“I . . .” I shift in my seat. I’m not the best liar in the world. I should have taken that into account before I jumped into this agreement so readily. “You see, Noah and I decided before I started that we wouldn’t—”
“I mean, I get it,” Priya huffs. “I heard from Jessica in Radiology”—I have never met Jessica from Radiology, and I’m already wondering what makes her the authority on my fake relationship—“that you didn’t want to, like, color your reputation with his or something. Totally respect that and all, but I can’t believe I’ve missed out on a year’s worth of gossip. What’s it like?”
My brow arches. “What’s what like?”
“Don’t even,” Priya tuts. “What’s it like being with an alpha?”
“Oh.” Right. That’s supposed to be a unique experience. I guess it would make sense that other shifters would be curious about it. I try for a casual response. “It’s honestly not any different than any other shifter guy. Mechanics are all the same.”
“Bullshit,” she scoffs. “It’s so rare for an omega and an alpha to hook up. It has to be mind-blowing, right?”
Oh. Right.
Suddenly I’m second-guessing my decision to tell Priya what I am.
“Well, I . . .” I try to think of something that might sate her curiosity. “It’s definitely the best I’ve ever had.”
Honestly, it’s almost unfair that I have to lie about this without ever having gotten the chance to try it out for myself.
“But I mean—” Priya looks around before she lowers her voice, like she’s afraid of being overheard. “Is it true they have . . . You know. Right? Do they?”
She’s absolutely lost me. “What do you mean?”
“You know . . .” Another furtive glance around us, and then she leans in closer. “A knot.”
Oh. Oh. Wow. That’s not something I’ve actively considered yet. The mechanics of Noah’s . . . private parts. Knotting had been at the very bottom of my list of things I wanted to ask Noah about during our lunch date yesterday.
“Oh, um.” I can feel heat at the tips of my ears and in my cheeks. “That’s . . . Well.”
“Oh my God, you’re blushing. You have to tell me what it feels like. Does it hurt? Do you have to get used to it? How long does it usually last after it happens? Are you, like, stuck together for an hour or something?”
I was not prepared for the knotting section of the fake mate quiz.
“Oh, it’s . . . great,” I tell her, figuring the least I can do is substantiate her fantasy. “Life-changing, really. Once you go knot you’ll . . . want for . . . not.”
Priya bursts out laughing, gaining us attention from an elderly gynecologist sitting nearby who I recognize from my rounds. I mentally urge him to turn back to his tuna salad, knowing even someone in his field is most likely as unprepared for this conversation as I am.
“Shh.” I lean in conspiratorially. “I’m totally kidding. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Says you,” Priya snorts. “God. It must be so nice to have someone to spend your heat with.” She looks almost wistful. “Those heat hookup apps are a fucking nightmare.”
I can’t tell her that I wouldn’t know on either front. No way would I ever let anyone’s incisors near me when I was on my heat.
“I can’t even imagine what it’s like being with Noah,” she barrels on, blessedly changing the subject. “Does he frown during sex?”
Now it’s my turn to laugh, because I could actually picture it, strangely. “It’s a sexy frown.”
I feel like I shouldn’t be thinking about sex with Noah, because that feels like crossing some imaginary line, but I can’t help it. A girl can only discuss knots for so long before unwarranted mental pictures start to pop up. I mean, Noah is . . . not bad-looking. Big too. If he smiled once in a while, I bet he would do all right for himself in that department.
It’s perfectly natural to imagine it, I think. Especially since I’m sitting here having to talk about my supposed experience with it; I’m not sure how it hasn’t occurred to me yet, the supposed compatibility between an alpha and an omega. I know from medical school that an alpha can’t even properly knot with anyone but an omega—which has me wondering if Noah has experienced it himself. This entire line of thought has me pressing my thighs together a little tighter, beyond my control, a strange tingling between my legs as my heart rate picks up a few beats.