18. Hazelle
Chapter eighteen
Hazelle
Roe pulled my chair closer to him before picking up our stack of cards that Raylan had dealt out. Every card was out there, and I tried to remember the games I had played as a child. I didn’t think Old Maid or Go Fish were going to help me now.
“We go first.” Roe fanned out the cards and started organizing them in a way I didn’t understand as they weren’t in numerical order. “Everyone will lay down one or more cards and claim it’s the next number in line, which is why nothing is actually organized in our hand. We start with aces, so we can lay down some cards and say it’s that many. If people believe you, they will move on and it’s the next person’s turn. If they don’t, someone can call Bullshit. If they were right, the person who laid down the cards would take all the cards in the pile. If they are wrong, that person takes all of them. It’s pretty straightforward once you get going as long as you can lie or get really lucky and have the right cards each time.”
“Okay, so I can take these,” I said, pulling out two cards.
“And place them face down in the middle, stating you have two aces.”
I nodded and did just that. “Two aces.”
“I don’t think I believe you my pet, but I will let it slide this time.” I felt the blush creep up my neck, but little did she know, I was telling the truth.
“I definitely won’t be using that to my advantage. We will be quite the team, Hazelle.”
Play went around the table with Farah and Elera giving believable numbers, then Mistress Belle said, “Three fours.”
“Bullshit,” Roe said without hesitation. “Bull. Shit.”
She smirked and nodded toward the cards. “Go ahead and see, my pet. Did I lie?”
I reached forward and flipped the last three cards, revealing two fours and a two. “Yes.”
“Damn right you did, Bella! Take your cards.” Roe shoved the cards toward her. “See. Not so bad is it?” Roe sat back and smiled at me.
He was so different from Mistress Belle, but he also felt familiar, as if his scent was forever tinged with familiarity. Where Mistress Belle smelled of rose and smoked rum, a heady combination that drove me crazy, Roe’s scent was a softer version, rose and cedar. It reminded me of a rose garden at dawn. A lovely neutral scent that gave me nothing but pleasant thoughts.
His scent mixed with Elera’s would be neutralizing in the best way. I hadn’t been around many Betas but both of their scents were a calm middle ground between Omegas and Alphas. Elera’s, with her bergamot and lavender scent, would complement his in the best way.
Now I wondered what Farah’s scent was and if they ran in families. Neither of my parents had a similar scent to me besides my mother smelling sweet like any Omega.
“F-Farah?” I stuttered out as Raylan pulled cards from his hand.
“Yes, dear?” She turned to me, and I almost said nevermind.
“Two fives.”
“Safe choice, Uncle,” Roe muttered.
“Mistress Belle and Roe have a scent with roses. Do you as well?” The entire table paused for a split second before Roe played for us.
“One six.” I had a feeling he was playing nice to keep from distracting everyone from my question. I didn’t know if I should be thankful for that or not.
“I do, actually.” She held up her wrist, moving it closer to my nose.
I sniffed and was surprised to find that her scent was rose and…a musky vanilla almost as if it was a charred scent.
“It doesn’t always happen, my pet, but our mother did pass down the rose portion of our scents. It’s always been interesting when we are in a room together and arguing. Rose alone doesn’t scream dominance, but smoked rum and charred vanilla weighs down even the largest rooms.”
“Two sevens.”
“Bullshit, Farah.” Elera laughed and flipped the cards, which were definitely not two sevens.
“Sorry.” She pulled the pile in front of Farah.
“I’ve always enjoyed knowing my scent was superior and less oppressive.” Roe sat taller, giving his sister and mother shit without hesitation.
Farah reached over me with ease and slapped him on the back of the head. “Be nice to your sister and Hazelle.” She didn’t look at any of us as she continued to sort her new cards.
My eyes grew wide as I glanced at her, then met Elera’s gaze behind her.
“Yeah, Roe. Be nice to Hazelle before My Mistress locks you up again.”
Roe glared at her but seceded, leaning back and winking at me as if this was all one big game. That’s when I realized it was. This was how families played together. They teased and poked, but it was all with love and knowing. Even Raylan had a smile on his face as he listened in.
I sat a little taller and a boost of energy flowed through me as play went around the table again.
As soon as it got to us, I pulled two cards and laid them down. “Two Jacks.”
“Bullshit,” Raylan said, and he raised a brow at me.
I flipped the cards for him and smiled at him. “Sorry.”
Everyone laughed and joked about Raylan losing his touch, but in his defense, he did have two Jacks himself, so it made sense to question me. He took all his cards with a grumble, and I felt at ease with my new family.
“Good one, dear. Not many people can beat him at these lying games. He’s too good at it. Which isn’t a compliment.” Farah leaned in close and whispered to me but loud enough for her brother to hear.
I chuckled, then my smile fell a little. Farah and Raylan. Elera and Caera. Roe and Mistress
Belle. I would never have that, and I would never watch siblings grow up in such a way. Maybe Adira and Nyla would have more kids and I could be around more as their aunt, but would it be the same? Could it be the same?
Taking a deep breath, I pushed those thoughts away to focus on how much fun I was having before. Hazelle of the future could deal with the new dread of being infertile, but not Hazelle of tonight. Tonight I’d spend time with our family, playing games until we were all exhausted and dropped into bed.
And so we did.
Farah, Raylan, and Roe left late last night. Farah had given me a hug without a word, but I melted into her silent acceptance nonetheless. Roe demanded we have family game night at least once a month, then quietly told me we’d have more without the parents so he, Elera, and I could spend more time together. They all promised to be at Elera’s party in a few weeks, and I couldn’t wait to see them all again.
Adira, Nyla, and Lettie stayed the night, having only come down for a couple of hours before going to bed to make sure they were rested enough to deal with the early waker.
Elera, Mistress Belle, and I fell into bed, exhausted from the day’s events and quickly fell asleep. The plan was to spend the morning with our guests, but my eyes refused to open as I lay in bed.
I sunk into the mattress, the comforter hugging me perfectly. Seconds away from falling asleep again, Elera’s hand skirted up my inner thigh and slid across my clit, and her lips pressed against my temple.
I moaned as her finger slipped inside my pussy, and I felt her smile against my skin. “Morning, Hazelle. Mistress Belle is downstairs. We didn’t want to be rude hosts, but we also didn’t want you waking up alone.” She kissed my jaw, then my neck before nibbling on my shoulder.
Her fingers toyed with me, my slick coating them and my scent filling the room. She curled them just right, massaging all the sensitive spots, encouraging me to follow her to the edge.
“You’re so cute in the morning. I can’t help but want to touch you, Hazelle.” Elera sucked my nipple into her mouth, grazing her teeth against my pebbling flesh. “How fast do you think I could make you come?” I gasped as her thumb swiped across my clit and her fingers continued to fuck me, sliding in and out of my dripping pussy.
“I don’t—”
“We’re going to find out.” Elera slid down, placing herself between my thighs. She licked my clit, forcing another groan from me before removing her fingers entirely.
“Elera, please don’t stop.” My back arched, begging her to continue.
“I didn’t plan on it.” I glanced down and saw her left hand, the one coated in my slick, enter her pussy. Elera groaned around my clit as her right hand toyed with my opening, teasing me but never entering further than my initial folds.
Her hand and tongue worked in unison, fucking me and driving me hire. She fingered herself the same way, keeping us in sync and rising to our climaxes together.
My fingers gripped her hair, loving the feel of the silky strands and letting them ground me. Finally, I felt my control slip, and I dove head first into oblivion, the pulses rushing through my body and slick pouring out, soaking Elera’s face.
As I calmed down and Elera climbed back up the bed, I realized she hadn’t come. Frowning, I reached for her. “Let me help you.”
“It’s okay, Hazelle. We don’t all have to come every time. Besides, we need to shower before we go downstairs. This was for you, okay?” She kissed my forehead, a spot of slick staying behind as she pulled back.
“I can make a shower work.” I couldn’t help but laugh at her guffaw as I dragged her into the bathroom, determined to make my Beta come and maybe come again.