Chapter 16
Thorn didn’t know what day it was when he finally returned to his senses, but the sun was out, so that had to be a good sign.
It took him ages to peel himself out of bed and make his way into the bathroom.
Then another twenty minutes or so to gather the strength to brave the stairs to the lower level.
He’d been cleaned and dressed already, but as per usual, there was no sign of the alpha, and with every step, the pit in his stomach seemed to grow.
He blamed the fact that he felt weepy and abandoned on the lingering hormones from his heat.
When he made it to the main floor and there weren’t any roses left on the dining room table, he frowned. Before he knew it, he was searching for them, checking every available surface in the general vicinity before moving onto the kitchen.
The sigh of relief that came out of him when he found them on the kitchen counter was absolutely pathetic, but acknowledging that shortcoming didn’t keep him from immediately going to them.
He was rummaging through the blooms, desperately searching for the card, when someone cleared their throat behind him.
Gasping, Thorn spun on his heels, eyes going wide when he saw the alpha standing in the entranceway, a paper bag in one hand, and a tray with takeout coffees in the other.
“Looking for something?” Baal’s expression was filled with mirth, and he openly chuckled when Thorn scowled. “If you confess, maybe I’ll tell you where you can find it.”
“There’s still a card?”
“Why wouldn’t there be?”
“Because you’re here.” He tipped his head and watched as the alpha brought the food to the counter. “Why are you here, by the way? Isn’t it sort of your thing to disappear once the sun is out?”
“Fairly certain I fucked you against that window over there,” he pointed his thumb over his shoulder toward the large floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the city, “in broad daylight yesterday afternoon.”
Well shit.
Thorn grabbed the paper bag. “What’s this?”
“Breakfast.” Baal waited for him to open it and pull out one of the egg and cheese sandwiches before propping his elbows on the end of the counter. “Omega.”
“What?” He tore the wrapping off half the sandwich and took a hearty bite, not fooling either of them, but unable to drop the act anyway. Old habits were hard to shake, and this was what he was used to, hiding in plain sight. Keeping his composure even if on the inside he was breaking down.
“Kiss me.”
“Huh?” That had not been what he’d expected. Thorn blinked at him.
Baal captured his wrist, pulling the sandwich away from his face, and tugged him closer to his side. “You want your card? Kiss me.”
“Who said I wanted it?”
“Sweetheart.”
He blew out a breath. “Fine.”
Thorn shifted onto his toes and was about to brush his lips over Baal’s cheek when the alpha turned and caught his bottom lip between his teeth.
He moaned, food forgotten as he got a taste of the alpha.
He wasn’t releasing pheromones, and yet Thorn caught a whiff of that gingerbread scent and stepped in closer.
Only for the alpha to break the connection.
“Here.” Baal held a small white card in front of Thorn’s face, grinning at him.
Bastard knew exactly what he was doing.
Taking it, he shoved it into the back pocket of his pants and then chomped down on the sandwich with more ferocity than necessary.
“Admit it,” Baal said a moment later, once they were both halfway through eating and had taken a few sips of their coffee. “You’re glad I’m here this time.”
That gave him the impression that the alpha had vanished on him on purpose all those other occasions, but Thorn was too mentally drained to call him out on it. What good would that do him anyway? It wasn’t like he hadn’t been aware of what type of guy Baal was when they’d started this.
Didn’t mean he had to stroke the alpha’s ego by telling him his manipulation was working.
Even if it was.
Because Thorn was happy he was here.
He was also sore all over.
“Literally everything hurts,” he complained, curious when his comment instantly had the alpha setting his food aside and going to the cupboard over the sink.
Baal returned with painkillers. “Take these. I already put sun cream on you while you were sleeping, but this should take care of the rest.”
“Doubtful.” Still, he popped the pills and downed them with some coffee. “This feels worse than after the cabin.”
“That’s probably because we were only at the cabin for a night, and we’ve been here for four days.”
A mouthful of caffeine exploded past his lips, spraying across the counter.
Baal gave almost no reaction to his mess, calmly chewing a bite while he waited for Thorn to regain his composure.
“Excuse me? Did you say four days?!”
“If you’re worried about school, don’t be. I contacted them and asked for leave. It was your heat. Legally, they have to accommodate you.”
“That’s not…” He pressed his fingers against his throbbing temple. “I’ve never had a heat last that long in my life.”
“Get used to it.”
“No fucking way!”
“Kind of unavoidable,” Baal insisted.
“Not if I—” Thorn clamped his mouth shut the moment the alpha took his chin between two fingers.
Baal settled a warning look on him, as though his touch wasn’t enough, and then asked gruffly, “What was that, omega?”
“Nothing.” He gulped and then released a breath when the alpha seemed satisfied and let go.
“Would you like anything?” Baal finished his sandwich and balled up the wrapper, moving to toss it into the trash bin by the door.
“I’m already full and I haven’t eaten all of this yet.” Thorn held up the portion of food he still had left.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Oh. What do you mean then?”
“As a reward.”
He frowned. “Reward?”
Baal came over and combed his fingers through Thorn’s hair, brushing it off his face and to the side. His expression was full of fondness, and before realizing it, Thorn was leaning into his touch.
Catching himself, he straightened and cleared his throat. “Why do I get a reward?”
“For sharing your first heat with me,” he replied. “You were perfect, omega. Everything I hoped for and more.”
He forced himself to laugh it off, even though his heart skipped a beat. “Bet you say that to all your lovers.”
“Never,” Baal stated firmly. “And I’ll only ever say things like that to you from here on out.”
“…Why?”
“Because you’re my omega. I also want to be a good alpha. Were you pleased with my performance?” He set a hand on the counter and then turned, caging Thorn in. Running the rise of his cheek over Thorn’s jaw, he scented him.
“I…” As that first whiff of pheromones came into contact with his skin, he found himself unable to lie. “Yes.”
“You were?”
“Best sex I’ve ever had.” Damn it, had he really just said that?! Thorn grimaced.
Baal chuckled. “Someone’s after a big reward, it seems.”
Thorn caught the alpha’s hand as soon as it slipped under the front of his t-shirt. “Hold on. I really can’t. I meant it. It feels like my body has been pieced together and all of the screws are loose.”
Baal didn’t remove his hand, but he didn’t push it further either. “How much do you remember?”
“Of the past four days? Bits and pieces.” But he knew what the alpha was getting at. “I remember you telling me that you’re going to fuck me when I’m not in heat.”
He tipped his head back and caught Thorn’s gaze. “Objections?”
Thorn pretended to think it over, then shook his head once. “No.”
The alpha seemed to be searching his face for a lie, then concluded he was telling the truth and released him. Stepping back, he took his coffee and moved to rest against the sink counter instead. “Tomorrow then.”
He scowled. “I need more time than that.”
“Don’t get greedy.”
“I’m not. I’m seriously worried you’ll break me. A week.”
“Three days.”
“Four.”
“Two.”
Thorn swore, and the corner of Baal’s mouth tipped upward. He wasn’t going to win here. “Fine. Two. But that means full days, alpha. Forty-eight whole hours.”
“And then you willingly get on your back and spread those legs for me,” Baal drawled wickedly.
“Yeah, whatever.” Thorn tried to cover his blush with his coffee cup, but the alpha’s dark laugh proved he wasn’t fast enough.