46. Rafe
Chapter forty-six
The pretty Omega that I used to fantasize about is sandwiched between me and the Alpha that I barely allowed myself to dream of, and I can not shake the absolute feeling of rightness that washes over me.
Seeing Jordan in that hospital bed cracked something inside me, and I couldn't hold myself back from Simon anymore.
I couldn't bear the charade of sharing a bed with him, pretending there wasn't anything between us.
That those times we spent wrapped in each other's arms meant nothing to me.
I have a weird relationship with my sexuality. I always have. Truthfully, I don't think much of it. I'm not a highly sexual person. I never dated casually and never had a one-night stand. In fact, my sexual exploits begin and end with these two people in the backseat of this car with me.
Which is why pretending like Slime wasn't Simon, the man I lost myself in, wasn't working anymore.
Jordan is kissing up his neck, her legs thrown over his lap, when Cyrus and Icarus finish loading the trunk with the spoils of our trip and slide into the front. Their sharp inhales prove that her pheromones and scent are thick in the air. Russ's hands tighten on the wheel as he pulls out of the lot.
I don't mind letting Icarus drive my car, mainly because I've gotten to sit beside Jordan both times. I think his need to drive is a control thing.
We may not have declared it, but there is no doubt in my mind that Icarus is the pack leader, and they like to be in charge. Who am I to question it?
"Why does she smell like this?" Cyrus says with a strained voice. "I shouldn't be able to smell her this strongly."
"It's a heat spike," Icarus responds, his voice as tight as my pants have gotten. "Increase in body temperature means more sweat. More sweat means more pheromones. More pheromones mean more scent. It's interesting, though, because pheromones can be excreted at any time from multiple sources. Did you know there are pheromones in your breath? It's fascinating that-"
"Dude, Russ, you're killing my boner with the doctor ramble." Simon moans softly at the end of his sentence as Jordan sucks on his collarbone.
"It happened so fast," Cyrus mumbles, turning sideways to watch Jordan and our packmate. "She was fine in the store."
"That's how it starts," I say while running a hand up her spine. "My mom is an Omega. I was scarred several times."
Icarus snorts as he laughs at my misfortune, but luckily, he doesn't follow it up with a random fact he learned in medical school.
We squeeze out of my car and load our arms with bags as Slime wraps Jordan's legs around his waist and carries her to the elevator. "I know the doctor said this could happen, but I gotta admit I thought we had some time before she went into heat."
"Not in heat," she grumbles against his skin. "Spike. Annoying. Hot." She rotates her hips against him, and they moan in tandem as he stumbles back against the wall.
Cyrus presses the floor button rapidly, cursing the elevator for being slow as he watches our packmate try to wrangle our Omega.
When we enter the apartment, a chorus of meows from Dae and Blush greet us, and Jordan bursts into tears. "We left them alone too long! They missed us!"
"They're fine, Omega," Icarus coos. "Dae just probably ate all of Blush's food. I'll get them squared away. Why don't you go set up your new nest?"
Omegamart passes all of its soft furnishings through an industrial sanitizer before packaging them, which means checkout takes a little extra time. Still, it's worth it for our Omega to be able to set up her nest immediately.
She practically falls out of Simon's arms and snatches bags from all of us before running off into her bedroom. "Why aren't you following me?" she shouts from several rooms away.
Icarus comes around the corner, chuckling. "I would do what she says. She's a brutal taskmaster."
When I enter the nest, I see a blur of maroons and pinks as Jordan throws her original nesting material at the door. A sheet hits me in the face, and I almost fall flat on my ass before Slime steadies me. His hands are hot on my arms like a brand, and my heart catches my throat.
"Thanks," I choke out, pulling the fabric from my face in time to see the flesh that peeks between the blank spots of the tattoos on his throat is flushed red.
"No problem," he mutters before dropping his hands. I miss them immediately.
Jordan continues in a blur of organized chaos, eventually demanding that we empty the bags and calling out things she needs from us. It's endearing to watch, but I can see what Icarus meant about her being demanding.
I can already tell she will wear us all out when her heat eventually hits.
Eventually, she throws herself backward onto a pile of blankets and pillows in shades of gray, blue, and ivory. "No clothes in the nest," she mumbles, pulling off her clothes before wrapping up in a fuzzy navy blanket.
"Shouldn't we have her shower? She was in the hospital," Cyrus hisses at no one in particular.
"Sure, try it," Icarus teases.
Cyrus must miss the humor and challenge in the other Alpha's voice because he sure enough does try it. "Jordan, why don't we get you in the shower really quickly?"
"No."
Her voice is loud and clear despite being under what appears to be several pillows.
"Come on, sweetie. You'll feel much better after a shower," he tries again.
She pokes her head out of the blanket pile she's found herself in and snarls, baring her teeth at him, "If you don't like my scent, you can leave, Cyrus."
"That's not what I said!" he sputters.
Icarus chuckles and shrugs as if to say, 'I told you so.' Cyrus looks stricken, rooted to the spot, and unsure what to say to fix the mess he accidentally made.
"What if I draw you a bath, Jordy?" I say softly, dropping to a squat. "Athena got you some bath bombs, and Icarus can make you tea. Afterward, we can all pile up in your nest and nap."
She narrows her eyes at me as if weighing her options and trying to decide if I'm telling her the truth. After a moment, she nods. "Okay."
"She's not very chatty like this, is she?" Simon whispers, leaning close to me.
"Guess not." I take Jordan's hand, pulling her out of the nest and walking her through her room to the bathroom. Her tub is massive and can easily fit an Alpha or two in there with her. Once the water is full and the temperature just cool enough to soothe her heated flesh, I pick Jordan up and lower her in, dropping a massive bath bomb shaped like a sleeping bear in the water.
As I turn to leave, she grabs my hand. "Join me, Alpha."
"You're in a heat spike, Jordan. I can get Icarus."
"Don't you want me?" she whispers sadly.
Dropping to my knees beside the tub, I grab her chin. "Of course I want you. I have always wanted you. But I want you, Jordan, to want me. I don't want just heat spike or lust-drunk Jordan to want me."
Her eyes are wide and sad as she stares up at me. "I am so tired of fighting, Rafe." Jordan's soft voice may as well be a bomb with the way it detonates in my ears. "How do I know if I'm fighting for the sake of it? Why can't I tell if I should forgive you yet?"
"I don't know, but Jordan, I don't want to force it. I hurt you – end of story. I don't get to decide when you forgive me. I have to show you every day that I will never hurt you again." I lean forward, my chest pressing against the wet side of the tub and my forehead resting on hers. "You are woven into my soul, Jordan Cross. I will spend the rest of my life showing you how precious you are to me."
"Show me now, Alpha."
"Omega," I groan, my control slipping. "I can't."
"I'm lucid, Rafe. The bath has cooled me off. I want you to join me. Please. Don't make me beg." Her eyes are clear, and the soft haze I noticed in the car is gone.
Nodding slowly, I stand and remove my clothes, giving her ample time to stop me. She doesn't. She drinks in the sight of me, eyes traveling across my body and lingering on my cock as it hangs thick and heavy between my legs. It's been hard since we left Omegamart, but I have no intention of relieving that ache anytime soon.
"Sit up," I murmur, sliding behind her and settling into the water. I gather her in my arms and pull her back against my chest, her slick skin sliding against mine as we settle. She wiggles against my cock, and I growl, leaning down to bite her softly on the shoulder. "Be good, Omega."
"Don't wanna," she whines, wiggling again.
I slide my hand down her stomach, resting it on her mound and pushing against it with gentle pressure. "Be good, Omega," I repeat. "I'll give you what you need."
"I need your cock."
My laugh echoes around the room as I tickle my fingers across her flesh, dipping them into her slit every few passes. "You want my cock. You need to come."
She bites her lip, and her head falls back against my shoulder as my fingers dance up and down her slick cunt. A needy whine escapes her when the tip of my index finger lands on her clit, and I stroke it with feather-light touches.
"Shh, Omega, I got you," I whisper as her eyes drift closed. "I'll give you what you need, okay?" She nods lazily as I continue to circle her sensitive flesh. Her breath picks up the pace with the more attention I give that little nub. I shush her again as I slowly push a finger inside her. "Here you go. Is that what you needed, baby?" I drag my finger in and out of her at a languid pace, and her breathing calms again, her body pliant in my hands.
Our lips fuse together in a languid, lazy kiss as I pump my finger into her slowly. I stretch her with a second finger, my other hand drifting under the water to stroke her clit in time with the gentle thrust of my hand. "Rafe," she moans quietly, pulling her lips from mine. "It feels so good. But I'm so sleepy."
Chuckling, I pick up the pace just a little. "I know you are. Next time, you can sleep while I play. Would you like that?" She clenches around my fingers and moans, her body answering the question before she does.
"Please," she pleads. "I want that."
"Whatever you want is yours," I promise, meaning it. She tilts her head back, and I capture her lips again, licking across the seam of her mouth before she opens for me. As my tongue tangles with hers, I give more attention to her clit and curl my fingers to hit that rough patch of flesh that my knot is made to press against.
Her hips grind against my cock, and I groan into her mouth. Determined to get a reaction out of me, she continues moving and sliding her flesh against me. As good as it feels, this isn't about me, and I don't want it to be.
She asked me to show her how precious she is to me, and I will not let my cock get in the way of that.
"Still, Omega," I growl, pulling my hands away from her core and gripping her hips. "Do you want to come?"
"Yes, please," she pleads. "I need to."
"Then let me work, yes?" I nip the flesh below her ear, wondering if this is where she'll let me bite her one day or if she'll want another spot. She listens to me and stills her body, allowing me to continue working over her flesh.
Two fingers pump gently in and out of her, curling up at the second knuckle as I drag them out. I slowly circle her clit with the other hand. It's not long before I feel her body tense and her breathing picks up. "Are you ready, baby?" I whisper in her ear.
She makes a humming sound of affirmation, and I increase the pressure on her clit. "You're going to let go for me, okay? I want you to let all of the tension leave your body at once. I want you to clear your mind of anything that isn't my fingers. Do you understand, Omega?"
I don't need an answer to know she's listening, her body becoming even more malleable on top of mine, her cunt tightening around my fingers. I pinch her clit between two fingers and roll it gently between them as I stroke inside her, and she gasps before a long, slow moan escapes her mouth, and her head falls back against me.
Her body doesn't shudder or shake. This isn't an orgasm that is going to break her apart and leave her panting. As fun as those are, that's not what my girl needed.
Gliding my fingers out of her, I push my hand to her chest and feel her rapid heartbeat slow as she begins to mimic the slow breaths I'm taking. She turns on her side and cuddles up against me, and I can feel her tears dripping against me.
"I don't know why I'm crying," she says softly. "I feel so good."
"It's normal, love." I smooth the hair away from her face and look into her gorgeous green eyes. "You opened yourself to me in a way that went beyond the physical."
We sit in silence in the rapidly cooling water, and I wonder where the others ended up, but that thought is fleeting. All that matters is the woman in my arms.
As her eyes drift close and her breathing slows, I bury my nose in her hair and inhale the fresh scent of mangoes that surrounds her. "I love you so much, Jordy. Please, please, give me a chance to earn your forgiveness."
She's half asleep and probably doesn't know what she's saying, but Jordan's next words stop my heart.
"Oh, Rafe. You already did."