Page 27 of Knight Life In Vegas

“Not rare enough,” I grumbled.

“You need to talk to her. If you’re going to be a baby, how is she ever supposed to make an informed decision about whether or not she wants to be in your life? You’re not being fair to her by keeping it a secret.”

“I wouldn’t be a fit partner. We both know I’m a workaholic.”

“You would adjust,” Autumn insisted. “Is she in Las Vegas? Can you see her this weekend?”

I shoved a loaded chip into my mouth to give myself a moment to think. “I could inquire. She knows my son’s pack.”

“Talk to her. This involves both of you. The only fair thing is to tell her so you can figure out what you want to do together.”

It was the absolute last thing I wanted to do, but Autumn was right. Charlotte deserved to know, as much as I would’ve preferred to keep it to myself. With a little luck she wouldn’t be interested at all and I could go about my life as I always had.

“What’s it like?” Autumn asked.

“What’s what like?”

“Having a scent match. I’ve read all the articles with all the squishy, hyperbolic language, but you’re not really a flowery guy. Tell it to me straight.”

“It’s irritating,” I said plainly. “My body knows that she exists and is punishing me for not being near her.”

“Kind of like a pre-bonding bonding sickness?”

“Not as bad as I’ve heard that to be, but it’s getting worse. More an awareness that where you are isn’t correct. It’s like an unquenchable thirst, or a hunger sitting under your skin that you can’t fully ignore. The simple knowledge of her existence is a spotlight that blinds me. She invades my dreams and unsettles me, all while not even knowing she’s doing any of it.”

“Damn,” Autumn said with a low laugh. “So the articles weren’t actually exaggerating, then. I think that’s the most you’ve talked about feelings in the decade we’ve known each other.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

Autumn snickered. “Wouldn’t dream of it. See if she’ll come to New York so I can meet her.”

“Easier said than done.” I sighed. “She has young children. There’ll be schools and schedules to contend with. She can’t just fly across the country on a whim.”

“You’ve moving to Vegas, then?”

I was half-ready to throw the whole plate of nachos at her for how smug her smile was. “No one is moving anywhere.”

“Sir, we’re always honest with each other, right?”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Yes…”

“Then I’m going to be frank and tell you that one or the other has to happen. The office is going to implode if your mood from this week continues. You can’t be running around here snapping at everyone because your fated omega isn’t with you.”

I stared down at my food, blatantly ignoring her.

“I’m serious. You feeling like that isn’t good for anyone, and I’m including you in that. What’s the point in making yourself miserable?”

“I’ll be miserable with or without her.”

“Maybe you’ll surprise yourself,” Autumn suggested. “Either way, my vote is for you to give things a chance. It’s her life, too. She deserves a chance to get to know you.”

“Noted.”

After lunch I went home early to spare the office my foul mood. I packed my weekend bag with a little more force than necessary and took a car service to the airport, twisting myself up in knots the entire trip.

My suite at the hotel called my name. Bryce had agreed to me coming over for breakfast the next day. Lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling, waiting for sleep, was a futile effort. The moment my mind drifted to Charlotte in private, my body reacted to a memory of her scent.

With a frustrated growl I slipped away like a guilty teen to the shower. Unbidden visions flooded my brain of her soft mouth and sweet hazel eyes so full of concern for me. I braced against the cold tile and took my cock in hand, self-loathing bubbling up as I coaxed myself to the edge with imaginings of what she might sound like if we tumbled into bed together: breathless sighs, delicious omega whimpers, head thrown back in ecstasy. She would be perfect. Exquisite. I knew it like I knew how fuckingincredibleit would feel to sink between her thighs and follow her into that ecstasy.

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