Page 10 of Kiss Me for Christmas

I press my lips together, liking that he’s doting on me with customs usually reserved for omegas. Alphas order drinks and meals for their mates when out in public. I don’t need him to care for me like this, but it’s sweet.

In fact, everything he does is sweet.

Bennet keeps me close as we mingle, greeting nurses, doctors, and other technicians. Even Director Spanner catches my eye just as Bennet’s hand slips possessively around my waist. She smiles at me, before returning to her conversation.

The next few hours are a blur of too much wine, lots of conversation, and then finally a bit of dancing.

“I’m not very good at this,” Bennet says as I lead him into the center of the dance floor.

“How can you be bad at swaying?” I tease. His adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard, telling me he really is nervous. “Grab my waist.” I place his hands actually where I want them, loving the way his fingers curl into the curve of my hips. “Now, just sway with me.” I sway in time to Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby”. Her flirty words fill the room as Bennet begins to move. He was right. He’s not a great dancer. Too stiff. But I’m too transfixed by how close he is to care.

Bennet’s big alpha body throws off a wonderful warmth. And even though my senses aren’t as good as his, I can still smell his spicy masculine scent. It’s so intense my thighs begin to tense.

“Are you okay?” Bennet asks in a throaty purr, and a distracting heat rushes through my whole body. His eyes are just so dark and intense, looking at me as if I were the last woman on earth.

“I’m good,” I whisper, ducking my head.

Praying no one can see how flustered I am, I cut a quick look around us. Of course, no one is looking at me, but it still feels that way. How do omegas live with this kind of attention?

I take in the whole room: the sparkling decorations, and red and green streamers. The tree is all glitter and gold, shimmering vibrantly in one corner of the room. A few omegas admire it with sweet smiles on their faces, but it’s Kassidy who grabs my attention.

She, Dean, and their pack alpha, Casius, are dancing at the edge of the room. The two squish the small omega between them, making him blush and giggle.

Shamefully, a bit of my excitement dims.I want that.But Bennet’s pack didn’t come here, and I’m still not sure if they know about me. And I refuse to be a homewrecker.

I gather all the courage in my bones, then tip my head up. Bennet’s dark brown eyes meet mine and for a moment I just stand there with my mouth hanging open.How can one man be so damn sexy?

“What’s wrong, Scarlett?” he asks, his voice a gruff whisper.

“I was just wondering,” I lick my lips, hoping I don’t offend him by bringing it up again. “Why didn’t your pack come tonight?” My eyes flicker to Kassidy. Bennet looks at me, and his mouth pulls tight. “Do they know you’re on a date?”

The corner of Bennet’s eyes pull and deep dread blooms in my chest. I really like this alpha. I like him so much, that I want to let him whisk me away like an omega.Fuck, I’m so stupid.

“Bennet,” I pull in a deep breath, praying I don’t start crying, but I can’t help the tears that sting the back of my eyes. “I can’t be with someone that would keep me a secret from their?—”

“Let’s go talk somewhere more private,” he cuts in. But before I can utter a single word, Bennet grabs my hand, tugging me toward the door.

I’m a little confused at first when he cuts right, going straight toward the elevators. A more rational beta might be weary of getting in an elevator with an obviously agitated alpha, but Bennet won’t hurt me. Iknowhe won’t.

After a very tense and quiet elevator ride, we reach the tenth floor. We’re going to his office. The same place where he pushed me back on his desk and kissed me with a passion I had never felt before.

I push out a shaky breath as Bennet closes his office door. It’s so quiet, I can practically hear the click echo.

I cross my arms and steady myself as the alpha steps right in front of me.

This is it.

He’s going to break my heart.

BENNET’S OFFICE

Bennet

I don’t thinkI’ve ever been so scared in my life.

I’m thirty-eight with no pack to speak of, and this sweet beta has no fucking clue. I should have told her the moment I asked her out, but I just knew she'd say no. After all, alphas bond and form packs in their twenties. I was too busy with medical school, and then work. I’ve dedicated my whole life to omega studies, and it’s never bothered me before that I didn’t join a pack….until now.

I suck in a deep breath, then close my eyes, ready to get this over with. “I don’t have a pack.”

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