Page 11 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus
It's got a charm that's completely opposite from what I grew up around. Big cities have their own appeal, but seeing the lodge surrounded in snow with the mountain backdrop? It's incredible. It feels like a Christmas wonderland.
Murphy opens a door at the end of a long hallway, and Archer guides us inside. Connor follows us in.
"Feel free to have a seat," Connor says, heading over to a bar in the corner. "We've got a menu around here somewhere."
"Before you sit," Archer says, guiding us to a set of French doors, "have a look at this, lass." He pushes open one of the doors, and we step out onto a small private patio. Biting wind laps at my skin as I'm drawn toward the railing. The metal feels like fire on my unprotected skin, but I'm transfixed.
This side of the lodge backs up to the side of a mountain. It's incredible. You can see all the way down into the valley below. Tall trees line the various paths that I'm guessing are used for skiing. It truly is a winter wonderland.
"It's gorgeous," Archer says, flashing me a grin, "isn't it?"
"It really is," I agree. My knees go a bit weak, Archer Daniels is a beautiful man. His blond hair is long on top and shorter on the sides. His strong jaw has a short scruffy beard that fits his face to perfection. He's tall and slender, but in a muscular way.
Archer grins mischievously. Good God, he's got dimples hiding under that beard. His blue eyes twinkle in the low light.
Murphy appears at my side. "It's too cold," he says in his low, growly tone. "Put on warmer clothes or come inside. You're asking to catch a cold."
I laugh. "I'm not sure that's how that works."
"We're not gonna find out," Murphy says, gently taking my arm and pulling me inside. My eyes fly up to meet his.
Tom Murphy is one of the largest men I've ever seen. All four of my sisters are mated to alphas, with a few betas sprinkled in. Murphy is bigger than any of their men. His hair is curly and falls past his jaw. I'm pretty sure on anyone else it would look messy; however, he pulls it off, managing to look rugged and imposing. His skin is a warm deep tan, and his beard is full and scratchy.
I felt it for myself during that unfortunate exchange in the library.
My cheeks heat as I recall how I latched on to his neck and climbed him. Murphy directs me over to the couch. He nods for me to have a seat. I comply and take the menu he holds out.
"Pick something you like," Murphy says.
My nostrils flare, breathing in his gasoline scent. It's manly in a way that makes my knees weak every time I get a whiff of it.
The plush gray couch molds around my back as I sit. I fight the urge to curl up against the arm. The entire room smells like a combination of the three alphas, and it's making it difficult to focus.
"Would you like some recommendations?" Archer asks. He takes the seat closest to me rather than the other end of thecouch. His perfect straight white teeth bite into his plush lower lip as he grins. "The filet with alfredo is fantastic. It comes with ascrumptiousCaesar salad." The way he says that word makes it sound incredibly sexual even though I'm not sure he meant it to. "Or you could go with the blackened chicken; it's one of my favorites."
My eyes scan the menu, but my brain is overloaded with the smell of several compatible alphas so close. Archer smells like whiskey and that potent scent of a delicious man. It's partially covered by the cologne he wears, but it's not enough.
My thighs clench as I take a ragged breath. I'm too close to my heat to be able to hide how their scents are affecting me. Crap, that was one benefit of the suppressants. They deadened my sense of smell to almost nonexistent. I'm about to start perfuming in their living room.
"I'm so sorry," I say, laying the menu on the arm of the couch and popping up. "Is it possible to have dinner delivered to my room? I should probably settle in for the night. I'll take either option you mentioned." I stumble back the way we came in. My feet get tangled in the area rug, and I trip forward.
Luckily, Connor moves just in time to catch me before I face plant in a very unladylike manner.
"Shit," I whisper as he pulls me into his chest.
"Are you all right?" he asks. His dark olive complexion makes his blue-green eyes stand out even brighter. He stares at me, and the air seems to evaporate from my lungs. His scent is incredible. It's like espresso or rich coffee.
A horrifying little whimper escapes my lips as my nose plasters itself to his chest. I'm like a drug-sniffing dog as my nose dances from his pec to his armpit and up toward his neck. My hands grip at his shoulders, yanking him down until I can bury my face in his throat.
A low chuckle fills the air behind me, and I gasp. My face burns. My system aches with the urge to melt into Connor's strong frame, but my brain is mortified.
I climbed Murphy like I had the right and my stupid impulses had me on the verge of doing the same to Connor.
Please tell me everything since I woke up in the library was all just a bad dream.
My eyes squeeze shut, but when I open them Connor is staring down at me with a look I don't know how to decipher. His dark hair falls around his forehead as he watches me. He's nowhere near as tall as Murphy, but he's well over six feet tall if I had to guess.
I take several steps away from him to prevent my ridiculous body from doing something even more embarrassing. Warm hands wrap around my waist, stopping me in place. I can tell it's Archer from his whiskey scent.
