Page 17 of Bonded By Christmas
He also kinda hurt my feelings when I was seventeen, but he doesn’t realize that. It was one silly encounter at my mom’s party, but it stuck with me for months. He avoided me all week, even during the wedding, and disappeared immediately after the reception.
I thought he was as attracted to my scent as I was to his. I figured my age scared him off, but I was sure he would pop back around once I turned eighteen.
Only, he didn’t.
And I told myself maybe he wanted to give me a few months of being an adult before he made a move.
Except, that didn’t happen either.
I’ve seen him multiple times over the last three years, and he acts like our first encounter never happened. So I’ve done my best to ignore it too, but my system compares every alpha I meet to him—at least to his electric scent.
Over the years, I’ve met other scent matches like Grim and Callum. My nose is fond of them, and I genuinely like them as human beings. It helped me realize that there was no reason to feel like Wilder was the one who got away. It’s silly when I think about how long I spent pining after his scent.
There’s just something about the way he smells that drives me crazy on a cellular level. It’s like the ultimate level of compatibility or something.
Hell.
I don’t know.
Even I can admit it doesn’t make any sense.
Wilder is so handsome that it’s best not to stare directly at him, lest my brain might melt. Which is only made weirder by the fact he’s my stepbrother.
His dark blue eyes glimmer in the low light as he shoves the papers back into the pocket of his coat and pulls it off, tossing it over the arm of the couch. The white button-down he’s clad in stretches over his muscular shoulders as he moves.
Once he’s fully upright, he plants his hands on his hips.
Wilder’s short dark hair is a little longer on top but shaved close on the sides. The dark stubble that lines his strong jaw might qualify as a short beard, but it doesn’t hide his mirth as he grins shamelessly. “Lacey, darling. I thought it was clear. I don’t want help picking another omega. The only omega I’m interested in sharing pheromones with is currently staring at me with her mouth hanging open.”
“No way.” I shake my head almost violently. “That’s a bad idea.”
The man already demolished my heart once, and that little exchange only lasted thirty seconds. I can’t imagine how bad off it would leave my instincts if I were to spend an hour cuddled up to him, only to have to watch him walk out afterward like it was no big deal.
Okay, maybe it’s unfair to suggest that Wilder broke my heart. He really didn’t do anything to lead my system on, but omegas get attached to alphas easily. He’s also the most potent scent match I’ve ever smelled, and my instincts wanted me to instantly claim him for my pack. Watching him walk away that night three years ago ate away at me for a long time, even if I can understand that we were incompatible because of my age.
“Why is it a bad idea?” he asks, approaching me slowly. The way he prowls closer almost has me taking a step back, but I don’t like the idea of retreating from him. “Because our parents got married? We’re not related. Not at all.” He comes to a stop in front of me and raises a hand, bringing it to cradle my cheek. “You really won’t treat me?”
Oh, man.
He plays dirty.
My proverbial hackles rise at the thought of running into one of the other omegas in the hallway and having to smell Wilder’s scent mixed with theirs. Even the imagery sends a shiver of repulsion down my spine.
“Do I need to beg?” he asks. “Because I will. I’ve met many omegas over the years. Not one has appealed to my senses like you do, which leads me to believe the best chance of success will come from soaking up your pheromones.”
Ahh, that makes more sense.
My mom and I don’t talk about his family business much, but she’s alluded to the fact Wilder works with criminals. Not that he’s part of a mob family or anything. At least, I don’t think so.Though she has implied that he works closely with them after taking over for his fathers.
That means he can’t risk his mind.
I’m torn.
I really don’t like the idea of him using me just because we’re compatible, and at the same time, I hate the idea of him cuddling with any of my coworkers.
“Fine,” I agree, shaking my head. “But not a word of this to anyone, especially our parents.”
Wilder chuckles darkly. “You’ve got yourself a deal.” He pulls his hand from my jaw, grabs the knot on his tie, and loosens it before moving to work the top button on his collared shirt.
