“Have you heard from DS White? We’ve been trying to get hold of him. It’s urgent.”
Oliver was about to lie and say that,no, he hadn’t heard from DS White. And thatsaidDS White was most definitely not biting his neck and peeling off his shirt at that very moment.
“I-I, er?—”
“DS White here,” Lucas said, cool as a cucumber, as he took the phone from Oliver’s hand. “Yes. Right. Understood. I’ll start making my way over.”
“You what?” Oliver mouthed, grasping Lucas’ arm. “What the fuck do they want?”
Hanging up, Lucas tossed the phone onto the kitchen counter. “Reed. Helena Cartwright’s gone missing.”
SIX
RED MIST
Oliver stood alone in the shower, face burning as he buried his head in his hands.Fuck. What had he been thinking? Inviting Lucas, a red-blooded alpha, back to his flat after they’d both been exposed to the omega’s pheromones?Of course, it was only going to end one way, andof course, he’d moaned like a wanton whore throughout the whole thing.
Professionalism?Gone. Any shred of respect Lucas may have had for him?Decimated. God, he was an idiot. A grade-A twat. It didn’t matter that Lucas had kissed him on the forehead as he left, or promised to call when he knew more, or even offered to revive the stupid cat-grass. There was no way on God’s green earth that he’d be able to look the alpha in the eye tomorrow. In fact, he may as well just hand in his warrant card and move to the Bermuda Triangle.Yes.Yes, that was most definitely the most logical course of action. Now if he could just find his passport…
His phone buzzed as he got out the shower. It was Matteus.
“Ollie?” he said, voice thick with sleep.
Oliver swallowed, trying to keep his voice nice and normal. “Yeah?”
“What’s happened? I can feel you pacing through the bond.”
Sighing, he scrubbed his hand through his hair. “Matty, it’s past midnight. Go back to sleep.”
“Nancy texted and said you and Lucas left early. I was going to leave you to it, but then?—”
“I…er…I wasn’t feeling too well. He made sure I got home safe.”
“Is he there now?”
“No.” That part was true, at least.
“Are you okay, Ollie? Are you sure this is definitely just a cold?”
“Yep. Now go back to sleep before Julian gets pissy with me again.”
“He’s not pissy with you, Ollie. We’re just worried.”
“Matty, please. There is nothing to worry about. I’m under the weather, that’s all.”
“Right. How was your first day on Op Sceptre?”
“Matty, I’m not discussing this with you in the middle of the night.Good night.”
After hanging up, he spent a few minutes hunting for his discarded pyjamas, grimacing when he scooped them up from the kitchen floor. They were damp with his slick, which sent a fresh wave of embarrassment washing over him.‘I just love to see you suffer, Reed.’Isn’t that what Lucas had said? Well, he was damn well suffering now.Bastard.
His hand drifted to the wet towel that was draped over the kitchen chair. It smelled like the alpha, and without thinking he brought it up to his nose. He closed his eyes, inhaling the heady masculine scent. It was stronger than when he’d shoved his face in his hair the previous day—a deeper, more musky scent. He thought about burning the towel and pyjamas—but then reasoned he was being dramatic—so threw them both into the laundry basket.
Changing into a fresh set of pyjamas, he cleaned his teeth and slumped on the bed.
“Don’t you judge me,” he said, looking up at Roger the koala.
Roger, of course, said nothing back.
