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“Matthew, Andrik, Jedrik and...” I trail off, giving a good show of checking out the alphas. “Kyle.”
She claps her hands in excitement. “Your front runners. Smart choices.”
Even if I tried, I wouldn’t be able to hide the frown weighing the corners of my lips. Matthew may be at the top of the charts, but he isn’t one of my front runners. He doesn’t even make the list of maybes. Saying it out loud wouldn’t do me any favors, especially with his fans at home, so I keep my lips pressed tightly together and twist my head to the side so the camera doesn’t catch the expression.
The four men cross the distance, approaching me as one. Even though I don’t necessarily want to spend any time with Matthew, I’m more than excited to be with the other three. Butterflies dance in my stomach, and I bite my bottom lip, watching the way their abs shift under the semi-transparent shirts.
Jedrik notices me staring and slightly flexes his muscles to give me a better show. That is, until Andrik cuts in front of him, being the first to reach me as he holds out his arm for me to take. “Your midday picnic awaits, m’lady,” he says, putting on a show. It makes me giggle and Jedrik scowl at being interrupted. Our eye contact lingers, the intensity in his gaze enough to scorch me from the inside out. And I have to say... I’d willingly burn for him.
Kyle swoops in, the full effect of his caramel scent wafting toward me, coating my tongue with its sugar as he takes my other arm.
“A picnic?” I question as I’m led over to a small seating area in front of where the next competition will be. There’s also a designated swimming area, complete with floating loungers, and I eye it with open curiosity. It would be nice to take a dip and cool off. It’s not a terribly hot day, but being in the sun always makes me sweat a little, which adds more of my pheromones to the air.
And in turn, adds more of the alphas’ scents. Andrik’s warm spices are more prevalent at the moment, but there’s a tinge of Kyle’s caramel and Jedrik’s maple. Matthew’s decaying leaves hang in the air like a bad omen, making my nose twitch every time the breeze blows it my way.
The slight fizzy undertone of Ryland’s champagne catches my attention and my gaze snaps to his, finding him a few yards away, leaning against a tree. He gives me a nod, letting me know he’s still watching over me, his focus never straying. It makes the slight tension in my shoulders ease.
Andrik and Kyle take a seat on either side of me at the picnic table while Jedrik and Matthew sit across from us. Andrik leans in close to my ear, his hot breath trailing down my neck. “See anything you’d like, Precious?” He gestures toward the small feast spread out before us, but with the way he says it, my eyes dart to Jedrik instead. He’s something I’d like. A nice snack, if you will.
Jedrik’s smirk catches my attention, and I glance away, knowing I got caught. My focus shifts to the food in front of me once more. Bob and Sheila really went above and beyond for a simple picnic. Honestly, I’m simply glad it’s real food we can eat. I’ve heard some TV shows put out fake food to make it seem like the participants are eating when they’re not. I need the sustenance, thank you.
The vast array of tea sandwiches are calling my name, and I reach for one when Matthew’s voice stops me in my tracks. “Are you sure you want the carbs in those? I wouldn’t think a lovely omega like you would want to let her figure go.”
My mouth pops open in shock, and I flounder for something to say. Luckily, I don’t have to as Jedrik steps in on my behalf, his chest rumbling with a warning growl. “I can’t believe you fucking said that, so I won’t even dignify it with a response.” He turns to me, fire dancing in those deep blue eyes of his. “You eat whatever the fuck you want, Trouble. Okay?”
I nod and reach for the sandwich anyway, but my stomach has soured, and each bite tastes like ash. The filling could be peanut butter or cucumber. I’m not sure I’d even know.
Kyle seems to pick up on my mood and puts a hand on my thigh, squeezing to bring me out of my thoughts and into the moment. Matthew rambles on about one thing or another, but I don’t listen. I don’t think the guys do either, considering they’re all staring at me. Kyle’s fingers inch a little higher and my breath hitches. “Ignore the stupid prick, Peardrop. You’re beautiful to us and we’re what matters.”
I’m thankful the cameras are more focused on the other alphas competing at the moment and not my flushed cheeks. When Kyle’s index finger brushes against my core, I let out a slight moan. Jedrik covers it up with a cough, but it draws Matthew’s attention nonetheless, and he stops talking. “Hmm? What was that?”
“Nothing,” I croak, shooting a playful glare in Kyle’s direction. He shrugs like he’s completely unbothered.
His distraction is working, though, because I’m no longer focused on Matthew’s shitty comment. Andrik deposits a plate of fruit in front of me, encouraging me to eat more. And I do. Without judgment because fuck Matthew and men like him.
But it’s hard to focus with Kyle’s hand placement, and he seems to know it too. Another potent cloud of my perfume permeates into the air and Jedrik’s jaw twitches. He abruptly stands and plucks me from the picnic bench, throwing me over his shoulder. “Come on, let’s go for a swim.”
A startled squeak escapes me as his long legs eat up the distance to the water in a few short strides. He deposits me on my feet and motions for me to strip to my bikini. The others, confused for a moment, quickly abandon the picnic and scramble to catch up. At the same time, I give Jedrik a mini strip tease, his gaze burning every inch of exposed skin as he tracks my movements. “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he rasps. “But your scent is killing me, Trouble, and Matthew doesn’t deserve to experience it. Get in the water.”
A part of me wants to tease him further, but the reminder of Matthew is enough to have me shuffling my feet into the cool liquid. It’s crisp, but with the sun out it’s not terribly cold, and feels refreshing against my flushed skin.
Andrik intercepts me, pressing his nose to my neck to inhale my scent. He glances at Matthew, who’s complaining about the temperature. “I’d say my brother is acting a little too territorial, but I can’t, because I want nothing more than to steal you away from here.”
The familiarity between us speaks like we’ve known each other our entire lives instead of a few weeks. Not that I mind. I’d blame the pheromones for the way I lean further into his touch, but it’s all me. The chemistry between us is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. “Between you two, Kyle, and Ry, you’re a bunch of cavemen, I swear,” I tease.
He plants a kiss against my neck that has me shivering with desire. Good thing the water muddles my perfume. “I want the whole world to see the way you make us feel,” he says, reminding me the cameras are watching, always watching. Shit. I probably shouldn’t have mentioned Ry being a caveman over me, too.
Sure enough, when I glance over my shoulder, I find Mark’s lens pointed directly at us. When I first arrived here, it would’ve bugged me. I’d have stepped away to preserve my reputation, but right now, there’s no way I’m giving up the comforting touch of Andrik’s hold. Besides, the Heat Fiends seem to love the twins, so I’m sure they’ll eat up this interaction.
Matthew clears his throat to get our attention. “Verity, please. Desperate isn’t a good look on omegas,” he hisses. The fake smile never once leaves his face. You’d never know the vitriol swirling in his eyes is there unless you were here, seeing him spit hurtful words up close and personal.
Andrik’s grip tightens, not painfully because he’d never intentionally hurt me, but it’s enough to tell me Matthew’s comment irked him. A deep breath escapes him, one that tickles my neck, before he reluctantly lets me go and steps away. A needy mewl almost escapes me, but I manage to clamp my lips shut in time to trap it.
Matthew smirks and takes a step in my direction, his intention to swoop in crystal clear. My stomach lurches at the thought of having to make conversation with a prick like him for the sake of this show. At least the water should drown out his off-putting decaying leaf scent. Small mercies.
At the last second, Kyle cuts in front of him. His gaze is laser focused on me, so he misses the dark glare thrown from Matthew. “Hey, Peardrop, would you mind if I steal you away for a moment?” He extends a hand for me to take, and I do without hesitation.
Matthew seems like he wants to argue, but Jedrik intercepts him before he can say anything.
