Page 49 of Follow Your Instincts

Ben sighed and chucked the shirts on the bed, then closed the distance between us. “Come here,” he said and pulled me into a hug, his hands tight around my waist. I held still for a moment, then wrapped my arms around him.

We’d been this close before, but it felt completely different now. His scent made my knees weak. His hair tickled the base of my throat, and I could feel the pound of his heartbeat against my chest. It was almost as strong and fast as my own.

“I need you.Weneed you,” he whispered. I shivered slightly at the feel of his breath against my neck, ruffling my hair.

“Are you sure? I don’t think Maggie will want to see me again,” I said softly.

“That’s step two. Step one is getting out of the saddest hotel room in Fairview City,” he said. But he didn’t pull back, and I didn’t let him go either. I pretended for a moment that this hug meant for him what it meant for me, rather than just comforting a friend.

“Okay,” I said, resignedly. “Sorry for being a melodramatic, infuriating bastard.”

“You forgot grumpy,” Ben said and finally stepped back. His face was a bit flushed, and he turned away quickly to start packing again.

We worked in silence for a few minutes to gather my meager collection of belongings.

“So what exactly was your brilliant plan?” Ben asked. “You brought one suitcase of clothes. Were you just going to leave everything else behind, start your new life in Alaska?”

I flushed with embarrassment. “I hadn’t thought that far.”

Ben shook his head, smirking. “You’re staying in a hotel two neighborhoods from home. I don’t think you really planned on going anywhere. But that’s okay. It’s the thought that counts when you’re trying to be noble, right?”

“Ha ha,” I said. Then, after a moment, “I think I was hoping you’d drag me back home. Even though I don’t deserve it.”

“I can’t listen to this moping anymore,” Ben said. Then he caught my wrist and dragged me out the door behind him.

Chapter 18

Maggie

True to her word, Captain Harcourt sent her Omega out to the Center to visit me. It was late October, and the days were starting to get shorter and shorter. Rosie arrived at the Center just as the sun was starting to set.

The last thing I wanted to do was go to a weird dinner with my boss’s partner, but it seemed like a bad career move to say no. I put on a decent outfit, and Bridget helped me tame my curls into something manageable. I felt like I was going on a blind date.

“Oh, Rosie, my dear, it’s so lovely to see you,” Steffi said, greeting her warmly. “You look wonderful.”

“Thanks, you too,” Rosie said and hugged Steffi. “This place hasn’t changed at all,” she said, smiling, then turned to me. She was even shorter than Jess and had wavy brown hair that fell past her tiny waist. I was immediately jealous of her petiteness and curves. Her scent of vanilla and strawberry was subtle and sweet.

“Hi, Maggie, it’s nice to meet you,” she said with genuine warmth.

“You too,” I said, trying not to sound too wary.

“Should we go get some dinner?” She asked. “There’s a great Cuban place near here; they have the most delicious tresleches.”

“Sure,” I said, still trying to figure out why she was there beyond some sense of obligation from Harcourt.

We decided to walk the ten minutes to the restaurant, bundled up against the chilly night air. The restaurant was small and quiet, and we were two of only six customers.

“So, how are you doing?” Rosie asked after we sat down.

“I’m okay,” I said.

“Alice said you were pretty pissed the night you presented,” she said, giving me a penetrating look.

It took me a moment to realize “Alice” must have been Harcourt’s first name. “Yeah, I was angry. Iamangry,” I conceded. “It just seems incredibly unfair to give up my entire life.”

Rosie nodded. “I understand the feeling. I presented unexpectedly, too, which is how I ended up at the Center. I was adopted, and my poor parents had no idea what to do to help me find a pack. I was twenty when I presented, and I was so angry. I had to drop out of college because back then, there weren't online classes like there are now. My girlfriend dumped me because she knew I’d need a pack and couldn’t stand the thought of me with anyone else. My whole life was turned upside down.”

“That sounds familiar,” I said. The waiter brought us ham and cheese croquetas, and we took a few moments to enjoy the first hot bites.

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