Page 5 of Beta and the Beast
I step closer, close enough that I can feel her body heat. I don't touch her. I keep some distance between us, mainly because if I get any closer, she'll feel my interest in her really well.
"So you want this information right here." I point at the size of the system, the amount of duct space, and the volume that the air filtration system can filter through at a time. I pull my phone out of my pocket and take note of the information from this unit.
"Is there anything else?" Sarah asks, tilting her head just right so that her hair falls down her back, her neck showing off how soft and unmarked it is.
I lean down a little more and inhale hard. Way harder than is socially appropriate. It's worth it, though. Pine trees and fire and burnt sugar. That's what Sarah smells like, and I want to live the rest of my life with that smell in my nose.
"I need to go." I stumble away from her, fighting to keep myself in control while we're still in this closet. If Romulus comes out again, he'll scare her by looming over her after I just smelled her.
"Wait!" Sarah calls after me as I stumble through the store toward the exit. "Wait!" she calls again, and I hear her jogging to catch me before I make it outside.
I close my eyes, telling Romulus he needs to back down. We can't do anything with Sarah. Not only is she a beta, but she's also Sam's sister, and we're just now being given control of the Young Alpha Center. She is so far off-limits that I'm not even going to let us fantasize about her.
Liar.
I groan but open my eyes. I pull my glasses off and start to clean the lenses. It gives my hands something to do, so I don'treach out for Sarah. I can't see as well with them off either, so her beauty won't tempt me.
"I need your number," Sarah says.
I can hear a soft amusement in her voice, and my purr rumbles up in my chest before I can stop it. Then it's out, and I don't want to stop. I'm already struggling with everything else, so the purr stays, filling the air around us along with my pheromones, which aren't showing any sign of slowing down because of how badly I want to coat her in my scent.
Sarah holds her phone out to me, but there's still no smile on her lips. I'd love to see her full smile, hear her laugh at something I've said, and moan my name in pleasure. I'm not helping myself out here.
When I grab her phone, it's already open to a new contact. I type my information in as quickly as I can so I can get out of here and talk some sense into myself. I'm starting to crumble under the need for this beautiful beta.
"Message me that information for your filtration system and anything else you might need from me," I tell her as I return her phone. She pockets her phone and follows me out of the coffee shop.
"You're going to ruin my business," she tells me with no humor, no condemnation. She just states it plainly, like it's a fact.
I turn to face her, but before I can respond, she closes the door behind her and relocks it. When she offers me a smile this time, it's a sad little thing that's more of a consolation prize than anything else.
Fix it.
Fix what, Romulus?
Whatever you did to upset her.
3
Sarah
Family dinners have been a tradition in the Carter household since I was born—no, since before I was born. My parents used to have family and friends over every Tuesday, and once they retired and moved down South, where it's warmer, Sam and Janie kept up the tradition.
It helps that Sam and Janie were given the house as a gift when our parents left, and that Janie has been around the family since she was sixteen. Three years later, she presented, and she and Sam discovered they were scent matches. Honestly, their love story was way too easy. High school sweethearts falling in love the first time the omega perfumes. It squicks me out a little, but I still know it's undeniably cute and something most omegas dream of. Plenty of betas, too, but we don't scent match.
Our sense of smell is weaker than alphas' and omegas', and our bodies don't produce as many pheromones. No, betas keep to themselves for the most part.
I've dated a few beta guys, but there's a weird culture among them. Some of them wish they were alphas, so they get all weirdly demanding and dominating. Others go so far the opposite that they only want to make love or be as respectful as possible when we're getting down and dirty. I want something in between. Someone who respects me enough to know I enjoy it rough in the bedroom while also worshipping the ground I walk on. Is that too much to ask for?
I could have that if I were an omega who found a good alpha. But relationships between betas and alphas don't last, and they're mostly just used as something for the alpha to get his rocks off with. Out of the few betas I've known who have chased after alphas, they haven't ended up with any claiming marks. No, if anything, they just end up hurt and rejected when the alpha is done with his fun. Except for Hazel, who loves chasing alphas, but then again, she's never wanted to settle down with any of them.
That's why I refuse to let whatever little quiver of pleasure that bloomed inside of me when Romulus got all growly and "call me alpha" to grow. I will not be cultivating that seedling of desire.
He's a handsome guy. Long brown hair he keeps tied behind his head, dark eyes framed in crooked glasses that made him seem less threatening, and not to mention his build. A lot of alphas work out all the time to make their already large physique even more impressive, but Henry's filled out with a little more fluff. He looks like he'd make a good cuddle partner.
It wouldn't be weird to find him attractive. Alphas are beautiful as soon as they mature and show their dynamic. No, what would be weird is if I thought for a second that the manabout to ruin my business was anything remotely close to a good idea of having a crush on.
"You ready to meet the beasts?" Sam slides the glass door to the backyard open and asks Scott.
