Page 25 of The Omega Lesson

“If you want to come, then come.” He grins, and she huffs a little. “Okay, then that’s the last one. But it’s just to sleep, alright? Jack’s right; we’re all wiped out. Everything else can wait.”

I’m not so sure about that, but Noah nods, now as pliable as butter. He shoots me a triumphant look as he takes her hand, flipping it over to kiss her knuckles. I don’t even try to hide my smile.

Right up until Lexi looks straight at Travis and says, “Besides, this room is giving me nightmares.”

Lexi

Eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves.

That was my mum’s response whenever I caught Anton bagging me out to his club friends. He was always moaning about something, but the thing that stuck was the bad smell comment. Instead of playing with the other girls, why did I always have to hang around him and his mates? It stung my pride – I was the best female player in my age group, and he wanted to put me on the kiddie courts - but it hurt most of all because Travis didn’t defend me. It was the summer before that elbow kiss, and even though I was still working up the nerve to talk to him properly, I felt like we had a connection. I’d catch him looking at me now and then, and he always thanked me for sweating my arse off collecting their stray balls. I certainly didn’t think he saw me as a bad smell, like my brother did. But he just laughed along with the other guys, and it felt like he’d punch volleyed my heart right out of my chest.

Kind of like how he just told me he wouldn’t fuck me even if I paid him.

Because I wasn’t his problem.

I’d heard most of their conversation from the hallway, holding Mattie back from giving us away. And I don’t know if Ben is right, and Travis really is a screwed-up coward, but it’s clear he doesn’t need me adding to his burdens.

Well, screw him. Of everyone caught up in this mess, I’ve known him longest, even if it was years ago. But that’s clearly not enough of a connection to make a difference to Travis. Instead, he’ll shuffle me off to an omega tending clinic and pay some other alpha to suffer through my heat.

Not. Happening.

I’ve heard about those clinics, and while I’m sure it would be very professional, it would also be very real. There’d be paperwork and examinations and medical records. Doctors would get involved, and then there’d be no hiding the fact I’m an… omega.

Has it occurred to any of them what this means for my career? If it’s true, and I really can change designations like a flick of a switch, how can I ever go back to the academy? There has never been an omega staff member at Prendiville for obvious reasons. If the headmaster found out, he’d fire me on the spot, and it would just reinforce everything Drummond said about me. That I’m not a team player. That I’m not tough enough to work amongst the alpha elite…

Not to mention what would happen to my relationship with Mattie. Boys like Darren Fraser would have a field day, the staffroom rumour mill would explode, and then everything would come out. I refuse to lie about how important Mattie is to me, so along with being kicked out of the profession, I’d probably face abuse of power charges as well.

“Babe? You okay?” I stumble a bit as we enter the bedroom we crashed in earlier, and Mattie pulls me close. “Jesus, you’re shaking like a leaf.”

“I just need to use the bathroom,” I murmur and drag him straight past that perfect bed. It was like sleeping on a silk-topped marshmallow, and my body craves that feeling again like a drug. But I can’t climb into those pristine sheets when I’m covered in slick.

The thought makes a hysterical bubble climb my throat.What the absolute fuck?But when I pull up my crumpled, damp dress and reallylook, there’s way more moisture there than a normal orgasm.

“What is it, babe?” Mattie has actually crouched down, his face inches from the crime scene. “What are you looking at?”

“Slick,” I spit out, wriggling out of the ruined dress. “How can I be makingslick, Mattie?”

I’m still wearing my bra, but my undies are somewhere back in the limo, and he sucks in a breath at the position I’ve just put him in. A vein starts to tick in his forehead, but he just tilts his eyes up at me, his hands gently resting on my hips. “It’s still you, Lexi. But if you’re worried, we can call a doctor…”

“No!” I blurt out, spinning away to turn the shower on. To go with the beach theme in the bedroom, it’s tiled in soothing blues and golds, with a massive rainfall showerhead and smooth plank flooring. In another world I’d be squealing in delight, because as fond as I am of the ancient clawfoot tub in the cottage, I’d trade it in a heartbeat for something like this. But I ignore the luxury around me as I surge under the water. It hasn’t heated up yet, and I yelp as the icy spray hits my overheated skin. Mattie is instantly crowding in behind me, leaning over to fix the settings. I sag against him before I realise he’s still wearing his tux shirt and pants. “Oh, shit, Mattie! You’re ruining your clothes.”

“Forget it. I’ve got more of these monkey suits than I know what to do with.” But he strips off his shirt, dropping it on the wooden bench with a splat. Some distant part of me recognises how gorgeous he looks, soaking wet with just tuxedo pants on. But all I can think is that no amount of water is going to wash away the reality. I’m a freaking switch. And who knows? Now I’m no longer a ‘pure’ alpha, maybe our chemistry just went down the drain as well.

Mattie is soaping up a big sea sponge with some sweet-smelling body wash, and it takes a moment for him to look at me. When he does, I lick my lips and rest my hands on his chest. That throbbing vein in his temple starts to beat again, his pupils dilating until I can only see a sliver of amber. “Can I kiss you, Mattie?”

His eyelashes flutter, and he gives me one of his shy grins. “You can do whatever you want, babe. That’s why I’m here.”

The churning in my belly settles a little as I slip my hands behind his head. Water cascades over us, showering me in his fresh, minty scent. He leans down to touch his lips to mine, and it’s so easy to fall into his goodness. Into the way his tongue soothes mine and how he licks up every soft sound I make. It’s sweet, and patient, and adoring, and when I finally pull back, I know one thing for certain. More than anything in the world, I want to drop to my knees on the wooden slats and worship him until he explodes.

Okay. So, our chemistry is still thermonuclear. Good to know.

We dry off and pull on the sleep shorts and t-shirts someone left on the vanity. When we return to the bedroom, the bedside lamp has turned the dream bed into a golden pool of light. I kind of expected the three guys to be sprawled across it like some kind of alpha porn poster, but instead they’re standing near the door. As soon as he sees me, Jack crosses the room and takes me in his arms.

“It’s going to be okay,” he says soothingly, and I melt into his hug. I told Mattie the truth when I said I didn’t regret anything I did with Jack, but it still feels strange to know I was acting on my hidden omega nature. “We’re going to take the room next door. You need us, we’re there. But you should spend tonight with Mattie.”

I can’t hide my relieved smile. “Thanks. I think I just need some time to process all this.”

“Of course, you do. Rest up, love.”

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