Chapter 11
Alex
The last thing I want to do tomorrow is go to work. But we still have the entire day to spend with Hudson.
Fuck, I hope he’s understanding about our work schedule. There are plenty of staff around to ensure he’s safe and to help him if he needs something or even gets turned around in our large house.
I hadn’t meant to show him the playroom. It just happened. If that’s what convinced him, I’m not sorry. Could be seen as manipulative, sure, but it felt right.
Problem is I’m so fucking drawn to Hudson, as in more than simply wanting him to carry our child.
We didn’t want to add an omega. Not that we didn’t want one, we simply felt our life was complete the three of us.
Okay. Another half-truth. We were complete as a pack, but we’ve wanted a family pretty much since we became bonded mates.
We tried adoption, but no agency wants three male alphas. We were escorted out once for asking if the same rules applied to bonded female alphas. That was the day I stopped apologizing for wanting a family.
Pushing all that shit away, I move around the kitchen quietly, making pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The coffee’s brewing, and I’m already picturing waking Hudson with breakfast in bed. I can’t wait to spoil the shit out of him.
Guilt gnaws at me. We work long hours, and he’ll spend a lot of days here alone. Spoiling him won’t change that.
He’ll be left in this giant house alone with the exception of when we’re able to take off time for heat leave.
Shit. Did he need to take off time from work, as well? I don’t remember asking him about his personal life, about his family or work life or friends.
We’re literally asking him to turn his life upside down for us and we haven’t bothered warning him about our work schedules.
Setting the food and a mug of coffee on the tray, I grab the bowl of sugar and bottle of creamer and set them beside the plates. I have no idea how Hudson takes his coffee but want to make sure we have everything he needs.
Des shuffles in wearing sweats that hang low enough to make focusing impossible. He kisses me, then reaches for the coffee.
“Waking our omega,” I say.
He frowns. “He’s not ours, Alex.”
“Maybe not yet.” The ache in my chest says otherwise.
Thing is, I feel a pang of sorrow trickling through the bond from Des, too.
He feels the same sense of loss over the fact this entire thing is temporary.
Not like dating someone and not knowing whether it’ll work, but we’re going into this knowing the day will come when we all say goodbye and he moves back to his apartment.
“Hey,” I say, turning on my heel and carefully balancing the tray with both hands.
“We need to get the information about his apartment so we can make sure it’s paid while he’s gone.
I’ll find out if there’s any furniture or anything specific he wants to bring here other than the rest of his wardrobe. Oh, and did he mention having a job?”
“You talked to him more than I did,” Des says as his cheeks grow bright pink.
Yeah, no. We might have talked a little while I was giving him a tour of the rest of the house, but most of the time we were alone was spent with his perfect cock in my mouth.
Simply the memory of how good he tasted makes my dick twitch and thicken in my sweats.
Desmond’s eyes dart down then back up to my face, and yep, his cheeks have grown pinker.
The difference between my two mates is so crazy. Where Mason is super dominant in the bedroom, Des is gentle and sweet.
Des is soft everywhere but in court – there he’s all teeth.
Puckering my lips, I blow him a kiss and make my way to the stairs leading up to the bedrooms. We have a couple rooms downstairs, as well, but those are guest rooms with a few we delegated for our children’s rooms.
Those rooms are no different than the playroom – untouched.
For now.
My heart swells at the realization we’re finally on the road to becoming parents.
And we have the beautiful omega down the hall to thank for that.
I have to set the tray down to open the door to the omega quarters. Once I’m inside, I quietly close that door and set the tray on the table, lifting the mug and carrying it with me to the closed door of the bedroom.
The bed’s empty and the shower’s running. I leave the door to the bedroom cracked, forcing myself to wait like a civilized alpha instead of barging in there for a glimpse of his naked body.
It’s another ten minutes before I hear the bathroom door open.
“I’m in the living room. Don’t want to spook you,” I call out as I hear his feet pad softly against the hardwood floor.
He opens the door and cranes his neck around the frame. “Did you need something?” he asks.
His hair is wet, making it appear dark brown, and hangs loosely around his face. He’s also shirtless, but his lower half is obscured by the wall. No idea whether a towel is wrapped around his waist or if he pulled on boxers yet.
Still, I keep my eyes on his face as I say, “Brought you some breakfast,” and jerk my head toward the tray.
A smile stretches across his face as he glances from the tray then back to me. “Thank you. Give me a second to get dressed and I’ll be right out.”
Is it bad I’m seconds away from asking if I can watch?
Probably not the best start to our relationship.
Relationship? Friendship?
I don’t even know what to call our situation. An arrangement? Courtship?
Or dangerous territory?
A few minutes later, Hudson steps into the room in a pair of slacks that look as though they were tailored specifically to his body and a dark blue t-shirt that makes his eyes pop. Slacks and a t-shirt. The look works on him.
He’s also brushed through his hair, though he didn’t bother with drying it. I don’t know why, but the way the longer strands dampen the collar of his shirt is kind of a turn on.
Honestly, though, it seems nearly about everything about this omega has turned me on from the moment I laid eyes on him yesterday afternoon.
“Hope you’re hungry,” I say as I start lifting the covers from the trays.
“Starving, actually.”
He hadn’t eaten much yesterday other than some snacks while we watched some movies. I suppose he could have eaten when he went home to pack his bags, but I have a feeling his nerves were strung as tightly as mine were.
After loading up a plate for him and watching him doctor his coffee with barely half a teaspoon of sugar and a load of creamer, I sit back against the cushion, cross my ankle over the opposite knee, and stretch an arm across the back of the couch.
“You’re not eating?” he asks before biting into a strip of bacon.
“I’m usually up with the sun. I ate a couple hours ago,” I tell him. “I actually wanted to ask a few questions.”
He swallows and raises a brow. “Should I be nervous?” His smile is unsure.
“No. Not at all. I just realized there were a lot of things we didn’t bother finding out. Do you have a job you need to check in with?” I ask. “We can make sure you’re covered while you’re here.”
He flushes. “Not exactly. I’ve had…benefactors.”
“Sugar daddies?” I tease, grinning when his blush deepens. “Sexy.”
“You think that’s sexy?”
“Everything about you is sexy.”
The tips of his ears and his cheeks darken further. “It wasn’t only sugar daddies. There were packs and individuals who would pay to be with an omega. It’s a whole thing, a fetish. Then there are packs who pay to be with me during my heat.”
“I thought this was the first time you’ve utilized the service,” I say, a slight frown pulling my brows together.
“First time utilizing the omega center to vet the packs. I have a few…you know what? You probably don’t need to hear all the gory details.”
“I don’t mind. Not like the three of us are virgins.” Although we haven’t been with anyone except each other in over a decade. “We’ll have someone drive you to pick up the rest of your things.”
A smile quirks up one side of his ridiculously soft and pillowy lips and I’m so tempted to lean in and nibble at his fuller bottom lip.
“I don’t think I need to bring any furniture, but there are a few blankets and pillows I’d like for the nest.”
“Perfect,” I say. “We’ll have someone take you tomorrow.” But when disappointment flickers across his face, my chest tightens. He deserves better than a house full of ghosts and workaholic alphas.
“There are staff and guards here twenty-four/seven, so if there’s anything you need, any of them can help you. Oh, and I’m sure Mason will want your input on a new vehicle.”
“You really don’t need to buy me a new car,” he insists.
“Let us,” I counter. “Something safe, comfortable, full of airbags.”
He laughs, shaking his head, and I fall a little harder.
Hudson sets his mug on the coffee table and wipes both palms along his slacks as he shakes his head again. “This is a lot,” he mutters.
Shit. Am I totally overwhelming him? I’m just too fucking excited.
“Am I allowed to have company while you’re out?” he asks.
My instincts bristle. “What kind of company?” Too much growl in my voice.
He grins. “My best friend. She’s an omega.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.”
“Invite her anytime,” I say quickly. “Just warn me if she’s trouble.”
“She doesn’t know I’ve agreed to your offer, so I’m sure she’ll really be unhappy when I call her.”
“Eh. I’ll win her over,” I say, putting on my most charming smile as I go back to resting against the couch cushions and reach over with the arm stretched across the back of the couch to toy with his hair.
It’s so soft, even still damp. I bet it’s silky soft when it’s dry.
When an image of tangling my fingers in his hair as he bobs his mouth on my length makes my knot throb and my dick harden, I shift and do everything in my power to change subjects before I make a fool of myself.
Or make the omega uncomfortable by spreading him out on the coffee table and fucking him hard and deep.