Talk About… Drama (Rockwood Valley Omegaverse #3)

Chapter 1

Oriana

R ain fell down around me hard enough that it cut off the sounds of the city entirely. Puddles formed and the scent of freshly dampened earth filled my senses.

I always thought rain changed the world. That it felt like a fresh start every time it came, washing away all the negativity from our lives, letting us move on and let go.

My head tipped back as the cool drops of water showered my skin, soaking through my clothes and hair. Careful fingers danced over the bite mark on my wrist, the icy skin making the pain of it fade.

Most of that pain had faded long ago, the bond shutting down out of self-preservation not long after I left.

Suddenly, my awful day and the pain I carried every day no longer mattered. That asshole that I walked away from was a thing of the past.

I just had to leave it there.

As the water soaked through my clothes, the coffee stain from my morning break was rinsed away as well.

It was as if mother nature herself knew I needed this.

The smell of fresh rain was snatched away so suddenly I opened my mouth to protest, only for a low whine to escape instead. Black tea and honey replaced it, warming me from the inside out, reminiscent of a cozy cup of tea.

Blue eyes met mine, so light they looked silver. His thick, dark eyebrows scrunched together in concern. The beta in front of me was gorgeous. His skin was a beautiful bronze that made his eyes stand out. His hair was glossy and curly, hanging in tapered coils around his shoulders. Black stubble lined his chin and above his plush lips, enough there I wondered how it would feel against my skin.

“Well, I was going to ask if you were alright, but then I saw the smile on your face.”

Even his voice was breathtaking. It was rich, deep, and soothing, coursing down my spine and sending goosebumps over my skin.

“There’s nothing a little rain won’t fix,” I said, my voice breathless. His chuckle was followed by a devastating smile that had my knees ready to buckle.

“What’s your name, Sunshine?”

“Sunshine? What about this makes you think of sunshine?” I questioned as I stepped back and spun around, arms wide and face tipped back again, letting the rain wash over me once again.

“Sunshine always follows the rain,” he said simply before a loud car horn cut through our little bubble of peace. “Or maybe Stormy, you seem at home in the rain.”

“Maybe I’m just crazy,” I offered, a teasing smile on my face. The rain brought about a sense of relief that had me almost drunk without the darkness weighing me down.

Another honk had me gathering my bag I’d let fall and followed the gorgeous beta to the sidewalk. I was soaked through completely, my coat doing nothing to ward off the sheets of rain now falling around us.

“Your suit will be ruined,” he said as he crowded me again, both of us breathing in deep. “You even smell like a storm. Fresh rain, citrus, and saltwater.”

It was normally considered rude to mention someone else’s scent. Then again scents don’t usually cause this kind of stir in people. I breathed in deep again, the warmth alone had some of the chills dissolving and my body turning into a puddle, trying to stop myself from leaning into him.

“I’m Roman. And you’re mine, Stormy,” he said with a confidence that had me ready to throw myself into his arms.

Then the words stung, like the water had turned to snow, burning my skin and making me curl in on myself.

His smile disappeared as he leaned in, studying my reaction. Dark curls fell into his face and he shoved them back, the rain plastering them backward like hair gel. The autumnesque notes of his scent turned bitter with worry.

Why did he care? Scent matches didn’t mean anything. It just meant we were compatible, that we found the people who completed us, but that never promised forever.

At least not for me.

I’d learned it the hard way and would never make that mistake again.

Silver eyes tracked over my features then down to my hands that were now fisted at my side.

“Whoever put that look on your face, I’m nothing like them. Let me prove it to you,” he begged, the plea in his voice making me close my eyes and take a few breaths before I let myself be swept away in fairytales I no longer believed in.

“Sorry, Roman. I’m not pack material,” I whispered before giving him one last glance and hurrying away.

I barely made it a half a block before his footfalls splashed behind me. He met me in my quick stride.

“Do you think I’m going to let this go? That I’m going to meet a scent match, one as breathtaking and mysterious as you, and I’m just going to walk away?”

“What else can you do?” I asked around a humorless laugh.

“I never give up, Stormy,” he promised, his hand wrapping gently around my bicep to stop me. I could get away, he wasn’t being aggressive, just desperate to not let me go.

“How?” I demanded, stopping as I followed his gaze to my work badge that was hanging out of my bag.

So much for keeping this anonymous.

Then again, my omega was fighting me every step of the way. Every instinct I had was screaming for me to jump into his arms, to wrap myself in his scent and never leave. To let him mend my broken heart.

“One date, that lasts all day. Give me a real chance. Tell me your bullshit, I’ll tell you mine, and if at the end of that day, you still want to walk away, I’ll let you,” he said, voice low and hoarse and silver blue eyes burning with sincerity.

His shoulders were tense and his hand tightened just enough to keep me present. I took a shaky breath and wondered if I could truly give into this beta.

Would he reject me after years together just like Cameron Whitaker did?

I wasn’t sure I could pick up the pieces again. I’d barely made myself start functioning again, the pain was still too fresh.

Hell, I’d left all of Rockwood Valley behind and half my heart with it.

Rain started to fall harder, to the point I had to practically shout over the roar of it. He tugged me under an awning, the deafening rain on the vinyl above our heads a bit more bearable when I didn’t have to sputter on water as I spoke.

I shivered as the cold seeped into my clothes. The weather was cool this time of year and now that the rain had soaked me through, I was feeling it.

“You really want all my baggage, Roman? I’m not sunshine and rainbows, I’m a tornado in a hurricane.”

“Just because someone stole your light, doesn’t mean you can’t still be beautiful,” he promised, leaning down and pressing a single kiss to my forehead.

My skin heated at the contact, a tingling taking over. I bit my lip to stop myself from whimpering again like a needy little omega.

But god, do I feel like one right now.

“Fine. One date.”

“One date day ,” he clarified. “Where you don’t hold back from me. Let me see everything and I’ll do the same. I’ll pick you up at breakfast and you’re mine until the sun comes up again.”

“What would you do with me that night, Roman?”

“Remind you that you’re a worthy omega and any man who let you go is a fool,” he said against the shell of my ear, this time the shiver followed by slick leaking down my thighs and my scent perfuming around us.

That’s embarrassing. Perfuming like a pubescent omega. This was starting off well.

The wicked smile on his lips showed that he noticed.

“This is me,” I said, gesturing up at the apartment building we’d taken cover under. The doorman was waiting at the door, ready to open it at a moment’s notice. He side-eyed the beta and gave me a look that said he’d step in if I needed. I gave a quick shake of my head and reassuring smile before turning back to Roman.

“Do you work tomorrow?”

“No,” I admitted, my heart slamming against my ribcage like it was trying to escape this heated moment.

“Good. See you bright and early. Text me your coffee order… and anything else you want, as well,” he said with a wink, flashing the devastating smile that had me weak in the knees.

Pulling a pen out of his front pocket, he pushed my sleeve up, giving my arm a second to dry before writing his number.

“Don’t keep me waiting, Stormy.”