Chapter Twenty-ThreeWes
Chapter Twenty-Three
Wes
M y face buried in her hair as I held her close. The scent of our lovemaking clung to her, to me, as she dozed in my arms.
Grace. I had my Grace back. I didn’t want to give her up. Whatever she had in that other world, it would be better here. Not just because I was here. We’d love and appreciate her far more than her world ever did.
A soft rap on the door broke through my musings. “Wes?”
“Evan, why are you knocking? Get in here,” I called.
The door cracked open, and his face appeared. “I wanted to give you privacy.”
“You don’t need to knock. Seriously. If Grace has a problem with it, we’ll tickle her until she relents.” I nuzzled her with my nose.
“Gimme.” Eyes still closed, she reached out for Evan.
Evan slipped in and closed the door. His eyes brushed over our naked bodies. We were no longer joined, just cuddling, as I contemplated another round.
I grabbed his hand and squeezed it, sending all my love through the bond. You okay? I mouthed.
He nodded. Then he gave me a saucy wink. Felt that, he mouthed back.
“We’ll make it up to you.” Her voice went soft. “I…”
“Oh, Peaches.” Evan dive-bombed the bed, wiggling in between us. “It’s okay to need some alone time. Was it magic?”
“It was.” She snuggled into him, making satisfied little noises that made me want to fuck her again. Fuck both of them.
He pressed his lips to her forehead, then leaned in for a kiss from me.
I captured his lips and kissed him like I’d missed him, my hands traveling over his clothed body. “You’re leaving for the movies?”
“Turns out, we’re all going to the movies.” He leaned into me.
“Grace just got out of the hospital.” While the movies weren’t strenuous, with Riley there, I couldn’t exactly make out with him.
With them. Cover them with a blanket and tease them, playing don’t make a noise as I made them come over and over in the darkness, hoping the air filters in the theater were good enough that we didn’t get kicked out.
“I know, but it’s a movie, not a hike. Katie’s action items.” Evan’s eyes rolled.
Grace frowned. “Are omegas not allowed out without alphas? Because that’s bullshit.”
“No. It’s more of a social construct,” Evan explained.
“We’re a pack. A family. Why wouldn’t we do things together?
Omegas tend to want to stay close to their alphas; it makes them feel safe and happy.
I drive myself to work a lot. I do things with just me and Riley.
It’s more like my being overly independent looks weird.
While it works for us, Katie thinks they need to be extra doting right now. ”
“Alphas need to protect. It’s easier to protect your family if you’re there with them,” I added, giving each of them a kiss. “It stems from the days when you stuck close to your omega because they might get kidnapped.”
Grace’s look went horrified. “That doesn't still happen, does it?”
“Not like it did. But there are still assholes and criminals. Also, Evan can defend himself against an alpha. But most omegas can’t, so there’s that safety factor.
It’s like how your dad made you keep pepper spray in your pocket,” I explained.
Her dad had seemed to genuinely care about her, but he wouldn’t stand up to her mom.
“The movie theater has big reclining seats, so you can curl up and sleep,” Evan added, stroking her hair. “We’ve got to leave soon. Oh, and Ri picked out your outfit. But you don’t have to wear it.”
“I feel like I sort of do. She’s testing me, making sure I’m worthy of your time.” Grace sat up on her elbows, the blankets slipping off to reveal her pale breasts, the shell pink nipples teasing me as if to say Come play with us.
“Sounds about right.” Evan gave her another kiss, then nuzzled her neck. “I love the smell of him on you.”
“I can’t wait to smell you on her, but Ri will get pissed if I have my way with you and we’re late,” I said. “Want to join us in the shower?”
“Fuckers, we need to go in thirty,” Riley yelled from my sitting room.
Evan looked at the door and grinned. “I’ll make it until we get home. Grace might have to entertain Ri, though.”
“I’ll take one for the team. I like teenagers.” Grace grinned back and got out of bed, the blankets dropping completely. Her bruises were a lot better–especially the ones on her face, but that’s not where Evan’s gaze went.
Evan sucked in a breath at the sight of her back, which was covered in ugly scars in the center. Those strokes had been carefully placed so they’d never be seen if your clothing was modest. Modest is hottest was one of the many bullshit things she’d been taught.
The sight of them made me want to hurt someone. It was a good thing that the people who did that to her were in another world. How could they do that to children?
“Sorry, I… I can wear a shirt when we’re in bed if it makes you uncomfortable.” Grace’s head bowed as she fumbled for a blanket, scent going both sour and salty.
Evan wrapped his arms around her, taking the blanket from her hands and tossing it on the bed. “Please tell me that your partners didn’t make you wear shirts to bed or make you feel uncomfortable about your body.”
She turned away. “What partners? I’m okay with the fact that others are bothered by my scars.”
That was a lie. It hurt her. I could tell.
“Your scars are beautiful.” He pulled her to him and kissed her.
I stood and embraced them both, covering them with my scent, comforting them, with my touch, letting them know I loved them, imperfections and all.
“Ri wants to bake cupcakes and watch rom-coms with you. But I didn’t tell you that,” Evan said.
“We’re having a welcome-home barbecue for you tonight, so maybe you can make cupcakes together. I mean, if you know how to make cupcakes?” I added. Cupcakes would be nice.
“Evan!” Riley yelled.
I sighed, wishing we could stay like this a little longer. “Ri’s favorite sport is cockblocking.”
Grace giggled. “Well yeah. She’s fifteen. I know how to make cupcakes. That sounds fun. I’m going to take a quick shower.”
I seized Evan and gave him a deep kiss, a promise that I’d see to his needs later.
Evan gave Grace a little kiss and smoothed her hair. “I’ll make sure you make it up to me tonight, okay?”
“Yes, sir.” Grace smirked, swinging that little ass of hers.
“ Fuck. ” Evan’s eyes stayed on her as she disappeared into my bathroom. “If she keeps calling me sir… ”
“She was raised to call people that out of politeness.” I shook my head at his expression.
“I’m familiar with the concept. Also, I was in the military with you, but fuck. Love you.”
“Love you, too. Are you sure this is okay? I want to check in now that it’s happened.” I pressed my forehead to his. Not that I sensed any resentment or hesitation through the bond, but I wanted to ask, anyway.
“Yep. Did you knot her? I half expected to feel her bond with you after you did that.” Evan leaned into me, resting his head on my shoulder.
“I did. I should’ve waited. But she begged, and well, I couldn’t deny that.
” I grinned at the memory, her cute little pleas echoing over and over in my head.
“I thought that it might happen, too. However, the doctor said it could be awhile because of the concussion. What if… what if I never feel a bond with her?”
“Do you want to?” he asked.
“More than anything.” My voice went growly.
“Well, maybe you should bite her again. It’s been a while anyway,” he added.
“True.” While the bond mark an alpha left was permanent, it wasn’t uncommon to bite it over and over. Maybe it needed a little boost.
His fingers traced Grace’s little bite on my shoulder. “She didn’t bite you hard enough.”
While it felt good when she bit me, no, she hadn’t. She never did.
He kissed it and left. I slipped into the shower with Grace.
Part of me didn’t want her to wash off the scent of our lovemaking because we were going out.
That primal part wanted everyone to know that she was well-fucked.
But I also hadn’t had a good shower in days.
Well, there were more ways to make her smell like me than fucking.
Showers were also fun.