16. Work Song
CHAPTER 16
WORK SONG
Sadie
D espite the orgasm induced nap earlier, I’m exhausted as we leave the restaurant together. Anthony has his hand on my lower back as we step outside and I instantly pause, shivering as a cold breeze whips down the sidewalk.
“Shit. I should have gotten the car first.” Paxton looks at me, no jacket on and moves to go undo his but Jace beats him to it.
I’m wrapped up in a warm jacket that smells like the alpha. His lips hit my cheek as I stepped towards him, leaning into his body as his arm wrapped around me like it had been there all night.
It’s easy to go between the four of them. They’re all so in touch with each other that it feels like this is how things are supposed to be. Though it’s so soon it hasn’t felt like anyone is getting more attention or that anyone cares.
“Thank you,” I mutter, a soft yawn coming from my lips as we walk towards the parking garage.
Paxton is walking faster, muttering about heating up the car, Anthony and Cameron are smoking in front of Jace and I, have fallen behind. I’m moving slower due to being full and the heels that I am wearing making it harder to keep up with the tall men.
Jace doesn’t make me feel like I have to hurry up. Instead, he just holds me close, rubbing my arms to make sure that I’m warm enough and lets us walk together in a comfortable silence together that I can appreciate.
The car is on when we make it there.
Anthony and Cameron are in the back seat as Paxton sits in the front. He’s fiddling with buttons to probably make the car warmer because I can tell he wants to make sure I’m okay.
He shows he cares with how he tries to do right by me.
They all have these quirks and I can see Jace watching the others as we approach.
“We all are going to take care of you, darlin’. I know it’s going to take some time for you to trust us but I hope you let us take care of you.” He opens the passenger door and helps me up as Paxton reaches across to do up my seatbelt before I can even get settled into the heated seat.
Can I let myself be taken care of?
My eyes feel heavy, a yawn coming from my lips again as I try to blink away the sleep that is there. My eyelids fluttering as I pinch the skin on the top of my hand to try and sleep me awake but I am already slipping
“I’m putting her in her own bed and just taking off her shoes.”
“We can’t leave her in her dress.”
“We need to take out her hair so she doesn’t get a headache.”
“I want her to sleep in my bed.”
“ No .”
“Give her to me, Jace. I can get her ready for bed.” I’m hugged tighter to a chest and let out a soft sound as I start to wake up.
“Don’t wake her up.” An angry hiss leaves Jace’s lips as I snuggle my nose into his neck, feeling a vibration from him breathing.
God. He smells so good. Warm and safe like a campfire.
“I can sleep in my own bed,” I mutter out with a yawn slipping out. “I just need to take my hair out first.”
“Told you.” Cameron’s voice makes me smirk as I’m set down on a bed. My eyes blurry as I blink the heavy feeling of sleep away to figure out what is happening.
Anthony is on his knees, taking off my shoes as Cameron moves to help start undoing my hair with his hands being extra gentle. A warm washcloth is being brushed against my face as Jace swipes off the makeup that I had put on tonight. Paxton has an armful of blankets he’s settling on the bed for me. Probably concerned about me being warm enough or thinking my omega wants to nest.
They’re working together so well that I just let them be.
My hands raise, the dress coming off as my hips come off the bed and the tights are gone from my body. I’m only in a pair of panties until one of their hoodies is pulled down over my head and Cameron smirks at me.
“You said you liked sleeping in hoodies.” I reach for him, kissing his lips softly as he tugs me back against the pillows. “Do you need anything, Sadie love?” My eyes are closing again and I’m asleep without answering.
What more could I possibly want?
My eyes snap open, heart racing as I look around trying to figure out what just woke me up. I was in such a deep sleep and now it’s like something is going on that’s causing my fight or flight to activate.
The room lights up as lightning strikes, a rumble of thunder makes me sit up, looking around the darkness like someone is going to be there.
I’m out of bed as the next bolt hits and pushes open Paxton’s door without even thinking about it.
His room smells like him, cardamom and velvetier, and as soon as the door opens I try not to get distracted by it.
He’s laying on his stomach, his hands under his pillow like he wanted to hold onto something. His back is bare on display for me to look at. He’s all strong muscles and bulk sleeping in the bunched up sheets that are around his waist but are kicked off from his legs. I’m almost afraid to wake him up but when the room lights up again I’m whimpering and climbing into bed without a second thought.
“Pax.” I whisper, afraid to touch him. The thunder follows and I can feel the tears in my eyes as the sound sinks my gut. “Pax, please wake up. I’m scared.” His eyes are on me instantly as he sits up in bed, pulling me against him as I curl into his body.
He’s so warm from the bed. His whole body wrapping around mine as I shiver against him. A whine of absolute fear comes out of me as I try to calm myself down.
The rain starts really coming down then. It’s bursting out of clouds and adding to my terror as all the loud noises overwhelm me. Pax tries to calm me with soft whispers of reassurance that I’m fine. His scruff rubs against my cheek as he holds me against him. He’s trying to soak me in his scent to ease some of the fear.
Then he starts to purr for me.
The way he purrs, so gentle from a big man surprises me but, I feel myself start to calm down. The rumble of his chest reminding me to breathe in and out.
“I’m afraid of storms.” I admit to the alpha. Feeling so small as he lays back down, pulling the blankets over me as I lay on his chest.
“I have you, Sadie sweetheart. Nothings going to hurt you. Such a brave girl coming to find me.” His lips hit the top of my head as I curled up against him, wanting to ask him if I could sleep with him but feeling so silly all of a sudden.
What grown woman is afraid of thunderstorms? He must think I’m an idiot.
Paxton wraps his legs over mine, his fingers in my hair as he rubs the tension in my head and I start to melt against his body.
“When I was a kid my mother was looking for a new alpha to add to the pack. We only had a small little house so if she was with him she had me play outside and would lock the door.”
The story is coming out before I can stop it, the memories washing over me like I am living it all over again, “I was the summer and so warm. I was wearing my new daisy patterned dress that I had gotten for Easter that year. I loved it so much. But it started to rain.”
I remember the feeling of cold raindrops breaking up the muggy summer heat. The moment where I felt like it was going to cool me down after being outside and sunburnt for so long.
“It got worse so I knocked on the door but my mother didn’t open up. It started getting really bad. My feet got all muddy because my flip flops wouldn’t stay on and I didn’t like how it felt so cold and squishy under my toes. And then the thunder and lightning started.”
My heart races as I close my eyes tight. Paxton’s arms squeeze around me, holding me as I try to figure out how to finish this story I’m telling. Hating how much of who I am is wrapped up in this all.
“The lightning hit the house and all of it was so bright. And then there was a fire on the roof. I started screaming for my mother. When she didn’t answer I ran to my neighbors house down the road. My feet got all cut up from the gravel but I couldn’t feel it as I asked her to call my dad. One of my dads was a firefighter and I was sure he’d come and get her to safety.” Paxton’s hand slides under my hoodie, rubbing soothing circles over my skin as I breathe.
It’s too much, telling him this and I look up at him as he stares at me, patiently waiting and just listening to my story without comment. Holding me so I know that he is here and I am safe through it all.
“The firefighters got there and my dad was there. He was wrapping me in a blanket, telling me it would be okay. And then the sound, God the sound. The roof collapsed and my dad screamed. He screamed and I knew my mom wasn’t going to be okay.” My eyes squeezed shut, “But he rushed past everyone and still went into the house as it fell down around him trying to save the person who was courting someone else so she could add to our pack. She had been in her nest. The nest that they always trapped her in. It was really her coffin.” I shivered as Paxton made another soothing sound to try to ease me some.
“They sent me to live with my grandparents after that. I was 12. My two other alpha fathers couldn’t even look at me. They said it hurt too much and that I reminded them too much of my mom. So they just gave up on me. Didn’t want me anymore.” How else could I tell him I had become an orphan and that’s why I hated storms? But Paxton knew what I was saying to him .
He could see me explaining who I was and why I was this way between the lines of the story.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you. But do you feel me? I am here with you Sadie and I’m not going to let one bad thing happen to you. You’re safe with me. With us.” And his promise felt real. It felt like I could believe it.
His hands soothed the fear as I sniffed out the memory. The storm raging outside as Paxton rubbed my arms and back, holding me as we stayed awake until the rain started to ease and the lightning drifted away.
We didn’t have to speak. Being together was enough.
“Want to try and close your eyes, princess?” I nod my head as he shifts us. I’m still laying on top of him. Paxton adjusting me so that I can sprawl out on top of him. “I won’t close mine until you’re deep in sleep. Okay?” I nod, reaching out to weave our fingers together. Bringing them to my lips as I drop a kiss against his knuckles. Holding his hand to me like a safety blanket.
Safe.
I am safe. I can sleep. Pax was going to watch over me and it would be okay.
Maybe it is real this time.