Chapter 28 Melody
Melody
This has been the best morning. Exactly how one is supposed to feel on their vacation.
I awoke sometime in the night to Gabe leaving featherlight kisses on my temple. I rolled closer into his arms, and his muscles tightened around me, reigniting that flame low in my belly. I carefully wrapped my leg around him as he slipped inside of me.
Not wanting to wake the others just yet, I pressed my mouth firmly to his to muffle any moans as I slid down the length of his monster cock. The feeling of fullness nearly brought tears to my eyes as he slowly rocked into me, working himself deeper into both my heart and my pussy.
I let my tiny gasps escape into his kiss as Gabe’s knot pressed firm and hot against my clit, begging to be let in.
I fluttered my eyes open, so he could see that I was ready for him, and with one firm thrust, his knot locked inside me, stretching my pussy almost to the limit.
I let out an involuntary squeak, so high-pitched it woke Finn, who simply looked at the two of us and winked.
When I finally woke again, Everett and Gabe had already left to handle the last-minute Christmas tree rush, Finn had rolled over, thrown an arm across my waist, and murmured something about needing his beauty sleep and omega cuddles.
How could I refuse?
We spent the day in PJs, watching holiday classics and drinking way too much hot chocolate. After the sugar high, Finn crashed and fell asleep sprawled on the sofa, one arm thrown dramatically over his eyes. The sight makes my chest tighten with something dangerously close to love.
Love? It’s too soon for that.
But then again, everything about this holiday has operated on fast-forward. One week ago, I was a lonely omega heading to a cabin in the woods for a pity party of one. Now I’m part of… Something real.
I grab my phone the moment it starts buzzing.
Seventeen new emails, five missed calls, and three voicemails.
All from Marcus.
My thumb hovers over the notification. The old Melody would have panicked. The old Melody would have immediately called back, apologizing profusely for not being available at 3 AM on a Saturday during her vacation.
The new Melody? She’s considering throwing her phone in the toilet.
Instead, I take a deep breath and open the most recent email.
From: Marcus Ashcroft
To: Melody Winters
Subject: Matthews File
Melody,
I know you’re on vacation, but the Matthews file is a mess. Janet from HR tried to help, but she’s useless. Could you look at it? Where do you put the latest projections?
Marcus Ashcroft
CEO, Ashcroft Media
Could you look at it? Not “you need to look at it” or “I expect you to look at it.” An actual request. With a question mark. From Marcus Ashcroft, alpha-hole extraordinaire.
It’s the closest thing to politeness I’ve ever received from him. And yet, reading it, I feel nothing but clarity.
I don’t want to go back.
I don’t want to return to my tiny apartment, where the radiator clanks all night and the neighbor’s cat cries like it’s literally starving to death at precisely 5 AM every morning.
I don’t want to go back to fourteen-hour workdays and granola-bar dinners while updating PowerPoints that Marcus will take credit for.
What I want is right here.
Snow and pine trees and small-town bakeries. With a llama who wears scarves and three men who look at me like I’m something precious.
I start typing.
From: Melody Winters
To: Marcus Ashcroft
Subject: Re: Matthews File
Marcus,
The Matthews file projections are in the shared drive under: Projections/Q1/THIS IS THE FINAL VERSION.
I’ve also attached them to this email for convenience.
Additionally, please consider this my formal resignation. I will not be returning after my vacation. I’m happy to help with transition documents remotely, but my last official day will be December 31st.
Thank you for the opportunity to work at Ashcroft Media.
Sincerely,
Melody Winters
My finger hovers over the send button. This is it. The point of no return.
I press send.
Nothing happens.
No lightning strike. No dramatic music. Just a quiet swoosh as my resignation flies through digital space to land in Marcus’s inbox.
But I feel it. A weight lifting. The invisible collar around my neck, loosening for the first time in years.
I’m free.
“Mel?” Finn’s voice is sleep-rough. “You okay?”
I turn to him, his hair sticking up in all directions.
“I just quit my job,” I tell him.
His eyebrows shoot up. “Really?”
“It felt right.”
“And does it still feel right now that you’ve had thirty seconds to think about it?”
I consider this. “Even more right.”
A slow smile spreads across his face. “Well then, congratulations are in order.”
“I think I need some fresh air,” I say, stretching my arms above my head. “I’ve been cooped up inside all day.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Finn looks at me like I’ve suggested we swim naked in the snow. “It’s freezing out there. And we have this perfectly warm cabin with electricity and hot chocolate.”
I laugh. “Come on, just a quick walk. My legs are getting stiff from all this lounging.”
“Lounging is an art form that requires dedication and practice,” he protests, but he’s already sitting up, stretching. “Fine. A quick walk.”
Oxford perks up from his plush bed by the fireplace, his ears swiveling toward us.
“See? Even Oxford agrees we need some exercise.”
“Oxford is wearing a permanent fur coat,” Finn mutters, but he’s already heading for the stairs. “How far are we talking? Like, to the mailbox and back?”
“I was thinking we could walk over to Perfect Pines. I want to see how the last-minute tree rush is going.”
Finn groans dramatically. “So I’ll need four layers, then.”
After we change out of our PJs and Finn has his four layers, he pulls on an extra scarf. “The things I do for love.”
My heart skips at the word, even though I know he’s teasing.
“And… there’s a Christmas music concert in about an hour in town, you think the guys will be done by then?”
“Probably, it’s getting late. Now, more importantly, is this concert indoors or out?”
I laugh, giving him a quick peck on the mouth. “It’s in the town square.”
“OK, you can bribe me with kisses.”
Oxford is already at the door, looking impatient as I pull on my own winter gear.
“Alright, you fluffy dictator,” I tell him, wrapping his favorite scarf around his neck. “We’re going.”
The cold air is a refreshing slap, instantly clearing the cobwebs of indoor lethargy. Oxford trots ahead with regal purpose as we make our way toward Perfect Pines.
“I can’t feel my face,” Finn announces after approximately thirty seconds.
“You’re being dramatic,” I laugh, linking my arm through his. “It’s invigorating!”
“That’s what people say when they don’t want to admit something is terrible,” he grumbles, but he squeezes my arm affectionately.
“Honestly. It’s not actually terrible here,” Finn admits grudgingly, his nose and cheeks pink from the cold. “The scenery is quite picturesque.”
“What about your family and parents? Are they in the city?”
“I’m an only child, and yes, my moms and dads are staying put in the city this year, my first holiday without them.”
“Your moms and dads?” I ask, “Plurial?”
He laughs, “Yep, two moms, and two dads.”
“Oh my god, that explains so much!”
“Hey, are you saying I’m spoiled and used to getting my way? Because you’d be exactly right.”
I laugh and link my arm through his. “Well, I can’t wait to meet them. And thank you for coming with me.”
“As if I could resist your omega charm.”
“Are you eager to return to the city?” I ask, dreading his response.
“I was at first. But it’s funny. I don’t miss it. I thought I would. I thought I’d be bored to death here, but then I met this beautiful Omega and everything changed. Are you going back to the city or staying here? I know Gabe hates city life.”
“I don’t know… Maybe. You’d consider staying here in Snowflake Valley?”
I stop walking, turning to face him fully. Oxford pauses too, looking back at us.
“I’m considering considering it, especially if you’re here,” Finn says with that little smirk of his. “Gabe would be happier. And seeing Everett every day wouldn’t exactly be a hardship.”
“I guess we don’t have to figure everything out right now. We can just… see where this goes. Take it one step at a time.”
Finn’s expression softens. “Look at you, all zen and go-with-the-flow. What happened to the spreadsheet-loving omega I first met?”
“She discovered there are some things you can’t plan.” I reach up to adjust his scarf, using it to pull him closer. “Some things you just have to feel your way through.”
“Feel, huh?” His eyebrows wiggle suggestively. “I’m very good at feeling.”
I laugh, pressing a quick kiss to his cold lips. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” His arms wrap around my waist, his expression suddenly serious. “And for what it’s worth, I think staying might be the right call, for all of us. I’ve never seen Gabe this happy. And you…” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re blooming.”
“Blooming in winter? That’s quite the trick.”
“You’re quite the omega.”
I smile, blushing. “There’s no rulebook for this, right?”
“If there were, I’d have read it cover to cover and highlighted the important bits,” Finn says with a smile.
I laugh, “Of course you would.”
We start walking again. As we approach Perfect Pines, I can see the parking lot is full. Everett was right about last-minute shoppers. The bonfire is also lit.
“Oh, thank god, fire,” Finn says, his pace quickening. “Sweet, life-giving warmth.”
Finn settles on one of the logs, turning back to me. “I’m abandoning you here. Come back and get me once you’re done with your llama nature walk.”
“Will do.”
I head towards the barn and see Charlie with her hands on her hips.
“No, we don’t have a ‘fresher’ one,” I hear her telling a man in an expensive-looking coat. “They’re all fresh. They’re trees. From the ground. If you want fresher, you’ll need a time machine to go back to when it was still growing.”
I stifle a laugh and wave to her. She spots me, and her face lights up.
“Twerking Omega!” she calls, earning me several curious looks from waiting customers. “And Oxford! Come save me from these people who think trees grow in their perfect catalog shape.”
I make my way over to her, Oxford following. “I was actually just passing through. Thought I’d take Oxford for a longer walk today… and you have to stop calling me that!”
“Never.” She smirks. “Are you running away from boy drama already?” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.
“The opposite, actually. I just quit my job.”
Charlie’s eyes widen. “Seriously? So you’re staying?”
“Maybe?”
She throws her arms around me, nearly knocking me off balance. “Please stay. Don’t go back to your city life and leave my brother pining away like some lovesick teenager.”
“Speaking of your brother,” I say, glancing around, “where are Gabe and Everett?”
“They’re almost done. They should be back soon if you want to wait.”
I shake my head. “Oxford and I will just take the trail; maybe we’ll run into them.”
“Ok, see ya later.”