Page 43 of Omega's Secret Guardian

“Oh, Storm.”

Storm was not an ordinary alpha. But he was so sweet that Linus couldn’t bear to send him away.

Linus fried up the bacon and ground beef. Then he crumbled the bacon and added some jarred tomato sauce to the cooked meat.

“That smells really good,” Storm growled over his shoulder.

Linus jumped. He hadn’t been watching Storm’s progress on the casserole, so he hadn’t realized where the alpha was. Until Storm was suddenly behind him, caging him against the stove. Warmth soaked into Linus’ back.

His cheeks grew hot. “Why don’t I smell you?”

Storm hesitated. “Oh.” And suddenly he looked sheepish. “I didn’t want my scent getting all over your apartment.”

Considering the number of times he must have come in to cook... The apartment really should have smelled more strongly of his alpha scent.

Linus discreetly drew a deep breath, but he couldn’t smell Storm at all. Just a very faint trace of cedar that had been lingering about this place.

“Your scent is cedar,” Linus realized. “It’s just so faint that I didn’t realize it’s yours.”

Storm blushed. “I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable. You know, considering that this isn’t an ordinary situation.”

Linus shrugged awkwardly. “I guess I’m okay with it.”

Storm shot him a doubtful look and changed the subject again. “I can’t wait for you to try the chicken casserole. It’s something I’ve been wanting to make for you for a while.”

They worked around each other, Storm carefully touching Linus’ arm so he could step around him. Linus tried to make himself smaller as he stirred the pasta sauce, aware that Storm occupied twice the amount of space he did.

“You don’t have to hunch over because of me,” Storm said.

“I don’t want to get in your way!”

“You’ll never get in my way, Professor,” Storm murmured.

Then he leaned in with an intensity in his eyes that made Linus’ breath catch.

Is he going to kiss me?

The timer rang, loud and jarring.

Linus jumped so hard, he accidentally smashed his forehead into Storm’s face.

“Ow, fuck,” Storm hissed.

When Linus drew back, he found blood dripping from Storm’s nose.

12

STORM STILL HAS SECRETS

“Oh gods, I’m so sorry!”Linus peered at Storm’s throbbing nose, cringing with his entire body. “You’re bleeding!”

“I am?” Storm touched his nose gingerly; his fingers came away wet with blood. “Ah.”

Then again, he shouldn’t have been surprised. Hehadfelt the crunch of cartilage.

“I’m sorry,” Linus moaned. “I didn’t—I thought we were—I...”

“Hey.” Storm carefully grasped Linus’ arms, holding him in place before he panicked further. “It’s okay.”

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