Chapter Thirty – Asher
Our parents are dying to see Jess, but Jess isn’t quite ready.
Today, me, Mason, and Rourke are meeting her at her house.
Her aunt finally moved out last week, and she’s been busy getting rid of anything her aunt might’ve left behind.
For obvious reasons, she doesn’t want anything that reminds her of her aunt to remain.
I ride with Mason. He’s pretty quiet, and I wonder if that’s because he met with a therapist earlier today. I’m dying to ask him about it, but I know it’s such a personal thing for him, so I hope he’ll open up when he’s ready.
The first step to working on yourself is admitting something’s wrong, or at the very least, something’s not quite right. I still feel so stupid for not realizing my brother was struggling all these years.
We pull up to a house whose size rivals our parents’. The mansion that Jess now has in her name puts most others on the same street to shame. It screams old money, with its all-white exterior and its finely-manicured lawn.
By the time we roll to a stop near the granite steps to the front door, Jess is standing outside, waiting for us. Even at a glance, she appears lighter, her shoulders less heavy. More relaxed all around.
Mason shuts off the car, and I’m the first one out—and I rush to greet her, sweeping her up into my arms and placing a gentle kiss upon those full lips.
Her warm peppermint scent fills my nostrils, and I bask in her glory for only a few seconds before my brother coughs and brings me back to reality.
I let go of her, mostly so my brother can greet her in a similar manner. When they’re done embracing, I give her an easy smile and say, “I’m ready for the tour, Jess. Show us what you got.” We might’ve been friends all those years ago, but I never visited her house, so this is a first for me.
This house… it seems awfully big for an omega to live, all alone. I’m not saying I hope she invites us to live with her, but at the same time…
No, that’s exactly what I’m hoping. I’d move in in a heartbeat.
She rolls her eyes, but the eye rolling is accompanied by a slight smile, so I know she’s not upset at my comment. “Follow me, boys,” she says, taking on an air of dramatic and exaggerated authority.
We follow her inside the house, entering a grand foyer.
“As you can see, we spared no expense in the design of this estate,” Jess talks like she’s used to giving tours, a fake air of authority draping around her. She walks with her hands slightly raised, palms down, so she looks like she’s seconds from pointing things out at any given moment.
She takes us around the first floor first. It’s exactly what you’d expect: a grand kitchen, a huge living room, a few sitting rooms, and even a library room with an attached study. Needless to say, it’s all very impressive.
The patio out back? I can see us hosting out there, easy.
Next up is the second floor, which holds multiple bedrooms, including multiple rooms that are considered offices. It’s one of those offices where Jess strolls in and does a twirl in the middle of the room, near the desk.
“This was my dad’s study before it was my aunt’s,” she says, running her hand along the edge of the desk. “This desk was his. I’m glad she didn’t try to take it with her.” She scoffs. “Then again, it probably would’ve only reminded her of me, so, whatever.”
She claps her hands, not giving Mason or I time to respond to that comment as she strolls out of the room. “Now, I’m not saying I saved the best room for last, but…” She trails off as she leads us down the hall, to the one room whose door remains shut. “I definitely saved the best room for last.”
Moments later, my brother and I are introduced to her bedroom.
It’s nearly as large as the heat room at our parents’ cabin, but it has so much more of her personality.
You can totally tell her favorite color is blue; the bed is lined in blue.
The paintings on the wall are made up mostly blues.
The knickknacks carefully arranged on her dressers and the desk on the far side of the room have a common theme: blue.
“This is where I spent a lot of my time growing up.” Jess meanders to her bed, sitting on its edge as she watches me and Mason survey the room. “My aunt never came in here. It felt like the only room in the house that was mine.” She chuckles softly. “Now the whole house is mine.”
“It is,” I say, shooting my brother a look before I go to sit next to her.
My brother is on the same wavelength as I am as he joins us on the bed. He says, “But, you know, it occurs to me that this is a damn big house for one little omega.”
She puffs herself up. “Who you calling little?”
“I think he’s just saying that, maybe, you might get lonely every now and then,” I say.
“Hmm.” She taps her chin. “What a conundrum. If only I knew some alphas who would love to move in and take up some space in this big, old, empty house.” She glances between me and Mason. “You two wouldn’t know any alphas that fit the bill, would you?”
“I might know a few volunteers,” I joke, earning myself a sly smile from Jess. God, I’ll never get over that smile. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to make her smile more often, that’s a promise. That smile lights up the room.
Jess playfully shoves both me and Mason. “I was going to wait until Rourke gets here to ask you all together, but seeing as how desperate you two are—and I cannot stand desperate alphas—”
Liar, but I keep that remark to myself. She loves it when we’re desperate for her.
“—I guess I’ll ask you two now.” She pauses. “Well? Will you two move in with me?”
I place a hand over my heart and say, “You’re a poet with your way with words.” She scoffs and rolls her eyes at my dramatics, but in the end, she giggles when I lean closer and give her a kiss on the cheek. “Of course I’ll move in with you.”
Mason, not to be outdone, takes her chin in his hand and forces her to look at him when he says, “Like you could ever keep me away.” His way of saying yes, I guess, because after he says that, he kisses her on the mouth and makes her breathless just like that.
She sighs. “Now that that’s settled… do we know how far away Rourke is? I can think of a few things we could do in this room while we wait.” With the way she says it, her meaning is crystal clear.
My cock twitches the moment she suggests what she does. I don’t need a moment to think about it. I tell her, “We are at your disposal.”
Jess hums. “Then take off my clothes and ravish me.”
Such a bold statement she never would’ve said before. I suppose we’ve all changed from who we were before, and that’s a good thing. Without change, what’s the point in life? Change is good. It’s nothing to fear.
My brother and I take it as a challenge: who can help her out of her clothes faster? Which one of us can take off the most? My brother tugs off everything below the waist, while I help her out of her shirt and the bra underneath. Hmm. It’s a tie, then.
Soon enough we’re helping Jess scoot up on the bed and lay down.
I settle myself between her legs while my brother massages her chest and kisses her hard.
As badly as I want to be up there, kissing her, I’m perfectly content with where I am, nestled between these beautiful thighs, with a certain something at her apex calling my name.
I lick my lips and then I get to work.