Chapter 25
Everything froze: my heart, my breath, maybe time. Her dark eyes were like molten chocolate, and lust flowed through me like lava. It wasn’t fair. I knew how to handle clients, knew what to do when it was a sure thing and a job to be done. How the fuck did I approach someone who was neither?
I hadn’t had a relationship since my teen years, and had only been on a handful of dates amid my years as a heat helper. I didn’t know how to do this. If we’d run into one another at a club or something more sexually coded than a grocery store, I might have had the balls to say something. I’d grown less confident with people I wanted to sleep with who weren’t clients or hookups. It also didn’t help that being so close to her was fucking with my head. I wanted her with a drowning desperation and thank god she was braver than I was because that simple question spurred me into motion.
I leaned toward her, magnetized. I slid my fingers into her hair and met her mouth with mine, reveling in the soft sound she made at the contact.
She tasted like every dream dripped onto my tongue. I had spent too much time imagining this moment.
Allie climbed onto my lap, and I cupped her ass as she slid her hands up my chest, hooking her elbow around my neck. She kissed me like she was trying to devour me, grinding her hips against me, a desperate whimper breaking free when I squeezed her ass. Her teeth scraped against my bottom lip, and her tongue sought out mine.
The last time we’d been together, I’d been her guide, but this time it was all I could do to keep up with her. Past Allie had been exuberant but hesitant. Present Allie knew exactly what she wanted and it had my blood sizzling. She growled, and my cock strained uncomfortably against my zipper.
My little omega wasn’t so shy anymore.
I released an answering growl that rumbled deep in my chest. Her fingers curled into the collar of my shirt and she held on like she was afraid I’d disappear.
“Sweet fuck,” she gasped out, moaning as she slid a hand into my hair. I pulled away from her mouth, diving to nip at the scent gland on her throat, sucking on the sensitive patch of skin until she was shaking, her whimpers and writhing melting rational thought straight out of my brain. Every sense was saturated with honeysuckle and heat, and I craved more.
I hooked my hands under her thighs and lifted us off the chair. A puppy howl stopped me in my tracks.
Fuck.
“I have to bring them inside first,” I murmured against her skin.
She slid down me and stayed on tiptoe, stealing another kiss before she grinned at me. “I’ll help you gather the herd.”
Was this actually happening? The moment wasn’t ruined? Did she actually want me as much as I wanted her?
We worked quickly, scooping up wiggling pups and depositing them into the nursery, cleaning up the dishes and packing up the remaining food. I scrubbed my hands to give myself a moment to think before turning back to her. Her curls were mussed and her cheeks were still flushed.
The brief reprieve from the torrent of hormones let me breathe. Except I didn’t want any more moments to pass without touching her.
I tugged her closer. Every instinct pushed me to claim her, but instincts didn’t take reality into consideration with their demands. I shoved them aside, and dipped down to capture her mouth again. It was truly unfair that someone could taste as good as she did. She was sweet and spicy and perfect. Delectable enough to devour, so I did.
I scooped her up and carried her to the couch, dropping her down before getting to my knees in front of her. I slid my hands up her thighs, eliciting a tremble in her legs.
“Are you going to let me taste you,” I asked, “or should I get other ideas into my head?”
She let out a nervous chuckle. “God, I thought I was prepared to be with you again, but I’m a total mess.”
“Not yet—” I slid up, nestling between her thighs, and leaned in to kiss her. “—but I intend to make sure you’re a mess by the end of the night. If you let me.”
Allie squirmed, rolling her hips against me, fingers clutching my shirt. “There’s no way I’m not giving you permission for that.”
“Good.” I caged her with my arms and delighted in the look of wide-eyed desire she hit me with. “I’m going to ruin you. And this couch.”
Her laugh turned into a groan as I peeled off her leggings, leaving her in a tiny black lace thong.
I raised an eyebrow. “I see you’ve upgraded.”
“Mhmm.” She shuddered as I traced my fingertips over the damp fabric. “I’ve upgraded a lot of things since last time.”
I took my time teasing her, stroking her through the lace and nipping up her thighs. She threaded her fingers into my hair and squeezed, shivering and cursing as I focused my attention. The prick of her nails against my scalp was encouragement enough, but the longer I suckled the sensitive skin, the more she squirmed, panting and lifting her hips toward my mouth.
The lace was soaked through by the time I tugged it off. She spread her thighs eagerly, leaving her glistening cunt on display for me. I dipped down, and a wordless cry echoed through my living room, devolving into sweet little whimpers and renewed squirming. She tasted as good as she smelled, honeysuckle sweetness and ginger spicy notes coating my tongue. I licked at her clit and spread her open further with a firm hand on each thigh.
I lifted my head long enough to capture her gaze. “Be good for me and keep these here.”
Allie let out a shuddering breath and scooped a hand behind each knee, holding the shaking limbs in place.
I dove back down and pressed two fingers inside with a slowness that had her struggling to buck against me. “You’re soaked, kitten.”
I leaned up to kiss her while flexing my fingers, pumping them until there was no hint of resistance. I consumed her gasp and groan when I added a third, stretching her to accommodate the intrusion. I wasn’t intending to fuck her yet, but I did enjoy getting her riled up. Sliding back down, I put my tongue on her clit and worked the sensitive bud until she screamed.
Allie sank into the couch, panting and sweaty.
“You’re half a mess already.” I laughed softly and kissed my way up.
She laughed, and the sound melted into a sigh. “You know, I came here to seduce you.”
“I’m not a mind reader, kitten. If you want me, you have to tell me.”
“I thought the outfit change and putting on makeup would have been clear. You think I do up a smoky eye for just anybody?”
I chuckled and arranged her legs around my waist so I could lean close, caging her against the couch with my arms on either side of her head. “You didn’t wear any makeup the last time I had you like this. There’s no question of what’s going to happen when someone hires me, but it’s a different set of rules when someone is trying to pick me up outside of work.”
She pulled me in by my shirt collar. “Let me be clear, then, in case the dripping cunt didn’t convince you. I want you to live up to my memories and ruin me.”
A surge of heat rose through my body at her words.
“And after you’ve done that,” she whispered against my lips, “I want to ruin you.”
My curiosity piqued. “Oh?”
She grinned. “I have some very specific things stored away in my head just for you. I’ve been waiting a while to try them.”
“Am I allowed to know?”
“Well, you’re definitely allowed to know before I try them. I’m pretty sure you have the supplies on hand.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Ah, you want something out of the treasure chest?”
“A few somethings, yes.” Allie squirmed closer and traced a finger over my throat. “How does the big bad alpha feel about being taken by the omega? You said you liked it last time. Is that still the case?”
“If you’re asking about fucking me in the ass, I am more than willing to let you play.”
I buried my face in her throat. My instincts rose up again, pushing me to bite the scent gland. She wasn’t in heat so it wouldn’t bond us, but it was disconcerting that I hadn’t gotten over that desire. I usually had much better control and never had to contend with these urges to begin with. Indulging myself, I let my teeth press against the skin until she was gasping my name.
I sucked at the scent gland. If I couldn’t bond her, I could still leave my mark. A soft growl reverberated in my chest and I pressed closer, wrapping my arms around her waist and leaning my weight on her.
Every taste of her was intoxicating.
I’d never wanted to lie and breathe someone in before. Air that didn’t smell like her had no business being inhaled.
She clung to me and slid her fingers down my back to hook the hem of my shirt. I lifted my arms to aid her in removing the fabric. She tossed it aside and trailed reverent fingertips over me. Goosebumps followed their path as I shivered.
I set a palm over her pounding heart and slid it up when she tilted her head back in offering. Her pulse beat under my thumb. A soft purr rumbled from her, the vibrations teasing my hand as I held her immobile with a gentle grip.
My vision blurred at the edges, hyperfocusing on the way the light hit her hair, the way her pupils dilated and nearly eclipsed her irises, the rise and fall of her chest from her panting as she squirmed.
“Sidney, please.”
I swallowed hard and spoke only when I was sure she wouldn’t be able to hear the shake in my voice. “Please what?”
She let out an unsteady laugh. “I almost forgot what that felt like.”
The old version of her was seeping out through the confidence. I knew how to deal with that, how to build her back up and coax all the wicked things out of her mind.
I pulled her closer and nipped her earlobe. “Use your words, kitten.”
The shiver that rippled up her body was like tactile music in my hands.
I smiled against her skin. “Tell me what you want.”
“I want a lot of things.”
“Pick one, then.”
“I want—” She paused to grind against me. “—to beg.”
Her eyes flashed with fire, and my cock strained painfully against my jeans.
“Is that so?”
If she wanted to play, I wasn’t about to dissuade her.
“Mhmm.” She slid off my lap and knelt between my knees. “Why don’t you be fair and tell me what you want, too?”
Heat pulsed at the base of my spine. There were countless things I wanted—to do to her, her to do to me, to ask and say after four years apart.
“I want you to ruin that red lipstick.”