Page 63 of Furry Equations
“Yes, Alpha?” The title rolled off her tongue like honey, and she damn well knew what it did to him.
“We have work to do.”
“We are working.” She rocked against him deliberately. “I’m documenting physical reactions to-“
The lab door opened, saving Marcus from what would undoubtedly have been a very scientific explanation of exactly what she was documenting.
“Seriously?” Jax threw up his hands. “Can you two not keep your hands off each other for five minutes? We have a crisis to manage!”
“Actually,” Natalie straightened her shirt with dignity, though her cheeks were pink, “we were conducting important research on mate-pair bonding behaviors.”
“Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
“Out, Jax,” Marcus growled, but there was no heat in it. His beta’s timing was terrible, but he had a point. They needed to focus.
“Going. But Emily needs Natalie in the main lab. Something about changing the delivery system into an aerosolized version.”
Natalie was already moving toward the door, scientific focus returning. “The molecular binding could easily be refigured. We’ll need to adjust the...”
She disappeared down the hall, trailing scientific terms in her wake. Marcus watched her go with equal parts fondness and exasperation.
“You know,” Jax leaned against the doorframe, “when I said you needed to find your mate, this wasn’t exactly what I pictured.”
“No?”
“I was thinking maybe a nice wolf shifter. Someone quiet and calm. Instead you get a human scientist who creates world-changing formulas and drives you crazy with science talk.”
Marcus smiled, remembering how Natalie had systematically dismantled Liam’s loyalty with nothing but theoretical biology. “Would you believe me if I said she’s perfect?”
“Believe you? Boss, I’ve never seen you smile so much in your life. It’s actually kind of disturbing.”
“Your support is touching.”
“Hey, I’m thrilled. Though I do have one question.”
“Just one?”
“When she starts explaining molecular whatever-it-is, do you actually understand any of it?”
Marcus laughed. “About one word in ten. But watching her talk about science...” He shrugged. “It’s like watching art in motion.”
“Oh God.” Jax clutched his chest dramatically. “You’ve got it bad. The big bad alpha, brought low by a tiny scientist with a vocabulary that could kill.”
Marcus raised a brow.
“Going now.” Jax’s grin turned wicked. “Have fun with your ‘mate-pair bonding research.’”
A pen bounced off the closing door where Jax’s head had been. Marcus shook his head, unable to completely suppress his smile. His beta was right - he did have it bad. And he wouldn’t change it for anything.
A crash from the main lab made him jump to his feet. He found Natalie surrounded by broken glass, Emily already helping her clean up.
“I’m fine!” She waved off his concern. “Just a minor incident with gravity. Though technically speaking, the coefficient of friction between glass beakers and lab benches-“
“Natalie.” He caught her hands, checking for cuts. “What happened?”
“She got excited about a breakthrough and forgot physical objects exist,” Emily supplied helpfully. “You know, the usual.”
“It wasn’t excitement, it was scientific enthusiasm. And I’ll have you know that moment of inspiration could revolutionize our production capacity. If we modify for…”