28. Sabs
TWENTY-EIGHT
Sabs
“Sabs!” I jolt in Drax’s arms as Adler’s voice echoing up the stairs interrupts our cozy snuggle. I’m wearing his oversized shirt as we flick through YouTube, laughing at funny dog videos. There’s nothing more adorable than watching a puppy play piano.
I can feel Adler’s anxiety and worry before he arrives. He barges into the nest like a hurricane, still in his hockey gear.
I put up a hand. “Stop right there!”
He halts at the nest entrance, his helmet swinging in one hand.
“You’re…” He inhales deeply as he looks me over, shoulders sagging. “Okay.”
“I mean, my legs are still a little shaky from multiple orgasms.” My reply elicits a smug smirk from Drax who reclines, propping his brawny arms behind his head as I meander over to talk to Adler in the doorway.
“Aside from that, I’ve never felt better.
See? I even have a spring in my step.” I do a ridiculous jump for good measure.
His forehead crinkles. “You’re not in heat?”
“Nope,” I shrug. “Turns out it was just a heat spike. A quick knot was all I needed.” I wink at Drax then shoot Adler an apologetic smile. “I’m really sorry that I missed the end of your game.”
“You’re more important than any win.” His voice is a gravelly rumble as his gaze zeroes in on my pebbled nipples pushing through the fabric of the shirt I’m wearing. “I tried to leave as soon as the game ended, but—”
“You didn’t have to leave on my account.” I suck my teeth, hating that he was so concerned about me. “Drax looked after me.”
Adler’s gaze strays to Drax. I hold my breath, waiting for him to make some kind of snide remark, but instead, he just nods at him. “Thank you for bringing her home.”
Drax’s head jerks back into the pillow, almost as stunned as I am. “That’s what packs do, right?”
“Yeah.” Adler’s lips curve up in a lopsided smile that makes my stomach flip. “It is.”
“You looked amazing on the ice,” I tell him. “Seriously, you were incredible! That part where you did that thing with the… What’s it called? You know the move with the…” I try to mime the motion, but it just looks like I’m busting out a terrible dance move.
“You looked pretty good yourself on the big-screen, cheering me on,” he replies playfully. “But you would have looked better in a jersey.”
“Maybe I’ll wear one for your championship game?”
“Then I’ll have no choice but to bring the trophy home.” His expression turns serious. “But I really did want to come back sooner. Orin used his stupid bark to get me to stay to speak to the pro scouts.”
“Well, I’m glad he did.” I raise my chin.
“When we agreed to make things work, we said neither of us would be putting our lives on hold, so I’d have been mad if you broke that promise.
Anyway…” I sniff the air. “You smell a little funky right now. Well, you smell good, but I can smell other sweaty alphas on you, and gross!” I pat my stomach, which has begun gurgling for attention.
“Plus, I need something to eat after burning all that energy. How about you shower while I grab a bite?”
Adler chuckles. “Orin’s here. He’ll make you something.” He kisses me on the cheek. “See you down there.”
Drax and I head downstairs, finding Orin in the kitchen. Unlike Adler, his reaction is positively frosty, making me wish I’d put on pants.
“Can Sabs and I have a moment alone?” Orin asks Drax.
Drax opens his mouth, but Orin’s narrowing eyes have him hurriedly slamming it closed. I step in to minimize any tension between Drax and his new pack leader. “It’s fine, Drax.” I squeeze his arm. “Go put on a movie, and I’ll join you in a few.”
He lingers then nods, eyes scanning my face, loping out of the room to leave me and Mr. Grumpy-Pants alone. I feel like I’m about to get a lecture from a teacher but don’t know what I’ve done wrong.
Orin looks me up and down. “How are you feeling?”
“It was just a heat spike.” I stride over to the refrigerator to check out what’s inside.
There’s a lot more healthy-looking green stuff than there was when I first arrived, which I suspect is no accident.
What I wouldn’t give to have another toffee cheesecake right now.
“Although you probably already know that because I’m not writhing around begging for sex.
” I perk up when I open the freezer and find a pint of ice cream.
I pull it out then grab a spoon. “Mm, cookie dough.” The sugary vanilla melts on my tongue.
Sweet and delicious. “Not as good as Vi’s but still tasty. ”
“Do you think a heat spike is a joke?” Orin crosses his toned arms over his chest, his piercing eyes burning into mine like a laser. It’s a wonder he doesn’t melt the ice cream. “It’s not something to make light of. You could have gotten hurt.”
“Well, I wasn’t.” I shovel in another huge spoonful, giving myself brain freeze. “You got rid of the rutting alpha, and Drax took care of me. Everyone’s happy.”
I put down the spoon to rub my head, then grab a glass of room-temperature water to get rid of the uncomfortable sensation in my skull.
“We should go to the pharmacy to check out your suppressant prescription.” It seems like he’s speaking more to himself than me. “To make sure it’s working.”
“First of all, I stopped taking my suppressants.” I sigh, putting the lid back on the ice cream before stashing it in the freezer. “I stopped after I bonded with Adler, and second—”
“You did, what?” A vein in his forehead bulges. “But that means you could go into heat at any time!”
Oh, boy. Someone is about to lose his cool quicker than a housewife on a reality show.
“Well, duh. That’s kinda the point.”
“But it’s dangerous!” He throws up his hands. “You could have been seriously injured at the game. If you go back on them, you’ll have more control. You’ll be safer!”
“Listen up.” I jab my finger into his chest, resulting in his eyes widening. Obviously, he’s not used to being put in his place. “It’s my body and my choice. Have you ever been forced to take medication since you were sixteen, having to deal with all the terrible side effects every month?”
“Well, n-no.” He drags a hand down his face. “But—”
“Exactly!” I poke him again to emphasize my point.
“Coming off suppressants after bonding is something many omegas choose to do. After experiencing bonding sickness, my doctor recommended it. Heat spikes are totally normal.” I nibble my inner cheek.
“Admittedly, I’d rather one didn’t happen during Adler’s game, but we don’t always get what we want. ”
“Maybe you should stay away from crowds for now.” He lifts a finger to his lips, tapping. “Until we can be sure that unexpected spikes won’t happen.”
“I’m not being kept in this hockey shrine of a prison!
” My blood is boiling. “I’ve been attending my classes online, but I don’t plan to do that indefinitely.
I do have a life outside of this pack too.
I’m the captain of a volleyball team that needs me, I go to a hot yoga class that, quite frankly, I’m in desperate need of, and a girl needs to let loose every once in a while.
Do you realize that I haven’t hit the Club Knotty dance floor in a few weeks? That’s basically a crime in my book.”
“I’m only looking out for you, Sabs.” Although his tone has softened, his expression remains stony. “I want what’s best for this pack.”
“And what’s best for me is best for the pack, right?
” I lift an eyebrow in challenge. “That means no more suppressants. And if you must know, I did cover myself in scent blocker as a precaution. Obviously, sending a random stranger into rut was not an item I ever wanted to tick off my bucket list, but here we are.”
“How can you be so casual about what happened?” Orin’s entire body is rigid. “He could have hurt you.”
“But he didn’t.” I sigh, leaning against the counter. “Are you always so uptight? I know you have your whole ‘I must protect people’ act, but I’m not a delicate omega you have to take care of.”
“It’s not an act,” he growls. “And I’m not uptight!”
“Oh, yeah?” I snatch his on-call work phone from his pants pocket in one swift movement. I’ve never seen him without it, day or night.
“Sabs.” His jaw clenches. “Give that back. Someone may need me.”
“It’s not ringing now, is it?” I hold it between two fingers, dangling it in front of him. “I thought you were off duty.”
“Give it here.” He lunges for it but narrowly misses it as I step back just in time.
“If you want it,” I shoot him a shit-eating grin, “you’ll have to catch me.”
Before he says anything else, I sprint off.
I race past Drax, lounged over the sofa, then hustle down the hallway.
My pulse races at the sound of Orin’s heavy footsteps following behind me in fast pursuit.
I loop around, dashing through a door that leads into the laundry room where I’m met with the smell of fresh cotton.
The machine whirs in the corner, rattling as it cleans.
Shit. There’s nowhere for me to go.
Orin enters the room, closing in on me after he ominously clicks the door shut behind him.
I run in a circle until the two of us are facing off against each other, walking around like we’re in a Western shoot-out.
If I’m fast enough, I may be able to dodge under one of his arms. As I dart forward, he catches my waist and spins me.
I squeal with laughter as he gently pushes my back against the closed door.
The lighthearted atmosphere turns heavy as he rests one hand above my head, blocking me in. My knees almost buckle from his spicy scent engulfing me.
“You can’t run from me,” he warns. “You’re in my pack now. That means you have to follow my rules, dynamite.”
Fuck, it’s hard not to focus on how wonderful he smells.
“After serving in the military, I thought you’d know how dynamite works,” I rib him. “It has a nasty habit of blowing up in your face.”
The left side of his mouth lifts up in a devastating smile that makes my pussy clench.
“I’m learning that.”
I bat my eyelashes in my best flirty look. “What other rules do you have for me?”
He leans in close, his breath tickling my cheeks. I gasp as he whispers, “You don’t leave this room until you’re covered in my scent.”
He brushes a loose strand of hair off my face, then he leans in to rub his neck all over mine, covering me in his scent while breathing mine in, marking me as his.
I groan, the notion taking me by surprise, no longer having any desire to escape.
A moan slips past my lips as his fingers trail up my thigh, all rough and callused against my smooth skin.
He moves up farther, traveling under my tee.
I suck in a deep breath, heart pounding with anticipation until he reaches my wet panties.
“What a wet little mess.” He caresses me over the fabric, his stare penetrates me, but we don’t kiss.
Both of our stubbornness comes to the surface, as if we’re caught in a silent battle.
He roughly pushes my panties aside, pulling a mewl from me when he thrusts a finger inside me. “What a dirty omega you are.”
I whimper, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing how incredible it feels. I didn’t realize how much I’ve been craving his touch until now.
“Your pussy is tightening around my fingers, omega.” He applies pressure to my G-spot, stroking in a come-hither motion. “Such a greedy cunt. You’ve already been fucked today, yet you still want more.”
I press my lips together, doing my best not to make a sound as his fingers graze over my clit before sliding two back into my pussy.
“I can imagine just how tight you’ll feel wrapped around my cock with all of this slick,” he hums, nose brushing along my earlobe.
The charged atmosphere alone is enough to make me come alone, so I have to dig my fingernails into my palms as he adds two extra digits.
I’m right on the edge, clenching to hold it back.
As much as I want to come right now, I want to make him work a little first. However, with the combination of his palm rubbing against my clit while his fingers fuck me, I can’t keep all my pleasure inside anymore.
It bursts to the surface, and my lips part, as I come all over his hand.
“Think how good it’ll feel when it’s my cock buried deep inside you.
” His dirty mouth has my toes curling. Apparently, Mr. Grumpy-Pants isn’t all work and no play all the time after all.
“I’ll use your tight cunt, splashing your walls with my cum.
When it starts to drip out, I’ll push it all back in just like this.
” I let out a moan as my pussy squeezes his fingers while he plunges in and out to draw all the pleasure from me. “Such a good omega.”
He grins smugly as he withdraws. While I’m working to catch my breath, coming down from the surprise of being manhandled by the pack leader, he snatches his work phone—which I’d forgotten I was still holding in all the commotion—from my hand. “Thanks.”
“I guess you’re not so uptight after all,” I murmur.
“I’m full of surprises…”
He steps away, turning the door handle.
“So that’s it?” I tug my wet panties off, ready to throw them into the pile of dirty laundry.
“Oh, wait. I forgot.” He snags the wet panties from my hand then tucks them into his pocket. I don’t know why knowing he’s carrying them is so hot, but I love it. “Much better.”
“Hey!” I object. “That’s stealing.”
“We share everything, remember?” He turns to go, pausing before he exits. “Clean yourself up, dynamite.” While I can’t see his face, I swear, I can hear the smile in his voice. “I’ll start on dinner.”
“And dessert!”
Which I’m sure will be great if that was the starter.