Everitt came back to the set with his face freshly powdered, and sat a few feet away from Nai and Patrick. He watched her getting pampered with an amused expression, but the amused smile was quickly replaced by a frown when Danai wobbled a bit in her seat. Everitt reached out and touched her arm.

“You look terrible,” he whispered. 

“Wow,” Danai glared at him, “that’s very kind. Thank you so much.”

Everitt’s expression fell, and he closed his eyes, “no, I-. You know that’s not what I meant, Nai.”

She shook her head, “I’m fine.” Danai yanked her arm out from under his grasp, then steadied herself while the crew started to call for everyone to get ready. Everitt inhaled, deeply, as he watched her pretend she was okay. He watched her for a while, until the countdown was on, and he had to put on his TV voice.

Like nothing had happened in the first place, Everitt smiled at the camera right on cue. “Welcome back, everyone. You all loved hearing about Danai Martel, and we thought we’d open up the floor for some questions from the viewers.”

He turned to Danai, his smile tight, “first question, Danai.”

She eased her face, careful to look as pleasant as possible. It was easier to hold her body together when she was by herself, and with Patrick. Now that Everitt was back, though, it was like everything in her was throbbing, and all her nerves were standing at attention. Acting like  she was fine was starting to feel like a workout.

“How did you balance your first broadcasting internship with your journalism degree while you were in university?”

Danai smiled, tipped her head to the side in thought, then said, “my planner was my best friend. Everything was kept to some kind of schedule, even free time. Once I got used to it, once that was normal, and it let me feel like a human being amongst all the chaos.”

Everitt gave her a nod, like he was approving of that response, then moved on quickly. They covered several questions in the next ten minutes, and Danai wondered if he was making the segment go by faster on purpose. This whole thing was big for her. If it went well, there was a good chance that she’d be seriously considered for her first Nano award. Ev already had a few, which he probably hung in the perfect spot in his room so he could wake up, see them, and remember how great he was. This was her chance, and she didn’t want to believe that he was sabotaging her, but what other reason could there be?

Her eyes fixated on his face to keep herself calm, and she didn’t realise they had started to drift lower until she found herself staring at his collarbone. Everitt rarely wore ties, favouring a more casual business look as often as he could. The exposed skin hadn’t affected Danai much before, but now it was like it was calling to her. She scooted forward a bit, chasing the woody scent of his that her omega loved so much. It was so strong and potent, as though that was the only thing for miles around her. Danai’s heart rate picked up, and her breath felt hot. It resembled someone sick with the flu, but she didn’t feel sick. She felt moist, and warm, and foggy.

Everitt was speaking, his mouth was moving, but she wasn’t listening to any of it. Her mind was just on his body, and that scent. God, that scent was all she could think about. There was a hand on her arm, then a light shake, and she blinked rapidly. He was looking at her, Everitt, his eyes concerned, and dilated. 

“I’d hate to steal your signature outro from you, Danai,” Everitt smiled at her, and his hand didn’t leave her skin.

Nai glanced at the camera and laughed, despite herself. She nodded at Ev, “and for that, I’m grateful. It’s been a pleasure having you, Everitt.” She turned to the camera, “Stick around for an exclusive look into my journey after this. As always, I'm Danai Martel, and thank you for tuning into 'On the Nai Side.’”

“And... Cut to video!”

Danai heaved a sigh, ready to run away and hide. She had no idea what had happened, but she was damn sure she’d fucked it all up. Despite her attempt to disappear into the comfy black office chair, Everitt pulled Danai up.

“We need to get you out of here. Now.” He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in the direction of the nearest elevator.

Danai looked back at where everyone else was gathering and still working, “but, they’ll probably have something to ask me, or some comments-,”

“You’re in no position to be worried about that right now,” Everitt snapped, and Danai blinked at him.

She narrowed her gaze on the alpha, “I knew you were trying to sabotage me.”

Everitt jammed his finger into the down button, and the doors opened promptly. He pulled Nai into the moving car, and pressed the button for the one of the basement levels. 

“What are you talking about?!”

Danai shook her head, feeling a little dizzy from that simple motion. “You’re trying to... To ruin my... Nano...”

Once the doors closed, and their scents mixed together, Danai felt like she was getting high, and her knees got weak. She collapsed against the wall of the elevator car, adjacent to the wall of buttons, and nearly slid down to the ground when Everitt caught her.

He pulled Danai flush against his body, and his breath brushed her face and neck. “I got you,” he whispered, and she realised, then, how close their mouths were to each other’s. She sighed, or tried to, but it came out like a moan, all breathless and wanting. Danai watched Everitt clench his jaw, and close his eyes. It seemed as though he was trying to hold onto something.

She opened her mouth to speak, but she didn’t know what she wanted to say. All that came out was her breathy attempt at calling his name, “Everitt-,”

As soon as his name fell from her mouth, Everitt’s lips collided with hers. He grabbed her waist, pulling her body impossibly close, and stealing all the air from her lungs. The kiss was nothing like Danai had ever had in her life. His lips were reaching into the depths of her body, and she felt the wetness between her legs start to drip down her thighs. It was hard to believe that a kiss had done all of that, but she didn’t care. All Nai wanted was as much of Everitt as she could get.

The elevator doorbells chimed, and Everitt stepped back. Danai reached out for him, wanted to pull him back to her, but Everitt stayed where he was while the door opened. He held his arm out so that he was blocking the entrance into the elevator, and any good view of the woman that was in it with him.

“Take the next one,” he said in a low, menacing voice that nearly resembled a growl. The sound excited Danai, but she hugged the wall as the elevator doors closed. She sucked in a breath when Everitt turned to face her once again, his eyes hot with desire. Without a word, he stepped closer, and Danai didn’t have the fight in her to keep him away, not that she would have wanted if she could.

Their kisses were sloppy and desperate, and Danai was only concerned with staying in them for as long as her lungs would allow. Despite his powerful display earlier, Everitt was gentle with Danai when he ran his hand along her neck and the curls on her head. They pulled away from each other, and Nai stared into his fiery, dark gaze. 

The elevator doors opened again, and Everitt didn’t attempt to block them this time. Instead, he guided Danai out and to one of the cars. She barely registered what it looked like, or the fact that it belonged to him. The air outside made her feel cold, and she hated being separated from her alpha. When Everitt unlocked the car, she got into the backseat instead of the passenger’s side.  

He looked around the garage before coming to one of the back doors, “Nai, what are you doing?”

She laid back onto the car bench, practically shivering while her body felt like it was burning up. It was all too much; the warmth, the arousal, the need. Danai was doing her best to control her body and its reactions, but she’d never experienced anything close to this before. And it only got worse the closer Everitt was to her. His scent was invading her every sense, and she could tell the moment he stepped towards the back seat of the car.

Danai wrapped her arms around her body, “I... I c-can’t... My body...”

She heard a low groan before her body yanked forward and almost out of the car. Nai yelped in fear as strong arms pulled her up into a seat. She nearly reached out to scratch who she saw was Everitt until his nose touched the side of her neck. Everitt ran it gently up and down the side of her neck, then the column of her throat, earning him a chorus of sighs and pleas from Nai. Eventually, he stopped at her scent gland, nosing along and around it which made Danai’s body thrum and relax.

Everitt sat her up enough for him to buckle her in, then gave her a kiss on the cheek before moving swiftly into the driver’s seat. Danai’s mind was somewhat calmed, but still cloudy, and she barely registered where Everitt had driven them to until he was helping her out of his car and through the lobby of his building. Nai shook her head as they got to the elevator, and tried to push Everitt away so she could stand on her own. When she wobbled a bit after trying to do so, Everitt’s hands flew back to her waist.

“I can stand, I’m not a baby,” Danai insisted, not able to look Everitt in the eyes because just his hands around her body had slick running down her thighs.

Even with his grip on her, Nai crossed her arms and stared at the elevator doors until they opened. The elevator bell chimed, and they walked on together after it was revealed to be empty. Danai turned to face the doors again, leaning against the wall of buttons, and Everitt finally let her go. Her breath and body were hot, and she could see the fog on the gold-coloured surface in front of her. Nai balled up her fists against the wall and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to forget about the fact that she was, once again, in a small space with Everitt and all she could smell was him. He was surrounding her, and the scent was intoxicating.

She could feel him come closer, like his body heat was radiating off of him, before he slid his hands around her hips. Danai shuddered, and her legs felt weak. She bit her lip, “Everitt-.”

He took her earlobe between his teeth, nibbling on it like he was finally letting himself indulge in her. His hands snaked up her body until he found the waistband of her pants. Everitt took his time, making an excruciatingly slow show of undoing the buttons and tugging the zipper down. He rested his head on her shoulder, breathing down her neck and collarbone as he snaked his hand into her underwear. 

Danai grabbed his wrist with a grip stronger than she’d ever thought she’d use on a person, then turned slowly to meet his gaze. They were so close that their noses touched, and she could feel his breath on her lips. Nai wanted to tell him to stop because it was too much. At least, she thought she did, but no protests came out of her. Instead, she stared into his eyes as his fingers worked their way into her, dipping into the softest part of her.

Her breath stuttered, but she couldn’t look away. Everitt’s eyes twinkled, and any other time Danai would’ve expected him to smile. He seemed just as overcome as she was, and she could feel his pulse racing from his hand. Just as she was experiencing some relief, and the pleasure was building up in her core, Everitt pulled his hand back and re-fastened her pants. Danai’s eyes opened in surprise until she heard the elevator bell again.

Everitt pulled her out of the car then down the hall, until they got to the last door on the floor around the corner. He kept his arm around her while he fished in his pant pockets for his keys. Danai looked around them as he did, and the obvious price of the building didn’t escape her. They’d passed several chandeliers that were definitely made of real glass, impossibly shiny mirrors around the floor, and were standing on plush carpet in front of what was probably the penthouse apartment.

Before her mind could wander anymore, Everitt opened the door and revealed a palace. Danai got a short glimpse around the room--with a rustic interior, tan suede couches, and a large TV mounted on the wall. She was just about to burn holes into the rug with her eyes when she heard the door shut, lock, and Everitt was on her within seconds. His lips and hands were everywhere at once, and her gasp was swallowed by his kiss as he picked her up and carried her to what she assumed was his room. 

He leaned forward and dropped her onto the bed before stepping back to stand above her. Danai watched as the layers came off, revealing his beautiful chest and stomach that she hadn’t realised she’d missed the sight of until that moment. She couldn’t help but to lick her lips, and Nai found herself gripping the comforter beneath her to keep from jumping on Everitt. 

Even with her heat, she still had some wits about her. It was when Everitt was close, touching her, kissing her, that she felt herself losing control. This wasn’t her first heat, but it was the first time she was feeling that loss of composure to that extent and she didn’t know what to make of it. Everitt let his pants fall to the floor, and Danai stared at his legs, waiting for him to take off that last piece of fabric.

Instead, he climbed on the bed and hovered above her, leaving Danai confused. She blinked up at the alpha, and he seemed to understand the question behind her eyes. Everitt dipped his head down and kissed along the line of Danai’s jaw. “When you’re ready, take them off,” he whispered in a raspy voice.

She grabbed his face and pulled his mouth to hers, tired of the teasing and the play. Her body had been on fire for hours, and being near him without having him inside of her was starting to drive Nai crazy. She wrapped her legs around his waist, trapping him there with her, then pulled him down so that she could feel him on her. Nai didn’t care how it made her look anymore; she wanted him. 

Danai tugged on his bottom lip as she rolled her hips up to meet his, earning her a long groan. The fact that she was affecting him the way he’d been affecting her made her omega happy, and she repeated the motion over and over until Everitt pulled back to look her in the eyes. His lips were red, and his eyes were dark as he searched her face. 

“I can only hold back for so long,” he whispered.

Nai rolled her hips once more, then ran her thumb over his mouth. Everitt closed his eyes, clenching his jaw. Danai kissed him again, inviting his tongue into her mouth, until they had to pull away for air. 

She touched his chin, “then, stop.”