8. SASHA

Chapter eight

SASHA

The only thought in my head is following that spring scent, the one that lightly hints of pomegranate and honey. It's hovering on the edge of my tongue, my body drunk with need as I stagger through the club offering hellos and small greetings. My phone keeps buzzing in my back pocket but I ignore it, searching for the woman that's overtaken my senses. One of the girls showed me my mate's Facebook and I've been rolling Camila's name over my tongue ever since.

As I make another lap around the back of the dance floor, I stop, my attention catching on a woman freely twirling around in a world of her own. Her sparkly dress fans out around her, bright eyes and full cheeks calling me forward. My heart jumps into my throat as I stumble toward her, not stopping until I'm inches from her, staring down into her gorgeous brown eyes. Long brown waves spill down her shoulders, accentuating the curves of her face.

"Camila," I breathe. "I found you. "

Her cheeks pink as her hands fall to my arms, my hands settling on her waist. The rest of the world falls away as I stand there, cataloging her adorable features. Goddess, she's gorgeous. Kolsen and Amiri's explanations don't do Camila justice. Heat pumps through my veins and settles in my cock, my nostrils flaring as I'm suffocated by her scent.

Unable to help myself, I pull her closer, one of my hands moving to slide around the back of her neck, gently caressing her soft skin. "Camila," I repeat.

Her eyes dart across my face, searching for something. "You're their Omega. I can smell them on you."

No one has ever said sweeter words to me. One day I hope I hear that I'm her Omega. "Yes, I am. I've been waiting for you all goddamn day since Kolsen brought your scent back. Fuck, you're everything. Dance with me." The words just spill out but it's like we've both been pulled into some form of trance, unable to look away or move. Her lips part as her head angles up, every part of me wanting to kiss her. "Tell me I can. Camila, let me taste you."

I'm not expecting her to place her hands on my chest and close the distance between us. Her lips are soft, nearly pillowy soft but while her aura is sweet, her touch isn't. It's firm and direct. Camila knows what she wants as she kisses me, drawing a heated moan from my throat. I tighten my hold on her neck, my other arm slipping around her back. She presses herself against me, getting lost in the embrace and no doubt my thickening scent.

She tastes like heaven, her dominance falling away as she hands the reins to me. It's a strange feeling, being the one in charge but I gladly take it as I devour her mouth, my hips starting to move against hers as we dance to the bass-filled music. Camila isn't showing any signs of discomfort as we sway in our own little world until I move behind her to hold her against my chest. She leans back easily, throwing an arm around my neck without hesitation.

The dance turns sensual, Camila's ass pressed against my rapidly growing cock. I know she can feel it too when her hips start to push backward, a whimper falling from her lips, her movements stuttering. My mind throws me images of this beautiful woman on her back as she takes me deep or while I watch Kolsen and Amiri take her apart. She's mine. I can feel it. Making her believe that—making the preacher's daughter believe that she belongs with us will be a challenge.

I can't keep my hands to myself, both of them roaming up and down her torso, Camila leaning into my touch rather than away. I didn't expect this, to be honest, but this doesn't feel like her first rodeo and I love that she's not as innocent as her name suggests. When a wanton moan leaves her lips as one of my hands grazes her chest, I wonder how far I can truly go.

This needy haze falling over us is thick with lust and desire but one word from her and I'll stop on a dime. I just need more. Leaning over her shoulder, my lips pressed to her ear, I ask her a question. "Keep going?"

"Yes." It's nearly above a whisper but it's confident and all that I need.

Strapping an arm just below her chest, the other moves lower until my fingers splay across her bare thigh beneath her dress. "Okay?" I get another whispered ‘yes', my fingers dragging up until it meets the apex of her thighs. Just one press against her clit once I slip inside her panties and she nearly buckles in my arms. A mate's scent can be a powerful drug but as long as she gives me her yes, I'll keep going.

Her hips buck against the intrusion when I slip a finger inside her wet heat, Camila clinging to my arm around her chest. "Fuck. Everyone is going to see," she hisses. I snort because it's entirely too late for that.

"Everyone else is focused on their own partner. Do you want me to keep going, buttercup?"

"Buttercup?"

"You smell like spring, Camila. I just want to lick it off of you." So, I do, earning me another moan and a muttered yes as I begin fucking her with my fingers. Her pussy squeezes around my digits, trying to suck them in, Camila's fingers digging into my arm. There's going to be marks tomorrow but fuck I'm excited to be marked by her, to show them off to my Alphas.

And when she comes? It's the sweetest burst of her scent as she nearly crumples in my arms. I draw my fingers out, amused when she turns around to see me sucking my digits into my mouth. Her taste explodes on my tongue, my cock thickening in my pants at the idea of licking up her release the next time.

I pull her close again, returning to enjoying the music as we come down from the sex-crazed haze we were just in. "Where have you been hiding, Camila?" I purr, kissing her again. Now that I've had her taste and her scent wrapped around me, I'm not going to be able to get enough. Fuck, I hope my Alphas are ready for Camila.

"Dealing with douche Alphas that want me as their pack Beta." She snorts, trying to play it off as a joke but I can feel her body tense. I hate it, especially when I remember Kolsen saying something in passing about what the celebration in the private room was for. Our dancing slows as Camila catches onto my hesitation, twisting around just enough to catch my expression. "What's wrong?"

"Tell me that fucking party we're hosting isn't for your Alpha."

She shakes her head, drawing us off into a small, secluded corner of the dance floor. We're slightly hidden by one of the barriers leading to the backstage rooms, the fire in the Beta's eyes worrying me. "That Alpha isn't mine. He wants an Omega and a pack Beta. I told him very clearly that that's not what I wanted. Why am I telling you this?" Her smile tightens, her gaze darting to the dance floor and then back to me. I can't tell if she's uncomfortable or just hates the situation.

"Then-"

"It's their engagement party and I'm not going to be shown up by being the jilted ex."

I search her face, trying to gauge her emotions. In the dim lighting, I take in her true beauty from her full cheeks to the tits that are testing my control. Feeling them pressing against me earlier was heaven and I'm seconds away from stuffing my face between them. The longer I look, though, I realize Camila isn't a jilted ex. She's here to prove something but it has nothing to do with the Alpha that booked the party. I just can't tell what it is.

She lets out a deep breath before averting her eyes, clinging to her purse strap slung across her body. "I think I need to go." Her sudden change in demeanor worries me. Have I done something wrong? I reach to grab for her and then recoil when she jerks out of the way. She stumbles into the wall behind her, gasping when her purse strap breaks and the bag spills its contents on the floor. "Fuck, I'm a mess. This isn't how I wanted to meet you."

Camila drops to her knees, scrambling for the items when I bend down to help, my gaze snagging on a list that doesn't belong in a purse like Camila's, the daughter of a preacher. "Camila, what is this?" There's one line crossed off. Kiss a stranger. Anger replaces my curiosity. "Did you approach my Alphas because-"

She snatches the paper from me, her face ashen as she holds it to her chest. Her head moves side to side furiously, tears glazing her eyes. "Sasha, no. I… fuck, this is all messed up." Camila stuffs the rest of the contents into her purse and then unsteadily pushes to her feet. "Can I explain? Please?" The plea lingering in her words hits me in the chest. Even though she's my mate, I refuse to immediately trust her. Even so, I nod, gritting my teeth and lean back against the barrier, gesturing for her to continue.

"I'm not sure what can explain away the fact that you crossed off a task that I'm 99% sure is kissing my Alpha. We both feel the pull—I know that. But that doesn't give you an automatic pass-"

"Wait!" Her eyes are near saucers, surprised at my outburst. I'm highly territorial of my Alphas when it comes to them being played. There are very few individuals that try but I'm not a sweet, quiet Omega. I never have been. I never will be. Camila holds out her hands, silently asking me to hold my thoughts. Then she launches into an explanation so wild that it can only be true, from the list to her ex-Alpha, Teo.

Well, fuck, I messed up. "Shit, Camila. I'm sorry. There's no excuse for an outburst like that. I'm on edge right now and you got the brunt of it."

"You're apologizing?"

"Yes, I did something wrong. Why wouldn't I?" I tilt my head to the side, wondering what kind of shit Camila has been put through over the years. I have nothing against the church that's nearly across the street but seeing Camila talk about Teo has changed my opinion if that's the kind of Alphas they are shitting out. "Camila, we got off on the wrong foot." I stick out my hand. "Sasha Fox."

She stares at my hand for several seconds before reaching forward. I drag her toward me, loving the wordless gasp that falls from her lips when she collides with my chest. "Camila Thomas," she whispers.