Page 52 of In Control

He chuckles again. “I do.”

He hooks his arm around the back of my chair and I swivel around to lean into him. That contentment creeps into my chest again and I close my eyes and enjoy it. I can hear the pound of his heart against my ear and feel the rise and fall of his chest against my cheek.

“Here she is,” he says and I open my eyes to see that pretty little thing sauntering across the club toward us both. She’s dressed in a figure-hugging black dress that reaches down to her ankles, with a slit that reaches up to her thighs.

A growl rumbles in Liam's chest and I can smell how much he likes what he sees. Fuck, I like it too.

I sit up straight, resting my elbow on the table, my chin in my hand and enjoy her little show, her hips swinging from side to side in a frankly mesmerising manner.

She halts by the table.

I’d forgotten how young she is. She has none of those lines on her face yet and definitely no signs of grey in her hair.

Liam stands to greet her, holding her arm as he kisses her.

I watch their lips meet like it’s in slow motion and wait to see how that’s going to make me feel. It’s one thing knowing they’ve been with other people. It’s another seeing it.

I wait for my possessive omega instincts to kick in, the ones that should have me launching across the table and scratching out her beautiful eyes.

But those instincts aren’t roused. A different instinct rouses altogether.

Desire.

Desire makes me hard as my alpha’s hand slides into her hair, cupping her neck as he presses his lips to hers.

Fuck, it’s hot. Perhaps watching will be as hot as being watched.

She draws away from him, a slight blush painting her cheeks, and peers over at me.

“Well, hello again, pretty little thing.”

She smiles and her shoulders relax a fraction. Was she waiting for those omega instincts too?

“I nearly didn’t come,” she says as Liam pours her a glass of champagne and she lifts it to her scarlet-painted lips.

“Really?” I say, “do tell.”

“Your packmate.” She swallows and my gaze flicks to Liam. He takes his seat, his brow creased.

“What do you mean? I thought we’d covered this.”

“I had a little run-in with him.” She spins the stem of the champagne glass around in her fingers. Her nails are painted a scarlet to match her lips.

“Now I’m even more curious …” I lean back in my seat. “What did he do?”

“He stole my underwear.” She glances towards Liam. “Underwear I had been wearing, I should add.”

I throw back my head and laugh. “That fucked-up bastard.”

“How exactly did he obtain the underwear if you were wearing it?” Liam asks, darkly.

She takes a long gulp of champagne, not answering his question.

I dry my eyes on a napkin and meet her doe-like eyes. “But despite our packmate’s antics, you came anyway?”

“Yes. He told me not to and, well, I don’t like being told what to do.”

“But of course.” She’s a beta. Free of all those pesky instincts. Not compelled to do something she doesn’t want to do just because an alpha demanded it.

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