Page 57 of Fourth Base with the Alpha

“Not all of us can have flawless skin like you, Cupcake.”

“Uh-uh. Don’t change the subject. What’s up?”

I grab her wrist and jerk her hand away from my wrist.

“Just family shit.” I scowl at her, hoping she’ll get the message and leave me to my dark mood.

Instead, she looks like she might hug me.

She nudges her way between my knees. “You’re very cute when you’re all scowly-looking.”

“I’m not cute,” I say with a pout.

She slips her wrist from my grip and rests her arms on my shoulders.

“Tell me about it, Dumpling.” She leans closer, her scent filling my nose and her lightness threatening to chase away my shadows. She kisses the point where my ear meets my jaw.

“Isabella,” I warn her. Although, truth be told, I don’t want her to stop.

“Families can be really shitty sometimes,” she prompts me.

I sigh dramatically, my hands landing on her ass and pulling her closer. “You have no fucking idea.”

“I will if you tell me.” She nips my earlobe.

I find myself wanting to tell her, wanting to open up. Usually I’m happy to bask in these black moods, let them consume me. But not today. With Isabella in my arms, I can think of better ways to fill my time.

“My dad’s sick.”

Her body flinches ever so slightly and her scent spikes.

“I’m sorry. Is it serious?”

“Yes … no. I have no idea really, but my sister’s nagging me to go back home and see him.”

“You don’t want to go?” Isabella asks softly.

“We don’t get along. He’s an asshole.” I smile sheepishly up at her. “An even bigger asshole than me. But my sister wants me to come so …”

“You feel like you should go to support her.”

“Yeah.” I sink back into the chair, tugging her with me. “I hate going home. It’s always shit. Awkward, nasty. I try to avoid it as much as I can.”

“When does she want you to go over?”

“As soon as I can.” Isabella tickles her fingertips through the hair at the nape of my head and fuck but that feels good. My neck relaxes and that heavy weight lurking in my stomach dissolves. “That feels good,” I tell her, closing my eyes.

She scratches her nails against my scalp and I groan.

“I could come with you,” she offers.

“What?”

“For moral support. I’m great with families and, besides, it’ll look strange if you show up in Sweden without your new girlfriend in tow.”

“Klara did ask me about you.” I peer down at the floor. Introducing my fake-girlfriend to my family will probably fuck things up even more than they already are, and yet the idea of taking Isabella with me is fucking irresistible. I’m a fucking asshole just like Kim said. All the good intentions I’d formed this morning slipping through my fingers like water as soon as I’m with this little omega again. Especially when my hands are massaging her ass and her fingers are doing crazy things in my hair.

“Are you sure?” I ask her. “My family is fucked up and it’ll be miserable.”