Page 13 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Eleven

Everly

Alow, pounding ache in my skull makes moving uncomfortable or it could be the heavy arm thrown over my body. I really should've visited the bathroom before bed. I gently wiggle down the mattress. Tom's huge arm tries to clamp down tighter, but I finally manage to wriggle out of his hold.

I slide down and out the bottom of the blanket. I make a break for the open bedroom door. I'm a few steps down the hallway when I realize I have no idea which one is the restroom. I know there's one off the living room, but their suite is so much larger than the room I was given.

I'm considering the merits of trying random doors versus running to the bathroom by the kitchen when the door behind me opens.

Spinning around, my jaw drops. Steam pours out around Connor's strong frame.

He's wrapped only in a towel, and I can't seem to look away.

He's close enough that I can actually make out the curves of his muscles. And there are a lot of them.

"Everly," Connor says. "You look different without your glasses." His words might sound insulting if he wasn't staring at me with undisguised interest.

"Can I use that restroom?" I blurt out, and my hands fly to my face.

"Of course," he says, stepping to the side, but I step in that direction at the same time. We do that several more times before Connor gives up. He holds my shoulders in place and steps around me. "I had no idea you slept over."

"Murphy was comfortable," I mumble like that should explain everything. I walk past him and into the steamy bathroom. "There was no… other stuff. Just sleep."

Connor gives a nod. His strong hand wraps around the knot of his towel. Don't think about knots. Use the restroom and escape before anyone else wakes up.

I panic at the thought and close the door in Connor's face like a total weirdo.

I use the bathroom and successfully locate my glasses before slipping back out into the living room. I'm in the process of hunting around in the pre-dawn light for my shoes, when warm hands wrap around my hips.

"They're by the front door," Connor murmurs. I pop up, and my head bumps his strong chest. "You found your glasses. Are you trying to escape us?"

"I-I," I stammer. Connor uses his grip on my hips to spin me around.

"I know we kept you busy yesterday," Connor says softly.

"And I meant what I said. I'd very much like it if you'd consider us as an option, but I don't want you to feel we're the only choice.

You're lovely. Spending time getting to know you last night was the high point of several long months.

" He studies my face. "However, considering your past experiences, I'd like it if you spent the day meeting some of the other packs.

That way you won't have any regrets or feel like you've been forced to settle. "

"I'm really not sure that's necessary." I frown. He thinks being with them would be settling for me?

These men are absolutely never allowed to see pictures of my ex-boyfriends. Never. Not under any circumstances. They obviously see me in a way no one else does.

I open my mouth to continue, but Connor hushes me by brushing his lips over my forehead. "Please, indulge me? My conscience won't let it go."

"Okay," I agree. He squeezes my hips and gently rubs his cheek against mine. My nipples tighten as a shiver runs through my entire body. Connor might be serious and studious, but he's as attractive as Archer or Tom. Or Luke.

"I'll see you later, Everly," he says before heading for the door, out of the suite. "Have a good day, but not too good."

I stand frozen in shock for several seconds before I get myself together. I blow out a heavy breath and aim for Luke.

"Hey," I murmur, giving his chest a shove. "Luke." He's still stretched out on the couch where he fell asleep last night. His strong arms are crossed over his chest and his boots are still on.

That can’t be comfortable.

"Luke." I try again, giving his shoulder a gentle shove.

Luke stretches.

"Evie?" I think he's mostly still asleep.

His forearm wraps around my ass and then I'm lying on his chest. "I'm still tired," he murmurs.

His large hand rubs my back, and I blink, staring at a random place on the wall across the room.

His electric scent is so potent that all I want to do is shove my face in his neck and breathe him in, but that would be highly inappropriate.

"Luke." My hands land on his chest, and I push myself up. "Will you walk me back to my room?"

His eyes really open this time, and he stares up at me. His hand flexes on my ass, and I realize at some point he slid it up under Murphy's shirt.

"Are you okay?" he asks, studying me with confusion. "Where's your dress?"

"It's in Tom's room. I'm trying to make a quick escape," I whisper. "Will you help or not?"

His hand leaves my ass, and he brushes my hair back from my face. "Answer my question. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine," I grumble. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"You're half-dressed and trying to escape. Sorry, darlin', that doesn't really seem like your style." He leans forward. It leaves me sitting in his lap, and puts our faces a whole lot closer to each other.

"Remember when I told you I have a bad habit of embarrassing myself?" I glance away. "I have a few memories of doing that last night." My eyes squeeze shut as I recall Tom undressing me like I was a child. He even went as far as encouraging me to use the bathroom before bed.

I am mortified. How do I get myself into these situations?

"I'll bring you to your room, but we're not done talking about this," Luke says.

He manages to go from reclining on the couch to standing with me in his arms with no effort at all.

He's seriously freaking strong. He aims toward the door.

"I'll come back for your other stuff. Just grab your bag.

" He leans over, making it easy for me to pull it off the table.

"Does this count as a walk of shame?" I ask as Luke opens the door and heads out into the hallway. I'm still in Murphy's shirt. I think that means it counts. "I don't even have shoes on. It's a carry of shame."

"Do you want it to count?" Luke asks with a hint of amusement in his tone. His voice is scratchy and a little sleepy. The stairwell is way colder than the hallway was, and I shiver. "Shit, Murphy's gonna see this footage and kill me for bringing you out without a jacket. Snuggle close, sweetheart."

I laugh. "I'll be all right, but I do have 'Complete a walk of shame' on my Christmas bucket list. Do you think this counts?"

"I guess if you want it to," Luke says, shrugging. "But you don't smell like sex. Usually a good walk of shame includes wobbly knees from so much fucking your legs are about to give out."

"Oh," I say with a frown.

Luke laughs, gripping me tight to his chest. "I need the key."

I dig around in my tiny bag and hand him the key. We get inside, and Luke sets me down. He leans against the wall opposite me, and the material of his long sleeve t-shirt pulls tight as he stretches.

"I'm still confused about what happened last night, and why you hauled ass outta there so quick this morning," he says, scratching at his jaw. He hasn't shaved in the few days that I've been here, and his stubble is longer. "Evie?"

"S-Sorry," I whisper as my eyes fly up to his. "I'm good. Thanks for making sure I got in safe and sound."

"That's not an answer," Luke says, taking a step toward me. I take a step back, and my head whacks against the corner of the wall.

"Ouch," I grumble.

Luke takes the last step and stretches out his hand, rubbing it over the back of my head.

"You see what I did there? That's about what last night can be described as."

"Sweetheart, you're absolutely adorable," Luke says, still palming the back of my head. He leans close, and my heart races. The way he smirks down at me, it's clear he knows how he affects me. My thighs clench together, but the smell of my perfume still radiates around us.

Betas might not be as sensitive to an omega's scent as alphas, but I see the exact moment his nostrils flare and he picks up my pheromones.

"No, you don't smell like Murphy or Archer.

Not their cum anyway. That means it didn't count as a walk of shame.

Sorry, darlin', but I'd be more than happy to help you cross that one off your bucket list." He bites his thick lower lip, and I barely hold back the whine that tries to escape mine.

My eyes squeeze shut, and I let out a ragged breath as my hand lands on his chest. He's so far out of my league it's not even funny.

"Thanks," I mumble, giving his chest a small shove. "I should shower. Connor made it clear he wants me to spend the day meeting the unbonded alphas."

"Fucking hell," he says, shaking his head. "Let the feeding frenzy commence."

I grimace. He takes a step back, but then something in his face changes. He pulls me to the side a foot so my head rests back against the flat wall.

"Just remember that my offer stands." His warm breath fans over my neck as he speaks, and I tremble. He steps back, giving me a grin. "All right, do what you need to do. I'm running down to my place to shower. Don't leave the room without me."

"Yes, sir," I mumble before I think it through.

Luke shoots me a wink over his shoulder as he saunters toward the door. I'm so totally out of my depth here. Maybe New York was more my speed?