Page 13 of Outback Mate
“Oh,” I breathe and shoot him a goofy grin. “Hey there, Doc.”
The Alpha grunts, the deep rumbling sound making me shiver. His beard can’t cover the small smile of amusement. My mouth falls open, and my head goes a little hazy at the sight.
“Far out, that’s a panty-dropping smile. No wonder you don’t do that often. You’d be in danger of drowning in pussy.”
He makes a choking noise and ducks his head.
I count it as a win. In my hazy mind, making this grumpy Alpha react has now become my number one priority.
I smile up at him, swinging my feet back and forth. He frowns back at me like he knows exactly what I’m thinking and thoroughly disapproves.
It only makes me want to antagonise him more.
He reaches towards me, and my heart clenches in my chest in anticipation.
Touch. Touch. Touch, my eager Omega chants.
He brushes my hair behind my ear, and a soft purr slips from my throat.
His hand snaps back faster than I can react, and he turns to fuss with the medical supplies.
My raspy purr stutters to a stop. My throat is scratchy from the dehydration and the relentless heat of the sun. I shrug his rejection off like it’s the raindrops still sliding off his dewy skin. It’s as if I’m impervious to social conventions; embarrassment doesn’t exist in my current mental state.
The Alpha looks like he’s having an internal conversation with himself, and shoots me a reprimanding look. “You shouldn’t have swerved. It wasn’t smart.”
I incline with my head in agreement and wince as my head gives an almighty throb. He’s not wrong. Itwasstupid. My damn aura sickness made the decision before I even knew what was happening. I’m used to it.
Just another bout of bad luck.
My muted senses are slowly coming back and breaking through the thick brain fog. The sharp smell of antiseptic makes me crinkle my nose, but I still can’t get a proper hold of his scent.
A bright light flashes in my eyes, and I cringe away.
He tuts and holds my chin with his thumb and pointer finger.
I blink rapidly as he flicks the torch light back and forth.
“Stay still, Omega,” he murmurs, and I can’t help but respond to his man-handling. This is how he’d kiss me. I know it. All demanding and no nonsense.
“Why were you coming to Bodella, anyway?” he asks in an emotionless voice.
“I’m, er, meeting someone.”
“Who? I know everyone.”
“Ida Parson.”
The Alpha flexes his fingers, tightening them on my chin, and he whips the pen light away, tucking it into his breast pocket. The muscles of his biceps tighten and bulge under the sleeves of his damp button-down shirt.
I feel like I’ve said something wrong.
His eyes flick up to meet mine before darting away. “You’re here to find a mate?”
My heart stutters in my chest. There’s something in the tone of his voice which I can’t quite place. Why does this conversation feel as charged as the storm raging outside?
I feel out of the loop, my brain not keeping up with what is happening.
“Yeah, Ida’s helping me find an Alpha,” I confirm in a shaky voice, tucking my hair behind my ear.
