Page 25 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus
Evie spins around, heading up another flight of stairs. She makes it to our floor and continues like she's heading up another level.
"Oh no, darling," I say, flashing her a panty-melting smile. "Our suite is this way."
Now I need to find a way to will those words into reality.
Dinner has gone surprisingly well, considering how quickly Everly abandoned us last night. I swirl the whiskey in my glass before taking a long sip. It's clear Evie is most comfortable with Luke. She sticks by his side at the table. That's not necessarily a bad thing. He's done a fine job of bringing her out of her shell.
Even Murphy engages in conversation. I don't think Evie has a clue how rare it is to see the big guy speak in full sentences. Although, to be fair, he mostly circles back to healthy eating habits.
"Two more," Murph grunts, holding out his fork. It has glazed baby carrots. They're actually not bad. Everly frowns, shooting his fork an unimpressed look. Murphy wiggles it. Everly sighs but leans forward wrapping her perfect pink lips around the fork.
Luke laughs, shaking his head like he can't believe that worked. I'm also fascinated. They say there's a certain ease when a pack comes together like all the missing pieces are sliding into place. Having Evie here fills my chest with a warmth I haven't felt before.
Or perhaps the alcohol you've used to deaden your nerves has finally hit your system?Hmm, that's a possibility.
My eyes try to catch Connor’s, but he’s watching Everly intently.
Murphy slides his chair closer to Evie's side and brushes hair back from her face. "You did good. Did you save room for dessert?"
Evie beams. "Yes, what is it?"
Connor slides back from the table and heads to the kitchen. He comes back with the cheesecake sampler. Everly grins at Murphy as Connor puts it down on the table.
"Do we need to negotiate? Let's be real. I want to try more than one slice," she says to Murphy. He rumbles a laugh.
I'm practically giddy. That's quite a good sign indeed.
Dessert ends up an erotic exercise in self-control. Everly enjoys the cheesecake in a way that makes me unnaturally envious of her spoon.
Connor and Everly sort through boxes of ornaments near the tree. Murphy leans on a bar stool, watching the omega intently. He's a little too focused on her stomach for it to be civilized. I'm also fairly sure I caught him ramblingagainabout wanting to see her pregnant.
I'm not opposed to the thought, either. I'm only getting older, and I want children.
"That other pack doesn't have a chance," Luke murmurs, leaning in close. He smells of the beer he had with dinner.
"Mmm, I don't know," I muse, swirling my whiskey. "I encouraged her to consider all options before making a choice."
"Why the hell did you do that?" Luke asks, propping his boots up on the coffee table.
I glare at the uncouth deviant.
Who puts their shoes on the furniture? Heathens, that's who.
"It slipped out," I mumble. "Fuck if I know."
Luke nods, but his eyes are on Everly. She's grinning up at Connor. The moody bastard grins back.
Connor loves to make it seem like Murphy has been the hold-back when matching with an omega. That may be true to anextent, but Connor is aloof and omegas pick up on that. They want to be pampered and comforted. I fear my packmate will never be that type of alpha.
Connor's shoulders shake, and it takes me several long seconds of watching the interaction to realize he's laughing. Evie grins up at him and gives his shoulder a playful shove with hers.
I place my now-empty tumbler down on the table next to the hoodlum's boots, leaning forward in an attempt to hear exactly what's being said.
The bloody Christmas music blocks out any hope I have of listening in. I eye Tom. I need to know why he passed Evie off to Connor. Ithoughtwe were firmly on the same page about easing the cranky bastard into contact with the sweet omega.
"No," Connor says. His voice carries over the music, and Everly jumps. "We should start at the bottom to be sure it'll reach the plug."
Everly nods and bends down, wrapping the lights around the tree as Connor feeds her the lights. Luke's head tilts, appraising exactly how short that tight little dress is.Damn, it's two or three inches too long to show the good stuff.
