25. Bennett
Bennett
I t felt like Sidney was one foot in the door and one foot out. When she got back from Avery’s baby shower she seemed to be even more out of sorts.
We were constantly in this state of turmoil and uncertainty. We knew she was it for us, but we were having a hard time convincing her of that same thing.
Leo and I cooked dinner in near silence. The tension was rising with each second and I was ready to lose my mind.
Being out of control wasn’t something I was experienced in. I was confident to a fault, always had a plan. Even my backup plans had backup plans.
Right now, it was impossible to have any of that.
Except with Taylor.
It felt like an inevitability that we would find our way together. The attraction was there, we just needed to give it a chance.
He was the type of person that lit up a conversation. It was ironic that he called Sidney sunshine when he radiated warmth. I loved how adorable and genuinely happy he seemed.
He was also the one she was most comfortable with right now. They were sitting on the couch together. I glanced over, smiling to myself as I took them in. There was something on the TV but neither of them were truly watching.
The smile fell as I took in the tension. She was uncomfortably still.
My pack was falling apart before it even started and I didn’t know what to do to fix it.
“We have to tell her,” Leo said, leaning in close so they didn’t overhear. “About the blockers, I mean. I think that’s the only thing that’s going to calm her fears.”
“I’m not convinced it will,” I admitted.
It was clear that Sidney’s abandonment issues ran deep. She explained about losing her mother young and that she had been in therapy, but right now it felt like it was this huge obstacle between us.
I wasn’t sure how to scale it.
“We have to try,” Leo practically begged. The beta needed reassurance, just like I did. I studied him for a moment before giving in, his green eyes begging me to be on his side.
“You’re right,” I agreed, letting out a breath I’d been holding. “We’ll do it over dinner. Is Maverick nearly done?”
Leo nodded. “He took a break to talk to Avery about the baby shower and then went right back to work. I think he’s nearly finished. I’ll go check.”
I pulled the lasagna out of the oven while he went to collect Maverick. Socked footsteps had me turning around once I placed it on the stove to cool, surprised to find Sidney walking in. She looked so unsure it broke my heart.
“Angel, what’s going on in that head of yours?” I asked. My voice was gentle and I held my arms open, giving her the chance to come to me if that was what she needed.
I think we were both a little shocked when she moved forward, nuzzling into my chest and letting me wrap my arms around her. I pressed my nose to her neck and breathed her in, wishing I could scent more than her citrus shampoo.
“I’m just out of my element here,” she admitted into my neck.
“We all are, but we can figure it out together. That’s how packs work,” I reminded her. She nodded against me and held me tight. This moment healed something in me and apparently her, the contented sigh adorable.
“You’re right,” she said.
Coming together as a pack was supposed to be this amazing moment where you find the people you’re destined to spend your life with.
Ours currently felt strained.
The rivalry between Maverick and Leo was starting to dissipate but it was still there under the surface.
Sidney being ready to run was not helping things, either.
“How was the baby shower,” I questioned, trying to lighten the mood before dinner.
She snorted. “Poor Avery looks so uncomfortable. I don’t think I ever want to get pregnant.”
“That’s fair.”
She pulled back and looked up at me. “Do you really mean that?”
I hated that vulnerability in her eyes. Our omega was terrified that we’d be ready to drop her with one ‘wrong’ move.
“We want what you want, Sidney. I promise. Plus, we have time to figure it out. For now, why don’t you help me set the table.”
I brushed another kiss across her forehead and when she leaned back, I pressed my lips to hers.
Sidney let out a happy, little sound that I knew would be burned into my memory. I’d bring it up anytime I needed a reminder of our connection.
By the time I released her she looked dazed. I chuckled a little, loving that I could do that to her.
“Here are the plates,” I teased, tapping the stack on the counter before I gathered silverware. Leo had made a store run earlier, making sure we at least had the necessities to have a normal dinner.
Sidney started setting the table while I took the salad from the fridge and gathered the breadsticks Leo had warming in a basket.
“It smells incredible in here,” Maverick said as he stalked in. He started to move towards Sidney but stopped himself and I cursed under my breath.
He said he wanted to be all in but he was still holding himself back. Nothing was going to build her insecurities up more than avoiding her.
I wasn’t going to call him out here in front of everybody but I made a mental note to come back to that when we had a moment alone. The last thing we needed was another awkward meal.
Apparently, it was unavoidable. The awkwardness continued as we settled around the table. I dished food onto everyone’s plates, taking the lead. Poor Taylor tried his damndest to start a conversation but no one was giving him more than a word or two.
“Okay, this is fucking painful,” Leo finally burst out. He shoved his plate away and eyeballed all of us. “We are all a pack. This is not the time to do small talk and make things weird. We need to come together. I don’t care what you talk about, but get out of your heads. Otherwise, this heat is about to be real fucking awkward.”
Maverick, Sidney, and Taylor all blinked at him but I clapped him on the shoulder.
“Sidney, we had a talk while you were at the baby shower,” I started, looking at Leo to see if he was okay with me continuing. It was his idea after all.
He nodded once and I turned back to her. There was no point in holding back. This needed to be said.
“We all have an appointment to get scent blockers. The Omega Clinic has a few options between pills, shots, or whatever we tolerate best. It’ll essentially mean that none of us have a scent.”
“Why would you do that?” she gasped, looking horrified at the thought.
Taylor took her hand in his, offering her comfort and turning her attention to him.
“Because if we don’t have a scent then there’s no outside distractions. There’s no possibility of anyone ruining our peace. You’re it for us, Sidney, and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to prove that to you.”
Sidney was speechless as she thought it over, a single tear tracking down her cheek. Taylor was quick to wipe it away, the sweet, reassuring smile never leaving his face.
Pride swelled in my chest. He was handling this so well.
“Don’t give up on us, Sidney. We just want you to accept us and let us take care of you.”
Sidney took a shaky breath, her hand clinging to his. “I’m trying,” she admitted. “I really am.”
“We’re patient men,” I promised before tipping my head to Maverick, a wry smile taking over my face. “Except maybe that one.”
That drew a chuckle out of Sidney. I’d call it a win in an intense conversation like this.
“We’ll be here when you’re ready. We are more than willing to ride this heat out with you. In fact, I think we’re all willing to bite you.”
“We’re a pack,” Maverick said, looking at her almost in challenge, demanding for her to argue with him.
“You want me?” she asked as if she was still confused.
Maverick tugged her out of her seat and into his lap, forcing her to let go of Taylor’s hand. I moved his plate quickly and he sat her ass right on the table in front of him, forcing her to straddle his hips.
“Sidney, you have been the only omega I’ve ever wanted. I was an idiot and I should have fucking told you sooner. I love you, Sidney Vance. I want only you.”
“I love you, too, Maverick,” she whispered, her eyes wide. Her heart was pounding so hard I swear I could hear it.
The moment felt like we were intruding, but not one of us interrupted or moved. They were too lost in each other’s eyes to notice.
Then Maverick seemed to come back to himself, pulling her close so he could place a single kiss on her forehead before shifting her back to her seat.
“Eat,” he demanded, his glare swinging from her to the rest of us. “I know damn well you haven’t eaten enough lately.”
“Yes, sir,” Taylor mocked. I let out a small growl, not liking that he was addressing another alpha like that.
Sidney burst into laughter, looking at the other omega.
“I think we’re in trouble Taylor. We’ve got some possessive alphas around here.”
It was insane how those words settled something in me.
“Damn right,” I muttered, stabbing a bite of lasagna forcefully and shoving it into my mouth.
“So, did Avery look as miserable as I assume she did?” Taylor asked, raising an eyebrow.
It was as if the tension melted in a single instance, everyone relaxing and letting the omegas chat back and forth, filling the silence with something that didn’t feel heavy.
Sidney talked about the baby shower and Maverick explained the gifts that he’d given and even shared a few pictures of the nursery that his brothers and her mates had helped finish while she was gone.
By the time we finished eating, Sidney was yawning. The poor omega was exhausted.
She tried to start cleaning up but Leo stopped her. He wrapped his hand around hers, leading her away.
“Come on, let’s go get settled upstairs.”
She didn’t protest this time. Her eyes sought each of us out, offering a cute, little smile before following him up the stairs.
“I’m going to go finish that plumbing. I’m too close to give up now,” Maverick said. He paused in the doorway. “Thanks for dinner.” Then he was gone in true Maverick style.
“And then there were two, I teased,” looking at Taylor. He grinned up at me, not shying away. His dimples deepened even as his cheeks flamed red. He was gorgeous when he blushed and I couldn’t help but wonder how far that flush spread.
We were side by side as we washed the dishes and dried them, putting everything away where it belonged. Every time our arms or hips bumped into each other, the tension intensified.
By the time he tossed his towel down, he was practically panting with need. I’d been hard for the last thirty minutes.
“Is that invitation still open?” he questioned.
“Always,” I promised.
“If you don’t take me upstairs and fuck me right now, alpha, I’m going to lose my goddamn mind. Being around her and not able to touch her drives me wild. Then every look you give me, every flirty, commanding word, makes me even more wet.”
Sweet, innocent looking Taylor had a dirty mouth it seemed. The shock wore off quickly before I let out a growl, throwing him over my shoulder.
The scent of his slick intensified at me manhandling him. It only made that pineapple sweetness of his overtake the earthy scent of sage.
He yelped as I landed a smack on his ass, moaning quietly as I soothed it with my palm. Heat seeped through his jeans and I was the one biting back a groan this time.
I carried him straight up to his bedroom and locked the door behind us.
When I dropped him to his feet, his chest was heaving and his pretty blue eyes were blown with lust.
“Take your clothes off for me, Taylor,” I demanded.
“Yes, alpha.” His breathy whisper sent a jolt of electricity straight down my spine.
My eyes clocked every movement as he started to unbutton his shirt, slowly shoving it over his shoulders, and letting it fall to the ground. It revealed his toned chest. There was still a softness to him but I could see the defined muscles underneath. Freckles dotted his abdomen and I wanted to place a kiss on every single one.
He didn’t waste time moving on to his pants, popping the button of his jeans before shoving them and his boxers down and kicking them to the side.
Now his scent was even more intense and I let out a low groan as I breathed in that sweetness.
“You’re wet for me, aren’t you, omega?” I asked. My voice was pure gravel and he shivered before answering.
“Yes,” he confirmed, turning around so I could see the slick glistening down his thighs.
“I’m going to taste you now. Tell me you want this.”
“I want this,” he said, bending over and spreading his legs to give me access.
Fuck, he was so needy for me.
Mine.
I dropped to my knees behind him. He whimpered as my hands ran down his thighs before coming back up again. Goosebumps erupted on his pale skin and I ached to know how gorgeous it would look flushed as I fucked him senseless.
My hands grazed even lower, slick glistening against his pale skin.
“So fucking perfect.”
His ass was gorgeous and rounded. I gave him a squeeze before parting him further.
He was glistening in the warm light of his room, so wet for his alpha.
“Such a good boy,” I groaned before I dove in. He tasted like heaven on my tongue, sweet and tart, his scent so visceral here that I swear it seeped into my very bones. “Mine.”
“Yours,” he promised. There were no hints of the earlier shyness and it seemed the conversation we had helped ease his mind. He was no longer running from me, but to me.
I drove back in, my tongue lapping up every drop of his slick. My cock was so hard that it ached. I pushed a hand against it, trying to ease it as I continued to eat out my omega. His cries of pleasure were driving me crazy.
“Stand up and turn around,” I demanded, needing to prepare him to take me, but wanting to make it good for him first.
His pleasure, his sighs of pure bliss, were all I cared about now.
My own pleasure would come after.
Taylor did as I said, his body shaking. I looked up the length of his torso to meet his eyes. He had a half smile on his face, one dimple more prominent than the other and a halo of brown curls shining in the low light.
“You’re gorgeous,” I told him, the conviction in my voice making those delicious dimples deepen even further.
Before he could open his mouth and say anything, I wrapped my fingers around the base of his cock, squeezing and stroking him a few times before I wrapped my lips around him.
Here his scent was even more primal, every note was stronger, perfectly blending together with his omega sweetness and morphing into something that I could never get enough of.
I breathed him in, pressing my nose into his pelvis and taking several breaths before I moved back.
While I set a pace that had his fingers tightening in my hair, I let my hand slide over his hip to the back of his thighs. His slick lubricated my fingers as I pressed into his entrance.
He tensed for a moment as I pushed against his tight ring of muscle, then relaxed as I sucked him even harder, refusing to let him overthink it.
One finger turned into two, then three, before his legs were shaking. I shifted to the side, my hand taking over for my mouth, pumping him furiously while my fingers continued to stretch his ass for me.
When I curled them forward, making sure to hit that spot inside of him that would make him lose control, he cried out.
He was trying hard to stay quiet and I was making that job very difficult as I continued to peg his prostate with each stroke. He lifted one arm, biting down to stop his screams as cum spilled over my hand. Those cries turned into whimpers as I stroked him through his release.
The sounds he made were enough to drive an alpha wild.
He was barely able to hold himself upright and I got to my feet before guiding him to the bed. He collapsed onto his front, face in the mattress but still on his knees so his ass was in the air for me. My alpha rumbled in my chest, loving his omega presenting for us.
If I could’ve, I would have admired it longer, but I needed him. I positioned myself behind him, taking a deep breath and enjoying the view for just a moment.
“Fuck me now, alpha,” he demanded. It seemed my omega was needy and demanding in bed and I loved it.
I couldn’t help but wonder what Sidney would be like if she was in here with us. Would she be even more docile, or would she be just as sassy, the two of them bratting together?
I couldn’t fucking wait to find out.
I teased the tip of my cock over his slick, spreading it around before gently sliding in. Even though I’d prepared his body, he was so fucking tight that my eyes rolled back in my head.
He breathed through it all as I pushed forward, unrelenting until I was balls deep.
“Breathe, omega,” I ordered, pausing to let his body acclimate.
Taylor once again showed that he was not the patient type. He pushed back against me, demanding that I move.
That was enough for me. I pulled back before snapping my hips forward again, the mattress muffling his cries as I fucked him hard and fast. He felt so good and we both needed a release of tension and this was the perfect way to do it.
“You’re so good for me, omega, so fucking tight and warm. I could live in this moment.”
“Quit being sassy and fuck me, alpha, harder,” he demanded.
A wicked grin lit up my face and my fingers dug into his hips, lifting him slightly before I did just as he asked, fucking him even harder.
The air filled with the sound of flesh hitting flesh. It was lewd and delicious, amping up my need to new heights.
When I snaked my arm around him he was already hard again. Taylor whimpered as I wrapped my hand around his cock, pumping him in time with my own thrust.
Every sound he made sent me closer to my own release.
My knot was swelling now, pushing him even further as it pressed right into that spot that made him lose control
He wasn’t the only one affected. I could barely remind myself to breathe at this point.
Pleasure was coiling in my stomach, my muscles tensing and my movements jerky before that pressure went straight to my balls.
I could feel them tightening, my release ready to explode.
But I needed him to come first.
“Come for your alpha,” I demanded, stroking him even harder.
With one last guttural groan he came, spilling onto his sheets as his ass tightened around me.
I buried my face into his spine, my teeth aching with the need to claim him but I knew it wasn’t time. We hadn’t talked about that yet.
Wave after wave of pure, white hot bliss tore through me as I filled his ass. A deep satisfaction echoed through me now that I’d thoroughly fucked my omega. Knowing my seed was filling him had my chest tightening, my attention solely on him.
“So fucking perfect,” I praised him as I settled us on our side, still locked together. I breathed him in with every breath, filling my senses with my omega.
“Yours,” he promised, his voice slurring.
“Mine.”