Chapter 18 #2
I let her see the desperate part of me that remembers what she tastes like and wishes he was the one buried between those fucking perfect thighs again.
My chest heaves with every breath, the envy pumping through my veins making my heart race.
She watches me bite my fist as the alpha kisses and sucks the sensitive skin of her neck, letting the scent of peppermint wash over me.
She sees the way my jaw clenches with each of her breathy little moans.
I show her every emotion, every desire. Every. Fucking. Thing.
And when she gets into bed with the alphas, as I take my place on the couch, I catch her watching me again. I freeze, unable to look away.
Something new shines in her eyes. Something unexpected, and I cling to it.
She’s curious.
About who I am now? Maybe she’s wondering if watching her scream another man's name is going to push me away? Or is it something else entirely? Is she… Is she curious if I still kiss the same—if I make love the same?
Curious is good. Curious is so much better than angry and hurting.
Curiosity is an open door with a light on the other side.
NICK
“I miss her. We should build her a workshop on the farm so she never has to leave,” Benson grumbles.
“Shhh,” I hiss, and my head snaps to the side, checking to see if Kai heard him. “Don’t give him any more ideas. Just in case.”
Ever since our talk four days ago while decorating, he’s been different. He hasn’t given Plum any extravagant or over-the-top gifts again, but I seriously don’t need him to get new ideas on how to help us, either.
He listens to every word the omega says and doesn’t try to hide his emotions from her anymore.
Honestly? He’s not so bad. I guess. However, the crazy fucker has been trying to do…
well, fucking everything. He appears to have an unending amount of energy and a desperate need to please.
Everyone. Stupidly, I assumed he would be focused on Plum, and Plum alone.
Nope.
Not even close.
‘This is the person I’ve always known,’ Val said yesterday after dinner. They’re back to staying in the guest room, since Kai wanted his apartment back when he figured out Plum wasn’t coming back to the farm for the week.
Not only do I wake up to him in my kitchen every morning, but he’s been helping with chores around the farm, as well as helping us get ready for the village this weekend, since we’re going to be leaving Tony in charge.
The guy we originally hired picked a fight with the fuck-ass roosters, ran into the goat pen to escape all two pounds of poultry, and upon discovering that chickens can fucking fly, he attempted to leap over the fence.
He broke his ankle. How the fuck he was the most qualified candidate but panicked in the face of a feathered beast with a pea brain, I will never understand.
Plum had a good giggle when I told her the story Monday evening on our three-way call before recommending Tony for the job.
‘My dad will be fine with it, but you better pay him well to make up for the days he's off at the tree farm, or else.’ Either through Stella or possibly my meddlesome brother Rhian, the equally meddlesome beta caught wind of Plum’s vague threat.
They conspired to pay the man a hefty salary.
Something I found to be offensive when they first suggested it.
I can pay the man just as well, damn it.
I’m still offended, honestly, but Stella blinked her big eyes at me, and I folded.
‘Val just wants to help,’ she’d told me with a pouty face.
I caved and reminded her what a pain in my ass she is when she pouts to get her way.
We’ve got enough people working that Tony’s position is mostly as a supervisor and director.
He’s also the point of contact if shit goes south and I'm needed.
The point is, Kai is here every day. Even though Plum has been locked away in her workshop, cranking out ornaments, Kai is always here. Yesterday, I asked if he had somewhere else he could spend his time, and he snorted at me like I said something funny.
Thankfully for me, it seems Benson and Kai get along shockingly well, and he has more patience than I do, so he’s been showing Kai the ropes around the farm.
Unfortunately, Plum woke up Monday morning and announced she would be spending the week working. Benson and I have been texting her daily. Hell, I think Benny has been texting her hourly.
“I want to say he wouldn’t, but…” Benson squints at the beta as he holds one of the more aggressive roosters, petting him from head to tail.
I smirk. “It’s hard to tell sometimes. Um, should we tell him the rooster’s balls…
” My brother points at them, and I nod, leading the way as we walk over to him.
“You know, the roosters aren’t as bad as you guys make them seem,” Kai says as we approach him.
“That’s because you’re stroking his balls, bud,” I point out, gesturing to the area of his back where the rooster's testicles are. The horrified expression on his face is incredible, and my brother and I burst out laughing.
“That motherfucker!” Kai growls, gently placing the chicken back on his feet. Kai wipes his hands on his jeans, still looking severely grossed out. “Rhian said this would make them like me! He’s the only one they don’t attack. I can’t believe I trusted that asshole.”
“Eh. Most people have no idea. They’re located along their backbone, which is an unexpected area for balls.” I shrug, patting him on the shoulder. “Imagine how many people own roosters and have no idea…” I cringe.
“I feel dirty.” Kai winces, making Benson double over because he's laughing so hard still. “You are just as bad as your diabolical omega sibling.” Kai points at my brother, narrowing his eyes as Benny struggles to get his shit together.
“Go clean up.” I shake my head, trying to contain my smile as we head toward the house.
I leave my brother on the front porch, gasping for air, and head upstairs to my room.
Plum’s scent lingers in there still. It’s faint now, but it’s there.
I just want one little inhale. Kai already lit several of the candles Sable made, so there are hints of her in every room, but nothing compares to the real thing.
Pushing open the door and breathing in is disappointing because Benson’s and Kai’s scents hit me first, meaning they have both been in here doing exactly the same as I am right now. Desperate, I grab the pillow she used for eight nights and press my face into it.
Once her sweet peppermint and evergreen scent fills my lungs, I sigh, taking a seat on the edge of my bed. Pulling my phone out of my pocket and bringing up Plum’s contact, I send her a text.
Nick: Miss you today.
Plum: You say that every day.
Nick: And I mean it every day. You don’t miss us?
I include the raised eyebrow emoji so she knows I’m teasing her.
Plum: I don’t know. Remind me who you are again?
There is a series of emojis attached, including one sticking its tongue out and a big red question mark.
Nick: Santa.
Plum: Ooooh, Saint Nick? Hot. How do I get a seat on that lap so I can tell you exactly what I want for Christmas?
Nick: I’ll be in VIP this Saturday. I’ll save you a turn.
Plum: I better have the only turn.
Nick: Awe, someone doesn’t like to share.
Plum: Nope. That lap is mine, and don’t ever forget it.
Nick: Never.
Plum: I’ll see you then, Alpha.
She adds a kissing face emoji that makes me smile as I stuff my phone back into the pocket of my blue jeans.
Saturday is my sister’s non-traditional gingerbread-making wedding shower, and the next time we’ll get to see Plum.
Because of the chaos last weekend with the village happening, as well as the dinner, Stella decided she wanted to have her party, shower thing, at Taron’s bar.
He’s shutting the place down for the night so it won’t be a madhouse.
I suspect Val is probably paying him for the loss of profits that closing down on a Saturday would cost.
He can certainly afford it.
It’s coed, and the entire wedding party will be attending. Including Val’s parents. I wince. They’re wonderful people, but I can’t get through a conversation with them without one, or both of them, asking if they can buy reindeer for the farm.
They’re certainly eccentric. I have to wonder if they’ll be doing another grand gift for Val and Stella. They already gave my sister a fully loaded pink Jeep Wrangler as a ‘congratulations on getting engaged to our son’ gift.
I know Stella wants Mom there too. I haven’t even seen her in weeks. We live on the same property, and I never see her. Granted, I don’t seek her out, and she refuses to set foot into the big house. She says it has too many memories, but I think it’s something else entirely.
With a heavy sigh, I head back downstairs and out the front door. It takes me a few minutes to walk to her little house at the very back corner of our property. She’s sitting in a rocking chair reading a book, and I have to stop myself from giving up before I even try.
“Oh, Nick,” she says as she sets her book down in her chair after standing up to greet me. She glances around, frowning. “Is everything okay?”
“Not really.” I sigh, rubbing my forehead as a dull ache sets in behind my eyes. Her scent is a much too sweet apple and lemon combination. It always gives me a headache the second I breathe it in. I’m going to need to dunk my face in a bowl of ice after this.
“What's wrong?” She crosses her arms over her chest but quickly shifts, and it looks more like she’s hugging herself. I try not to be too harsh with her. I know she’s delicate. Weak, in a lot of ways.