7. Chapter 7

Chapter seven

Genesis

F or the love of Ethel L. Payne, Genesis, get it together. You are a journalist who was raised in the best boarding school money could buy, not some freshly revealed omega on the verge of her first heat. You know how to keep your damn cool.

Genesis had been telling herself some version of the same thing all evening. The meal had been absolutely delicious, and the dinner conversation was surprisingly comfortable, without the first date awkwardness. Was date even the right word to use in this situation? Regardless, Genesis found the men of Pack Rossi easy to talk to. They had a balanced dynamic obviously built over the many years they’d been bonded to one another. It was strange how the three were so different from each other but were still so perfectly matched.

Though they’d kept to tamer topics after their brief detour into light BDSM, Genesis hadn’t been able to keep her mind from straying into smuttier territory. She found herself mesmerized by the way Orlando’s lush lips wrapped around his fork, the progress of Gabriel’s tongue as he licked a bit of sauce from his spoon, and how Luke’s hand gripped his glass much like he’d held her neck earlier. Their simplest movements were somehow unbearably erotic.

She was acutely aware of their scents, able now to easily discern which intoxicating aroma came from which alpha. The elegant combination of bergamot, cardamom, and cinnamon perfectly matched Orlando’s refined masculinity, while the vanilla, cloves, and charcoal reflected the sweet and creative Gabriel. And, of course, the rugged scent of sawdust, suede, and saffron fit sarcastic, brooding Luke Wyatt. Together, their scent bouquet was like catnip on steroids. Genesis wanted to be submerged in it, to rub it all over her body and relish being completely consumed.

“Why don’t we take our drinks into the living room where we can talk more comfortably?” Orlando suggested, pulling Genesis from her wayward thoughts.

A pleasant young beta had begun to clear away the remnants of their meal, after refreshing their drinks. With the exception of Sundays and social events, Genesis rarely drank, so the man poured her a club soda in a crystal glass, garnishing it expertly with lime and fresh mint. It seemed extravagant for carbonated water, and even tasted expensive, somehow. Genesis’s dads were wealthy, but the size and skill of their household staff paled in comparison to what she’d seen from Pack Rossi’s so far. It was honestly a little ridiculous. It’d been a very long time since she’d spent extended periods in the company of the obscenely rich, and it was definitely going to take some reacclimating on her part.

Orlando offered her his arm in that adorably old-fashioned way of his. Genesis took it, grateful for the excuse to be near him. Orlando was the only member of the pack who hadn’t shown any obvious signs of attraction yet and, for some reason she didn’t want to analyze, that bothered her. He’d been nothing but kind, going above and beyond to make the transition easier for her, and Genesis was grateful for his help. Nonetheless, it upset her a little to think she might not appeal to him beyond an alpha’s instinctual care response.

Orlando led her from the dining area toward the sofas beneath the living room’s gorgeous skylights. The pack leader was solid and warm at her side, his scent both soothing and exhilarating. His arm felt firm and muscular beneath the soft cotton of his shirt. Genesis wondered if he ever dressed down. He’d removed his suit jacket, but still wore his tailored vest and slacks, his silk tie only slightly loosened. Orlando Rossi looked like a man who never lost his composure.

Genesis would love to unravel that perfect self-control—to watch him come apart deep inside her and fill her up with cum.

Without turning his head toward her, Orlando spoke calmly in his low, melted caramel voice. “Genesis, dear, if you keep staring at me that way while you’re this close—close enough that I can smell how drenched your panties are—I am going to be forced to find out for myself if you taste as delicious as you smell, before we’ve had time for a proper conversation about your needs. And that would be rather ungentlemanly.”

Genesis nearly tripped, but Orlando held her steady. When it was clear she’d regained her balance, he gestured toward the couch. Genesis dropped onto it gratefully, her knees still weak. From her new vantage point, she could see that she wasn’t the only one aroused—there was a noticeable bulge in Orlando’s expensive slacks that hadn’t been there before.

Did that mean he found her attractive in her own right, or was he just reacting to her damn pheromones? Ugh . Genesis was so annoyed with herself. Was she really worrying about whether Orlando liked liked her, rather than if he was prepared to give her the no-strings-attached, mutually beneficial arrangement she supposedly wanted?

Genesis was not an indecisive woman. She knew what she wanted out of life, and she went for it. She liked her privacy and her solitude, and she loved her work and her small circle of chosen family. She didn’t typically concern herself with other people’s opinions of her—she figured that was none of her business. Most successful people pissed at least a few folks off along the way to greatness. Genesis had never wanted to be popular. And she didn’t want to be bonded, controlled by a pack of fickle alphas.

Yet here she was, pouting inside because she couldn’t tell if Orlando found her attractive beyond a biological imperative.

Realistically, Genesis had always known she couldn’t live forever without alphas. It wasn’t safe or healthy or even practical. But she’d convinced herself she’d find a way to live unmated, taking on temporary packs whenever her heats grew too unbearable. She’d use donors when she was ready to have children. She wouldn’t grow dependent on anyone, especially a pack of alphas who saw her as an interchangeable object—like her fathers who happily replaced her mother before her scent had fully faded from the fabric of their home, even though they’d seemed to love her so much when she was alive. That was the trouble with relationships driven by biology. How could you ever know what was real?

At present, however, Genesis was having trouble holding on to her convictions. Pack Rossi had shown more care for her in a single week than anyone had in, well, ever. They’d handled everything for her move, given her a beautiful, private space to live in, and catered to her comfort at every turn. If this was pack life, it might not be so bad.

Get a grip, Gen. It’s been one week since you met them. Don’t start picking out baby names yet. This is still the honeymoon phase.

“Why don’t we start by explaining a bit about our typical routines, and then we can discuss how you’d like to participate in or modify things?” Orlando settled into a nearby armchair. He crossed his ankle over his knee, steepling his fingers and fixing Genesis with his steady gaze. “From there we can discuss more intimate matters.”

Genesis flushed. Even though Orlando was being as polite and proper as always, something about the way he said more intimate matters went straight to Genesis’s core. It had to be that damn voice of his. It was a late-night radio host voice, the voice of the suave, morally gray television villain you couldn’t help but crush on despite their evil ways. It was a voice that had surely talked plenty of women right out of their panties.

“You’ll get used to his formality,” Gabriel said, winking at Genesis. “He’s literally always been like this, even as a teenager. I don’t think I’ve seen him in a pair of jeans in at least fifteen years.”

“He’s a stuffy old motherfucker who likes sounding smarter than everyone else,” Luke corrected, spreading himself out, legs wide and arms draped over the back of the couch opposite her.

There was something so commanding and compelling about the way he took up space. It made Genesis want to invade that space, to straddle his lap and run her hands down his broad chest. She bit the inside of her cheek to remind herself to stay focused on the conversation. Luke gave her a lazy, knowing half-smile.

Orlando ignored his packmates’ color commentary. “I work from home a few days a week. Luke spends his time overseeing the farm, and Gabriel is generally here as well, working in his studio or searching the outdoors for inspiration.”

“Lando takes care of the money, I take care of the homestead, and the kid fucks around all day making weird shit,” Luke interjected.

Genesis tried not to laugh. How did his packmates resist the urge to strangle him? She’d been called a smart ass more than a few times, but Luke out-snarked her by a mile. It was like he was physically incapable of saying anything nice.

“You’ll get used to Luke’s shit, too,” Gabriel assured her. “I swear there’s a good guy underneath all that surliness.”

“Fuck you, Gabe,” Luke replied pleasantly.

“Luke bought Gabriel’s very first painting for an obscene amount of money and still has it hanging in his bedroom,” Orlando said, examining his nails with cool boredom. “And Gabriel’s art contributes as much to our wealth as the farm and our business investments, so don’t be condescending, Luke Wyatt.”

Luke scowled and Gabriel grinned, and Genesis felt her heart skip a beat. Their bickering was oddly endearing. Though they were much older than her, and old-fashioned at times, there was something boyish about the way they behaved together. Genesis supposed that siblings always acted that way, regardless of their age. It gave her a little pang of envy that she quickly pushed away, reminding herself that it wasn’t too late for her to have a good relationship with Greyson. He’d be waiting to hear all about her day.

“We keep different hours, but we try to have dinner together each evening at seven,” Orlando went on. “We would love it if you joined us as often as you’re inclined. Your kitchen is well-stocked, of course, and Marco will make you anything at any time if you’re not in the mood to cook. You’re always welcome to come up to the house for anything you need, or to call Andrea and she’ll have whatever you need delivered to the cottage. I’m afraid we don’t get many takeout deliveries this far out, but Marco is an absolute magician.”

“I’ll take you into the city if you’re ever craving something in particular,” Gabriel offered. “It’ll be a great way to get me out of the house from time to time. Luke’s hermit ways have been rubbing off on me.”

Genesis shook her head, a little overwhelmed by all of their kindness. “I’m sure I’ll be fine feeding myself most of the time, but I’d be happy to join you for dinner. Marco proved his skills this evening. I won’t be turning down his cooking anytime soon.”

“Fine, but I took the liberty of providing he and Andrea with your cell number. The cottage also has a landline, so I can’t promise you’ll be allowed to escape at least a few unsolicited meal deliveries.” Orlando shrugged apologetically. “Andrea will you get added to the pack calendar and will handle any shopping, grocery or otherwise. There will also always be a driver at your disposal. We just ask that you let someone know your whereabouts. Your safety is of utmost importance to us, Genesis, and we take our responsibility to care for you very seriously.”

Across the room, Genesis saw Luke’s ruddy complexion go pale. The air around him seemed to dim a bit as he retreated into himself, his fiery personality going cold. Genesis felt the urge to go to him, but she held herself still. She remembered how Luke had gone all alphahole during their first meeting, saying that her journalism career was too dangerous.

She didn’t want him to think he could control her, or that he could deter her from her career path. Still, she wasn’t a monster. It didn’t take a psychiatrist to see that the murder of his omega haunted Luke, even more than the others. Any alpha would feel horrible in his situation, considering their biological imperative to protect. Genesis didn’t want to cause him any additional suffering.

“This is going to take some getting used to,” she said carefully, holding eye contact with each alpha in turn. “I’m not used to reporting my comings and goings to anyone, but I understand your concern. What if I share my location with you? That way I don’t have to feel like I’m asking permission to leave the house, and you’ll still always know where I am.”

Orlando smiled, a little proudly. “Shrewd negotiation, my dear. We accept those terms.”

“But still let us know, whenever you feel like it,” Gabriel added, eyeing Luke, who sat silently, jaw clenched tight. “You know, because sometimes we might want something from town or to share a ride. You’ll see when Andrea adds you to the calendar. We try to coordinate that stuff to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Gabriel’s tone was light, but it rang false. Genesis couldn’t tell if it was his own anxiety troubling him, or if he was feeling Luke’s through their pack bond. Either way, she wanted to set them both at ease.

“This planet is all of our responsibility,” she said, injecting a teasing lilt into her voice. “I’ll check in with you if I plan to head into town. Maybe we can start a group chat.”

“Goddammit,” Luke complained, finally thawing a little. “I’ve avoided becoming a slave to my cell like the rest of you sheeple and now Buttercup here is making it so I’ll be checking the damn thing every five minutes. Fucking millennials.”

“Alright, grandpa, it must be close to bedtime cause you’re getting crankier.” Genesis grinned as the color returned to Luke’s skin. Bullseye. She was good at reading people, and she knew Luke needed to be sassed out of his melancholy. “I’ll teach you how to find your text messages tomorrow, okay?”

Luke leaned forward, his dark blue eyes glinting in that dangerous way that made Genesis’s stomach clench. He spoke in a low growl. “Maybe I’ll teach you a lesson right now, and then we’ll see who’s ready for bedtime.”

A rush of slick greeted his words, surprising Genesis with her body’s continued hypersensitive response to these men. It might have been nothing but animal instincts, but the desire felt incredibly real. She was almost dizzy with need.

“It seems we need to move on to the meat of this conversation,” Orlando said in an amused voice. “The most pressing matter is whether you want a sexual relationship with us outside of your heats.”

Three sets of eyes bore into her, waiting for her response. Genesis swallowed hard. They were contracted for a three-month trial period, with the option to extend to six, depending on their compatibility and her needs. Given her irregular heat cycle, she could have several heats over that time span. Still, she wasn’t expecting one for another few weeks.

Was there any reason to wait that long to explore their attraction? They were on a regimen of trusted medication including birth control and suppressants to protect them from the instinct to claim. She could safely have sex with them whenever she wanted to.

Genesis bit her lip, admonishing herself for feeling embarrassed by her desires. They were all healthy, consenting adults, and she knew she wasn’t imagining the longing in the alphas’ eyes. There was no need to play games.

“I think I’d like to start the sexual relationship immediately.”