Page 96 of Abel's Omega

His smile left a greasy feeling on my soul. “Could you step back, please?”

“Now why would I want to get farther from a charming little piece like you?”

“Please move away.” I stood up and stepped out from behind my desk.

He followed me. “Come on, I’ve heard the stories. You’re all over here looking for a mate. When I get back to Montana, I’m going to be an important shifter. I’ll need a mate and I’m taking applicants on a trial basis.”

“I’m not interested.” What the fuck? How did he not know I was mated? “Go sit down, I’ll tell the Alpha you’re here.”

He grabbed for my arm before I could escape into Abel’s office. “Now, I know you omegas are taught to be shy, but we’re both adults here.” He started to tug me toward him.

I was about to yell for Abel, or kick him, or something, when the hallway door opened again.

“Bax, what’s that man of yours—Hey! Get your hands off him!” Duke strode across the room and grabbed the Montana shifter by the wrist and the back of the neck. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, pawing at the Alpha’s mate? Get the hell out of here, and count yourself lucky it wasn’t him that caught you.” Duke forcefully removed my wrist from his grasp and dragged him back to the door, tossing him unceremoniously out into the hall. “You okay?” he asked as he crossed the room again.

I nodded, still a little shaken. “I’m fine. He’s young.”

“So are you.”

“I was going to add stupid too.”

Duke barked a laugh. “Well, that you aren’t.”

“I try not to be. Are you looking for Abel?”

“Yeah. Is he busy?”

“On the phone. Just let me check, see how it’s going.”

I poked my head in the door. Abel held up two fingers and I nodded.

“Two minutes, he said.”

“I’ll wait then.”

It wasn’t quite two minutes before Abel stuck his head out the door. “You ready to go eat?”

I shook my head. “I sent Louise to lunch. Duke’s here to see you.”

“Oh.” He looked disappointed, but he rallied and jerked his head at Duke. “Come on in.”

I gave Duke a quick imploring look as he passed and he nodded at me, but he didn’t look happy about it. Abel didn’t need to know about the incident; he had enough on his plate as it was.

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

“Would you like to go visit in Buffalo Gap again?” Abel asked me one morning. It was still early, early enough that even Fan wasn’t up, and we were basking in the sated relaxation that followed an uninterrupted night’s sleep. His hands drifted lazily over me, and their touch made me shiver in delight.

“You cold?” he asked, and reached for a blanket.

“No. That wasn’t cold.” I burrowed closer and breathed deeply to take in his scent. “What time is it?”

“Twenty to Fan,” he joked.

I snorted in laughter. “Not really enough time then.” I sighed and snuggled back in as close as I could with a three and a half month belly getting in the way. “Are you going to Buffalo Gap again?”

He nodded. “To set up the solar panels. The technicians are as competent as they’re going to get.”

“What about Jackson-Jellystone and Montana Border?” I really wanted to see Justin gone. After Duke had thrown him out of the office, he’d been sullen and had sent more than one dirty look my way. Some of the other omegas had taken to avoiding him too, hopefully getting that same vibe I was getting. But Bram, and Iszak, who’d come to us from Arkansas’ Greening Moon pack, appeared to be enthralled by him. And Justin encouraged it, which worried me. I had occurred to me that our offer for Jason might not have cooled all the anger in Montana Border.