Finn

“Anyway, enough about me,” Rory flicked her wrist in casual dismissal, a hint to me to not push the matter further, “When are you gonna find a sugar daddy?”

Ignoring that weird moment of whatever the hell that was, I shook my head and scoffed. “I do just—”

“—just fine on my own, thank you very much,” we both said in unison, and then started to laugh.

“Utterly predictable Finneas Bryne.”

I stuck my tongue out at her.

A server came around and dropped a steaming bowl of butter chicken with a pile of garlic-slathered naan beside it.

“Oh my gosh, heaven,” she said. As I reached for the bread, she ladled two heaping spoonfuls of chicken onto my plate first, then hers, and I did the same with the bread.

We spent the next two hours playing catch-up. Even though we were roomies, we could go weeks without seeing one another. It was always nice when Rory was back in town.

Sighing, I leaned back against my seat. Full and warm, ready for bed, but not ready to end the night.

Yes, I had work tomorrow. But only a half day, my heat was approaching, and Village Agency was extremely forward-thinking in the amount of paid leave they gave their Omegas. I might be worked like a dog, but no one could argue that Village didn’t take care of their Omega employees. After tomorrow morning I’d get three days off.

The nice thing was, because I was a Recessive, I only suffered my heat the first day, after that it was smooth sailing. Regardless, I still got the maximum number of comp days as any other Omega would.

“So tomorrow, me and a couple of Betas, are headed to the Hamptons. I know, you probably can’t make it tomorrow, but maybe you can take off a day or two?” She clutched her fingers together as though in prayer, giving me a pretty please smile.

I cringed. “Argh, any other time. But I’m going in heat. Not a great idea.”

“Shoot. That’s why I only invited Betas, but damn, yeah. But like, you’ve taken suppressants before. I know it’s only really bad for you on day one. Maybe think about it?” She bit her front teeth together.

I didn’t want to disappoint her. Because I knew she was headed to Tokyo next week for a month.

“You’re right, I could take the pills for the last two days. But if there’s an Alpha anywhere within a ten-foot radius it’s like ringing a dinner bell.”

“Ugh,” she rubbed her forehead. “Yeah, of course, you’re right,” she sounded dejected. “I totally should have asked you first. You know what, no biggie. Lemme just tell them I’m taking a rain—”

I reached for her hand as she started to tug her cell from her pocket.

“No, don’t cancel. I know your schedule has been stupid busy. You need this vacation probably more than I do.”

Her shoulders slumped. “But it would just feel awful being there without my little bunny. We rarely get to hang out like this.”

I didn’t want her to leave. But I also knew she couldn’t stay. Rory was a Beta, but I didn’t let anyone stay around me during my heats. Never had. Because what happened to me during it was, frankly, a little shameful.

“Go, seriously. You’ll be back again, in no time. Okay. We’ll catch up. No biggie.”

She blew out a heavy breath.

“Okay, you know what. I think this calls for cuddles. Yeah?”

She smiled at me with her big brown eyes and how could I possibly resist?

“Yeah, sounds nice.”

“Good. Then lemme pay, powder my nose, and I’ll be right back.”

“I can pay.” I made to reach for my wallet, but her hand landed on mine, stilling me.

“Like hell,” she snorted and popped a quick kiss on my cheek that meant absolutely nothing. That was just Rory’s way. Grabbing her clutch, she went and paid and then disappeared as she headed toward the ladies room.

Tapping my fingers on the bar, I glanced toward my right just by happenstance and my heart nearly hammered its way out of my chest. Two benches over was Daniel.

How the hell was that possible in a city of two million plus people? And, hadn’t he been pulling an all-nighter? Sure had seemed that way. Whatever the case might be, that was definitely him. I’d recognize the devil horns anywhere.

I curled my nose, it was an automatic response whenever I saw that devil-may-care attitude of his. Thankfully, he had his back to me. Sitting across from him was another person, a woman with long orange-red hair and large blue eyes. She was petite, and extremely well put together.

I snorted. He had a type; I’d give him that. If I was a betting man, I’d say she was yet another Omega. Alphas were so damn lucky that they could whore around and never worry about a thing like an STD. I mean, they could get them, but it didn’t physically affect them. It was more like a recessive gene. But in a cruel twist of fate, though they never suffered the side effects of them, they sure as hell could pass them on to others.

As much as he slept around, I was sure he was a walking ick factory.

“You ready?” Rory was back.

Hopping off my seat I nodded and tossed my sling bag over my shoulder. Rory was at least a foot taller than me and had been from the moment we’d met. She did what she always did when we were together, draped her arm across my shoulders, pulling me tight into her side.

“Want to grab some beers on the way home?” she asked.

“Ye—”

“Home?”

I blinked, recognizing the voice but not sure why it was suddenly addressing me, or how it had gotten so close to me without me noticing.

Hadn’t he just been with his flavor of the minute?

Daniel wore a cocky grin as he looked at Rory. Tall as she was, Daniel had her by at least three or four inches. Usually. Today the heels had them at eye level.

“So, you guys live together now, huh? Sounds serious,” he said, waggling his brows, but the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

I snarled, but Rory patted my chest like a mother soothing its child.

“Well, what can I say, Daniel? It’s love.” And then without a word of warning, she bent me over and snatched my lips with her own.

Kissing Rory was like being in the sight of a fierce lioness. It was amazing to me that she was a Beta because she had Alpha energy that could rival most of the Alphas I’d ever dated. Which was probably why Omegas flocked to her like flies to turds.

Suddenly I was standing back on my feet and gasping. She laughed and I fully expected that Daniel would too. My cheeks burned and for a moment I suffered the strangest desire to wipe her kiss off.

Any other time and I would have been giddy. But I was… honestly kind of embarrassed that he’d seen me like that. What would he tell the guys at work now? Rory was a celebrity, if he talked the tabloids could catch wind of it and blow this way out of proportion.

“Um—” I opened my mouth, ready to correct his assumption, but suddenly his Omega was there.

“I thought you said you were headed out for a smoke, you ready to go?” she asked with a husky drawl.

Smoke? When did Daniel start smoking? I’d never realized it. In fact, I couldn’t remember a time he’d ever joined the others in the smoke pit at work. A muscle in his jaw twitched and his eyes looked like they were boring holes straight through me.

I cocked my head.

Was he annoyed? It sure seemed that way, though the muscles smoothed out again almost instantly. But when he grinned it was tight, almost forced.

I frowned. Then I blinked and it was gone, he looked loose and easy once more. Like the idiot I knew and hated. I rubbed my forehead. Had one too many long nights made me crazy?

“Yeah, I’m done. Nice to see you again, Ororo,” he said, and I couldn’t detect any of the tightness I’d sensed in him earlier. Then sliding his arm across his Omega’s, they headed out.

Rory looked down at me after they’d left. “Was it just me or was that hella awkward?”

Her voice snapped me back to the present and I instantly growled.

“Well, I don’t know, Rory… maybe sticking your tongue down my throat might have something to do with that!” I said, more put out with her than I’d ever been before.