mind is suddenly fixated on my family, who other than a couple of texts, haven’t heard from me since I went into heat. Claudia sent me some photos of Jacob in his latest superhero costume, but I could sense her unease in the brief messages that accompanied them. “That reminds me, I need to check in with my family. I’ll see if Lang is okay to swing by my place after his class.”

Soren licks his lips. “You’re going to uni?”

I’m sliding my feet into a pair of luscious, knee-high boots in cherry leather, but I pause at the excitement in his voice. “You want to come, too? It might not be much fun, since Lang has a freshman class he can’t get out of and I’m going to put in an hour or two at the library.”

“Do you know how long it’s been since I was on a campus, just being a normal student?”

My heart crimps at his wistful expression. “Oh, babe. I’m so sorry it’s been so hard for you.”

He accepts my hug but clicks his tongue. “Don’t apologise, Em. Being around you is like a soothing massage for my soul. Especially with all the happy endings.”

He waggles his brows and I laugh. “You’re a bad influence, Alpha.”

“Hmm. But I’d really like to come, if you don’t mind. I can poke around the enviro section while you work, and I promise I won’t get in the way.”

“If my thesis wasn’t moving at the speed of a snail, I’dbegyou to get in the way.” We leave the closet, pausing to grab my backpack on the way. “But maybe we can find the time to check out a couple of the spots Derek and I discovered in the stacks. Just to give you the full student experience.”

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