Page 67 of Choosing Their Omega

“No, that’s not what I’m talking about. I mean, I love getting to know your sister. She’s clearly such a big part of your family, and I want to know the people who are important to you. But when I asked if you were okay…”

I walk over and put my hand on his shoulder, following a hunch. And sure enough, he tenses, almost like he’s about to flinch but stops himself in time.

“I was talking about this,” I finish, trailing my fingers down his tattooed arm.

Cruz lightly shakes me off. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t lie to me,” I insist stubbornly. “I saw you rotating it earlier. It’s bothering you, isn’t it?”

When Andrea told me just now that part of supporting Cruz would be pointing out when he needs help, I didn’t think it would happen immediately. But this is undeniable.

“Nothing’s bothering me. Muscles get sore sometimes.”

“So, if I were to squeeze this shoulder, it wouldn’t hurt?”

A flash of guilt crosses Cruz’s face, too fast for him to hide it. I fold my arms. “That’s what I thought. Cruz! You need to talk about this!”

“There’s nothing to talk about. I’m fine.”

“You need to at least tell your pack mates.”

“Absolutely not. You can’t tell them. I just need to push through it. I can play on it just fine, but if they find out about this, I’m going to get benched. We can’t afford that with the playoffs. My team needs me.”

I shake my head. “If you push it then you’ll only make it worse.”

Cruz takes my hands and uncrosses my arms. “Sunshine, I’m fine, really.”

I push him lightly in the chest. “Don’t you ‘sunshine’ me and think you can just charm your way out of this. You and I both know that you’re avoiding the issue.”

“I’m not avoiding the issue. I’m telling you that there is no issue.”

“And I’m saying there is an issue, you just don’t want to address it.”

“Are you saying you know more about hockey and injuries than I do?”

“I know about common sense, something that you seem to be severely lacking in.” I poke him. “You’re all beauty and no brains, mister. I’m catching onto you.”

We’re inches apart, breathing hard. I’m trying not to get too worked up, but I’m also really damn worried about him, and Cruz’s eyes are blazing in that way that means he’s not going to back down.

Tension builds between us, attraction and frustration thickening the air. Then the door opens, and I jolt as Knox enters.

“What are you two doing in here?” His gaze darts back and forth between us as the door clicks shut behind him. “Everything okay?”

Cruz’s eyes flare wide, as if he’s afraid I’m about to spill the beans about his injury to his pack mate. A sudden look of determination crosses his face, and instead of giving me a chance to speak, he grabs my arms and hauls me against his body.

And then he crushes his lips to mine.

Chapter 21

Lily

Cruz’s kiss is hungry and overwhelming, and it sparks the same hunger in me. I’m pretty sure he’s trying to distract me from the argument we were just having, and possibly distract Knox too… and the truth is, it’s working. I don’t want to drop what we were just talking about, but it’s hard to think about anything else when he’s kissing me so deeply and skillfully that it feels like all my brain cells are melting in the inferno.

This isn’t over, I tell myself, even as I whimper into his mouth. I’m not going to just let it go.

But right now, my Omega is screaming at me that if I let this man stop kissing me, she’ll mutiny. I’ve been practically going out of my mind with how much I crave all four of these Alphas, and in this moment, Cruz is kissing me as if he’s heard all of my silent prayers that they’ll stop taking things so slow.

And what makes it even better is the low noise that rips from Knox’s throat as he watches us.

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