I’ve been writing this patent application all fucking day for a new lube. That's right, a patent for fucking lube infused with pheromones. I told the client it was hard to get proprietary rights on something that is so over-saturated in the commercial market...but no, let's not listen to our attorney. So I’ve spent the entire day writing something that I know will get declined. At the end of the day, I get paid if a patent gets approved or not. So, I should probably stop complaining. It’s just hard to focus when my mind constantly wanders, thinking about how sweet a certain Omega tastes.
I look down at my phone, and it's almost seven in the evening. I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Emily and guilt starts consuming me. I don’t want her to feel like I’m flaking out on her.
Me: How's my girl?
Emily: Not so great, actually.
Me: Why not?
Emily: I have a fever -__-
Me: Do you think your heat is starting early? Do you need me to take you to Heat Haven?
Emily: Do you mind? I’d rather stay in one of their overnight suites just to be safe.
Me: Of course. I’ll be there in an hour and a half.
Before I leave the office, I walk over to Mitch's desk. He is one of the top partners at the firm.
“Hey Mitch, I’m going to have to take some PTO days.”
“Really, in the middle of the Phero-Lube patent?” He grimaces after saying the name.
“Yeah, I met someone, and it's important.”
I don’t want Mitch in my personal shit. Luckily, he just grumbles and nods his head. Mitch has been with his pack for over two decades and is still very much obsessed with his Omega. He’s taken off for more heats than I can count, so he can fuck right off if he tries to give me shit.
“Fair enough. Just let us know if you won't be back on Monday, yeah?”
“Sure thing.” I pack up my laptop and head home to feed Binx.
Once I’m home, I pack a quick bag for myself and text my neighbor Beth Anne asking her to feed and check on Binx for the next few days, which she happily agrees to. The only thing left to do is pick up my sweet girl.
I park on the street of Emily's condo building and call her cell phone. She doesn’t answer; I text her twice and she still doesn’t answer. Fuck.
I get out of my car and walk over to the front door of the complex. Hitting every button on the buzzer, hoping someone will just let me in, which they do. It bothers me that she lives in a building where just anyone can gain access. The problem now is I have no fucking clue which door is hers. Thinking back to when I dropped her off, I’m pretty sure she went up the stairs. Thankfully, there are only three levels. Now narrowed it down to twelve options. Great.
I know Emily has a female roommate named Kelsey, so I’m going to start with any of the doors that have girly adornments on them. On this level, there are only two, one that has a doormat that says ‘It's not a crack house, it’s a crack home’, the other has a Christmas door wreath with a cat holding a sign that says ‘Meowy Christmas.’’ I take my chances with the door that still has a Christmas wreath up in mid-January. Banging on the door firmly, hoping I choose correctly.
A small beta woman with brown skin and braids that reach her lower back answers the door. “Can I help you?”
“Sorry to bother you. Does Emily live here?”
“Who wants to know?” She raises a pierced eyebrow at me and looks me up and down to suss me out.
“I’m Griffin, I’m supposed to be picking her up and taking her to Heat Haven.”
I look over her shoulder into the apartment and don’t see anyone else inside.
She loses her facade and looks down the hallway. “Shit, I didn’t check on her when I got home from work. Follow me.”
I follow the petite woman down the hallway, where she knocks on Emily’s door. “Emily, are you in there?” We don’t get a response and Kelsey opens the door. Emily isn’t in her room, which happens to be a disorganized mess. She has an unmade queen bed with a mountain of pillows on it and a floral quilt that looks handmade. The nightstand next to the bed has at a minimum six half full water bottles, a stack of romance novels and a small silver jewelry box. Clothes are thrown half haphazardly throughout the room, and there are multiple laundry baskets. She must have a system of what is clean and what isn’t.
Kelsey knocks on the ensuite bathroom door and we still get crickets. I’m usually not one to jump into worst-case scenarios, but about fifty are running through my head right now. I go to open the door and her roommate stops me.
“Hey man, I don’t know you. You can’t just be walking up here opening girl’s bathroom doors and shit.”
I would be lying if I said I didn’t consider using my Alpha voice on this tiny little thing, but I decide against it. Instead, I just don't respond and fling open the bathroom door. Steam plumes out of the door as soon as it's open.
The bathroom is small and feminine and thankfully cleaner than her bedroom. It’s a basic renters bathroom with a single sink in the vanity, a toilet, and a bathroom shower combo. The shower is still running, and the steam is overtaking the small space.
I call out her name, and she doesn’t respond. Walking over to the shower, I move the floral print curtain to the side. Emily is sitting on the tub floor and has her knees to her chest with her head resting on her folded arms. Her hair is sopping wet. Thankfully, the water is still warm, and she isn’t sitting here freezing. I touch her shoulder and she startles. Lifting her head, she looks up at me with wide eyes.
“Oh my gosh, I must have fallen asleep.” She blinks multiple times to shake off her confusion.
I take in a deep breath, just glad that she is still lucid and not fully into her heat.
“You scared the fuck out of us, sweetheart.” I rub my hand down her back as she takes deep breaths.
“I wanted to shower before you took me to Heat Haven. I was having some cramps. We also didn’t get much sleep last night, so I must have just dozed off. I’m sorry Griffin, I didn't mean to worry you.”
I continue rubbing circles up and down her back. Even though I was terrified for all of twenty minutes, my dick is now rock hard being in this confined space. Despite being in the shower, her scent is still potent as fuck.
“As long as you’re okay, that's all that matters. Let’s get you ready to go, yeah?”
She nods her head, and I grab a towel and wrap her up. Her roommate just stares at me while leaning against the door frame. Her eyes are narrowed and filled with suspicion. Emily finally notices her friend watching this all go down.