Page 71 of Slick Handling

I needed to make a display.

Oh beans and biscuits.

I hope Mick didn’t get mad.

Turning slightly on his lap, I nuzzled his neck, scenting him before looking at the flushed Beta. My lips pressed against him. The soft scrape of his beard on my face making me whimper against his lips.

“Oh lemon drop, don’t tell me you’re all in already?” Marcus had his elbow resting on the table. His head was in his hand as he looked at us with almost a bored expression fluttering across his face..

I knew my face was red and I felt like I should be just with Mick, talking to him about the fact I just kissed him. That wasn’t going to happen right now.

Shifting me slightly, Mick glared at Marcus.

“Clover is in charge of her choices. She doesn’t need anyone telling her what to do. But, you’re just friends, right?” The tone that McKinley takes is so different from his usual good natured tone.

His arm is tight around me and I know that I’m lucky this isn’t Griffin with me. Pretty sure he would punch the Omega in the face.

And Marcus is my friend.

Right?

His golden eyes brighten, his nose scrunching up with a laugh. It’s as if this is all a joke to him and I don’t understand what’s funny or what I’m missing.

It’s as ifI’mthe joke and I don’t like that feeling.

My scent shifts. I can feel the way I’m starting to fold into myself. My mind is thinking about things that I haven’t done yet. I need to wash the floors in my room and do a deep clean of the bathroom. Maybe I can cook something or-

“Of course we’re just friends. For right now.” My eyes are down, staring at my food, “But lemon drop is just coming into all the magic of being an Omega. There’s so much pleasure that I can show her. Lots of things that she can learn before she makes the best choice about what sort of pack she wants to join.” Marcus leans forward, I can feel his eyes on us.

I want to go back to my nest.

My nest that Pack Mathers bought for me. That they let me pick out and design so I was comfortable.

“Have some water, little Omega.” Mick kisses my cheek as he pulls a water bottle he had filled for me.

This pack really takes hydration seriously.

“Do you want me to meet you after class?” Marcus is speaking to me and I’m ripped out of my thoughts of my nest.

Oh snap and crackle.

I forgot I was supposed to hang out with Marcus. With the way he is acting, I don’t really want to go with him. But how will that make me look?

“Oh, I didn’t tell you that Apollo’s Mama is in town. I promised her I’d go to dinner with her after school.” It’s not a lie and I’m so glad that I have a real excuse as to why I can’t.

Why is Marcus being weird?

His scent turns from the pleasant mint and lime to something that burns my nose and makes me whimper. My nose rubs against Mick’s neck. His soft champagne scent isn’t as strong as an Alpha’s scent would be, but it’s Mick and that’s enough to calm me down.

“Clover made her choice. I think you’re feeling upset. Your scent turned to a spilled Mojito in a dive bar. Doesn’t really suit your overtly pretty Omega facade.”

The chair scrapes as Marcus gets up and I burrow deeper into Mick. The sound having gotten under my skin.

“I’ll text you tonight, lemon drop.” It feels like a threat and I suddenly worry that I don’t know what friendship should look like at all.

Mick is holding me tight, making sounds that are meant to calm me down. His neck rubbing against my lips so I can breathe him in to calm down. At some point, his fingers got under my sweater, and began to rub soft circles in my back.

The touch is grounding and making me relax.

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