Chapter Seven
Sol
Rhys helped me get dressed into my muddy pants and the sneakers I’d had in my backpack, then draped a blanket over my shoulders.
He pulled on his clothes and we left in a rush, with Rhys carrying our stuff and steadying me all the way toward a black truck with tinted windows.
The passenger seat was big enough for me to sit cross-legged as I buckled up and massaged my belly.
I expected the engine to rev into life, but Rhys pulled out of the parking spot at the back of the hotel with eerie stealth.
I looked around the tidy interior of the cabin, decked in black leather and tiny compartments all around.
It reminded me of the vehicles my parents’ security drove us in when we didn’t want anyone to know where we were going, except this one wasn’t brand new.
Rhys kept it clean, but it was a few years old, with marks of wear and tear around on closer inspection.
The tip of my tongue tingled to ask about Rhys’s work and his background. But it was none of my business. Wasn’t it? He was taking me to his house to spend a week with me, after all.
A cramp squeezed my guts, and I inhaled sharply, wrapping my arms around my waist.
“Here.” Rhys handed me his phone, opened on a shopping site I didn’t recognize. “I have access to a store for emergencies. I added the essential and advanced sets for heat to the basket, but look through what they have and add anything else you need.”
I scoffed, but took the device off him as he turned to the highway. “The heat is starting now and will last for four to ten days. The package won’t arrive on time.”
“It will be at my house within a few hours. Trust me.” He patted my knee, then lingered there, caressing the spot with his thumb. “I have military clearance.”
“That explains the truck.” And why he’d never been fucked by an omega. If his superiors found out, he’d be in deep shit. He was risking a lot more than I’d thought by giving me the signed list of things he wanted me to do to him. I wouldn’t use it unless he gave me reason to in the next few days.
“It’s useful.” Rhys’s focused gaze was on the road as he sped down the highway to get me to his place and fuck me through the heat. This was a bizarre night for the both of us.
My twisting guts reminded me to scroll through the online store. “So I can order anything I want?”
“Within reason. Like, don’t buy a car.” His short chuckle was rich, but subdued by the seriousness lingering under the surface. “Anything heat related: food, clothes, blankets, whatever strikes your fancy.”
Living in luxury my entire life, his offer didn’t excite me, but even as a military Alpha, he couldn’t be even half as rich as my parents, so his willingness to spend so much on me was touching, given he’d sent me a fair sum already.
I added a few more dildos, toys I found interesting, and snacks.
Lots of them. Every sugary and unhealthy thing my parents never let me eat.
I had to watch my figure to look pretty.
After the heat I’d be starving. During it, I wouldn’t be hungry and would need to drink the nutrient-packed drinks that were designed to help keep an omega going throughout the entire ordeal. Those were already in the cart.
“Do you want to see what I added?” I lifted the phone.
“No. It’s important to order it all quickly now. My address and details are already there, so go to the checkout.”
His hand was still resting against my knee, and I covered it with my own as I clicked the buy button. “All done.”
“Good. We’re almost there.” Rhys caressed my thigh without looking away from the road.
The pain was getting worse, each cramp more intense than the previous one. I took deep breaths and traveled to my happy place.
The grass tickled my abdomen as I lay in a meadow with my chin in my hands and my feet in the air.
Horses, as free as me, ran around without a care in the world.
The sun shone on my back and I jumped to my feet to pet a gorgeous mare that stopped to steal an apple from my basket.
She let me mount her and galloped as I held onto her mane and laughed.
“Where did you go?” Rhys asked, yanking me back to reality.
“What?” I wrapped my arms around my belly and groaned.
“You drifted off somewhere. Are you okay?”
“No.” I pouted. “I’m going into heat with only a stranger to rely on. So I imagined my happy place.”
“What is it?” The patience in the Alpha’s voice was admirable considering my crankiness.
“You’ll laugh.” I crossed my legs to keep the slick in, but my butt was getting damp.
“I won’t. Tell me what would make you happy.”
I looked at his profile, his chiseled jaw dusted with dark stubble, short hair in the darkest shade of black I’d ever seen, and his muscled chest peeking from under the shirt he’d quickly thrown on when we’d left the hotel.
If you pretend to care about me for those few days of my heat, I’ll be happy enough.
“Riding a horse on an open field. Just being free with the wind in my hair.” I hugged the blanket tighter. “It’s stupid. I know nothing about horses.”
Rhys released a soft chuckle. “I love that.”
“You promised not to laugh.” I bristled, crossing my arms.
He squeezed my thigh briefly, then returned it to the wheel. “I’m not laughing at the idea, but at the coincidence.”
“What do you mean?”
He smiled and turned onto a gravel road. “Look ahead.”
A vast field stretched in front of us, with a two-story house on the right and a row of stables on the left. From there, a wooden fence surrounded at least a dozen grazing horses.
I stuck my nose to the window glass like a child at a candy store. “Where are we?”
“Home.”
I looked between him and the animals. “You have horses?”
“Yes. Taking care of them calms me.” His lips quirked in a smile. “When I’m away for work, I have nice people coming over to cater to them.”
“Are you kidding…” Grinning, I rolled down the window, not caring that the wind messed my hair up. “They’re gorgeous. And they look so chill, like they don’t have a care in the world.”
“I hope that’s the case. They’ve been through enough before I brought them here.” Rhys pulled to a stop in front of the house and unbuckled. “Let’s get you through the heat, then you can meet them. How does that sound?” He stroked my back and pulled the blanket up to my neck.
I wiggled in my seat. “I can’t wait for it to be over for so many reasons now.”
His expression grew serious. “I’ll help in any way I can. I promise.”
“Thanks. It wasn’t a jab at you. I’m grateful you agreed to fuck me for the next few days. But now I have something to look forward to after the heat.”
Rhys squeezed my hand, jumped out of the truck, and rounded it. When I opened the door, he was there to scoop me into his arms, blanket and all.
I leaned into him and grimaced. “You smell of piss.”
“It’s yours.” Rhys beamed. “Also, your cum is leaking out of my ass.”
I burst out laughing. “I think I ruined your car with my slick.”
“I don’t give a shit about the car.” He pulled me closer. “Quick shower? You can take the bathroom downstairs and I’ll use the ensuite, then be back to help you. Okay?”
I nodded against his chest. My body was getting itself ready: pumping more energy throughout every vessel, every muscle. every cell, turning me into an even hornier and needier beast than I already was. I could have easily walked but I enjoyed the promise of safety his embrace brought.