Page 41 of Stella

I took a long swig of coffee. Evan had added caramel syrup and flavored creamer so it was like drinking dessert for breakfast. Being nervous wasn’t uncommon.

“I feel okay.” I looked at Evan. I could definitely go for round three or four, and maybe get Jerrick over here, but the heat digging into my skin was gone. For now. “I can handle going to work today.”

Simon watched my face. “Meredith will be okay if not. But if there was any way to make this easier for her…”

“It’s okay. I wasn’t paying attention to time, or I would have realized it myself. Meredith and I bonded over jerky packs. She’ll want me there to explain chakras and crystals to her.”

Simon’s shoulders relaxed and he gave me a small smile. It was enough to revved up my desire again. “Thank you.”

I looked at Evan. “It will take most of the day.”

“Awesome.” Evan grinned. “I’ll prepare for next week.”

I almost didn’t want to know what preparing for my heat looked like considering the shopping spree we went on yesterday.

I took a quick shower, and got dressed in a cute flowered sundress. Evan kissed me before I left, and I got another hit of Simon’s scent. My head spun for a second, and I gave him a drunken smile.

“Be good,” Evan whispered. My lady bits tingled at his meaning of good. “Be very, very good.”

“Should I drive?” Simon stopped at his expensive sportscar, because of course he had one. “In case the cramps get bad?”

I bit my lip. I was probably okay to drive, especially since I felt perfectly calm today, but part of being in heat was mind-numbing cramps and body aches.

More times than not, it hit me out of nowhere too.

If I drove, and had to be driven home, I didn’t love the idea of leaving my car at work.

Plus, this way I got to rub my scent all over Simon’s car and drive him nuts.

“What a good idea.” I smiled. “You’re so thoughtful.”

Chapter12

Simon

Iwas in hell.

Being punished for all my wrongdoings. I didn’t donate enough to charity. I was rude to the barista this morning. I could be cold and overbearing to people around me. I knew my own flaws.

I didn’t think I would be tormented because of them.

I pulled into Cosmic Bonds not a minute too soon. Stella’s scent overwhelmed me. She sprang out of the car, as if she was struggling too.

She’d chosen Jerrick and Evan. I’d never have thought of it myself, but knowing she wanted them without my influence soothed a jagged piece of my heart. I never wanted Evan and Jerrick to worry another omega would be permitted to do what Ava did.

Stella’s obvious lust for my packmates made it a moot issue. Evan was clearly glowing after their night, and Jerrick was whistling in his office.

Only problem was, she smelled like pack now. It was nearly impossible to resist her scent before, but now smelling like my two favorite people in the world, it was all I could do to not press her against the wall and slide into her.

She wanted me, I knew that. Her scent teased me.

Once again, I would be spending the day around her and my sister. I had to get myself under control.

Some days control was all I had left. It was my control that kept me from slitting my father’s throat when I found out what he’d done. Disapproving of my pack was one thing. Setting an omega to divide us was something else entirely.

I’d avoided my father until Thanksgiving and was forced to decide if I was going to keep Meredith from having a family Thanksgiving or not.

Things had been frosty since then.

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