Chapter 14 – Riley Thomas
Riley Thomas
"D o you know what I adore more than anything in the world?" Finn asks.
Was he skulking around waiting for me in the hallway?
I'm leaning against my bedroom door. I walked out of my room and straight into Finnegan. I was aiming for Killian and the girls, but apparently, I've been detoured.
"What's that?" I ask, studying his grinning face.
Finn's always shirtless. He's leaning against the far wall of the hallway holding a very large gift-wrapped box in white sparkly paper and dark royal blue ribbon. I've only seen him in jeans twice. He predominantly wears pajama pants in random cartoon patterns, and now is no different.
"Mysteries, anything that surprises me, a good plot twist." Finn smirks, ticking them off on his fingers.
He shrugs a tattoo covered shoulder. "This is for you, darling.
" He nods to the gift. "I'd have you know I purchased it before your surprise meeting yesterday evening.
Technically speaking it's not a bad idea to take it, after all you never know when that nosy doctor might sic OPA on us. Best to accept my courting gift."
Courting gift?
My mouth goes bone dry as my heart pounds erratically.
Finn swaggers forward. I've never seen a man with so much innate self-confidence. Not even Jeremy. My head bumps against the door behind me as Finn cages me in. He drops the huge box at our feet.
"You're a delicious treat," Finn says, breathing in at the base of my neck. "Best plot twist I never saw coming. Can I court you, darling?"
My breath catches and my face burns as I study him. He's a gorgeous man, there's no doubt about that. My nose is really fond of him too. His scent does wild things to my body, and he knows it.
Finn smirks down at me.
"Good God. I do love that look on you." Finn's cheek dips to caress mine. His scratchy beard scrapes over my skin. "A bit aroused and highly embarrassed. Shh, don't tell Cannon. He's been known to kink shame." Finn laughs. "Okay, not shame, but definitely heckle."
"Oh yeah?" I ask, feeling emboldened by the look on his face. "Shouldn't I get some warning on those kinks?"
Finn tosses his head back laughing.
"Fair enough," he whispers in his melodic tone. He dips his nose to my hair, inhaling deeply. "I had a phase where I quite appreciated… No, you know what?" He smirks. "Agree to go on a date with me first."
"You seriously want to court me?" I ask, studying his face.
"Aye, I do." He grins.
"Fine. I'll figure out your porn preferences the old-fashioned way then I suppose," I whisper, still blinking up at him in shock.
"That's a yes?" Finn asks. His face is bright with excitement. It's contagious.
"Yes," I agree, smiling up at him.
Finn tilts his head brushing his lips over mine. "Good."
Bending down, he grabs the giant box and gently moves me aside. He shoves it inside my door.
"It's perfectly safe to open in front of the wee one," he assures me with a devastatingly handsome grin.
My breath shudders as I give a ragged nod.
"Let's go, lest we miss breakfast completely," he says, linking our fingers. My heart tries to gallop out of my chest at the feeling of his warm hand holding mine.
Finn scoots his chair close to me during breakfast. He's very affectionate. Cove gets jealous and he chuckles wildly.
"Don't be cross with me, Button," Finn says, pulling Cove over into his lap. She rests her head against his chest and my mouth goes dry as my pulse picks up to what's likely an unhealthy level.
"We talked about it," Cannon says, catching my attention.
He's currently holding Lily and the sight of it has my impulses humming in approval.
It's a fact of life that omegas tend to love children and have large families.
Watching him with Lily sends a warmth through my entire body.
"Since your doctor made it clear you need a pack and because we don't want to have the OPA show up randomly and-"
"Think you and the girls should stay in the house," Killian says, cutting Cannon off. "Instead of moving to the mother-in-law cottage."
"I was getting to that," Cannon says, lifting Lily to his shoulder.
"Oh, yeah…" I shake my head, wiping my mouth with my napkin. "I hadn't even thought about that."
"No pressure," Finn says, tenderly feeding Cove a bite of eggs. "It might not be a bad plan though."
"It's also safer," Cannon agrees. "It's a good distance from the cliffs, but it's outside the back gate. I don't like that Cove could wander out."
I swallow thickly. "Are you sure? We won't be in your way or cramping your style?"
"Hardly," Killian grunts. "Will you stick around in the big house?"
I open my mouth to speak, but Cove beats me to it. "Yes!" she says, clapping.
"Excellent," Finn says, smirking over at me.
Biting my lip, I take a second to just enjoy the moment. I never in a million years thought I'd end up here, but I'm not complaining. Life has gotten a whole lot better since I came to stay with them. Cove is happier than she's ever been, and I feel safe for the first time in… possibly ever.
* * *
Killian handles taking me to work that afternoon. He helps carry Lily in her car seat and holds Cove's hand. I tried to unbuckle her to get her out and she politely told me she'd rather wait for Kiki. If the ridiculously cute nickname hadn't distracted me, I might have been utterly heartbroken.
Cove has always been my little buddy. I gave birth to Lily without Jeremy. He did hire a doula, who helpfully ensured Cove could stay with us the entire time at the hospital. It wasn't ideal, but I had no other options.
My elderly neighbor promised to keep her for the couple of days I was in the hospital, but she had pneumonia from a cold that wouldn't quit and couldn't keep her.
I did what I had to. Cove isn't overly traumatized by the memories.
Mostly she was as thoughtful and as well-behaved as any toddler could be under the circumstances.
Cove has always been extremely attached to me, but she wanted Killian to help her out of the truck . I swallow thickly.
Shaking my head, I blow out a breath. Having people outside of me care about my girls is a blessing. I'm being ridiculous. It's not something to get my feelings hurt over. Rationally, I know that. It's not helping lessen the hollow pit in my gut though.
"I've got to run out to the garage for a minute. Are you good?" Killian asks, giving Felicity a quick kiss on the temple, but be directs the question at me.
"Yeah, I've got some time before I have to be there," I say, nodding.
Killian exits after setting Cove down on the couch. He places Lily next to the sofa on the floor. She's conked out in her car seat.
"Come have a seat at the table with me," Felicity says, clasping my hand in hers. She smiles brightly.
I sit across from her, and she pushes a plate of cookies at me. Felicity is grinning like a lunatic, which frankly is a little intimidating.
"Did you know Killian isn't my biological son?" she asks after a pause.
The look of shock all over my face must say it all. I mean I wondered, but I also don't know which one of the pack is his biological father so mostly I assumed he takes after his dad.
"No one expected a spoiled twenty-two year old omega to pick the pack of four young fathers.
" Felicity grins. "Then again, I fell in love with Killian long before I did any of his fathers.
I know my son very well. He's always been a bit apathetic to the opposite sex.
He's naturally very selective of the women he spends time with.
Do you understand what I'm hinting at Riley? "
"No, I don't think I do," I say, frowning.
"Well then, this old woman should probably speak plainly.
" She smiles, patting my hand softly. "Killian is very transparent with his feelings about you and the girls.
I'd say he's already well down the path to heartbreak if you were to take those children and leave.
So am I." Felicity smiles bashfully. "It's possible to love a child that isn't your own just as fiercely as blood.
Trust me, I don't say that lightly." She shrugs.
"Killian looks big and gruff, don't let that fool you. "
"I understand," I say, glancing over at Cove who is stretched out on the sofa like this is her home. It sends a pang to my heart. "I don't want you to get the wrong idea though. Finn is the only one who has expressed any interest in courting."
"Cannon's mother caught wind of the fact I've been keeping the girls.
She's actually supposed to drop by this afternoon," Felicity says.
"Cannon will likely be the most stubborn.
Killian will show you he cares through his actions, not necessarily his words.
Does that make sense? At least not initially, I suspect those will come later. "
"I understand what you're saying," I agree. My face is hot. "Killian is great. I'm very fond of him too."
She beams at my words, and I continue. "Cannon is distant. He might have invited me to stay with them, but since then he's the one I see the least."
"That man is a conundrum. He can be pushy and quick to stand up for what's right, but I've also noticed he keeps a level of distance between himself and the others. I imagine that's because he's been hurt before. Don't give up. You just need to melt that ice."
"Riley?" Killian's deep voice causes me to jump in my seat. "Can I show you something?"
Felicity grins like she knew this was coming.
"Of course," I say, pushing myself up and following Killian.
Turning back, I say, "Thank you."
She swipes a hand through the air. "Anytime sweetie."
* * *
"I shoveled the walkway, it still might be slick. You should hold my hand," Killian says, zipping up my overcoat. He looks back at the sidewalk. "Or I could carry you?"
"I'm good," I say, grinning up at him. "I think I can manage."
Killian grabs my hand, and we head out to a large metal building. It's huge. We walk in a small door opposite the large bay door. Immediately the smells of wood and paint fill my nostrils.
The back wall has a wooden table that extends out from the wall at about waist height. Saws, sanders, and a variety of other equipment fill the space.
Killian steps over to the side and nods to a few saw horses.
"What's this?" I ask, stepping over and studying the two pieces of white wood.
One looks like the headboard of a bed. It has a curved top with several lines in the wood to give it a beautiful aesthetic.
Next to it is obviously the matching footboard.
It has tines like a crib. It's then I spot the two smaller panels that are unpainted.
It's an absolutely beautiful sleigh crib.
"It's a crib for Lily," he says, studying my face. "Do you like it?"
"Killian, it's beautiful," I whisper. "But she already has a crib."
"I know. I helped the guys unload it in the cottage. I thought maybe you'd like to start fresh?" He's blushing under that dark beard of his. "I bought the plans that allow it to be converted into a toddler bed and then a full-size headboard and footboard."
"You did all this in a matter of weeks?" I ask. I'm shocked. It looks like he's put a ton of work into it.
"My dad helped with these," he says, grabbing my hand and pulling us over behind a giant cabinet in a cherry wood. "These are for the girls. A tall one for each girl because even though the extra room is big it might start to feel cramped with two beds and two dressers and a ton of toys."
"They're fine in the room with me," I whisper, my eyes wide.
The dressers aren't completely done, but you can tell they are amazingly well made. The drawers are put together and sitting close by. The base of each dresser has the same curved lines to match the crib perfectly.
"They are," Killian agrees. "But we want you to be happy. To settle in. The girls need their own space and you do too."
I don't think… I chuck myself at him. No one has ever given me a gift like this.
Finnegan nearly brought me to tears with the thick cable knit blanket he gifted me. Cove immediately claimed it as her own. This is a whole different level. It's almost too much.
This is what Felicity was saying. He shows with actions not with words.
He catches me as I fly at him. My coat is thick and puffy, but Killian gets a good handle on me. He lifts me with ease despite the slippery fabric.
"Thank you," I whisper, licking my lips. My hands are twined behind his head and my heart is trying to race right out of my chest. "This is the most amazing thing anyone has ever done for me and the girls."
Holding me to his chest, one arm is banded under my ass and the other is around my back. His hand slides up pulling my face to his. Killian smells like strawberries and watermelon. He shared both with Cove right before we left. His beard is thick and rough against my skin.
He grins into me as my tongue demands to be let into his mouth.
He tastes even better than he smells. The sweet flavor of the fruit is the perfect accompaniment to his spicy manly scent.
He holds me to him with a firm grip that does funny things to the part of my brain that is distinctly omega.
That part that craves being caged and captured.
"Thank you," I whisper, grinning against his cheek.
"You're welcome," he says, placing me back on my feet. My knees quiver, actually going a bit weak.
Killian smirks down at me. He holds my arms in place making sure I don't fall. He spins me around and points across the large space.
"One more surprise, but it's basically the same as Lily's crib. We'll set it up as the toddler bed to start."
"She's going to love it," I tell him, tilting my head to grin over my shoulder at him.
"Does this count as a courting present?" he asks, clearing his throat.
I laugh at the look on his face. It's a combination of fear and hope.
"I think that's up to you," I say, grinning.
Killian nods. "It's a courting gift."
"Good," I say, twisting around and giving him a hug.
Killian is quickly becoming someone I trust. That thought is as exhilarating as it is terrifying.
Bryan left us each a note when he died. Mine said a few different things, but one thing in particular stuck with me.
He said if people show you who they are, believe them.
Killian has shown me who he was since day one. No flip-flopping and apologizing later. No rationalizing bad behavior. He's solid and that's what he's shown me.
I'm going to believe him.
It's scary as hell to think about trusting someone again, but Killian is worth the risk.