Page 59 of In Deep

He laughs again. “No, I can’t cook. Seb’s the cook in the pack.”

“So what are you studying?”

He stamps down on the pedal to the bin and the lid pops open. I brush the crumbs from my hand into the waiting sack.

“English Literature. I’m the pack’s token arts student.” His lips are wet and a piece of hair tumbles forward and sticks to his mouth. Gently he removes it, twining the strand behind his ear and my tummy flips. I’ve never met someone who looks more like a film star. I wonder if that’s why he’s studying English.

“Why did you choose that?” I ask him as he turns towards the sink and flips on the tap, clouds of steam soon rising from the faucet.

He twists around, leaning back against the sink as it fills, and crosses his arms, his biceps bulging. “Hmmm.” He considers my face. “I should give the usual response about loving reading from a young age and all that crap. But it’s not that.”

“Why then?”

“I love words.” His gaze wanders towards the darkening windows behind me. “It’s always fascinated me how people can conjure whole new worlds in my head, make me love or hate characters, with the power of words. And I love how they bend them to their will. Create phrases that slip seamlessly from the tip of the tongue.”

“Like what?” I ask him.

His gaze meets mine and his eyes are something I could drown in if I’m not careful. He shakes his head. “Come on.” He tosses me a tea towel, yanking the tap off and dropping a pan into the soapy water with a plop.

I stand beside him, and his arm nearly brushes mine as he scrubs away. His scent is much stronger up close, and I notice the light honey notes of it. My gland prickles.

He passes me the pan and I wipe away the moisture.

“Seb will come around,” he says.

“To me?”

“To you. To the idea of you becoming the pack’s omega.” His hand brushes against mine as he passes me the next pan.

I jolt slightly with the electricity of it. My body is so easily seduced by these alphas.

“Pack omega?” I say. “I’m not–”

“You know that’s what Zane wants. And Duncan. ”

Do they? I’ve told them I don’t want that. But I’m not so sure that’s true anymore. At first, I definitely, definitely did not want to belong to a pack. But slowly, slowly, I’m being seduced by the idea.

My eyes meet Ollie’s and I wonder if he sees through me. If he senses the truth.

“Seb clearly doesn’t want me in this pack,” I say. “And I’m not interested in becoming a wedge between you all.”

“You haven’t asked me what I want?” he says with a pout.

“What do you want?” I ask, a little breathlessly, thinking of my conversation with Zane and Duncan.

He stares at me for one long minute and then shakes his head.

“For you to keep working.” He dips his hand into the bowl of bubbles and flicks some towards me.

“Hey!” I protest, wiping at the foam on my chest with the towel. “Anyway, how about me? You haven’t asked what I want.”

“I think I have a very good idea.”

“And how’s that?” I ask, resting my fist against my hip.

“I hear quite a lot of begging and pleading going on every time you stay over.”

I reach around him and splash the foam at his face. He jumps back, then lunges for my wrist, holding it firmly so I can’t dip my hand in the water again. He scoops his hand into the foam and lifts it to my face.