Page 25 of In Doubt

I stand, frozen watching him go. He’s right. We’ve been competing – of course we have. Yet working together back there in the trench, removing the dust and uncovering the artefact together, had felt a million times better.

It isn’t in my nature to compete, not really, and maybe this setup has been pulling me all out of shape.

“They could have given us another section to work on,” he grumbles as I duck under the flaps of the tent.

“I could see if Sia and Carl would let us work on their site.”

“It’s not big enough,” he sulks.

I drop down into a chair a couple away from his, not wanting to sit too close. He looks at his watch. “Lunch isn’t for another hour. Then they’ll be packing us off for the afternoon when it’s too hot to work.”

“I’d happily work through the heat if it meant I could keep digging.”

“It’s not healthy for an omega,” he says off hand, then his eyes widen in horror. “I’m sorry, I didn’t–”

I lift my hand to dismiss his concern. After that incident earlier, he obviously thinks I’m super sensitive or something. Maybe I am, but I don’t want him to think that. Omegas have a reputation for being vulnerable and pathetic. I don’t want him to think of me like that. “It’s not going to be an option anyway.”

“Yeah.”

He sighs, leaning back in his chair, swinging on the back legs and hooking his arms behind his head. The fabric of his t-shirt stretches taut as he does, the muscles across his chest becoming clearer and the ones in his upper arms bulging and the hem of his shirt lifts flashing a strip of toned abdomen.

I flick my gaze away, heat crawling over my skin. Tucking my hands under my knees, I swing my legs and chew the inside of my cheek.

Well, this is super awkward. Stuck with Jake Grantham for the next hour with nothing to do.

There issomethingyou could do, that sneaky omega voice pipes up. God!

I peer out at the bright sunshine. I could go and watch the others at work but I don’t really fancy that. I’d end up feeling jealous.

“You know what,” Jake says, tugging his phone out of his pocket, “I might just skedaddle. I was taking my pack on a trip out to the Rulox temple this afternoon anyway. Maybe I’ll just get them to meet me there earlier.”

“The Rulox temple?” It’s a temple to Isis, the Goddess of Omegas. A temple I’ve read lots about. Much to my disappointment, the temple isn’t considered important enough to make it onto our tour of the tourist sites. Carl and I had spoken about possibly going together in our free time, but I don’t think he was serious. It isn’t like he’s interested in the life of omegas during the period. Not like me. “You’re going to see Isis’ temple? The omega temple?”

“Yeah, I have a few theories about the place. I want to see it for myself.”

“I didn’t think you’d be interested.”

“I’m writing my final paper on alpha and omega dynamics in the New Kingdom.”

I gape at him. Of course he is. A mixture of emotions swim through my veins – trepidation, admiration, curiosity.

“Me too,” I tell him, swallowing.

“I know.”

“Wh-what?”

“I’ve read some of your papers.”

“You have? Why?” I lean forward. “Are you hoping to steal my ideas?” I say half in jest, half deadly serious.

“I have my own, thanks.” He rocks on his chair, eyes locked on his screen. “I was interested.”

“Oh.” My cheeks warm and I feel strangely ashamed I never read any of his. Partly I was too scared. What if they were better than mine?

Jake jabs at his phone. “You’re welcome to come to the temple,” he says in a tone that makes me think I’m not.

I stare out at the bright sunshine again, watching several people hustle past with sacks of earth.