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  Slowing their pace so Penelope didn’t have to struggle to keep up, he was surprised when she tugged him towards the opposite side of the road.

  “This is her place.”

  Looking up at the red brick building, he could tell it was older than most of the buildings they had passed during their walk so far. Fairly bland looking from the outside, the building only appeared to have eight apartments, with four on each floor. Small and square, it looked like a box compared to the homes around it.

  Penny moved towards the narrow hallway that led between the first two apartments on the bottom, but Ethan pulled her to a stop. The hallway wasn’t wide enough for them to walk side-by-side, and he wasn’t going to let her go first since he couldn’t see the other side.

  “I’ll go first. Stay behind me.”

  Her mouth opened to protest, but she stopped herself, sighing and giving a small nod before he moved in front of her. Walking through the little tunnel, all he could see ahead of him was surprisingly green grass enclosed by an old, faded wooden fence.

  Slowing as he reached the end, he noticed the door on the right side was just as bare as the other apartments had been, but the left side had flowers planted around a chair full of cushions sitting in the little yard. Looking up at him from a face full of wrinkles was a tiny woman eyeing him with a smile on her face that almost hid her eyes.

  12. Penelope

  Moving around Ethan’s broad body, Penny spotted Jenni sitting in the sun where she usually was in the afternoons. She always joked that she was like her plants and needed a dose of sunlight daily to stay healthy.

  Giving her a broad smile, Jenni’s eyes quickly returned to perusing Ethan.

  “It’s about time you got you a big hunk of a man. And making him carry the groceries too! Smart of you,” she said as she leaned forward to push herself up from the chair.

  Penny could feel the tips of her ears start to burn as she heard Ethan’s low chuckle from beside her.

  “He’s just helping me for a week or two. You don’t have to worry about him coming in, he’ll wait out here while I put your stuff away,” Penny was quick to say as Jenni approached them.

  Going straight up to Ethan, she held out her hand saying, “Nonsense. The boy will come in and eat with us. It’s been a long time since I’ve had something this nice to look at!”

  Ethan’s chuckle grew as he took her hand and leaned down to place a kiss on the back of it. Jenni turned to Penny and pulled her into a hug.

  “Not that you aren’t lovely dear, you’re just not my type.”

  Feeling the need to fan her flaming cheeks, Penny couldn’t help but chuckle along as Jenni moved to open her door for them. Her home always smelled of fresh baking that reminded Penny of going to her grandmother’s house when she was a child.

  “Well come on you two! I’ve got to get the sauce going if we’re going to have dinner before you make some excuse to run off on me.”

  Moving towards the dining table to the left side of the entrance, Penny set down her bag and beckoned Ethan over so she could begin to unload his too.

  “You don’t have to worry about us Jenni, we don’t want to put you out,” Penny told her even as Jenni began to pull things out of her cabinets.

  “You’re not getting away that easy missy! You’ve got a story to tell about that boot, those bruises, and that hot piece of meat beside you.”

  Taking a deep breath, Penny closed her eyes and shook her head. Jenni may not be able to get around well anymore, but she was very observant. And nosey. She always said her age gave her the right to ask anyone whatever she wanted to, and Penny was used to her somewhat eccentric nature, but she had thought that seeing Ethan would make her act a bit more… normal.

  Stepping into the kitchen, she began to put away the pantry items as Jenni started chopping herbs for her pasta sauce. She always made everything from scratch, and Penny had never tasted anything she didn’t like when she ate with Jenni.

  “Make yourself useful, handsome, and get me the large pot from the back of that cabinet,” Jenni said to Ethan, kicking her foot towards the cabinet behind her.

  Moving carefully since there wasn’t much room in the kitchen for three people, Ethan leaned over to look for the pot as Jenni turned to watch.

  “He’s got a great backside. You did good Penny,” she said in a stage whisper that Penny knew she had meant for Ethan to overhear.

  Placing a hand over her burning face, something between a choke and a chuckle escaped her throat. Running her hand down to cover her mouth, she opened her eyes to see Ethan with a wide smirk on his lips staring directly at her. Rolling her eyes, Penny turned her back to him and continued putting away the groceries.

  “I wouldn’t know Jenni, I haven’t looked.”

  “Liar,” came the quick response from the little woman. “Don’t give me some line about he’s just a friend. The man is obviously an Alpha, and there’s only one reason for an omega to have one of those! I tried a few back in my day… Almost made me settle down.”

  Gaping at her in shock, it took a moment for Penny to gather her scattered thoughts.

  “He’s not a stud, he’s actually a bodyguard I hired.”

  Stopping in the middle of her mixing, Jenni gave her a sharp look.

  “Is that ex still bothering you? Is that what happened? Did that sorry waste of space do that to you?” she asked, pointing her wooden spoon at Penny’s throat.

  She had told Jenni about the issues with Adrian in the past. Jenni had actually met him back when Penny was still dating him and had said she didn’t like him even then.

  “Yeah,” Penny said with a sigh.

  Forgetting Ethan was standing in the corner of the dining room not too far away, Penny told her what had happened the day before. She knew if she didn’t the woman would never quit pestering her about it, and it was easier just to spill it all at once than have her drag the details out one at a time.

  “Oh, dear, I’m so sorry,” Jenni said, pulling Penny into another hug.

  Surprised at the strength in the woman’s embrace, Penny relaxed into it, thankful for the support. Drawing in a deep breath to keep from tearing up, she finally pulled back and gave her a smile.

  “It’s okay. Ethan will be there if Adrian tries anything else.”

  “I hope he does. That yappy little beta will get what’s coming to him,” Jenni muttered with a scowl.

  Eyebrows lifting as the mischievous sparkle returned to her eye, she turned to look at Ethan again.

  “You better whoop him good! You know nothing gets an omega hotter than two men fighting over her, maybe you’ll get lucky if you kick his ass for her.”

  Nodding his head, Ethan tried to fight the smile pulling at his lips.

  “Yes, Ma’am. That’s the plan.”

  Chuckling, Jenni turned back to Penny.

  “You’re in trouble girl. You may say he’s just a bodyguard, but that man wants a piece of you, and he’s out to get it.”

  Unsure how to respond, Penny’s eyes lifted over Jenni’s head to meet Ethan’s. Crossing his arms over his chest, he gave her a wink before she jerked her gaze back to the cabinet in front of her, trying to ignore the clenching of her core and the empty ache inside.

  13. Ethan

  It was a few hours before they were finally able to escape from Jenni. During the course of the afternoon she had managed to tease both him and Penelope mercilessly, regale them with details from her youth that he could have lived without, and stuffed them full of the best spaghetti and garlic knots he had ever had.

  It had taken almost an hour after they finished eating before Ethan had been able to peel himself from the chair, still feeling bloated but almost unable to resist the extra helpings that Jenni continued to try and press onto them.

  Helping the ladies to the small, but cozy, living room to continue chatting, he had gone into the kitchen to clean up for them and give them time without him looming over the pair. He had to admit that he liked the q
uirky old woman, and was glad that she had Penelope to help out and spend time with her.

  Making their way back towards Penelope’s apartment, they were walking slowly as the sun sank behind the buildings to the west of them. Even though she didn’t say anything, Ethan could tell her ankle was hurting since she was leaning on him more than she had earlier in the day.

  “Do you want to get a cab?” he asked her again.

  He had tried to get her to call one before leaving Jenni’s, but she had insisted that she was fine to walk home.

  “No, I’ll make it. Just full still.”

  Humming, he moved his arm around her waist, pulling her against his side so he could take more of her weight. He didn’t miss the little gasp she gave as his hand gripped her hip, or the way her fingers seemed to spread and stroke along the dip between muscles on his side where she held onto him beneath his jacket.

  By the time they approached her building she was resting her head against him and barely putting any weight on her foot at all. Leaning down, Ethan swept his free arm behind her knees and lifted Penelope into his arms. Throwing hers around his neck, he felt her stiffen as she let out a squeak when he held her to his chest.

  “I figured this way would be faster,” he said as he backed into the door to the stairwell.

  The rich caramel color of her eyes drew him in as he looked down at her cradled against his chest, her sweet jasmine scent stronger with her body so close to his face. Forcing himself to look away, he began to walk up the stairs.

  “Put me down! I’m too heavy for you to carry up three flights!” she demanded as she tried to wiggle herself out of his arms.

  Ethan huffed out a laugh.

  “You’re not that heavy.”

  Continuing to wiggle, Penelope’s eyes popped open in shock when his hand connected with her bottom with a sharp snap that echoed in the enclosed space of the stairwell.

  “Quit wiggling before you manage to make me drop you,” he told her with just a hint of a growl.

  Mouth hanging open as she continued to stare at him, she complied.

  “Did… did you just…”

  Stuttering, her brows drew together as she tried to glare at him.

  “You can’t do that!”

  Raising his brows, he looked down at her as he pushed open the door to her floor.

  “I just did, and I’ll do it again anytime you choose not to behave.”

  Her shocked look returned as Ethan stopped before her door and gently put her back on her feet. He watched as different emotions flit across her face before she finally turned away from him and dug into her purse for her keycard. He could see her hand trembling as she slid it through the card reader and typed in her code. Though she tried to hide her arousal, the scent of slick rose from her to tickle at his nose.

  Silent and avoiding his gaze, she stepped in and held the door for him to pass through before closing it and dropping her purse on the table. Kicking her shoe off next to it, she wasn’t prepared for Ethan to sweep her back up into his arms.

  “What are you doing?” she yelled, pushing at his chest.

  Unable to stop the rumble in his chest, Ethan felt Penelope freeze, black pupil eating up the brown iris as he stared into her eyes and moved towards the couch.

  “I’m trying to help you,” he finally managed to say as he got the growl under control.

  Leaning down to sit her on the couch, he was bombarded by the scent of fresh slick. Unable to stop himself, he drew in a deep breath, savoring the scent of her arousal as he knelt next to her legs.

  Carefully taking her booted ankle in his hands, he lifted it and placed it on his knee.

  “What are you doing?” Penelope breathed.

  “Trying to make you more comfortable. I know it’s aching,” Ethan responded as he began to massage her calf.

  The moan she let out as his hand moved up to the back of her knee had his cock surging in his pants again, and he barely contained another growl. Looking up at her face, he could see the pink flush of her cheeks, and she had her lips pressed tightly together, a look of embarrassment on her face. The way she never hid her feelings made him want her even more.

  Ethan began to let his hands wander higher, under the edge of her skirt. Starting to lose himself in a haze of lust, he leaned slightly forward, focused on Penelope’s cherry red lips. If she hadn’t looked away and tried to pull her leg back, he would have kissed her and then taken her right there on the couch.

  Giving another tug on her leg, Ethan reluctantly let her go, leaning away from her seductive scent before pushing himself to his feet.

  “I should probably get to bed. We have a few shops to go to tomorrow and I’m still pretty tired,” she whispered, rising beside him.

  Clearing his throat Ethan nodded and offered her his arm again.

  Giving him a small smile, Penelope shook her head and stepped back.

  “I’m fine. Thank you.”

  Forcing down the urge to simply sweep her into his arms again, Ethan gave another nod and watched her as she limped to her bedroom door. Meeting her eyes as she turned back to close it, he didn’t look away until those shining caramel orbs were hidden from view.

  Running a hand through his hair, Ethan heaved a sigh and adjusted himself in his pants. This assignment was going to be harder than he expected if he couldn’t manage to keep his hands off of Penelope and quit imagining all the things he would like to do to see that flush of embarrassment heat her cheeks again.

  14. Penelope

  Leaning her forehead against her bedroom door, Penny drew in a deep breath to try and clear her head. Breathing in Ethan’s scent as he had carried her up the stairs, and then again with him so close to her on the couch, she had almost let herself get carried away on his pheromones.

  That and the warmth of his hands as he had worked his way up her leg, loosening muscles she hadn’t even known were tight from dragging the boot around all day. His blown pupils had been her only warning to pull away before things went too far to stop. That, and her drenched panties.

  Sighing, Penny turned, back pressed to the wood as she tried to convince herself not to open it and go back out there. Why was it so hard to remember that she needed to keep this professional? She had hired him to protect her, not to rut her like her traitorous body was begging him to do.

  Dragging herself to her bathroom, Penny opened her drawer and pulled out her bottle of suppressants. Downing one with a swish of water, she leaned her hands on the counter and prayed that the throbbing between her thighs would abate. If only the pills suppressed desire as well as her estrous cycle, then she might survive living with him only a few steps away.

  Looking up into the mirror, she noticed Ethan’s eyes weren’t the only ones lost to the black pool in the center, with only a tiny ring of color. Deciding she needed a bath to wash away the slick coating her thighs as well as the dirt of the day, Penny moved over and turned on her tub.

  Stripping, she carefully loosened the straps on the boot and slid her foot out with a hiss. Hopping to the side of the tub, she used her arms to lower herself into the steaming water. Instantly her muscles turned to putty, melting under the heat soaking into her.

  It wasn’t long before Penny caught herself dozing off and had to sit up. Quickly washing herself, she pulled the plug and stood, wrapping in a fluffy towel before sitting on the edge of the tub and swinging her legs over.

  Wincing as she worked her foot back into the boot, she let out the breath she had been holding once it was finally in place. Drying off, she decided to skip everything else and pulled on a nightgown before climbing onto her bed.

  Adjusting her pillows and blankets until she was satisfied, Penny snuggled down into her little nest and closed her eyes.

  Blinking up at her white ceiling, it only took trying to roll over for the events of the past two days to hit her as the weight of the boot pulled on her leg. Groaning, Penny rubbed her hands over her face before dragging her fingers through her hair. She coul
d hear movement out in the kitchen, and figured Ethan must be up already.

  Forcing herself to move, she swung her legs out of the bed and made her way to her closet. It was impossible to wear pants over the boot and she didn’t want to tuck the fabric inside, figuring it would end up irritating her with all of the walking she did, so she was stuck wearing skirts or dresses until she was cleared to go without it.

  Pulling a soft green summer dress over her head, she went to the bathroom to tame her mane of dark hair. She was swearing at herself by the time she could drag the brush through it without catching a snag. Going to bed with damp hair without brushing it out first was a bad idea when your hair went below your shoulder blades and was as thick as a lion’s mane.

  Swiping on some mascara was all she had the patience for before making her way from her room. Smelling the coffee as soon as she opened her door, she let out a sigh as a smile tugged at her lips. There were benefits to having someone else staying with you.

  “Good morning Miss Praine,” came Ethan’s deep voice as she stepped into the kitchen.

  Quirking an eyebrow at him, she slipped around his side to grab her mug and get a cup of coffee. Pouring in an indecent amount of sugar and cream, Penny took a sip and let her shoulders relax as her eyes rolled back in her head. After savoring that first warm sip, she finally cracked open an eye and offered a smile.

  “Good morning Mr. Cirlee, I’m surprised you’re not a bit more like your name. And call me Penny.”

  Confusion drawing his brows together, Ethan looked down at her as she smirked.

  “I always heard Alphas were surly.”

  Rolling his eyes and turning away from her, Penny still caught the smile he tried to hide as he walked away shaking his head.

  “And I thought omegas were meek and obedient,” he called back to her from the living room.

  Walking out behind him, she took a minute to look him over. He was in slacks and a white button down that hugged the muscles of his body. His suit jacket was laying over the back of her couch where he carefully sat down with his own cup of coffee.