Page 31 of Begrudgingly Yours
He reminds me to keep my eye on Juliet, but he doesn’t have to. My gaze can’t leave Rory even if I wanted it to. Her dark blue hair shimmers under the spotlight and the subtle approach she takes with her character pulls me all the way in. She plays the timid daughter well, but there’s the tiniest bit of confidence in the way she stands with her shoulders back and her chin up. She’s commanding respect, showing the audiencethat even though her father is speaking the loudest,sheisthe star.
I don’t have to fake the captivation showing in my features. I am so entirely awestruck by her.
I wipe my brow on my sleeve, suddenly feeling very warm underneath these blinding lights as I wait for the scene to change. I blend into the crowd even though the light is right on me, pretending to be unaware of their conversation as they discuss the enemy, Romeo, being in their midst. I swallow hard, and before we know it, we are transitioning into the moment where Juliet and Romeo meet for the first time.
Chapman goes over his vision for this scene, living his best director fantasy as he describes the way scent matches react when they meet for the first time. The magnetic pull they feel, how all logic leaves the room. I nod along like this is new information, completely ignoring the fact that my scent match is right in front of me listening to every word.
When he finally stops talking and tells us to go back to our places so we can run through the transition again, Rory catches my eye. She gives me a certain look, one that says‘we’ve got this,’and it brings a smile to my face. Because it’s true. We do have this. Our first kiss may be completely fake and between actors, but it’s happening. So I flip my mask back on, put a hand through my hair, and (very easily) fall back into the role of a lovesick Romeo.
The other main characters have fled the stage. Now we are only surrounded by extra party-goers, who pay no mind to the life-changing moment happening between Romeo and Juliet in front of them. They have no idea the star-crossed lovers are about to embark on a tragic journey. They just drink their cocktails, listen to the piano playing, as I, Romeo, dare to interact with the cousin of my family’s nemesis. She catches my gaze, cautious and curious as she slows her walk and passes me, butshe still feels my eyes on her. She stills, her back toward me as I close in on her frame.
“If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.”
Rory delivers her next line, both incredulous and sensual. Her Juliet knows this will do neither of them any good, but can’t help entertain the alpha who smells like her fate.
“Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?”I state.
“Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer,”she says back, her character’s strong reserve faltering.
We gradually move closer, as if pulled together by an invisible force. Her scent calls to me, leaving me a broken man on this stage.
“O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.”
More sweat falls down my back, but I ignore the heat inside me in order to stay in the scene.
“Saints do not move—”Rory falters, which is the first sign that something is wrong. Her nostrils flare.“—though grant for prayers’ sake.”
That’s when I smell it. My scent pours out for the first time in years. The sweet but spicy amber scent floods around us, and Rory’s eyes widen and her pupils dilate. Her expression of both lust and confusion.
She can smell me.
SEVENTEEN
Playing: Please Don’t Say You Love Me by Gabrielle Aplin
Spice.Warmth.Alpha.
The resinous scent hits me full force and my omega silently whines in my chest. She sends me an unsolicited visual of us opening our legs up wide and letting him take care of us here and now.
I falter my line, which adds onto the mix of weird emotions going through my body. I freeze before finishing it, unable to look away from Jett as I see him in a whole new light.
He’s my scent match. My actual fate-given scent match.
And we’re currently in the middle of a scene, in front of all our peers. This is literally the worst time for my omega to send me endorphins and shine a light on how horny she is.
Jett sees the change in my face, and I catch the slightest glance of pure panic before he centers his face. He looks at me with love, which confuses me even more.
He keeps the show going and says hisline…theline.
“Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.”
