Page 14 of Sweethearts and Savages
I basically bounded to the greenhouse where Enit’s herbology class was held. It was her favorite class, so she was guaranteed to be in a good mood. Throw in the fact that it was a beautiful day, and it was perfect. She was going to be so fucking wooed.
I slowed as I got to a grassy section of the grounds, just before it turned into the woods. Standing there in the sun, doing Tai Chi, was Stacey. I chewed my lip as I watched her. She was… different. Human. So fucking smart it made me feel like a neanderthal. One hundred percent different to me in every way except one.
She desperately wanted Enit.
I was pretty sure Enit was oblivious to the longing that filled the girl’s eyes when she watched her. She did a good job of locking it down whenever she thought Enit was looking, but she couldn't sneak it past me. I understood that feeling better than anyone else in the whole world.
As if she could feel my eyes, Stacey turned to look at me. I straightened my shoulders and walked over to her. We should sort this out now, just so she knew that Enit would be mine. I could almost see Stacey throwing up her walls and I could appreciate her wanting to protect herself. It would have been hard enough being a human in the Academy; but being a genius? Her intellect would have isolated her even more.
“Hey,” I said, lifting my hand in greeting.
“Alpha,” she replied, not slowing her movements.
“Beautiful day for Tai Chi.”
Stacey just nodded at my small talk. She eyed the basket in my hands. I lifted it.
“I’m taking Enit on a surprise picnic.”
Her movements faltered and I saw her swallow hard. Her heart pounded so loud I could hear it easily. “She’ll like that. She enjoys being outside.” She paused. “She really likes you.”
I wanted to be selfish. I wanted to thank her for her compliment, walk away and go enjoy my date with the girl I wanted to be my girlfriend.
But the level of sadness that permeated from the girl in front of me made my lion whine softly. He was a softie, except when there was a threat to those he considered his Pride. Why he was so damn interested in Stacey—a girl who I definitelywasn’tattracted to in the slightest, despite her obvious beauty—was completely beyond me.
But both the lion and the man hated that she was sad.
I sighed. “She likes you too, you know.”
This time she faltered completely, her feet both planting on the ground. Her lips slipped open slightly. The look of astonished hope told me I’d made the right decision. However, she quickly shuttered her expression. “I think your hypothesis is wrong. Enit views me as a friend.” She narrowed her eyes. “If you are saying all this in an effort to get some juvenileménage à trois, you are sadly mistaken. I couldn’t be less interested in you.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled from my chest. “Duly noted. I can swear to you that I’m not chasing a threeway. I only want one girl, and her class is about to finish. Just…” I paused. “I want her to be happy, you know? And I see how happy you make her. She needs softness, someone thatshechose, who isn’t influenced by the whole Alpha/Omega dynamic. And my lion likes you.”
“What are you trying to say, Bohdie?”
I grinned at the fact she didn’t call me Alpha. See? Baby steps. “I’m saying that if you want to pursue her too, I won’t get in the way. We don’t have a problem, unless you want her to yourself.” I let the steel back into my face and my tone. “Then we’ll have a really big problem.”
Stacey considered my words. “Polyamory is a well-established social norm in supernatural society.”
I chuckled again. “I know.”
“I’m aware of my shortcomings. I’m cold. I overthink things, and I’m bad with emotional cues. I find it difficult to maintain relationships when I get caught up in my work. I would be a bad partner for Enit.” She tilted her head and considered me. “However, adding you would satisfy her shifter nature. You cannot help but nurture and support her.” She chewed her lip and it was the first sign of uncertainty that I’d seen on her face. “I’ll think about it.”
I grinned, glancing at my watch. “You do that. See you around, Doc.”
I trotted away, arriving at the greenhouses just as the bell that announced the end of the class echoed through the clearing.
Enit was the last out of the greenhouse, holding herself apart from her classmates. She spoke softly to the teacher, who was a slight guy absolutely covered in hair. Not a shifter. Just like, a really hairy man.
As soon as she stepped out into the open, her eyes whipped to me. The teacher’s eyes followed her gaze, and he smiled softly. “We will discuss interspecies grafting next week, Enit. Go and enjoy the day.”
Her smile as she walked toward me was so fucking beautiful that I forgot to breathe. Then, in view of everyone, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed me.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her tightly to my chest. I kissed her softly at first, just tasting her and letting the sweetness of her body settle into my bones. As the kiss went on, the intensity ratcheted up a notch. I plunged my tongue into her mouth, catching her little moans until I had to pull away with a gasp.
She looked up at me with a small, smug grin curling her lips and hooded eyes. She looked entirely too fuckable and I almost forgot that I was trying to woo her gently.
“Omega, you are playing with fire.”
