Chapter Fifteen

Marshall carried a box of pastries in one hand, a large container of coffee in the other. After waking at five in the morning to check in with colleagues and going into town to collect the files Sam had sent, he’d thought sugar and caffeine would go over well at the cabin.

Kieran had woken when Marshall had left, resetting the security systems. Kane and Tiffany still slept, but it didn’t surprise him. Neither seemed like morning people.

At just past eight, he figured most of the cabin should be awake. They needed to go through Tiffany’s belongings and see if they held some clue as to who was after her.

The entire thing had hung on Marshall’s mind all night, making sleep difficult. She had Kieran and Kane there, so what did he expect to do? Marshall wasn’t a fighter—he wasn’t like the other alphas in the house. He’d spent his life learning how to heal, and what use was that to her?

What am I even doing here?

Well, that answer was obvious. Marshall was there because he couldn’t not be there, because the moment he’d realized the danger she was in, he’d known he had to be by her side. That instinct he hated, the one he’d spent his life trying to downplay, to control, had refused to be ignored for this.

Though, he had proven himself useful in one area. He was less stubborn than the others, and his steady disposition gave some stability to the chaotic grouping. He was able to talk them down, to get them to listen.

Inside the cabin, he found Kieran, a towel over the dining table and a rifle spread out over it. The sight had Marshall stopping short.

Kieran cocked an eyebrow up before returning his attention to his work cleaning the weapon. “Not a fan of guns?”

“I’ve spent my life patching people up from what those things do.”

“I can teach you to shoot.”

“I can teach you to sew up the people you shoot.”

Kieran huffed a soft laugh. “It wouldn’t do any good. I don’t shoot many people, but the ones I do? Some stitching wouldn’t save them.”

Marshall set the food and coffee on the kitchen counter, seeing as the table was occupied. “Do you think Tiffany should see that?”

“She’s tougher than you think. Besides, maybe it would do her some good to get a clear idea of what she’s up against.”

“She’s been targeted at least three times we know of. I think she is aware of the danger.”

“She can speak for herself.” Tiffany came out from the hallway, her wet hair braided back and the strong scent of lavender and lemon following her.

Kieran wrinkled his nose. “Why are you using that? I think we’re past you needing to hide what you are.”

She popped open the lid to the box of pastries. “It’s all Alison left. Why? Not a fan of lavender?”

“No. Lavender and lemon cover scents, strong enough to dilute most alpha and omega pheromones. It makes me feel as though someone is covering my eyes.”

“Well, we can pick up other shampoo in town if you want. Until then? This is all I’ve got.”

Kieran offered a short, half-hearted growl before opening the case his sniper rifle had come in. “We need to go through the files Sam sent. He’s hoping Tiffany can pick out someone she’s seen. We can’t hide forever, so we need to find out what they want.”

Kane came out, stealing the muffin Tiffany had taken from her hand. “Sounds good to me.”

“No one asked your opinion.” Kieran snapped the rifle case shut after packing the weapon away.

“No one had to.”

“Knock it off, you two. I can’t take your bickering. If either of don’t want to be here, leave.” Tiffany left the muffin with Kane, grabbing a coffee mug from the shelf instead.

A glare passed between Kieran and Kane, as though they could settle the fight silently and not piss off the omega in the room.

When she turned back toward them with the cup, both alphas jerked their gazes down like children caught doing wrong.

The entire situation was enough for Marshall to laugh. Figures it only takes one feisty omega to send two alphas like that running.

Tiffany tossed a grin Marshall’s way, then poured herself a cup of coffee. She added creamer and sipped the steaming liquid. Her eyelids drifted shut as she drew tendrils of steam into her nose. Kieran took a step toward the door before gesturing at Kane. “Come on. If you refuse to leave, you can at least be helpful by getting the rest of the files.”

Kane popped the rest of the muffin into his mouth, then brushed the crumbs from his hands. “What, you mean you ain’t enjoying my charm and boyish good looks?”

Marshall shook his head as the two walked out. Childish bickering was better than another fist fight.

“Are they ever going to stop that?” Tiffany toyed with the tie at the bottom of her braid.

“Probably not.” At her glare, he only smiled. “Boys will be boys, Tiffany. Even if they work this out, even if they decide not to kill one another, I suspect they’ll always try to one up one another.”

“Men never stop dick measuring?”

“Something like that.” He grasped the end of her braid and tugged softly on it. “You look like you didn’t get enough sleep.”

A blush covered her cheeks. “The lavender smell doesn’t bother you?”

He used his grip on her braid to tug her closer, until the front of her body melded to him. “No. Omegas use it in my line of work so often it doesn’t affect me. I can smell beneath it.” He leaned closer, drawing a deep breath. Sure enough, under the oils that had been in the shampoo, under the sharp lemon and the heavy lavender, he could taste the omega beneath. For such a brash spirit, her scent was soft, sweet.

“How do I smell?”

He pulled his lips into a smile at the breathless way she asked. “Like temptation.” As he spoke, his lips brushed hers, a gentle teasing that riled his other side.

For her part, Tiffany closed the distance. She tilted her head to take the kiss he hinted at, sliding her lips against his, the taste of vanilla from her coffee on her breath.

Marshall let himself have the kiss. He grasped the back of her neck to further tilt her head, and when her lips parted, he delved inside.

His cock pressed against her flat stomach, a roll of his hips grinding him against her. He considered the height of the counter behind her. He could move the box out of the way and set her there. A quick shifting of her clothing and he’d have access.

He’d have a willing omega cunt wrapped tightly around his knot, finally. That ache inside him would ease.

Can I keep my alpha side under control then? What if I can’t?

Marshall broke the kiss, chilled by the thought. His insistent cock didn’t care, but he did. He tilted his head, forehead to hers to keep his lips from hers. “We don’t have much privacy.”

“So?” She darted her tongue out to swipe across his bottom lip. “I don’t care.”

“You will when Kane and Kieran get back. They’re already at each other’s throats. I don’t think we need the complication of them finding me inside you.”

Her heavy sigh warmed his lips. “Are you always the responsible one?”

Marshall ran his fingers from her neck and down her chest, tracing her sternum between her breasts. “Well, I can’t exactly leave that to you, can I?”

She hit her palms against his chest in a playful shove before she muttered, “Smart-ass.”

She pulled away, that sway in her step as she collected her cup of coffee and headed toward the living room. That omega tested every limit he had, pushed at all the lines he’d so carefully drawn for himself.

He had to be careful.