Page 3 of Eight Steps to Alpha

His eyebrows squeezed together with amusement. “Seriously? Cussing is part of your big master plan?”

“All alphas cuss. The worst I’ve ever heard you say is damn.”

He snorted. “I cuss.”

“No, you don’t. I’ve known you for five years, and it doesn’t happen. Maybe once. On a Tuesday, you dropped a plate and—”

“I don’t cuss around you, because you’re a woman, and my mama raised me better than that.” He crossed his arms at his chest to prove a point.

“See!” She laughed. “That’s what I’m talking about. Alpha’s don’t care what their mothers think. Or if they do, their probably dead. They also have some sort of deep dark childhood, and their mouths are filthier than a restroom toilet after a bar fight!” She cocked an eyebrow, pleased with her assessment, and leaned across the table. “If this is going to work, you’ll need to forget about your sweet Texas upbringing and trust me. You need to cuss.” Her lips lifted in a lopsided grin, and she wrinkled her nose. “Cuss, Elliot. I dare you.”

He rolled his eyes, somewhat insulted by how little faith she had in his abilities. “What do you want me to say? Asshole? Shit?”

She tilted her head to the side and cocked a brow. “Fuck. If we’re going to do this, you have to go for the big daddy.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a laugh. “Really?” But the way she was studying him, the way she always did when trying to figure out some complex scientific equation, made him sit a little straighter. “Okay—fuck. What else you want?”

She slapped her hand over her face and shook her head. “You can’t say it like that. You have to say it with meaning. Really mean it, Elli.”

He looked over his shoulder, then repeated. “Fuck! There, are you happy?”

“No.” She frowned. “You looked over your shoulder first. Who does that?”

“I was checkin’ for kids.”

“We’re in a fucking bar, pussy! Say the word!”

He sat up straighter. “Fuck!”

“Deeper, stronger!”

“Okay, fuck.”

She rubbed over her eyes and groaned. “Elliot, I don’t mean to sound rude, but every time you say it, your eyebrows pinch together like you’re in pain. It’s just a word. Say the fucking word!”

“Fuck.”

“Again!”

“Fuck!”

“Elliot, seriously!”

“Okay, you fucking cunt!”

Her face hardened, and she made a T motion with her hands. “Stop.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “Don’t ever say that again.”

“Cunt?”

“Shhh.” She made a zipping motion across her lips and peered over her shoulder.

“Yes!” she whisper yelled.

“Wait, so you can call me a pussy, but I can’t— “

“Elliot, I love you, but if you say the C-word one more time, I’m going to kick you in the balls.”

He chuckled.

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