5. Ava
Chapter 5
Ava
“I’m glad we’re home,” I say to Seb.
The moonlight shimmers on the Mediterranean Sea, its calm waters gently lapping against the hull of our motor yacht as the salty sea breeze carries the faint scent of palm trees which floats from the shore.
I stretch out on the sundeck, the cool leather beneath me a stark contrast to the warm night air as I watch Seb stand at the bow. His tanned face staring ahead and his dark blond hair bathed in the soft glow of the navigation lights.
He doesn’t answer.
“Are you okay?” I call out, my voice barely carrying over the gentle swish of water lapping at the sides of the boat as it sways.
Seb turns, his eyes catching the moonlight, making the hazel look a shimmering gold. He runs a hand through his wind-tousled hair. “We’ve been asked to do another job.”
I sit up straighter, intrigued. “Good. Where and when?”
It took us nearly five days to travel back from Monaco and my itchy fingers are already raring to go.
Seb grins, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight. “The assignment is unique. It’s retrieving a rare jewel from a heavily guarded facility on a remote island.”
“An island. Mm … Sounds challenging,” I say.
The yacht sways back and forth in the tranquil waters, a gentle breeze whispers. But I’m more focused on Seb as he stares ahead, watching in the distance, like he’s lost in his thoughts. Finally, his focus is back on me. “It’s worth fifteen million dollars to us.”
My eyes widen. “Wow.”
“Yeah,” he stands and strolls to me, his bare feet padding softly on the teak deck. “I know, but it’ll be dangerous.”
I shrug my shoulders. “I’m sure we can handle it,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Of course. But until I know all the details, I haven’t accepted.”
When he reaches me, he gently parts my legs and crawls up the sunbed, the leather creaking beneath our combined weight.
His body hovers over mine, radiating warmth. “Do you need me?” he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear.
“Always.” I chuckle, the sound low and intimate in the quiet of the night.
“The joys of being an omega,” he says, his amused tone also coated in desire.
“And being in love with a beta,” I reply, reaching up to trace the line of his jaw as he lowers and our lips meet in a passionate kiss. His lips taste of salt, mingled with the sweetness of the wine we shared earlier.
His kiss is gentle yet intense, igniting a fire deep within me and electricity to crackle between us.
“You’re still a needy omega,” he says.
“I don’t think I can do anything to change that.”
“I don’t want you to change. I just. Mmm, I—”
“Seb,” I turn to face him, “what’s the problem?”
“I’m just scared of losing you. I’m just a beta and you’re going to need alphas, eventually. You can’t hold your heats off forever.”
“I have until now.”
“It can’t be healthy,” he says.
“I’m fine. We’re fine. I don’t want or need an alpha. I only need you.”
“I love you, Ava,” he says. “I love the most stunning girl in the world, and an omega. Sometimes, I can’t believe you love this nerdy beta.”
“A nerd who needs to put his glasses on,” I say, with a hint of laughter in my tone as I hand him his glasses.
The swallow he makes is audible, but the silence that follows becomes a little unnerving and awkward.
“I only want you,” I whisper, breaking the silence.
Seb’s arm tightens around me as he whispers, “I don’t know what I’d do without you, but—”
Please, no buts.
I tilt my chin to face him, the rough stubble on his chin scratches my palm as I cup his face. “You’ll always have me.”
His eyes cloud over with doubt. He seems much more insecure than normal, but he shouldn’t be.
The yacht sways gently beneath us, mirroring the rhythm of our bodies.
Seb pulls away and stares into my eyes. But it’s his fingers that absently trace patterns on my arm, sending shivers down my spine.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask.
“Fine.” The rapid beat of his heart against my chest tells me something else, but I soon forget when his hand reaches the back of my neck.
Squeezing, he pulls me to him and again presses his lips against mine.
I melt into his embrace, savoring every moment as if it’s the only thing that matters. The world and his fears melt away as his tongue teases my lips apart with a hunger that mirrors my own.
I just wish he’d believe me, that this connection we have is special.
We’ve been together for two years now. And I know we’re so different, and we should never work, but it’s as if we’re two puzzle pieces finally finding our perfect fit, completing each other in ways words could never express.
He pulls away first. His hands cup my face tenderly, holding me close as if he is afraid to let me go. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You’ll always have me.”
“If you meet your alphas.” He hesitates. His insecurity at being a beta always comes to the fore. He can’t hide it at all.
“I don’t need an alpha or a pack,” I say, pure determination in my tone.
“Heats. Knots.”
I smirk. “When I need a knot, you’re always ready to wear the knotty ring I had made for you.” I don’t talk about my non-heats. I don’t have them. Yet, I still prevent them.
“Ella’s company is doing really well.” He does this, suddenly changes the subject.
“I know. I was so happy to present her with the award.”
My sister, Ella, created the sex toy business, and I commissioned her to make me the perfect toy to use with Seb, my beta.
It slips over his penis and works like a dream. And now she is selling it, and I’m happy my design is helping countless other omegas with an option for using with their beta.
The knotty ring has been patented, and now she is making a fortune selling them.
It was my idea, and I took ten percent of her company for the investment I gave her to get it into production. I also took free sex toys as part of the deal. Which was lucky because Seb and I have broken quite a few.
“I can share you,” he says.
My eyes widen, and I gasp. “Seb!”
“No, listen to me. When that day comes, I understand who you are. I know I won’t be enough for you, but as long as you come back to me, I can live with it. Alphas can give you so much, but they can’t love you like I love you.”
I purse my lips, getting cross but also wanting to take his mind off his insecurities.
“You need something, my needy beta.” I drag on his sweatpants, pulling the waistband until his cock springs free.
“We’ve got work to do.” He tries to pull his pants back up, but I’m too quick. My mouth covers his cock and I lick and suck around the head.
He moans as my tongue licks a long line from his balls to the crown.
“Drag your teeth over the rim,” he grits out.
I smile as I grip his thighs and do as he asks.
“Fuck!” He makes a sharp inhale. His thigh tenses under my hand and his chest heaves as he exhales. “That’s it,” he whispers.
Pride surges through my veins.
Feeling him in my mouth, I alternate between giving him pleasure and pain. Scraping my teeth over his cock then twirling my tongue around his crown. His masculine taste is on my tongue, and I never want it to end.
“Mm,” he groans, spreading his legs for me. I take it he wants me to take him all the way down my throat.
Despite being a beta, his cock is big.
“Hold your tongue out,” he says, dragging his cock away from my mouth.
My confusion is momentary as I do as he asks, and he slides his dick over my tongue.
Seb groans as he slowly fucks my mouth.
His fingers tighten in my hair as his hips buck toward my face. My fingernails dig into his thighs as his cock goes deeper, and it feels like my jaw is going to break.
Then he pulls out and I gasp.
My lips form a tight line as my frustration starts to build. “Give me more.”
“Later.” He grins. “Now we have work to do.”
“You better make it up to me.”
At least I took his mind off his insecurities.
“I will. Now let’s go over this job?” He sighs, shrugging his pants over his still erect cock. “Because we’ve been asked to meet with the client in a few days.”
My eyes turn to him. Surprised that he’s only telling me about this now. “Meet with the client? We don’t normally meet anyone.”
“It’s a high value job. But don’t worry, you’re not meeting anyone. He wants to know we can do it. So I’ve agreed to meet the client in a few days. I’m waiting for the location. He doesn’t know it, but I don’t want you to go there. I can deal with it by myself.”
I never meet the clients, anyway. Being an omega in an alpha world makes that too dangerous.
We pretend Seb is the leader of the operation and nobody gets to meet me. I like it that way. Hiding away, pretending that I don’t exist.
“Apart from it being on an island and worth a fortune, what else do you know about the job?” I ask. “What am I stealing?”
His eyes pierce into mine before he says, “It’s the Circle of Life.”
“No way,” I breathe, sitting up abruptly. “It’s in a museum on Dupont Island, a small island off Ibiza. And it’s priceless.”
“It is.” Surprise coating his voice.
“Dupont Island is possibly the strongest facility in the world.” My voice lifts with each word.
What the hell is he thinking?
Seb nods, his eyes gleaming with the challenge. “I can get you on and off the island.”
“Did you hear me?” I pause, shaking my head. “It’s on an island, for God's sake.”
He smiles. “It’ll be a nightmare of a job and I know only you can do it.”
I smile. “Don’t tempt me like that.” He knows I like the idea of a challenge.
“We can do it.”
“Did you not hear everything I told you?”
“I know you’re tempted.” He grins, letting me know he wants to do this.
“Who’s the job for?”
He grimaces. “A man who is prepared to pay seven and a half million dollars to us – each. I told him there were two people in the operation when we discussed payment.”
“Each?” I tilt my head. “But that’s around six percent of its minimum value of a quarter of a billion dollars. We normally ask for a minimum of ten percent. I’m sure we could request more. It’s the most expensive and unique diamond in the world.”
“I replied with the same,” he says.
“And?”
“He agreed to thrash out a deal when we meet.”
“It seems too easy.” I narrow my eyes. Suddenly, I have an awful feeling about the job. “We can’t agree to do it until we know who we’re dealing with.” I hesitate for a beat. “Why did he pick us?”
“We’re the best,” he replies without hesitation.
“I’m nervous that someone wants it and wants us to steal it.” The value of the job is making my hands itchy, but we’ve been stung by these high-end jobs before. Lesser value normally means there is a lack of security.
“We’ll research everything about the contact and the island before we go.”
“I’ve actually already checked out the museum.”
Seb arches one eyebrow.
I smile. “It was once my get rich quick scheme.” I didn't tell him I was drawn to the island and the reason I picked the Balearic Islands to live when I left Garrett.
“You’re already rich.”
I chuckle. “Okay, it was going to be a vanity steal. I wanted to prove to myself I was a decent enough thief to steal it after seeing it listed as the most expensive piece of jewelry in the world.”
“What changed your mind?” he asks.
“I wasn’t ready.”
“And now you are. From my research, there is the usual laser system, but I can walk you through that as normal. And the necklace itself has a secret locking system on the cage.”
I wait patiently as he continues.
“I know I can get you in and out safely. I won’t let any harm come to you.”
I trust Seb with my life. I have to. I nod. “I know and I do trust you,” I say, reaching up to cup his face.
“Thank you.” He leans into my touch, his eyes softening with affection. “That’s all I need to hear. So, can I meet with the man in charge of the operation?”
“You can.” I snuggle closer to Seb, licking his chest because I can’t smell him, but I can taste him.
“I need a neutralizing shot,” I murmur against his chest. “I think the job in Monaco stressed my body.”
Because my pussy is pulsating with a need for a knot since that alpha came into my life. Not that I can admit it to Seb.
“Next time, listen to me.” He kisses the top of my head, his lips warm against my scalp. “I’ll get it.”
The thought of injecting myself makes me shiver each time, but it’s a necessary sin to protect me from evil.
He pushes off the bed, taking my hand and dragging me with him. “First, I want you.”
“You have me.” Our gazes lock.
He does. Only when I’m wrapped in his arms do I feel utterly safe.