25. Easton
Chapter 25
Easton
I swim out of sleep easily, my body aching pleasantly.
I think we’re nearing the end of Grace’s heat. She’s sleeping for longer now and her body doesn’t feel as warm, her need not as intense. Thank god. Well, not really, I loved her being in heat. I just also worried about her. I can’t even imagine the need she was feeling, and I get a rush of gratefulness that I was able to take care of her in some way, make it better.
I can hear light snoring, which means the others are asleep. I stretch, then open my eyes and prop myself up on my elbow.
Yup, the other three are definitely asleep. They’re worn out for sure. I look over at Grace.
She’s curled up against my side in the middle of us, her thick blonde waves flowing out behind her. She looks so peaceful like this. I love her when she’s being a firecracker, but I also love her when she’s still and content, like right now. She’s so beautiful. A sleeping beauty, like a princess in a fairy tale.
When we were kids, the adults around us would always impress on us the importance of being careful about things like Omega heats. Heats change a person, they would say. They made it seem like if you helped an Omega through their heat you’d be in love with them forever, no take backsies.
Of course as an adult, I realized that life is a lot more complicated than that. This isn’t a literal fairy tale where true love’s kiss breaks curses and you clap eyes on someone and instantly are devoted to them forever.
But I do think that maybe there was some truth to what was told to us. Or maybe I was always doomed to go this route. Being intimate with Grace now, helping her through her heat… I can’t deny what I feel for her anymore.
I’ve always cared about her. Always thought she was beautiful. I think you’d have to be blind not to see how beautiful Grace is, and a moron to not see how wonderful she is. But something’s definitely shifted. Now that I’ve touched her like this, kissed her like this… no, I can’t deny it anymore. I know how I feel. I know what I want.
It’s her.
Grace stirs, murmuring something in her sleep. She reaches out, forehead puckering as she searches for something.
She finds my arm and tugs at it, and I let her pull me in closer. I wrap my arms around her and kiss gently all over her face, helping her to wake up a little before I kiss her sweet lips.
“You need it again, princess?” I murmur softly, stroking her back, her thighs. “Let me know.”
I’m more than ready to fuck her again if she needs it. We already did just a short bit ago, but that’s the thing about Omegas in heats. They’re insatiable.
Grace hums, kisses me softly, then shakes her head. “I’m okay.”
“Okay.” I intertwine our naked limbs and just hold her, continuing to kiss all the bits of skin I can reach. Omegas get damn skin hungry too, still wanting to be petted and held even when they’re not actively being fucked. “I’m here. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
Grace smiles sleepily, happily, and I hold her and kiss her over and over until I feel her slump in my arms again, back asleep.
The others are still asleep, but I can’t quite get myself to rest more. I slowly disentangle my limbs from Grace’s, and slip out of the nest. I grab my jeans from where they’re lying on the floor but nothing else, then tiptoe downstairs to the kitchen.
Everyone’s got to be starving, after all that fucking we just did without a real break. We’re Alphas, and we work hard on the ranch every day—except for the past few days, when we called in some hired help to do basic chores around the ranch while we were taking care of Grace. But the point is, although we’re used to exercise and wearing ourselves out, we’re also used to huge meals to refill our empty stomachs.
I start making some good old-fashioned country food: beans, potatoes, corn cakes, bacon and sausage and eggs, creamed spinach, and fried tomatoes. I also throw in some proper Texas toast, baby carrots, rabbit stew, and of course, proper coffee.
Grace will need something too, after all this. I make enough for all five of us, but I also whip up some berries and cream, some corn bread using that recipe of her dad’s that she loves, with some honey butter, and some grilled asparagus and veggie kebobs for her.
I pile everything up onto various serving plates, then carry it all upstairs in trips on trays until I’ve got it inside the room.
The other Alphas are waking up, smelling the food, when I finish. I wave at the trays of food, setting Grace’s to the side so they know not to touch it.
“Thanks,” Jesse rasps quietly, piling food on his plate.
I nod. For a moment, there’s nothing but the sound of quiet munching as we all shovel food into our mouths. I hadn’t realized how starving I was until that food was in front of me and now it’s like I haven’t eaten in days as I scarf everything down.
As we eat, though, I can’t help but wonder how the others feel. I know that something’s shifted for me in a big way during the heat. I always had feelings for Grace, but I kept a damn good lid on them.
Now, I can’t do that anymore. And I want to do something about it. I want her to be ours, for real. But I’m not sure that I should actually say that out loud. I’m not sure if the others agree and, well, it could be messy.
Turns out, I don’t have to decide if I should say anything. As we finish eating, Hendrix clears his throat. “I think we all need to talk,” he says quietly. He glances meaningfully over at Grace as he speaks, in case it wasn’t clear what he meant.
I put my plate down and nod. “Agreed.”
“I think you all know what I’m going to say,” Hendrix begins.
I nod. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the other two nod as well.
“Look, we’ve tried to fight it. I know we all have. No one harder than you, Jesse.” Hendrix looks at Jesse and grins conspiratorially. Jesse glares at him, but it’s halfhearted.
I think he’s tired of fighting too.
“We all have feelings for her,” Hendrix concludes.
Cade looks for a second like he might deny it, then he deflates. Nods.
I know how hard it is for him to admit this. I put a hand on his shoulder comfortingly. “It hasn’t been easy. But I think it’s time we were honest with ourselves and each other.”
“Faint heart never won fair lady?” Jesse mutters sardonically.
“It’s a saying for a reason,” Hendrix points out. “Look, I think that we could really have something special with her. Call me crazy, but I do. I know that she wasn’t happy when she found out she’s an Omega and I know this whole courtship thing was just supposed to be pretend. But I think we can convince her that this could be real, and how good we could all be together.”
“I’m with Hendrix,” I admit. “I think that we should give this a real shot. I think that if we don’t… we’ll spend the rest of our lives wondering about what could’ve been.”
Cade and Jesse both looked a little panicked at that idea, and I know that we’ve got them. We’re all suckers for Grace, and it looks like we’ll be the ultimate suckers one more time to try to win her heart for real.
Cade nods. Then Jesse. Hendrix smiles. “Then we’re in agreement.”
I nod. “We sure are.”
Time to court Grace Whitmore for real and prove that we’re the perfect Alpha pack for her.