Page 12 of For What It's Worth

“Really? You’d do that?”

There was a look in Jenson’s eyes I didn’t like. It wasn’t unattractive, but it made me feel like I was missing some vital information. I tightened the robe around me in a pseudo-protective layer.

He stood off to the side and gestured for me to actually leave the bathroom. “I’ll take care of you,” he said. His voice was so quiet, I wondered if he meant for me to hear it.

Chapter Ten

The rest of the house wasn’t as elegant as the bathroom. And I hated to admit it, but I liked it. Damn whoever they hired for an interior designer because he or she or they were spot on. The flooring looked like wood but was actually tile. Hallways were large enough for two people to walk side by side, even alphas. Windows were floor to ceiling and appeared to be solid panes of glass. The doors to whatever rooms were twice as wide as I was used to and almost twice as tall. Photos of all three pack members doing different sports, hanging out, or with their blood families decorated walls.

It might scream cozy, but it was still a mansion. I was used to standing in a room and being able to see the whole space. This house had multiple hallways. The first had several doors that Jenson pointed out as three different studies and even an empty room for a nest—right next to where the bathroom was located. Another hallway contained the resident bedrooms and the final one held the garage, laundry room, and gym. The hallways all extended from a center space surrounding the kitchen and living room.

I found my backpack on the floor next to the couch in the living room. Jenson made himself comfortable on one of the single seater couches, and I joined him, careful not to flash too much leg. He already got a show earlier today when I made out with his packmate.

Holy hell, I didn’t want to imagine what Jenson thought of me. It hadn’t occurred to me until now that it was Jenson’s annoyed growl that pulled me out of the cloud of lust with his packmates. I wasn’t any better than all the other females clawing at him after his classes—worse because I hadn’t even kissed him—but he still had to watch me be sexually trapped between Aidan and Enzo.

“What are you thinking about?” Jenson’s suddenly gruff voice didn’t pull me out of the fantasy like it should’ve.

I needed a distraction. Something that wasn’t sexual in any way before I was forced to take another bath because my pussy leaked, demanding attention.

But what?

My project.

I lunged for my backpack, which probably looked more dramatic than was necessary, and ripped open my folders and notebook before shoving it all toward Jenson. He didn’t grab the papers, and I realized it was because he was staring at me. Or more like glaring. If glaring was sexy.

“Will you please look that over?” I asked, meeting his dark brown eyes.

Jenson continued staring at me, and I simply stared back, breathing harder than I should’ve considering I was sitting on the couch, not doing anything. I couldn’t stay in this house much longer, no matter how much my inner omega loved it here. All three alpha scents covered everything. Every hallway, all the seats, even the air. Pine trees, fresh laundry, desert rainstorm. There was nothing sexy about the scents, but apparently my desperate female parts didn’t care.

I wasn’t sure what attracted an omega to certain scents, something I was sure the Omega Compound covered, and couldn’t wait to learn about one day.

The longer I sat, the more their scents would cling to me. Hell, I bet my clothes were going to smell like them, and there would be no fighting my instincts on shoving those clothes into my nest when I got back to my room.

My nest sounded like paradise at that moment. Some place dark and comforting to hide away from the arousing smells and unfamiliar feelings. I could get my thoughts together without the quirks Jenson was obviously noticing even if he wasn’t directly looking at me. My leg wouldn’t stop bouncing, my fingers were wringing together, and I was biting the insides of my cheek. I worried I might make it bleed if I kept going. Fighting my instincts was harder than I thought. And right then, my instincts not only wanted Jenson sexually, but the stress of fighting them led me to wanting him for comfort.

Without anything to do, I stared at Jenson while he looked over my project. No, it was more than just staring. I memorized everything about him. His sharp jaw lines with the stubbled beard just dark and thick enough to cover his skin but not enough to grab—although the tingling sensation in my fingers wanted me to try. He was staring intently at the mess of papers in his laps, his brows low over his eyes and pulled together so tightly a crease formed between them. I knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of his brown eyes, to hold that intense gaze while he lectured.

Damn, was I actually jealous of my papers?

“Okay,” Jenson said. He set the papers down on the coffee table, grabbed my hand, and pulled me up.

“You read it all that quickly? Wait. Where are we going?”

I was focused more on Jenson’s grip on my hand than the direction he led me. His grip was firm, his hands larger than mine but steady in their hold. I could feel where every one of my fingers was holding on to Jenson. Not in any romantic way but more like a stressful, am I holding too tight, not tight enough, should I pull away even if I don’t want to kind of way. It was my first time holding someone’s hand, and it was more nerve racking than I imagined.

Keeping my designation a secret had always been my first priority. Which meant no dates. No crushes. No sexual desires except the ones I hid in my private thoughts deep in the safety of my nest. When I covered myself in blankets and pillows, it was like I could fantasize about anything—or anyone—without having to worry about my scent. It was my safe place.

Except I had let myself be lulled into sexual desire—into safety—in a public classroom, by not one but three alphas.

“Here.” Jenson stopped in front of a random door down the same hallway as the bathroom I woke up in but didn’t let go of my hand.

“Are you going to tell me what’s on the other side of the door or am I supposed to guess?”

Jenson’s lips quirked as if he was going to smile. “Just open the door and find out.”

I reached for the handle but stopped myself from turning it. “If something or someone jumps out at me, I’m leaving. I will walk out of this mansion in a robe.”

That earned a full laugh from Jenson, but I waited to hear confirmation before I risked following through with my words and walking outside basically naked. “Nothing will jump out at you, Koda. I promise.”