31. Meggie

31

Meggie

S hit . Shit, shit, shit.

I gag down another bite of kimchi and pray I don't run into any of the other guys in the hallway. I love kimchi, but not after mouthfuls of raw garlic and egg salad, and I'm pretty sure Emily sprinkled my hair with pickle juice after we cracked this stupid plan. What I can smell of myself is unholy, but it's better than the alternative. Perfuming up the house with baked apples and revealing my omega designation would be a lot worse than the nauseating combination of scents I've covered myself in.

Hurrying towards my bedroom, I wonder how to deal with the open can of tuna in my bag—a problem for later.

My bedroom door is cracked open. Normally I lock it, but I was in such a hurry this morning I forgot. I try to tell myself it isn't a big deal. The guys wouldn't invade my privacy, and I already know they're all downstairs. Even if they went into my room, it most likely wouldn't matter. I've been careful. Cleaning every day. Doing laundry. It's fine.

But as I push the door open, my heart beats erratically in my chest. The room isn't empty.

Ava is standing in my bedroom, my top dresser drawer open, as she rifles through my things.

"What the hell are you doing?" My blood is boiling. My privacy invaded. Thankfully, the illegal blockers are in the bathroom. The nitwit is digging through my pajama bottoms. She won't find much there.

Looking up from her snooping, Ava closes the drawer as her lips spread in a slow smile. "Just getting to know the new girl."

"That's not how I get to know my friends." I toss the bag with the open tuna onto the dresser and she reels back from the smell.

"Pungent," she muses.

"Get out of my room." I cross my arms over my chest. I need to shower. I need to take my blockers. I need her gone. "Get out of my house."

"This is Harrison's house, you twat," she spits out. "You're just here for now, and then you'll be gone. A little plaything they need for the team. You won't move back in after Paris. By then Harrison and I will be bonded, and I'll turn this room into my closet."

I don't have time to deal with her crazy. "Get out."

She doesn't head towards the door. Stepping further into my room, she stands her ground. "You are temporary."

"Leave." The gravely tone behind me makes me jump.

Nils stands in the doorway, his gaze locked on Ava.

"Your business is with Harrison." He steps into the room beside me. His hand goes to my lower back, and his refreshing scent carries over the pungent smells I've drowned myself in. I'm thankful for his calming alpha presence.

"Get out of this room," Nils repeats.

I can see the way she clenches her jaw before melting it into a casual smile.

"Goodbye, beta." She says the last word like an insult, even though it's her own designation as well.

Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she leaves.

My exhale is heavy as I turn to face my rescuer. "Thank you, Ni—"

The look in his eyes stops me. There's a twitch in his nostrils, a glance spared to the tuna bag and tub of kimchi. Then his gaze focuses wholly on me. It's questioning, like he's trying to solve a riddle, and heats the longer he searches my eyes.

His hand is still on my lower back, and he draws me closer to him. I can feel the heat coming off him, and my body responds, a traitorous thing. I can tell the moment he smells it. Looking down, his eyes flit from my eyes, to my lips, my cheeks, and back to hold my gaze. His pupils are blown, dark and full of something like awe.

"Oh, Meggie." His voice is deeper, and I want to melt against him at the tone.

"I—" I don't know what I'm going to stammer out, but Nils stops me. Pulling me closer, he drags his nose along my neck. Goosebumps prickle down my arms and my nipples tighten painfully. I can't help the little moan that escapes. My scent perfuming past the pickle juice and garlic.

"Oh, sweet Meggie." He licks my neck. Hot and wet, his tongue trails up to my earlobe before he nips the sensitive flesh.

Gripping his shoulders, my thoughts are fog. The feel of his simple kisses along my jawline has me mewling and pushing my hips against his. But he pulls back. Bringing a hand to cup my face, Nils brushes a thumb along my heated cheek. His eyes are wild, and I love that I did that to him.

Dipping his head, he meets my lips in a kiss that's entirely too sweet and chaste. He's holding back, keeping himself in check. And shaking from the effort.

"Shower," he murmurs against my lips. "I'll clean your room."

The bottom falls from my stomach as I remember where I am. What I was doing. My room smells of the shields I tried to hide behind, but my sauteed green apples and his crisp mint break through. The combination is delicious, but too noticeable. I feel the blood drain from my face.

"Shhh," he mutters. His nose returns to run along my neck as he takes a deep inhale. A low growl rumbles in his chest and turns into a purr. Nils is purring for me! My muscles immediately relax, pulse slowing as I melt into him. The hot breath of his exhale on my skin has me moaning again, and he chuckles, the sound deep and pleased.

"Shower," he repeats. "Go on."

My scent still isn't that strong, and I don't know for sure if he can tell I'm an omega, but his refusal to say it aloud makes me believe Nils is offering to keep my secret.

"And next time you want kimchi, tell me. My family may be pretty Americanized, but my Aunt MeiMei still makes a mean kimchi. Way better than that store-bought crap." He licks my bottom lip. "I'll feed it to you, and you'll see."

Then he turns me by the shoulders and pushes me towards the bathroom, leaving so much unsaid between us.