20. Elliott #2
I shook my head. “No. I was worried I wouldn’t go into heat because before I left, I asked Ben to try to help heal me of my heats.
So, I was scared I couldn’t go into heat and the doctors would be able to tell.
Later, I found out that Jet wasn’t sure he’d been off rut suppressants enough to go into a full rut.
In the end, it was a combination of both, I think—mild heat and rut mixed with faking it. ”
Only, I hadn’t been faking the arousal I’d felt. Jet couldn’t have been either, not with the response he gave me. At least, I didn’t think he could.
Keane squeezed my hand. “El, I’m so sorry that happened to you. I hoped it wouldn’t.”
“Being with Jet made it not horrible. I’m really grateful to him. Later, I was able to speak with Ben telepathically, and you know the rest.”
Suddenly, Keane pulled me into a fierce hug. “If anything had happened to you, I would have never been the same.”
Tears filling my eyes, I hugged him back just as hard. “I’m sorry. I realized how stupid I’d been almost immediately after being taken in.”
After we talked a little more, I told Keane to go inside, promising I would be in soon. I needed some time alone. It was hard to realize that we no longer needed bodyguards—the government program had been dismantled. Omegas would no longer be taken from their families.
Sitting on the bench, I stared out into the darkness.
My life was different now. All our lives were. What would I do?
The same niggling feeling that I’d had all evening came over me. I felt restless, like there was something I needed to do. Earlier, Ren had stroked my hair while the movie was on. I loved the feeling, but when he’d done it, all I could think about was Jet doing it.
Longing hit me, so strong it brought me to my feet. I sucked in a couple of breaths, telling myself that I was being silly. But I wanted to be with Jet. Just in the same room. Maybe for just a few minutes. Ever since I’d left him at the ranch house, I simply hadn’t felt right.
Maybe it was a result of being victimized. Jet and I had gone through something traumatic together, and now I wanted to be with him. Did he feel the same about me?
I took a couple of steps away from the house.
Then a couple more. A slightly chilly wind rustled through the trees above my head, and I began walking faster toward the cabin Jet shared with Joel and Anson.
When I got there, I didn’t stop to think.
I just raised my fist and knocked hard on the door with my knuckles.
Half a minute later, Anson opened it. He wore sweatpants and a white sleeveless shirt.
“Elliott. What are you doing standing out here in the dark?” he asked.
“I need to see Jet,” I said.
“Sure. You want to come in?” I could tell Anson wasn’t even sure he should offer. This was probably the closest I’d ever gotten to him due to my fear of alphas.
Shaking my head, I said, “No, thanks. I’ll wait out here.” Leaning against the house, I shivered when another wind blew, this one more powerful. Thunder rumbled, shaking the earth.
Jet stepped out of the house, still dressed as he had been earlier in jeans and a dark-blue button-down shirt. He was obviously surprised to see me. He looked me over. “Elliott? What are you doing out here barefoot?”
I wore only a t-shirt and a pair of cotton pants because I’d intended to go to sleep soon. I’d forgotten I didn’t have any shoes on.
My gaze took in his black hair, blowing in the now-stronger wind, his square jaw with the dark stubble that he hadn’t shaved off yet, and the look of concern on his face.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. I just needed to see you,” I said, wanting to step into his warmth so badly.
“Okay. But…are you sure don’t want to ask me something? Or…”
I shook my head. “I-I just had to see you, that’s all. Just for a minute. I don’t know why.” I felt my face go hot with embarrassment. “Sorry to bother you. Really. I’m good now.” I turned and started walking quickly back to my house.
“Elliott, wait!” Jet called to me. I didn’t stop, but he easily caught up with me. “Stop. Please,” he added.
I stopped, head bent, eyes on the grass.
“You’re going to get a nail in your foot,” Jet said, sounding exasperated, and the next thing I knew, he’d swung me into his arms, bridal style. I didn’t even have time to protest before the sky opened up and it started to rain, hard.
Jet cursed and took off running for the nearest building, which happened to be the barn, still holding me in his arms. He set me down and pushed open the door, then dragged me inside.
He left the door open, and we stood staring out at the rain that was already making puddles on the ground around the barn.
Overhead, the downpour noisily pummeled the roof.
I heard a horse nicker in one of the stalls behind us just before lightning illuminated the sky and was immediately followed by a loud clap of thunder.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I got you out in the dark and now it’s raining and you’re wet.
I don’t even understand why I suddenly had to see you; I just did.
It’s like I needed to be near you a minute before I went to bed.
I know that doesn’t make sense. I just wanted a few minutes with you, I don’t know, I—“
Jet stopped my chatter by covering my mouth with his, kissing me until I nearly lost my ability to stand on my own and wrapped my arms around his neck. I hungrily kissed him back.
“Don’t ever apologize for wanting to be with me,” he said, then kissed me again.
A loud clap of thunder had me pressing closer to Jet, who wrapped his arms more tightly around me as we continued to kiss. I’d never thought I’d like kissing so much, but maybe because it was Jet, I really, really did.
When we finally pulled away from each other, the heavy rain had subsided.
Pressing his forehead to mine, Jet said, “I missed you, too. I’m glad you came to see me.”
“Really?” I asked, staring up at him.
“Why do you look so shocked?”
I shook my head, unable to explain that I was probably clinging to him because of what we’d been through. Maybe he was doing the same with me.
That wouldn’t explain the long, passionate kiss we’d just shared, but…I couldn’t think about that right now.
Looking outside, I said, “It’s still raining. Do you have your phone?”
“No, sorry.”
“I don’t either. I’d better get home. I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving. They’ll be worried.”
“You just walked out?” Jet asked, looking surprised.
“Keane and I were sitting on the bench outside the house, talking. When he went in, I told him I’d follow in a minute. Then, I just…had to see you.”
Jet’s smile when I said that did something crazy to my heart.
I cleared my throat. “Anyway, I’d better go.”
Grabbing my arm when I started to leave the barn, Jet said, “You’ll get wet!”
I looked down at my soaking clothes. “I’m already wet.”
With a sigh, Jet said, “I’ll go with you.”
“That would be silly. You’d just have to turn around and run twice as far back to your house. I’ll count to three and we’ll both run to our own homes.”
Jet didn’t look happy about it but agreed.
“Call me when you get there,” he said.
“1…2…3!”
Jet had to pause to close the barn door behind us, so I got a head start.
I wasn’t surprised to find my friends in various states of agitation over my disappearance, the worst being Keane, who looked furious.
“Where the hell did you go?” he shouted at me.
“Sorry, sorry,” I said, holding my hands up placatingly. “I—I went to see Jet.”
My friends’ expressions turned from worried to confused.
“What for?” Ren asked.
“But it’s storming!” Camp exclaimed, a boom of thunder shaking the house as though to prove it.
“It wasn’t raining when I left,” I said, attempting to defend myself, even though I knew that was impossible. I didn’t even understand why I’d done what I’d done.
“And you couldn’t just tell us where you were going?” Zeke asked.
I bit my lip.
Keane pointed toward the bedroom. “Go dry off and change before you catch cold. You can explain after. I’ll make you some tea.”
That was Keane. No matter how angry or exasperated he got with me, he still always took care of me. Loving him for it, I flashed a smile at him before turning and running to the bedroom, almost slipping on the floor on the way.
“Be careful!” Keane called to me.
When I returned wearing sweatpants and a black jersey, a hot cup of tea waited for me at the table. I looked for Keane to thank him, and Ren, cocking his head toward the living area, said, “He’s on the phone.”
I looked, quickly spotting Keane reclining against one of the beanbags, his cell phone to his ear.
I sat down and took a sip of the hot tea. Warmth spread through my chilled body, and I sighed before slowly taking another.
Zeke, Camp, and Solomon sat down at the table with me, while Riku came to stand beside his brother, who was leaning against the kitchen counter. Trey, Jackson, David, and Ben turned from their places on the couch so they could see us.
When Keane returned, I looked up and asked, “Who were you talking to?”
“Jet.”
Pausing with the cup halfway to my lips, I asked, “You called him? I was going to explain…”
“And you’re still going to,” Keane said, crossing his arms over his chest. “Jet called to ask if you’d gotten back here okay.” He handed me my cell phone, which I hadn’t seen since I’d thrown it in the garbage before leaving the ranch days ago, and returned to the living area.
“Oh,” I said, looking around at the faces of my friends, all of whom were obviously waiting for my explanation for why I—someone who avoided alphas at all costs—had just left home without a word to seek one out.
“I know this doesn’t make sense. Believe me, I don’t understand it either. But I just suddenly had to see him. I didn’t even realize I was walking until I was on my way.”
“And you went to his house?” Ren asked. “What did you do when you got there?”