Chapter 22 #2
I bypass security, who simply nods at me in recognition.
I’ve been coming to these galas for years.
Everyone in attendance knows everyone by name, and if they don’t, they’re likely pretending for the sake of being an asshole.
This world is more vicious than wildlife sometimes.
At least a lion stalking and killing its prey makes sense.
The foyer is filled with gowns and suits, people I probably know but have no interest in talking to.
Not with my mother’s reminders of how much of a disappointment I am still ringing in my ears.
I can’t bear to face obligatory conversation and the pitiful looks from people when they learn I’m still single.
I wish I could scream that I’m actually not. That I have a great pack who’s courting me. God, if only they were here. They’d hate it—I know they would—but it would make everything Mom said wash away.
“Oh, is that Olivia Wellington?” someone says behind me, but I keep pushing, making my way through the throng of people. My heart is fluttering inside my chest, lungs tight. I don’t want to see anyone I used to know. I can’t face their judgments too.
Racing into a hallway, I take a shaky breath, gaze widening on a couple whispering, nearly on the verge of kissing. They glare at me.
“Sorry,” I murmur, face heating. Desperate for some privacy, I slip into the first room I see, shutting the door behind me and breathing in. Is it possible to have a heart attack at twenty-seven?
“Liv?”
My eyes snap open. “Liam?”
My beta cleans up well. Standing near the window, the glow of the lights in the courtyard bathing him, Liam kicks my anxiety to the curb, leaving me in awe of his beauty.
His suit molds to his muscled body. The bow tie hangs undone, and the top button of his undershirt is open, but even still, he’s devastatingly handsome.
His brown hair is an artful mess, like it was styled but he’s been running his hands through it in frustration.
“Everything okay?” he asks, attention flicking to the door I’m still pressed against like I’m trying to keep a serial killer out.
I wave my hand and join him at the window. “Other than my mom insisting I’m an embarrassment and not wanting to be here? Yeah, I’m great.” The last part comes out choked. I fist my hands. I hate that she can make me feel so inadequate.
He frowns. “Parents are the worst. The only reason I came is for Cici, but George conveniently forgot to tell me she was staying at Lily’s house.”
“Lily is her cousin, right?” I ask, trying to recall his family tree.
“Yeah, but now I’m glad I came. Are you okay?”
I wave my hand. “I’ve had years of mental preparation. Give it a few more minutes, and I’ll repress everything she said.”
“That seems . . . healthy.”
Chuckling, I shrug. “Probably not, but I’m not ready to face that giant therapy bill. Anyway.” I look him over again. “Gosh, you’re so handsome.”
He breaks into a full-blown smile. “Thank you.” His eyes slowly trace down my body, heating as he takes in the sweetheart neckline and the slit, the bare thigh peeking through the silk.
My skin heats under his appraisal. When his gaze meets mine once again, they’re hooded and filled with desire. “And you, my omega, are gorgeous.”
“Oh, you don’t have to say that.”
He shakes his head. “I do, because it’s true, but there is one problem.”
“What’s that?”
“How can I let my omega walk around looking this fucking tempting without someone to defend her honor?”
“Defend my honor?” I muse with a grin. I never believed in fairy tales.
There were too many variables. The probability of a magical fairy coming to bippity boppity me into someone a prince would love?
Zero. The only magic in our world is science.
But the way Liam is looking at me now? He makes me feel like a real-life princess.
“Mm-hmm.” Liam extends one hand, and as I slip my palm against his, he draws me toward him until our bodies are pressed together. He runs his fingers down my cheek, hooking them under my chin. “My beautiful omega,” he practically purrs.
Heat whooshes through my body, like someone tossed a match on gasoline, and my cheeks burn with his compliments.
For once, I’m at a loss for words. I have nothing to correlate to what I’m feeling.
No statistics to explain the blatant need trembling through my body.
My heart is pounding so loud, I’m scared he’ll hear how much he affects me.
I gaze up at him and tuck my bottom lip between my teeth.
His gaze snags on the abused lip, and he reaches up, tugging it free. He smooths his thumb over the indentions my teeth made. His tongue dashes out to wet his lips. “What are you thinking?” he rasps.
That throaty sound has me rising on my toes until my nose bumps against his. “This,” I admit, before gathering my strength and kissing him.
Liam’s mouth is soft and plush against mine.
His tongue, hot and wet, traces over the seam of my lips, and I open for him, grasping the front of his suit.
My beta takes control, the brush of his mouth a touch more demanding, the sweep of his tongue coaxing, the hard planes of his body pressing into mine.
I gasp at the hardened length pressing against me.
His hand on my hip pulses. “See what you do to me, omega?” he murmurs before tugging my bottom lip gently between his teeth.
My hand floats down his abdomen, as if someone else has taken control of my body.
Someone confident and experienced. I don’t question what’s suddenly become natural.
I let my desires guide my movements. My fingers wrap around his dick over his slacks.
It’s hard and thick, long enough to make me wonder how I’ll ever manage to take it all.
Curiosity drives my fingers to the band of his slacks. There’s only one way to find out.
I pull back and search his face. “May I?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more.” The sincerity in his tone warms my chest. In one way or another, I’ve fantasized about my ballroom-dance crush desiring me.
“Tell me if I do something wrong,” I whisper, undoing the belt.
“You could never do anything wrong.”
I hold his gaze and undo the button. “You’ll tell me, though, right?”
“Always.”
I drag the zipper down. His pants drop to the floor, and I glance between our bodies.
His erection tents his boxers. Carefully, slower than he’d probably like, I slip my hand into his boxers, palming his length.
It’s hard and warm. Smooth. I wrap my fingers around him and suck in a breath.
He’s so thick, the tips of my fingers don’t touch.
“Wow, you’re big.” With a firm grasp, I drag my grip up his shaft.
Liam’s forehead drops to my shoulder. “Fuuuuck, Liv.”
“Does it hurt?” A rush of uncertainty hits me. This is new territory. Maybe I’m doing it wrong?
“Not in the way you think.” He pauses.
“What is it?”
“I’ve wanted you for years. Pictured all the ways I’d sweep you off your feet,” he murmurs like a midnight confessional.
“To think I finally have you, and you’re the one about to bring me to my knees.
” He buries his head in the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent like it’ll be the thing that saves his soul.
“That sounds like a compliment.”
Both of his hands grasp my hips, squeezing and kneading. “It’s praise, gorgeous.”
I hum, pondering all the ways to earn more of those words that make me feel more like a goddess than an inexperienced omega.
Clasping one hand on the back of his neck, I keep him pressed to my throat as I place my mouth at the lobe of his ear.
“And how does this feel?” I drag my hand up and down, careful not to go too fast or grip too hard without lubrication.
All the forums online said that it can hurt if you’re too rough.
“Sweet torture,” he rasps, kissing my pulse point. His hands glide to my ass. So big, they cover most of my butt, and when he grabs two handfuls, the rest of my insecurity fades away. This beta is nearly putty in my palms.
My skin sings at the caress. The pack has done so much to teach me things, all for my own reward.
But maybe it’s time they start reaping the benefits.
“I’ve been thinking.” I cup his balls, playing with and squeezing each one, smiling at the throaty groan he releases when I tug on them both. “Maybe it’s time for my next lesson.”
Liam’s breath catches. “Liv, you don’t have to do anything more than this.”
“I know.” I grasp his dick again and pump. “But, I’d love to suck your cock if you’ll allow it.”
He curses against my skin and pulls back, throat bobbing. “You don’t have to.”
I nod and sink to my knees, looking up at the beta who stole my heart all those years ago.
Liam guided me through so many songs and dances.
It’s only right that he teaches me one of the more complicated numbers.
“I want to.” My gaze slips to his length, the tip of it glistening with precum.
I reach up and smooth that away, fascinated by the texture. “That is, if you want me to?”
“I want you to.” His voice is so deep and husky, my focus skips back to his face. Hooded eyes. Pulsing cock. Deep-seated hunger in his irises.
All good signs.
“You’ll have to teach me,” I remind him. I can guess the basics, but there’s a right and wrong way to go about this. Breathing in, I adjust my position on my knees, scooting closer, and circle my fingers at the base of his cock. Tentatively, I flick my tongue over his tip.
Liam’s hand smooths over my hair. “That’s good, Liv. Taste what you do to me.”
So I do, cleaning him up before carefully taking him into my mouth. My lips seal around his length, but I’m not sure what to do about my tongue and teeth.
“You can tease me with your tongue,” Liam instructs. “Create more pressure or—fuuuuck,” he rasps as I swirl it around the bottom half of his cock. “There you go.”