Page 26 of Hired for Research
“You’re an alpha, it’s natural for me to like your scent.”
Her rebuff came out weak and breathy, even to her own ears. Jett huffed, brow lifted, telling her he knew it was bullshit without saying a word.
They stayed locked like that, staring and silent, tension building, until the elevator doors opened and a family joined them in the lobby.
“Are we going to see Uncle Liam?”
“And what about Aiden and Aniston? Can we see them again?”
“Yes, you know we’re here to visit them. We’re meeting them at Carabelle,” the father said as he ushered his excited children toward the exit. Squeals rebounded from the windows, making Evelyn wince as the mother shot them an apologetic smile as they passed.
The silence that followed once they walked through the doors was heavy, but whatever had been growing between her and Jett had disappeared. Taking a step back, he gestured for her to follow the others out onto the sidewalk.
“I’m so used to wearing the uniform I hardly notice it, plus, it helps keep people in line. I don’t mind waiting till after I go home to take it off.”
Mind scrambling to get back to what they’d been talking about, Evelyn didn’t miss the look he gave her as he mentioned taking off his clothes. She also couldn’t help the images that rose in her mind of him peeling off the shirt that seemed painted on, revealing acres of that gorgeous, dark golden skin. She already knew he didn’t have any tattoos, but more questions popped in her head.
Was he hairy? Would the hair on his chest be as soft as his curls looked? His vest blocked her view of his back and chest, and she wondered if the muscles would be as defined as the ones in his arms.
Heat rushed through her veins, and she pulled her coat open a little as she stepped out into the chilly air. The sun was sinking and the temperature with it, but her thoughts were enough to keep her warm even without the extra layer.
“We have to head back in the direction of the hospital.”
Jett’s voice floated from behind her, seeming to stroke her sensitized flesh. Knowing he would smell the direction her thoughts had taken if he got too close, she sidled away from him as he moved to her side and strode down the sidewalk. She tried not to make it obvious, but she had realized Jett didn’t miss much that went on around him. It was one of the things that made her feel safe with him despite only meeting him the day prior.
When the silence grew too much to bear, she searched for a new subject to distract her.
“So, what kind of bar is this?”
Despite the lights that had come on with the sinking of the sun, Jett’s face was in shadow when he tipped it down to her, his eyes dark pits that made her breath catch in her chest. Her core clenched thinking she was seeing desire she had no reason to think was there, wetness seeping between her folds.
“Just your normal bar, I guess. I’m not sure what other type of bar there could be.”
She imagined his voice was huskier than usual, but she ignored that to focus on what he’d said. She forgot he wouldn’t have anything to compare to since, even as a Controller, he’d never have been able to visit the bars in the city. Alphas were strictly forbidden anywhere there was alcohol, so any repairs needed in places like that were done by crews of betas instead of the typical alpha workforce.
“Well, there are wine bars. Then there are some fancy, froo-froo places that call themselves bars but are too New Age for me to think of them that way. There are country bars, and rock bars. There’s even a pretty nice jazz bar down by the university that I’ve been to a time or two.”
The flush of arousal faded to something more manageable as she tried to think of all the different types of bars she’d been to. She’d mostly kept her head down and stayed focused on her studies and research, but there had been a time when she’d tried barhopping with some of the other girls she’d gone to school with. It hadn’t taken long for her to grow tired of it, especially when faced with the way men treated her once they realized she was an omega. Being looked down on in her field of study was one thing, but the assumption that she was a wanton whore because of her dynamic was more than she was willing to take.
Jett hummed beside her, drawing her attention out of the past.
“I’m not sure what you’d call this one then, they play a variety of music. We’re almost there so you can decide for yourself.”
They’d made it to the street the hospital was on, but Jett took her the opposite direction. They walked for another block before she noticed a steady stream of people heading into the lobby of the building ahead of them. She could see groups waiting for the lift inside, and the sound of music on the wind made her tip her head back.
Light spilled over the top of the building. It was taller than the ones around it so she couldn’t see inside even from a distance, but it was clear that was where everyone was heading.
“Oh, it’s a rooftop bar!”
There were a couple rooftop bars in the city, but Evelyn had never been able to go to one. They tend to be either exclusive or out of the price range of college students, and once she began making better money she was past that phase of her life.
“Yeah, it has a great view of Eden if you’re willing to brave the wind to go on the balcony.”
She could imagine how cold the wind was going to be up there when it was already causing goosebumps beneath her coat, but there was no way she wasn’t going to try.
They waited their turn for the lift, sharing it with a group of women who eyed Jett the whole ride up. Evelyn still felt the need to claw their faces as they shot him coy smiles, but the fact that he ignored them and put his hand on her back helped her keep the desire in check.
When the doors slid open, the sight before her took her breath away.
