Page 8 of Sweet Whiskey

DALLAS

Brooks is pacing in front of me, muttering under his breath as I flick my lighter off and on. Her little whimpers and moans as Colt gets her off are driving us crazy, and I know both of our cocks are hard, leaking with want.

He pulls his hat off, shoving it under his arm as he combs through his blond curly hair, pulling on it slightly before shoving his hat back on. “I swear to god if he doesn’t hurry up.”

Goosebumps rise on my arms as Kinsey’s cry echoes through the small alley we’re guarding. I squeeze my eyes shut, my self-control battling not to touch my cock. Brooks moves to stand next to me, resting his weight on his palms on the wall .

“Fuck, this is torture,” he breathes out.

I agree. The beautiful omega who smells like my favorite type of lemon vanilla cake makes my mouth water, and everything inside me demands I make her mine.

I’m not a stranger to pheromones like Colt and Brooks, given omegas throw themselves at my twin brother and me all the time at the rodeo.

But something about her already burns permanently in my mind.

“She’s the most comfortable with Colt,” I say.

Brooks glares at me, his biceps flexing in anger. “I fucking know that. I’m?—”

“Bitching. You’re fucking whining because you have a hard-on and want to touch the omega you met for the first time tonight.

Get control of yourself.” I’m no better than him, wanting the same thing.

I had her rubbing her pussy over my cock, and I was on the verge of exploding in my pants before she fled.

Thankfully, after years of taking care of my brother’s drunk ass, I’ve learned to be calm in all types of situations. Probably more in control of my emotions than most alphas. It’s kept us from a lot of potentially dangerous situations.

His jaw works back and forth as we stare at each other before he pushes off the wall, going back to pacing. “What do you think happened?”

“Honestly? She smelled like she was about to go into heat,” I say, rubbing at the back of my neck. And I had been ready to service her, no questions asked. She smelled like mine , and it settled something inside me.

Something in her eyes had flashed with a possessiveness so deep that I nearly craned my neck to the side, but it was gone just as quickly, and she flew out of my lap so fast that I couldn’t move to catch her before she was already running.

Colt was right behind her before Brooks had even blinked to slide out of the booth.

Instead, we paid the bill, leaving Kinsey a generous tip, and then stopped at the front of the alley as soon as we heard what they were doing.

They deserved privacy, and we were going to provide it for them, even at our own expense .

“I could barely get a scent off her. Just tiny hints here and there,” Brooks says with a sigh. “What did she smell like?”

“Like everything I’m meant to keep precious in the world.”

He scowls, not liking the answer, but I don’t know how to explain it. She just smelled…like mine. She called to my soul in a way I’ve never felt.

Kinsey lets out a loud cry and we both shudder, gritting our teeth as the noise quiets to a low muttering between the two of them.

“What’s he saying?”

I roll my eyes before giving Brooks a dull look. “You think I have any better hearing than you?”

He shoves my shoulder, glaring at me with no real anger. “Shut up. I just feel left out.”

Smirking, I pat his arm. “It’s okay, buddy. One day she’ll pick you.”

His tongue sweeps across his teeth, and he steps closer. “You know I’m itching for a fight and?—”

We brace ourselves when we hear the closure of the back door and the thuds of Colt’s boots walking toward us. He comes around the corner, his eyes darting between us as Brooks meets him halfway, taking a large sniff.

“She—”

Colt shoves his fingers into Brooks’s mouth, and my eyes widen at the gesture.

“You’ve tasted her first, now don’t say another fucking word the entire ride home,” Colt says with a growl, snatching his hand back and wiping it on his jeans before nodding at me to follow him.

Brooks is standing frozen, and I move closer, our mouths a heartbeat away before I inhale deeply with a groan, getting the faint scent of her arousal. With a mocking laugh, I smack Brooks on the shoulder and walk past him.

Colt is sitting in the driver’s seat of his truck, his head resting on the steering wheel with his eyes squeezed shut. His fists are curled on his lap, and I climb into the passenger side, not saying a word as we wait for Brooks .

“I’ve never battled so hard with my instincts before. I wanted to knot her right then and there.”

I nod, grabbing my tin of rolled joints in the glove box and handing him one. “But you didn’t. That’s why if you ever accept we’re a pack, you’d be the leader. Brooks would have folded immediately, and I…probably would have too.”

His apprehensive expression doesn’t falter until he sucks in a deep drag and I roll down the windows. Maverick will kill us if the truck smells when anyone can access the vehicles on the ranch.

“We’re not a pack,” he mutters.

I laugh, shaking my head. “Look at how we all reacted to the same omega.”

Colt turns his head toward me. “I thought you liked traveling with Cooper and Duke. If we’re a pack, you wouldn’t be able to do that as much.”

Settling farther into the seat, I glance out the windshield, unsure how to fully explain what I feel. “Duke… He always seems to know where he belongs. It’s always been that way since we were little. But for me, I—I don’t know. It’s easier to be with him. ”

“I’m going to be honest. I can’t fucking stand your brother.”

I laugh, rubbing the smile off my face before playing with the thick silver ring around my middle finger. “I think a part of me knew we wouldn’t end up in the same pack, even if he ever settles down.”

“Why?”

Shrugging, I take the joint back. “The women we’re attracted to, it’s always been night and day.

I like women who are more subdued, something softer about them.

They remind me of a sunny afternoon where your mom bakes cookies and then takes you to your favorite swimming hole.

Duke… He likes women who storm in like a hurricane and knock you off your feet.

He craves that thrill, someone to keep him on his toes. ”

Colt nods. “You don’t think Kinsey could be a little hellcat?”

I glance back to the bar, taking a drag before passing it back. Blowing out slowly, I laugh a little. “I don’t know her well enough to guess, but she has a fire in her heart. I can feel it.”

The door swings open, and Brooks climbs in the back with a huff. His mouth opens, and Colt snaps his fingers and points at him. “Not a word.”

Brooks folds his arms across his chest and stares out the window.

“Good boy,” I taunt.

Colt groans just as Brooks reaches over, smacking the back of my head. I’m rubbing it as I laugh. Colt shakes his head at us, starting the truck and heading back to the ranch.

Turning back to face Brooks, I raise an eyebrow. “How’d she taste?”

His eyes narrow, glancing at Colt before looking back to me. “Like a fresh 7-Up cake that was just iced. Fucking delicious.”

My mouth waters. “Fuck.”

“Her mouth tasted like strawberries.”

We both groan and glare at a smirking Colt.

Brooks relaxes in his seat. “She seemed really nervous to dance. I hope she’s not uncomfortable working there. ”

“Tracy said she was only gonna allow one dance for their first night and then conveniently forget songs for the rest of their shift,” Colt says.

I blow out a relieved breath. “Tracy has a heart of gold.”

He snorts. “Don’t let her hear you say that. She’s got a reputation to upkeep.”

“Her and Marley,” Brooks mutters under his breath.

I shift uncomfortably. Marley and I used to be friends, and I know that the gray cloud that hovers over her head didn’t always used to linger, but it’s not my story to tell, so I sigh and glance out the window.

“I think I’m going to meet her for coffee. Ask her on a date,” Brooks pipes up after a few moments of silence.

Colt’s fingers tighten over the steering wheel, and I turn to face Brooks.

“Don’t you think we’re coming on a little strong? ”

He shrugs. “I’ll keep it casual. If she doesn’t show up, then that’s that.”

“You? Casual? I don’t think you know the meaning.”

Colt bursts out in laughter. “Remember the day he showed up with fucking chaps on?”

Brooks flushes in embarrassment, and I snicker.

“And the boots not even close to worn-in and work ready,” I quip.

“I was fucking eighteen! Y’all have to let that go,” Brooks retorts with a groan.

Colt shakes his head. “You’re lucky Levi didn’t let us take photos.”

Brooks settles into his seat, crossing his arms. “You know what? I looked fucking good. I don’t care what y’all say.”

It’s silent for a moment before Colt and I break into laughter again.