Chapter 16
Oriana
M y footsteps faltered as I reached the front door. A familiar tupperware set was sitting there with an envelope bursting at the seams.
“What the hell?” I breathed out as I crouched down, collecting them.
“You okay?” Hudson asked, moving in closer to see what I was looking at. “Someone left you something?”
“Yeah,” I said, opening the corner of the container then groaning. “Oh my god, it’s Mama Whitaker’s snack mix. She used to make this for me like once a week. Every movie night, holidays, you name it.”
Ignoring the letter for now I reach in and grab a handful, shoving it in my mouth and groaning in appreciation. It was just the right mix of salty and savory.
“Here, try,” I demanded, holding it out and narrowing my eyes until all three took a handful.
“Shit, this is good,” Roman groaned, Lane and Hudson nodding along with him, mouths too full to answer.
“Right?” I grinned, genuinely happy they liked it like I did. Something about that had warmth spreading through me.
“What was the paper?” Lane asked, curious.
“Probably something from Mama Whitaker. She’s checked in from time to time,” I admitted. “I couldn't find it in me to shut her and Avery out. They were family, too.”
Lane and Roman both moved, flanking me like they’d done it for years. The comforting waves of Roman’s scent and their combined presence chased away what could have been another awful trip down memory lane.
“Come on,” Hudson said, taking the keys from my hand and letting us inside.
“I’m going to run upstairs and change. I still have flour in my hair,” I said, still feeling warm and happy from the evening and the surprise on my porch.
Lane followed me upstairs, stepping into his room after one last look. The way he watched me had my body lighting up.
Yet, I still couldn't scent him.
But he told me he stopped his blockers. That had my heart pounding excitedly. Would we be mates? Did he care if we weren’t? Chosen mates happened all the time.
As the warm water sprayed down on me all I could think about were Roman, Hudson, and Lane. Surrounding me, touching me, letting me touch and taste them.
Fuck, I was in trouble.
“Stormy? Can I come in?” Roman called out. His voice was hoarse and I knew he could scent me.
That would be embarrassing if I wasn’t so grateful he was in here.
“Yes!” I called out.
He closed the main door behind himself before he was peeking into the bathroom, biting his plump lip.
“Join me?” I asked, pulling the shower door open so he had a full view of my wet body.
“Tell me why you smell this good. What were you thinking about in there, little omega?” he asked as he slowly peeled off his clothes. As he pushed his boxers below his waist, my attention was fully on his leaking cock. I perfumed again, the scent making my mate groan.
He was on me in seconds, pushing me against the tile that was thankfully warmed already. His mouth tangled with mine, tongue teasing as his hands wandered down my torso.
“What were you thinking about, Stormy?” he asked again, refusing to let it go. I whimpered, nipping at his lip and dropping to my knees.
When I leaned forward to wrap my lips around him, he stepped back, a hand on my shoulder and eyes narrowed.
“Tell me. I need to know,” he urged. I could push and he’d give in, I knew that, but I also couldn’t deny him.
“Being surrounded by my sexy mate and two amazing men… is complicated,” I said, looking up at him under my lashes.
“So, what you’re saying is that you want all three of us?” he clarified, his eyes on fire now. I’d seen the flares of jealousy from him when they were around.
“Are you mad?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Jealous? Maybe a little. I kind of liked not having to share you. But, I would never deny my omega what she needs, Stormy. You need an alpha and Hudson can give you that.”
“It’s temporary,” I said, letting a bit of my vulnerability slip out. “I think this game of pretend is messing with my head. But tell that to my omega when they’re touching me and saying the right things.”
“Well, let me take care of your omega tonight,” he rumbled.
“Or, I can take care of you.”
Done with talking, I lunged for him, flicking my tongue over the tip before wrapping my mouth around him.
Roman groaned as I pushed forward until my nose was buried against his skin. I rested there, breathing in deep through my nose. His scent was stronger here and I was drowning in it now, laced in his lust and need.
Fuck, it was downright intoxicating knowing I could do that to him. Affect him in this way. Until our night together when we met, it had been far too long since I’d had sex. Now, my omega was ready to have her fill any chance she could.
Slick dripped down my thighs as I gave Roman my all. Blow jobs weren’t something I was incredibly practiced in, but every time he groaned, I’d take note, until he was panting and gripping at my hair.
“Fuck, I’m going to come if you don’t stop now, Stormy,” he warned.
Stopping wasn’t going to happen, and he must have realized that because he pulled me off and forced me to my feet.
“Let me fuck you instead,” he urged, turning me and helping me prop my foot on the ledge that held the soap, not caring as I kicked off my bodywash. Now that I was open for him he was sliding inside my slick heat.
We both moaned as he filled me, stretching me perfectly. This angle was a bit awkward and we were slippery and wet, but I didn’t care.
My hands braced on the wall in front of me as he gripped my hips. Roman wasn’t gentle as he slammed into me. Between our combined scents clinging to the humid air and the feel of him filling me, I was already on edge.
“Touch yourself, Stormy. I want you to picture me fucking you like this while you swallow down Lane’s cock, Hudson watching and waiting his turn until he can stuff his knot in that pretty little cunt.”
“Oh god,” I groaned, my hand furiously working over my clit as the mental image was burned into my brain.
“You like that, don’t you?” he husked, warm breath brushing over my ear. I shivered, hand still moving as I continued to tease myself.
“Bite me, Roman. Claim me,” I whimpered, needing to know that even if the others left, he never would. That he was mine and I was his.
There was no argument or hesitation as he sank his teeth into my shoulder. The mark on my wrist tingled, as if it were waking up, but the overwhelming pain and pleasure of the moment sent me over the edge.
We both came, my orgasm triggering his as we sank into the feeling of being claimed permanently. His tongue teased over his bite as our breathing eased up. I moved forward so he fell out of me, turning and pulling him down to me.
Our lips locked together in a kiss that was just as intense as the claiming. When he pulled away I moved, sinking my own teeth into his shoulder. He groaned, the sound long and low as his cock twitched against my stomach.
My tongue teased over the ridges of my mark as his presence settled in me. This connection was different than mine with Cameron. He was mine, our emotions tangled together and our contentment ringing through.
We stayed there, holding each other and settling into the warm buzz of our connection, until the water ran cold.
Roman turned off the water and led me out, drying me carefully before pulling me into the room. He even picked out pajamas, helping me into them with a soft look on his face.
Tears burned behind my eyes. This was such a gentle, simple thing and I wasn’t sure I ever felt quite so precious and cared for.
“Stay with me? I don’t want to sleep alone,” I whispered, afraid to speak louder and break the peace of our moment.
“You don’t have to ever sleep alone again,” he promised. “Let me go get fresh clothes.”
He was currently just wearing a towel. I almost argued but in the end watched as he walked away. My gaze finally fell to my discarded bag, the envelope still on top.
Curiosity finally won out and I walked over and picked it up before going back to my bed. I started to sit, then froze. Instead, I took my blanket and pillow and headed for the nest.
Pushing open the door, I wrinkled my nose at the empty white space. It was cushioned, clean and comfortable, and devoid of any scents.
Creating a cocoon around me with the blanket, I finally settled in and opened the envelope.
My pulse thundered in my ears as I read the first line, realizing this wasn’t Mama Whitaker, but Cameron.
Dear Oriana,
I’ve written to you so many times over the years, and someday I’ll share those with you. This, however, will be the first one you’ll read.
I could sit here and apologize, and make excuses for what happened. Sure, I was young and grieving the loss of my dads, but that didn’t mean I had any right to do what I did to you.
I’ll never not be sorry for that. However, I can’t go back now.
I regretted what I said the moment those words fell from my lips. Hated myself for it and even tried to come after you that next day.
You were already gone and your dads barely let me leave with my life. I tried to contact you again and again as I spiraled, but I was already blocked. No one would give me your number and at some point, I had to realize that I’d just pushed away the one person in my life who I should have relied on, trusted, and cherished.
The truth is, Ori, that I never stopped loving you. Every day you were who I thought about, wondering what you had been up to, wondering if you’d changed.
Rather… if I changed you.
Were you still the same sweet, soft omega that I loved?
Even worse was the crushing fear that you were out there in the world, unprotected and vulnerable, and it was all my fault.
He was telling me everything I craved to hear all those years ago. That he regretted it, that he was trying to chase after me.
A sob escaped as I realized if I hadn’t blocked him and shut him out, we might not be here after thirteen years, the distance between us such a vast canyon I wasn’t sure if we’d ever make it back to each other.
“Ori, Princess, what’s wrong?” Lane asked. His voice was careful and I glanced up, the sight of him, knowing he wasn’t mine either, just broke the damn.
When another sob broke free he dropped down next to me and pulled me into his lap. I wrapped myself around him, holding on as I broke down.
Tea and honey teased my senses. Roman didn’t argue as he settled next to us, his hand finding mine and holding me close.
“Stormy, what happened?” he asked after my sobs turned to small, shaky hiccups.
“The letter… it was from him.”
Lane cursed under his breath. “Fucking asshole.”
“It wasn’t bad, I didn’t even finish yet,” I admitted. My mouth opened to explain more but I couldn’t make sense of it all.
The facts were that Cam knew I was back and he was trying to get my attention. He wasn’t hiding or gaslighting me, he was taking responsibility.
Did that mean he was ready to fight for me?
“Is everything alright?” Hudson’s voice was careful. Without thinking, my brain too far down this spiral, I reached out for him.
The alpha didn’t hesitate to drop down next to us and let me crawl into his lap. A low purr rumbled in his chest and I snuggled in, wishing again I could scent him.
After my mind and emotions had settled, I looked up long enough to grab the letter again.
“I have to finish,” I whispered. “I know you didn’t sign up for this, but don’t let me go.”
I felt pathetic and vulnerable, but they didn’t blink as they moved in closer, boxing me in.
“Fuck the contract. We’re here,” Lane said, the conviction in his voice filling me with relief.
Maybe they felt this, too?
We had time to figure that out later. Right now, I had bigger problems to focus on.
Roman’s worry was coming through the bond, but I just clung to our connection and focused back on the pages.
Cameron was reintroducing himself. Telling me about his struggles since I left, how he drank too much, lost his way, and was only just now starting to find it again.
Page after page of him pouring his heart out to me. My hands shook and my emotions were a chaotic mess, but I managed to make it to the end.
I’ve never stopped loving you, Ori. I haven’t touched another woman since the day you left. If you saw us online, it was all for show and business. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted and I will fight for you every day until I take my last breath.
I’ll be at our favorite date spot tomorrow at six. If you can find it in your heart to meet me, to let me talk to you face to face, meet me there.
If not, I’ll understand. But I won’t give up.
I still love you and I hope you will give me the chance to prove that.
- Cameron
“He wants me to meet him tomorrow,” I said as I dropped the letter and buried my face in Hudson’s chest.
“Are you going to go?” Roman asked. I think we all knew the answer. We came all the way here just for this reason, how could I not?
“Yes, but I don’t want to go alone.”
Roman gave my arm a squeeze. “You don’t have to do anything alone ever again, remember? If you want me there, I’ll be there. Though, I don’t promise not to punch him.”
“I’ve got bail money,” Lane said, giving me a smirk that said he was absolutely serious.
Cam would deserve it. He fucked up, but maybe I did, too.
Yet, I knew damn well I wasn’t hard to find. If he wanted to find me, he would have. He’d let his fear and worries win.
Now, I was going to see if he was truly going to fight for me, to face the hard truths and not hide from it.
Because I deserved an alpha who would go to the ends of the earth for me, like I would for him.
He was right. I had changed. I wasn’t just a soft, sweet small town girl. This omega had fought for years to make a life for herself, had been alone and terrified, and had picked herself up.
He just had to figure out how he fit into this new life, and I had to see if I would even let him.