Chapter 9
. . .
ARCHER
This is the weirdest night of my life.
Weird and impossible.
Did I actually pass out in the bathroom, hit my head, and am now in a concussed fever dream?
I’d pinch myself, but my skin feels so sensitive and tight and strange that I can’t bear the thought of even that brief self-imposed pain.
You hear stories of people stumbling upon their scent match in all kinds of wacky scenarios, but never two at once. And definitely not two who are out on their own blind date.
In those stories, there’s always this magical connection, where they have an instant ease and comfort around their scent match. They know implicitly what to say, how to act, and crash together in a storm of amorous wonder.
Meanwhile, I’m sitting here with sweat dripping down my spine, confused as hell, fighting not to make a complete fool of myself.
How fucking embarrassing, going into heat and not even realizing it. Admitting to the stylish, stunning omega beside me, I’ve never had a heat. Confessing my inexperience to the burly lumberjack of an alpha currently watching me with deep concern furrowing his brow.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t assume you don’t have a pack,” Ruby says when I don’t reply to her amused quip about Valentine’s Day.
Beau tenses beside me. “Do you have a pack?” His words are cautious but strained.
“No, I don’t!” I clear my throat, neck heating at my forceful declaration.
Beau’s posture relaxes and Ruby giggles. “Thank fuck, that makes this a lot less complicated.”
“Yeah…” Not that I’m entirely sure what she means by “this”. Us being scent matches? Me going into heat?
Another cramp hits me, and I double over. Beau releases a concerned hum, his hand flying to my back, blissfully heavy and warm. A second later he removes it, and it takes all my wherewithal not to whine.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to touch you. I’m just concerned.” The alpha’s body language is coiled and tense, as if his mind is telling him there’s some kind of threat but he can’t find a way to fight it.
“It’s okay. I don’t mind.”
And that’s when it hits me. I don’t mind that this alpha is touching me. And not in a, “yeah I’m a little uncomfortable and nervous, but I’m sure he’s a nice guy kind of way”. I’m not worried about him at all.
Not when I catch hints of his indulgent scent. Caramelized sugar and the slightest hint of smoke and cedar. A freshly torched crème br?lée ready to be savored.
I, of all people, appreciate the power of scent, but I never fully understood the impact of a scent match until now. It’s biology and chemistry, but it’s also an intangible magic that we’ve never been able to explain.
It’s sitting next to a giant alpha you’ve never met when you’ve been conditioned to be wary of alphas, and wanting nothing more than to curl up in their lap and feel their hands all over your body, soothing away your discomfort.
“Would it help if I went and got some ice? We could wrap it in a napkin and…” He sees my frown at the thought of him getting up and shakes his head. “No, that’s stupid.”
I reach out and touch his arm, my omega very displeased that he’d feel bad about his kind offer. “Not stupid. But I…I’m okay. “
Beau’s eyes crinkle at the corners after a moment of surprise at my touch. “Alright.”
A purr from the other side of me draws my focus back to the other intoxicating presence on the bench. Ruby clears her throat to disguise the purr as she watches me and Beau, a hint of a flush rising on her cheeks.
I’m set at ease by her pleased reaction and her confident yet gentle aura.
Then I get a lungful of her candy heart scent paired with her luscious curves that I’m trying really damn hard not to look at too much, and I’m right back to being flustered.
Conversation hearts have always been my favorite Valentine’s Day treat: sweet, a little fruity, and, when used correctly, witty and fun.
I swallow hard. I’ve never been with an omega, but now all I can think about is what her slick tastes like.
“Well, uh, thank you for helping me. That was awesome and unexpected and…I guess maybe I should get your numbers?”
Ruby frowns and exchanges a glance with Beau.
Shit, are they not feeling this connection the way I am? She’s not going into heat or anything, and Beau isn’t trying to rut me, so maybe not.
“Or not. That’s fine, too. I’ll just, uh, get out of your hair then.” I go to stand up, but a well-manicured hand wraps around my wrist.
“Where are you going? Of course we want your number, but we’re not going to go about our evening and leave you to fend for yourself.” The bemusement and hint of chastisement in her tone have me sitting back down as my cock twitches.
“Definitely not,” Beau agrees.
Oh. “That’s so nice of you, but I’ll be okay. I don’t want to ruin your date, and I’m not even sure this is a heat.” That last part is a lie. Now that Ruby suggested that’s what’s going on, it’s obvious.
“No.”
I blink back at the adamant alpha. “No?”
Beau’s gentle expression grows stern. “No, you’re not ruining our date, and no, you won’t be okay on your own.”
“Yeah, sweetheart, you can’t power through a heat on your own if it’s your first one. We should get you over to the omega clinic before it gets too bad.” Ruby’s thumb strokes my wrist, attempting to soothe me. All it does is make the molten arousal spreading through my body even stronger.
I can’t go to the omega clinic. I will not have my first time with an alpha and my first heat at some medical facility.
My omega bristles at the thought of a stranger touching me when I’m most vulnerable.
Well, any stranger who isn’t one of the two people sitting next to me, smelling like they’re mine…
“No, no, I don’t need to go to the clinic.
I’m pretty sure if I go home and take another dose of my suppressant, it should keep me from fully going into heat.
” I vaguely remember the doctor telling me that as long as I take it again right away if I realize I’ve missed a dose, it won’t lose its efficacy.
She didn’t mention me suddenly going into heat because of meeting my scent matches, but I’m sure it’ll be fine.
“Archer…” My name in Beau’s rumbling, concerned tone has my omega wanting to bare my neck to him.
I’m not being logical. I recognize that distantly, but I can’t help it. I haven’t waited this long to have my first heat at a sterile, impersonal clinic.
A whine slips from my lips.
Ruby laces her fingers through mine, her soft purr filling the air. “It’s okay. If you don’t want to go to the omega clinic—”
Beau opens his mouth to protest, but she glares at him, and he immediately backs off.
“No one is going to make you do anything you don’t want to. You’re safe. We’re going to help you get home, and once you’ve taken your suppressants, we can assess things.”
That sounds really nice. The idea of getting in another rideshare alone while I’m on the verge of my heat is terrifying. And my inner omega doesn’t want to be anywhere they aren’t. He’s decided they’re what I need, with no regard for how awkward or inappropriate that need is.
“There are other services that help with heats,” Ruby continues.
I whine again, then want to crawl under the bench and hide in embarrassment.
“Shh, it’s okay. We’ll figure it out.”
“Are you alright with us coming back to your place, Archer?” Beau asks gently.
“If you’d be more comfortable going with only Ruby, I don’t need to come.
” When I can’t hide my frown, he shakes his head.
“I want to help. My alpha is all but screaming at me to help, but I refuse to do anything that will make this worse or more uncomfortable for you.”
“You don’t make me uncomfortable.” The opposite should be abundantly clear from the erection tenting my slacks and my perfume filling the air, but his caution reassures me I’m not being reckless letting a strange alpha into my home.
He smiles weakly. “Are you sure?”
“You’re coming.” Ruby’s tone is sharp. Final. “What’s your address?”
I give her the location, and she releases my hand to take out her phone, tapping on the screen to call a rideshare. I’m about to whine about the loss of her grounding touch when Beau’s palm rests on my knee, which I didn’t realize I was bouncing.
I look up into his eyes. God, they’re so pretty. This alpha is a study in contrasts, and my omega is eager to map each melding of soft and hard that he holds.
“I know this is so weird,” he murmurs. “I didn’t expect anything to come of tonight, let alone meeting two scent matches.”
“So Ruby is your scent match? But you’re on a blind date?”
He nods. “We found each other through a scent-matching service.”
“Oh, right.” That means that they both have enough money to afford that kind of service. Suddenly, bringing them back to my apartment for any amount of time sounds much less appealing.
I’ll have to deal with it and hope they don’t think I’m pathetic.
The rideshare pulls up, and Beau opens the door for us as Ruby helps me in.
They sit on either side of me, pressed much closer than we were on the bench.
I try my best to stay relaxed, but Ruby’s breast is against my arm and both their thighs press into mine, and fuck, they smell so good even with most of their scents covered with neutralizer.
Slick leaks from my hole and cock so much that I’m worried about it soaking through my pants and into the upholstery of the car seat.
The ride is short, blessedly avoiding any mortifying puddles, but by the time we’re pulling up in front of my building, I’m squirming and panting, desperate to get into my nest and take off all my clothes and feel their bodies on mine again.
Not that they’ll do that. I’m sure once they know I’m alright, they’ll leave.
I fumble with the keys to the shop, and Ruby steps closer, resting a hand on my back. “Need help? I know when I’m at the start of my heat I get pretty clumsy.”
I nod, cheeks burning as she presses closer, her breasts against my back as she places her hand atop mine and stabilizes it, rather than taking the key from my hand. It’s sensual and comforting, and I hate when she steps back to make room for me to open the door.
“Do you own this place?” Beau asks as we step inside and he peers around the shop.
I fidget with the sleeve of my jacket. “I lease the space, but yeah, it’s my store.”
“Oh wow, this is so cool!” Ruby looks like she’s having a hard time not touching things as she looks around. “Don’t tell me you make these,” she says, gesturing to a row of candles.
“Uh, yeah. I do.”
“That’s awesome.” Beau’s impressed reaction is unexpected. Sweet. It reminds me that I know nothing about him or Ruby other than that they’re my scent matches, they’re very attractive, and they’re willing to help someone out when they’re in need.
“Thanks. My place is, uh, upstairs.” I lead them to the back and up the staircase to my apartment, heart racing as I open the door and bring them into my tiny living area.
I’ve never minded having a small place. It’s worth it to live right above the shop. But right now, seeing my wardrobe and desk crammed next to my couch, which is only a few feet from my small dining table and kitchen, it feels claustrophobic.
“Sorry it’s so small,” I say, grimacing as I notice a pair of socks I left lying in the middle of the carpet in front of the TV. “I prioritized having space for my nest, so I put everything else out here.” At my own mention of my nest, I flush.
Ruby doesn’t seem to notice, her eyes going right to the poster of a pink-skinned Elven woman clad in battle armor that I have framed above my PC. “You play Runefire?”
I run a hand through my hair, wishing I hadn’t been so unabashedly geeky in my decor choices. “Uh, yeah.”
Ruby’s eyes light up and she grins. “That’s so cool! I’ve been playing for years. I’m a little obsessed, actually.”
“Really?” My stomach does an excited little flip at the shared interest. Now I know one thing about her, and it’s that she’s a gaming nerd too.
“Looks cool,” Beau says softly. He looks almost comically large in my small space, and holds himself stiffly, arms hugged in tight.
Crap, that reminds me, I was supposed to play with Queen tonight if her date didn’t go well. Not that it would be bad, because she seems amazing. Still, I should message her to let her know I’m okay but can’t play.
“Um, well, okay, make yourself comfortable and I’ll go grab some water and get my meds.” I give them an awkward little wave and smile and walk the five feet over to my kitchen to get a glass of water, then pull out my phone and surreptitiously send a text.
Archnemesis: Hey! I can’t play tonight. Something really weird happened.
I’m safe and home, but uh, I went into heat because, I know this is going to sound nuts, but I ran into my scent matches.
They’re here and I don’t think they’re murderers, but you might not hear from me for a bit if I go into a full heat.
Here’s my location if a week passes and I’m not back online.
In case they murder me. Joking. Hopefully.
I press send and shove my phone back into my pocket.
There’s a notification chime on the other side of the room.
Ruby pulls her phone out, looks down at the screen, and her mouth falls open.
Our eyes meet. My pulse races. It’s a coincidence. There’s no way she’s…
“Archnemesis?”