Page 43 of Want It All
‘Specialists from the APF,’ he confirmed. ‘Alphas trained to protect omegas and diffuse difficult situations. I also asked Pravin and Marco to keep their eyes on Rose, if, for some reason, myself, Byron, and the security alphas couldn’t get to her first. And all of that was on the slim chance that firstly, Rose’s scent was complementary to anybody in that room, and secondly, that they were unable to control themselves upon scenting her.’
I rubbed my temples. ‘That doesn’t answerwhy, Tristan.’
He studied me, his expression intense. ‘I can’t tell you why.’
‘You can’t tell me why,’ I repeated slowly. ‘You, who tell meeverything, literallyeverything, including some things I’d be totally finenotknowing.Youcan’t tell me why.’
‘Exactly.’
‘And you’retellingme that you can’t tell me.’
He gave me a look, and I realised.
He wanted me to work it out.
It didn’t take me long, because there were so few things it could be. I strode to him, splaying my hand over his chest to push him down so I could straddle him. He flicked an app on hisphone to turn some music on over the Bluetooth speakers; once the volume increased, I put my mouth to his ear.
‘The Revels.’
His hand settled on my hip. ‘The fact you’re not running this country is criminal.’
‘Don’t try to turn my head with compliments,’ I said tersely. ‘I’m so angry with you, Tris.’ I lowered my mouth again. ‘What did they ask you to do?
In answer, he tapped something out on his phone.
Compromise the omega.
He deleted the words as soon as I’d read them, but I’d already turned cold. It could mean oh-so-many things.Compromisewas nebulous in itself, but –
‘Which omega?’ Tristan whispered, his free hand tightening on my hip. ‘I couldn’t know. But I couldn’task, either, because I could have been volunteering informationtheydidn’t know. We’ve been so careful –you’vebeen so careful – but I have no idea how closely they’re watching, Seb.’
‘So you compromised us both, just in case,’ I murmured. ‘Made us vulnerable together.’
‘Not truly vulnerable,’ he insisted. ‘I wouldneverleave you in danger,never. I was ninety-nine percent sure about Griffiths, but if he – and the security alphas – didn’t rise to the occasion, I could have taken Rose with us, too.’
‘And then what?’ I grabbed a handful of his hair; he groaned, tipping his head back. His lovely green eyes darkened as they fixed on mine. ‘I guarantee you that Rose just spent a good half-hour in the company of her favourite vibrator. If you’d carriedbothof us out of the library, then what?’
He gave a one-shouldered shrug, an action which had always looked unfairly sexy on him. ‘You would have either fucked it out or scented each other and lost interest immediately.’
I let go of him in surprise. ‘You’d let me fuck her?’
‘Letyou?’ He scoffed. ‘I’m not that kind of alpha, Seb. You know that. Your body is your own. Until I bite you, at least. I don’t know how I’ll deal with it then, though I’ll try not to be an asshole about it.’ His fingers stroked circles on my waist.
I frowned. ‘Doyouwant to fuck her?’
He paused, which was telling. ‘I’m not sure,’ he said at last, which was a very definiteyes, because in all the years I’d known him, the only answer to that question in relation to someone other than me had been an absolute, immediate, and heartfeltfuck,no. ‘But it’s really up to Rose, isn’t it? And it wasn’t my throat she stuck her tongue down.’
I inhaled, digesting that. ‘I’msoangry with you.’
‘I know.’
‘I told Byron.’
He passed a hand over his eyes. ‘Is that where you went?’
I opted for honesty, though I wasn’t sure he strictly deserved it. ‘I went into his room.’
His lips parted in surprise, then he swallowed. ‘And?’ he said, barely a whisper.
