Chapter 11 Abel #2
Not much else happens during lunch. Despite sharing the room with Buckle and Perry, I’m much calmer than I’d been earlier. When I don’t let my anxiety take over, life doesn’t feel like steel wool scrubbing my brain.
Buckle sighs and nuzzles into my neck, tickling me.
“I’m not ready to go back to work.”
I steal another grape from the table. “It won’t be for long. Perry has plans for us tonight.”
“That I do.” There’s a playful glint in Perry’s eyes. “And there’s a dress code.” He holds up a hand when I open my mouth. “I’ll provide it to you. I just need sizes.”
Buckle quirks a brow and looks down at himself, then back at Perry. “You have something that’ll fit me?”
“Absolutely. My sizes are pretty inclusive and I def have something that’ll go around those thighs.” Perry licks his lips, and I force myself to keep from hiding. My mates are flirty. I have to get used to that.
Buckle pushes to his feet, taking me with him. His arms are warm and cozy and I’m not ready to leave the safety of that.
He kisses the top of my head as I drop to my feet. He turns to Perry.
“May I please have a kiss?”
Perry’s pupils blow wide and he nods.
I scoot out of the way when they slot against each other.
Buckle’s eyes drop to Perry’s lips and the world narrows down to the two of them.
I swallow, taking in the scene. Perry threads his fingers through Buckle’s hair and yanks him down.
Perry isn’t short like a lot of Omegas, but Buckle towers over us both.
My mouth goes dry and I lick my lips when theirs connect. I can’t tell if they’re putting on a show for me or if that’s what kissing is like. Perry presses closer and shifts his hips, making Buckle moan.
I grip the edge of the table. Buckle’s hair is a mess when they finally part.
“Worth the wait,” Buckle says.
Perry presses his finger to his lips and nods.
I don’t even know if they remember I’m here. I want to experience that too, but not yet.
“Oh, sweetness, you look adorably lost.”
“I do?” I press my fingers to my lips as if they’d kissed me, too.
Perry looks to Buckle, then to me. “We’ll be happy to teach you how to kiss. When you’re ready.”
I nod. “Thank you.” I bob my head again. “Do...don’t wait for me, okay? You two have needs and I’m... I’m not ready.”
“Wanna watch?” Buckle asks.
Perry hums his approval. “That would be hot.”
“Let me think about it? I know Alphas and Omegas usually fuck immediately after meeting their Fated, so don’t wait if you don’t want to.” My dick thickens and my hands fly to my groin to cover the problem. A whimper escapes my lips and I squeeze my eyes shut.
“Sweetness, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just embarrassed yet again.”
Perry takes a tentative step towards me. “Where you shamed about sex at Hawk Ridge?”
“Shamed?” I bark a laugh and cut it off. “At Hawk Ridge, sex is only for bonded pairs. You’re not even supposed to masturbate.” I whisper the last word. “To pleasure yourself out of being bonded is punishable. Public humiliation.”
“Fuck Hawk Ridge. You know none of that happens in Mink Hollow, right?”
“I know, but it’s hard to break old fears like that. I had a wet dream once, and I was forced to walk all morning with a poster that said as such.”
Buckle growls. “You were a boy.”
I wrap my arms around myself. “Yes. And that was before my designation appeared. I’m trying to pull apart all the strings wrapped around me. But it’s hard. So hard.”
“You have us now, sweetness.” Perry digs his phone from his pocket. “We need each other’s numbers, then I’m starting a group chat. If there’s anything you need to talk about, text the group. I don’t care what it’s about or what time. Text us.”
Buckle nods, apparently too upset for speech.
We pass our phones around and my hands shake so badly I almost drop Perry’s phone.
“I... I do know sex and pleasure aren’t anything to be ashamed of. But I all those lessons are so hard to let go of.”
“We can help. When you’re ready,” Buckle says. He reaches out to cup my cheek. His thumb ghosts over my mouth briefly. My heart flutters. I want him to kiss me, but not yet. I’m not ready for either of them.
“Thank you for the food. And the cuddle pile.” I drop my gaze to the floor and blanch at the gray stain I’d forgotten about. I suck in a breath. “Wait!”
They both give me a soft grin.
“This was a date!”
“It was,” Buckle says. “At least I considered it one.”
“Me too,” Perry says.
“It was amazing.”
“I consider tonight a date too,” Perry says. “I’m... Okay.” He eyes Buckle. “You won’t fit in my car, so you’re picking us up and I’ll tell you where to go from there.”
We exchange addresses.
“I’ll be at your place at 6pm sharp,” Buckle says to Perry.
“Then we’ll pick up our sweet Beta.”
I chew on my bottom lip and nod. “I look forward to it.” I bounce on my toes. How had I not realized this was a date?
“I love that we’re leaving you happier than we found you,” Perry says.
Heat spreads across my cheeks.
“Shit,” Buckle says and I flinch.
“Abel?” Perry asks. “What is it about that word? Fuck doesn’t bother you, but that one does.”
“Papa always told me I was a shit after my designation became clear. Sometimes he’d slap me. Sometimes—”
“I’m so sorry.” Perry steps close and I fall into his open arms. “You’re amazing, sweetness.”
Buckle wraps us both in his arms. Their pheromones lull me into a calmer headspace.
“I really like that.” My eyes get droopy, and Perry laughs as he holds me up.
“Oh, sweetness, we’ll smother you in happy lovey pheromones as much as you want.” He kisses the top of my head. “But you and Buckle need to clock back in now.”
Buckle kisses the top of my head, too. “I’ve loved every second of being together.”
“Same,” I whisper. “Same.”