Page 31 of Where There's Smoke
“And you don’t have a facility at the moment. Just tell me where to go! I can take the little guy to the vet and look after him until you have space.”
“Really, that would be a huge help. I hate asking…”
The sound of his snort echoed through the phone. “Melody, it’s the least I can do after you answered all those calls in the middle of the night when I first got Sooty and had no idea what I was doing.”
I laughed. That had been an interesting time, but I had been more than happy to lend a hand.
“It was worth it. She’s so happy now!”
I gave Rune a quick rundown of when and where to collect the rabbit and what little information I’d received from the people looking to surrender him.
“Now, before I go, I have to ask—is everyone over there treating you right? You can always come camp at our station if you want. Sunny’s old room is still there. Walker never even took down her decorations.”
Walker was sentimental, and I found it so endearing. Warmth filled me at the offer, but I’d gotten sort of comfortable here, especially considering that collection of stuff I’d brought to Elliot’s bed.
“Honestly, everyone’s been so kind to me. I just wish I had my place back, but I have everything I could possibly need, thanks to Sunny.”
“My omega is something, isn’t she?”
“She puts up with you, so she ismost certainlysomething!”
“She puts up with Blaze! I’m sure you’ve got a new appreciation for that now that you’re spending time with his cousin…”
“Oh, they’re two peas in a pod, aren’t they?”
“They tried to get a job at the same fire station, but I think whatever boss that would have the misfortune of dealing with them would have quit rather than put up with their antics.”
“I shudder to think.”
“Call me if you need anything—or Sunny, if you want to talk to another girl. I know she sometimes felt like she was drowning in all that testosterone when she was living at Sixteen.”
“That was because you three were obsessed with her, but that worked out for the best.”
“It has, hasn’t it?” I could hear Rune’s smile through the phone.
We said our goodbyes, and I hung up, looking down at Dotty, whose eyes were opened a crack as she tried to move around the playpen. I couldn’t help but smile. Things could truly be so much worse. I just wish I knew what was going on with me lately—and that I had my place back to figure it all out in.
Hours had passed, and I’d gotten through a massive chunk in my book. Dotty and I had eaten and were happily enjoying the weather. But I was starting to feel like choosing a romance novel to read while I was surrounded by muscular firefighters might not have been the best idea.
My body felt warm and antsy, my mind cooking up images of those stupid firemen calendars and wondering what Elliot, Fitz, and Samson would look like with their helmets strategically placed. It was ridiculous.
It had also been apparently far too long since I’d gotten laid. Hell, I hadn’t even taken a moment to practice some “self-care,” because I was surrounded by all these men. The alphas here were all attractive and kind, but it was the guys who I’d met because of that damn fire who were stealing all my attention.
I squirmed in my seat, heat beginning to pool in my center as I pictured the three of them in my mind. Intense gear was required when you were fighting a fire, but in my head, they were manhandling a hose with nothing but those yellow overalls on, water splashing over their skin.
Jeez, was it hot in here?
Fanning myself, I set my e-reader down, my stare going up to the light blue sky. I was scissoring my legs together beforeI could stop myself. Men as big and impressive as those three firefighters probably had the equipment to go along with it, and my body practicallyachedfor them to come find me and knot me.
Melody. Crap, this isn’t good. Don’t think like an omega. You aren’t one.
But what if I was?
My sex drive was increasing, but again, that could be because I was surrounded by stupidly hot firefighters who all took care of their bodies. And it showed, tees stretched around bulging biceps, abs that could definitely be used as washboards, and I’d be right there in the middle of it, our scents mixing up beautifully as they found me out here and dispensed with our clothing.
What the hell, brain? Stop. You’re not an omega.
Omegas tended to present young. Late presentation wasn’t unheard of, but it was exceedingly rare, and from what I understood, very obvious when it happened.
