Page 20

I’m staring at the latest column request Sy pulled during a trip down to the Hacienda, suddenly grateful I seem to have my life significantly more in order than some of these poor schmucks do. Though maybe that’s not saying much considering the woman we lo…like a whole lot is just now giving us the time of day.

No L-wording, Raff. Jesus fucking Christ. Mom would slap you right upside your head for even thinking it because you’ll scare the poor girl off.

I clear my throat. “I’ve gotta be honest. I didn’t know people even read shit like this anymore.”

Sy shakes his head, fingers continuing to tap on the keys of his laptop. “According to the asshat, it’s one of CDN’s most popular columns. That’s why he’s so adamant that Elle take this seriously.”

Flint’s lounging on the pool deck, sunglasses covering his dark eyes, but I can practically feel his gaze lingering on the Beta who’s absorbed in his work.

Dude’s got it bad.

“Who’s the asshat?” my packmate asks.

“Elle’s boss, Jack Howser. The one man who could make or break her transfer back to Arizona.”

My brow furrows. “I don’t get it. Why can’t she just say fuck him, quit, and apply for jobs when she gets there?”

Sy finally looks up from his screen. “The publishing world is small, and you have to make a name for yourself in order to get doors to open up for you. Elle’s got a good start, but it’s not enough to land her a lateral job at the Sun Times on her own. She’d be starting from the ground up and basically erasing three years of hard work, considering she interned at the paper when she was still in college.”

My poor fucking honey bear. I know how close she is with West and Cadence and have heard how desperately those girls want her to be close, especially now. The distance between them has got to be hard on her, too. That thought also adds some new perspective on her relationship with the Beta beside me. With the reminder that she's basically forced to live away from her main support system, I'm realizing just how much she must depend on Sy. It also explains their closeness and how he knows so damn much about her.

I wave Sy’s phone in the air. “I think I might actually be able to help her out with this one.”

“What’s this one say?” Flint asks.

Dear Romantic,

Our pack has been lucky enough to find an Omega who is independent, smart, and beautiful. She’s the complete package. The only problem, she has everything and needs nothing. How are we supposed to court her? It’s made us feel inferior, like there’s nothing we could possibly offer her that she doesn’t already have. Sad as it is to say, she emasculates us. What do we do? Help!

Sincerely,

Lost Alphas

“You’ve got a plan?” Sy pushes his glasses up his nose before leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Two words. Tipsy. Yoga.”

“What the fuck is tipsy yoga?” Flint mutters.

Oh ye of little faith.

“I saw it on the list of today’s activities down at the fitness center. They set up a bar and have a yoga instructor come in to teach a class. What could possibly go wrong?”

The second those words leave my mouth, I start to realize that quite a few things could actually go wrong, but fuck it. Fake it ‘til you make it. I’m committed now.

Flint eyes me dubiously. “You’ve never done yoga in your life, and you want to try it drunk ?”

“Elle does yoga once a week,” Sy murmurs, running his hand down the beard on his face. “She might actually enjoy that.”

“See? I get to woo her with my natural athleticism, we’ll add some inspo for her column, and get tipsy in the process. It’s a win-win.”

I don’t mention that the alcohol might help lower more of those walls she’s got built up, so maybe I’ll get another peek at the inner workings of my girl’s mind. At this point, I can use all the help I can get. Ever since that kiss a couple of nights ago, it’s gotten harder and harder to ignore the fact that she’s so close, especially with her scent filling damn near the entire villa. Not to mention knowing she’s spent time with both of my brothers.

While I might not be mate-locked like Flint, I’ve been in a dry spell for longer than I care to tally. Between the road to the championship, my packmates, and, I’ll admit, a serious lack of interest, it wasn’t a priority to slide into the sheets with some random woman who would ultimately barely satisfy whatever itch I needed scratched, not to mention this deeper urge for intimacy.

I’m thirty-two. Pump and dumps stopped being appealing in my twenties.

I’m so lost in my thoughts, I almost miss the patio door opening, but the sweet smell of orange and vanilla custard that flits through the air is impossible to ignore. My dick goes rock solid in my athletic shorts. Shifting on the barstool, I clench my teeth and think of the most disgusting things I can dream up. A cup of milk left to curdle on the nightstand by my bed. Anchovies on a caesar salad. Toe fungus.

Nope. Not working.

Especially not when I catch sight of her. She’s in a beige halter crop top that shows off the tanned skin of her sculpted shoulders, strong arms, and the toned stomach that I want to trace with my tongue. Matching pants sit low on her curvy hips, the wide legs fluttering in the slight ocean breeze. With her hair pulled up in a messy knot, her face sans makeup, and her smile so open and free, I’m awestruck by her natural beauty.

She doesn’t notice the way I’m practically drooling over her— thank fuck —and simply looks at Sy, one perfect brow arching as her hands land on her hips. “I realize this is a working vacation for me, but what the hell are you doing?”

He smirks. “I’m drafting a few email replies that will be sent the next time I make a trip to the Hacienda.”

“And you say I’m a workaholic,” she grouses.

“That’s why I’m the peanut butter to your jelly, baby.”

Flint chuckles, drawing Elle’s gaze as she fights a grin. The Alpha doesn’t even bother to hide the erection slowly tenting his trunks.

“Hey, Romeo. How was your night?”

He smiles. “The heat on the beach was something I’ll never forget.”

Except I know he’s not talking about the fire dancers because when I went looking for them later, he and Sy were suspiciously absent. Of course, Sy’s biting his lower lip and adjusting his dick in his pants which is also a dead giveaway.

Elliott apparently doesn’t miss the rising tension either. “I bet the show was scorching . Can’t wait to hear all about it.”

Sy coughs to cover his laugh, and she finally shifts those mossy eyes over to me.

“What about you, hot sauce? Any fireworks for you?”

She says it in challenge, like she thinks any other person on this fucking island could turn me on the way she can with a simple look. She’ll learn real quick I don’t back down from a challenge. Relaxing back in my chair, I throw an arm over the side and attempt to look like I’m not ten seconds away from dragging her over here and fucking her over the bar.

“Had too much to drink, stumbled most of the way back here, and tried not to get off to the scent of your satisfaction filtering down the stairs. Spoiler: I failed. My shower drain has officially been defiled.”

She snorts, licking her bottom lip before dragging the plump skin between her teeth as her cheeks turn a pretty pink. I don’t think it’s from embarrassment either. My honey bear is just as filthy as I am, and I can’t wait to show her just how well matched we truly are.

“Why don’t you tell Elle what you have planned for her today?” Flint suggests, interrupting the restlessness that I’m struggling to ignore.

“You and I are going to try tipsy yoga.”

Her head tilts quizzically. “You’re into yoga?”

Flint chuckles, but he wisely keeps his mouth shut.

“That’s besides the point. It fits in perfectly with your latest column request. What do you say?”

Nerves suddenly twist my gut as she studies me with an expression I can’t quite place. She could say no. Could say she doesn’t want to spend time with me. Just because she’s opened up to my brothers doesn’t automatically give me an in. I’ll be forced to pick my broken heart up off the patio and try to put the pieces back together again.

“Let’s do it,” she says with a sudden grin. “I’ll go throw on some yoga pants and meet you back down here. I’ll also need to read the request before we leave so I know what I should be focusing on.”

Oh, you’ll be focusing on me all night long if I have my way, honey bear.

She starts to head back inside, unaware of my thoughts, but Nixon stops her in the doorway to drop a quick kiss on her forehead and whisper in her ear. She says something back to him, and his eyes cut to me in surprise before she’s gone.

Nix joins us by the pool. “I’m not sure if this is a really fucking bad idea or a brilliant one.”

“It’s fucking yoga . How hard can it really be?”

Famous last words.

“It’s literally just downward dog, hot sauce. We haven’t even gotten to the tough stuff yet.”

I shoot Elle a side eye, admiring her perfect form as she pauses to take a sip of her sangria. Other than a slight flush to her cheeks, I’m not sure she’s even tipsy yet. Dropping to my ass, I take a swig of my whiskey, needing the liquid courage to keep this up because I look like a jackass rather than a fairly successful professional hockey player. My big ass body was simply not built to be in these positions.

So much for my athleticism impressing our Omega.

“Now we’re going into the lunge pose,” the instructor calls out, demonstrating the move.

“C’mon, Raff. You’ve got this one. I’ve seen all of you down on the ice during warm-ups, working those hips.” Her eyebrows wag playfully.

“You scoping out my ass, honey bear?” I ask, successfully moving into position.

“More like wishing I was the ice with the way you all grind on it like that,” she purrs.

My growl is swift and fierce, causing me to lose my balance.

Maybe that’s enough whiskey. Don’t want to end up with whiskey dick, fucking my chance at discovering everything there is to know about our feisty Omega…including just how well her tight pussy can take my knot.

Elle laughs, dropping to the mat and rolling onto her back. There are only a handful of people here, but it’s enough that diving on top of her and kissing the shit out of her would probably be frowned upon.

Her head drops to the side, eyes sparkling with mirth. Wisps of hair have fallen out of her messy knot, her skin is glowing a pretty pink, and I swear, she’s never looked more beautiful. “I can’t wait for the tree pose. I hope it’s next.”

Seeing this side of her, having fun and laughing with me like we’ve done this for years… It makes my heart want to pound out of my chest.

“Woman, you’re enjoying this way too much. Are you sure you aren’t trying to kill me?”

She smirks. “That would be a shame, wouldn’t it? I haven’t even gotten to ride on your knot yet.”

I blink, all blood surging straight from my brain to said knot until I’m almost lightheaded.

“Honey bear,” I snarl, which just earns me a giggle.

Yes, Elliott Mitchell, badass supreme, just fucking giggled .

She licks her lips, eyes sparkling at me with so much goddamn need that I almost swallow my fucking tongue. I’ve longed to see that expression on her face for years, especially directed at me, and now that I have, there is zero controlling my reaction to her.

I slam the rest of my whiskey, then crawl on my knees until I’m close enough to get my hands on her. In seconds, she’s in my arms with a squeal that draws every eye in the room to us, but I don’t have time to give a shit. I’m on my feet, stalking right out of tipsy yoga as the instructor chuckles then simply calls out the next pose.

She must get this a lot.

Elle’s hands are playing with the back of my neck, and she looks entirely too smug about what’s happening here.

“This your plan, honey bear? Tempt me until I make an ass out of myself in front of a bunch of strangers?”

“I’ll admit, there’s a certain appeal to watching you lose your control in real time.” Her nose scrunches up adorably. “But I’m curious. Why do you call me that?”

It’s my turn to grin. “Because I’m used to the claws, but I’ll be damned if I don’t keep wishing for some honey.”

She bites her bottom lip, and I groan, my fingers twitching with their need to be all fucking over her. “I didn’t peg you for a charmer.”

“If you’re into pegging, that might be more Flint’s thing. Tonight, the only one doing any pegging will definitely be me. In multiple holes, preferably.”

“Oh my god, Raff!” Her entire body shakes with laughter. “Who needs yoga when you’ll have me laughing myself into some abs in no time.”

“Stick with me, honey bear. I’ve got you.”

Her body slowly stills, and although her voice drops to a mere whisper, I hear her clear as day. “I’m starting to think you just might, Raff.”

I swear to Christ, if she didn’t already have my whole heart, she would now. As it is, I hope she’s careful with it.