Chapter 12 Rickon
Chapter twelve
Rickon
Red mutters a few additional words, so slurred I can barely understand them, and then she drops onto my chest, fast asleep. Bloody oath, it’s over.
As Samantha does a quick check on my omega, I clasp her with one arm and cover my eyes with the other, feeling more drained than any other time in my life.
Everything Red felt, the terror, frustration, desire, rage, and relief, I felt too.
Right in my chest, like an emotional soup poured into me with the force of a fire hydrant.
No wonder my darling omega dreads going into heat.
Tears leak down my cheeks to catch in my ears.
I know Red didn’t mean it, but some things she said echo like a chilling premonition in my soul.
Is that how she truly feels under all the acting?
What if she wants nothing to do with us when she wakes up?
Through the bond I sensed flashes of regret, but also a raging hatred for the world in her storm.
“Well done, everyone,” the nurse says quietly. “She’s out, so we’ll get her settled in the bed as soon as you’re ready.”
I nod and clear my throat. My knot doesn’t take long to deflate, probably due to how worried I am.
Callisto and Samantha lift Red so I can slide out from under her, and then the three of us release her handcuffs and turn her prone form onto her back.
She looks so peaceful, her face slack and eyes closed.
Like an entirely different person from the growling, thrashing omega of a few minutes ago.
But just as gorgeous.
Samantha takes over cleaning Red and settling the sheets. I’d prefer to do it myself, but my nerves are so shot I can barely walk. Not to mention just looking at my omega gives me another raging boner. I wobble as I stand up.
“You okay?” Callisto rumbles, catching me around the shoulders.
“I—” What do I even say? I swab at my tears and settle for “That was intense.”
“Yeah,” Callisto agrees, pulling me into his embrace. When my legs give way, he slides under my arm and helps me to the couch.
The tears I’m trying to hold back refuse to obey, pouring out between my fingers.
The strongest emotion pouring through the bond was her terror.
All our textbook introductions to heats talk about it being beautiful, but she’s never had a positive heat experience.
A stunning, life-loving woman like Red shouldn’t have to go through this shit. No one should. The universe isn’t fair.
“Oh, Ricky,” Callisto croons, tucking me into his chest as the tears continue to fall. “You did so well. An omega couldn’t ask for a better alpha.”
That only makes me cry harder.
As I sob into his chest, I’m acutely aware I’m naked and sticky with cum and slick. And hard from Red’s haze rubbed on my chest. But I can’t muster the energy to untangle myself from his grip to go wash, and Callisto doesn’t seem bothered.
Samantha subtly drops a tissue box onto the couch beside us, and I choke out my thanks.
Once I calm down a bit and blow my nose, I tell Callisto, “You did a good job too.” It’d be impossible to miss the way Red responded to his voice.
And having him there, pressing Red down into me, was so close to my best fantasies.
Heat rushes to my cheeks and my dick. We’re pressed so close that even the slightest movement will touch my tip to his abdomen.
The nurse finishes fitting an IV drip into Red’s arm and attaching the monitors, and then quietly slips from the room, leaving us in silence.
If Callisto hadn’t rejected Red that day, this would be a normal position for us. Might even turn into something more. Still planted across his legs, I smack Calli’s arm. “You really fucked up, you know? Leaving Red that day.”
Callisto groans. “I did, and I regret it so much.” He dips his head to my neck, his coal-black hair brushing my cheek. “And I missed the chance to pack up with you, Ricky. I’ve been thinking about it so much, and I know I took what we had for granted.”
I freeze, clutching the tissue tight.
He looks up, dark eyes swimming with emotion.
“I’m sorry, Ricky. I’m not saying this because I want in now.
” He shakes his head, lips tilting wryly.
“No strings, no guilt. I’m just sorry I didn’t consider your needs better.
I guess I always expected we’d end up in a pack together, but I never told you that, did I? ”
The tears leak from my eyes again. I jerk my gaze away as confusion pours through me. “You idiot,” I mutter, pouting a little. “You never said a word. Saved every decent speech for the bloody courthouse.”
Callisto snorts and drops his head onto my shoulder again, a heavy sigh shuddering through his frame. “You’re so right.”
My fucking dick won’t go down, excited to get this close to my first love, not to mention soaking in my omega’s satisfaction. Shit. I’m such a thirsty bastard. I need to think of something else.
Red’s last words spring to mind, and I jump up. “Right before she fell asleep, Red said something about her pockets.”
“I’ll check,” Calli volunteers, lurching to his feet.
“The dress she has on doesn’t have pockets, so she probably meant the pants she took off before her shower.”
He nods and goes to the wardrobe, checking on Red before returning. She lies calmly in the bed, chest rising and falling in a deep sleep. Peaceful. I hated seeing her experience that, but I’m glad she won’t suffer through another three days of fevered anguish.
Callisto holds out the skinny jeans, and paper crinkles against my fingertips as I dip into the pocket. I tug the note free and unfold the creases.
Hey, guys.
I’m not sure what kinda shit’s gonna come out of my mouth today, but I know it’ll be gruesome. Please don’t believe it. I want my pack, and I’ll be sorry when I wake up. If you managed to sedate me, then from the bottom of my heart I say thank you.
And really, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of it.
Your Red.
I blink hard and stifle a laugh, tingling emotion welling up in my chest. “She really is a sweetheart under all that ferociousness.” Waving the page toward Callisto, I add, “I think these post-heat messages are becoming a tradition.”
He grins and reaches out to read the paper. “That’s sweet. And reassuring. Do you feel better now, seeing what she wrote?”
I nod and dry my tears. “Yeah, I was worried. I couldn’t bear for her to truly hate me.”
Callisto sets the letter on the table and opens his arms for me. “No one could ever hate you, Ricky.”
Perhaps it’s all the pheromones in the air, or the hell we just went through, but I let him fold me into his chest and covertly inhale his cherry wood scent. My traitorous dick snaps back to attention. Fuck my alpha stamina.
I rest my hands on his chest and push away. “Um, I think I need . . .” A shower, right? That’s what I should say. Instead what comes to mind is: You. I press my fingertips to my lips so the word doesn’t spill out.
“Yeah,” Callisto murmurs, without releasing me. When I meet his gaze, it’s warm and intense, like he’s seeing me for the first time. But my best friend doesn’t look at guys that way.
Right?
I swallow hard as his eyes soften, locking onto my soul. “Calli?” I whisper. My fingertips graze his chest, the muscles hard beneath his crisp white shirt. His breath catches.
My touch, affecting him? I must’ve fallen asleep beside Red and started dreaming. But his scent’s so strong, and growing thicker by the second. I couldn’t possibly dream that up, could I?
My dick jumps against his leg and heat swarms my cheeks. I cringe. “Sorry, I’ll—”
Callisto tugs me closer, trapping us body to body where nothing about my interest can stay hidden. “It’s . . . it’s not something to hide,” he whispers huskily.
Bloody oath.
Then I feel it. His heart thumps heavily under my hands, racing as fast as mine.
“I mean, it’s natural, right?” Callisto says slowly. “You’re a healthy, handsome alpha, and your omega just went into heat.” His scent thickens, taking on a sweeter, fruity quality, and his gaze locks on mine in a stupefying way.
I want to run my fingers through the combed-back lines of his hair and dishevel them. But he’s right. We’re drunk on the haze in the air, nothing more. But one word soaks through the fog to splash in my brain. “Y-You think I’m h-handsome?” I sputter.
Callisto smiles, luscious lips tilting up. “No.”
I droop. Of course Calli wouldn’t think a male was good-looking. I’m such an idiot.
Callisto swoops close, cheek brushing ever so lightly over mine. “I think you’re stunning—the kind of beauty that’s impossible to look away from.”
His words seep in, melting me like lava and reaching some deep place that always longs for affection. Callisto skims his hand down my naked back, stopping on my ass. My breath judders through me, shaking my slight frame. Electricity lingers under his fingertips.
With his other hand, he tilts my chin up. “It took me a long time to realize that’s why I had my eyes on you.” And just like he’s saying, Callisto’s finally seeing me.
Years of chasing his shadow, hiding wet dreams, and masking my love culminate in this moment. Of all the things I want to say to my first love, the one that tumbles out is, “I missed you.”
Callisto watches my mouth and swallows hard, then leans in. “I missed you too, Ricky.” He stops a hair’s breadth from my lips, our breaths colliding—giving me the chance to back away. But I’ve waited too long, and I’m so fucking wound up, I lean in and press my mouth to his without hesitation.
No dream, no fantasy could ever measure up to that sweet kiss, born of years of longing. My lips cover his, hot and needy, and Callisto meets me with equal passion. It’s a million times better than my imagination.