Chapter 21
I fucked Luke. I fucked Luke .
Part of me was still reeling from that fact, and the other part of me thought it was about damn time. I’d been crushing on him since I was capable of crushing on someone and that had finally come to fruition.
I cuddled deeper into his arms, feeling the warmth of his sigh over my skin and the shift of him curling more around me. I desperately had to pee, but was loath to move. I’d be forced to very soon no matter how much I didn’t want to disturb this quiet moment.
What time was it? The curtains were drawn on the nest and my phone was out of reach. I knew we’d fallen asleep after he’d demolished me, but whether that was minutes or hours ago, I wasn’t sure.
Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, and I turned to see Micah waving. “Looks like you two had fun.”
Luke groaned and squeezed me tighter at the same moment the baby kicked my bladder, making my eyes water.
“Micah, help me up. I have to pee.”
“Snuggling,” Luke mumbled.
“If I don’t get up in the next two seconds, you’re going to get a golden shower, and no offense but we are not close enough for you to tell me that’s one of your kinks.”
Micah laughed and helped me out of the nest so I could hustle into the adjoining bathroom. I swung the door shut behind me and experienced the sweet bliss of relief when I parked my ass on the toilet.
“I was coming to see if you wanted a late dinner since you slept through it,” Micah said through the door.
“I could eat,” I replied while I washed my hands. I didn’t bother with a robe when I opened the door again, my whole body flushing at the desire in his gaze.
“You’re gonna have to put something on or you’re going to end up as dinner instead,” he told me.
“If you were trying to actually convince me to get dressed, you’re doing a terrible job of it.”
Micah swept me into a delicious kiss, his hands gliding up my back and down again to cup my ass cheeks. I moaned against his lips and hooked my arms behind his neck.
“You’re really stealing her right out of bed with me?” Luke asked, sitting up slowly.
“You can’t tend to our lady if you’re asleep. Plus, I know you want dinner. Put some pants on and join us.”
“Ava gets to run around without a stitch, but I don’t?”
Micah shrugged. “Everyone in the house wants to see Ava naked. You, not so much.”
I laughed at the two of them and pulled a simple satin nightgown out of the dresser, sliding the smooth fabric over my head.
“Lead the way.” I hooked my arm through Micah’s and looked expectantly at Luke. He grumbled, but got up, giving me a spectacular view of his ass as he bent to retrieve his pants.
“I think she might like the view.” Micah laughed. “I just got a lung full of praline.”
I whacked his chest. “It’s not my fault he has an ass that won’t quit.”
Micah lifted both hands in surrender, grinning at me. “The comments on our videos would agree with you.”
Luke went stock-still. “Why would you bring those up? You know omegas get territorial.”
Micah’s grin got somehow even bigger. “Correction, most omegas get territorial. Ours gets wet.”
Heat rushed through me at the confusion in Luke’s eyes.
“What do you mean?”
Micah purred, wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling my hair. “I mean that I showed her a video, and our gorgeous girl couldn’t get enough.”
I was choking on desire between Micah’s crisp apple scent and the cloud of sweet citrus coming off Luke as he absorbed everything Micah was telling him. Goosebumps decorated my skin. I should’ve put on panties because I could already feel slick on my thighs.
“You saw me?” Luke asked to clarify.
“Just, um, just Micah and the other alpha. And the omega, of course.”
“And you weren’t upset?”
I swallowed hard and shook my head. “I couldn’t really see her face, and I couldn’t smell her either.”
“Do you… want to see one of mine?”
I nodded, words freezing in my throat.
“Dinner first,” said Micah. “Got to keep our omega fueled. Oh, and while I have you here to ask, my mom wants to meet you for breakfast.”
“Just me?” I squeaked.
“The whole pack, but she really wants you to be there. I wouldn’t let you meet her alone. She can be a lot. We’ll also have to get you to meet the rest of the parents, siblings, et cetera. I’ve been able to hold back my dads and siblings for now. Mom gets first dibs. Thoughts on a baby shower?”
“I could go for a baby shower. Seems like a decent way to get all of those meet and greets out of the way.”
“Do you mind if my mom plans it? She’s been up my ass about it since I told her you exist and I didn’t want her to ambush you with the question when you met.”
“I don’t mind.” Honestly, it was a relief. I knew Micah had a huge family and that I had a lot of people to meet who were important to my pack. Congregating them all at a single event with a concrete end time seemed the most ideal. A pang in my chest reminded me that I wouldn’t be able to invite my own mother, not after how she had behaved. Maybe I could invite Nathan. I wasn’t sure about his schedule, but it would be nice to see him.
“One of my brothers is an event planner, and I feel like between his plans and Bryce’s money, it’s going to be a whole-ass thing.”
“As long as you promise to steal me away if I get overwhelmed, I’m fine with anything.”
Micah kissed the top of my head and Luke claimed my other arm. The two of them took me down to the kitchen.
Jesse and Bryce were in the living room, watching basketball. Their heads swiveled as we entered, both of their faces lighting up.
“That felt chaotic through the bond,” said Jesse. “Everything good?”
I beamed back at them. “Yep.”
“Do you want a full meal or a grazing plate?” Micah asked.
“Grazing, please.”
“I’ve got it. Go have a seat.”
Luke and I wandered over to the couch, Bryce and Jesse creating space for us to sit. Bryce draped his arm over my shoulders and I snuggled against his side, breathing in his cranberries and rum scent. Luke laid a possessive hand on my thigh, but didn’t make a peep about Bryce hogging me. That was good. The four of them needed to get good about sharing.
Micah returned a few minutes later with a plate for me loaded with chunks of rotisserie chicken and dip, grapes and strawberries, cheddar slices and crackers.
“Thank you.” I munched away on my food while Luke served himself some of their leftover spaghetti.
“Were you good with Luke about expressing your needs?” Micah asked me in front of everyone.
I pursed my lips at him putting me on the spot.
“She definitely let me know what she wanted,” Luke replied for me.
Bryce kissed my temple. “Good girl.”
I squirmed, and all of them stilled at the flood of candied pecan into the air. “Nobody look at me like that. I need to finish eating.”
Luckily, they turned back to their game and my hormones settled down. Baby growing was hard work, and by the time their game had finished, I was half-asleep.
“Are you ready for bed, sweetness?” Jesse asked.
“I feel like my sleep schedule is going to get super fucked up if I go to bed right now.”
“It’s a possibility, but you need to be listening to your body. Whatever schedule you need, feel free to follow.”
“Okay. Then I think I’m ready for bed. Nest is open if anyone wants to crawl in when they’re going to sleep.”
Luke jumped on the offer. “I’ll take you back upstairs.”
I got properly ready for bed, brushing my teeth and washing my face, and he briefly disappeared to do the same before we reunited in the nest.
“We’re good, right?” he asked.
“Mhmm.”
“No regrets?”
I shook my head. “Nope.”
Tension flowed out of him and he offered me the same lazy smile I remembered from our childhood. “Good. Now get over here so we can snuggle.”
I wiggled closer and he plastered up against my back, draping his arm over me.
“Would it be way too soon and freak you out if I said something that’s usually reserved for later in relationships?”
“I’ve known you since before I could form memories. I don’t think there’s much you could say that would freak me out.” I turned my head to try and see his face, but he tucked it against my throat.
“I know I don’t deserve to say it yet, but you’ve always been important to me and I wanted you to know that I love you.”
My purr roared to life. “I love you, too. Pretty sure I always have.”
His purr matched mine, offering me comfort and security. He was the last one in my bed and the first one to tell me those words. It felt right that he’d be the first to offer them. I’d kind of expected him to be the last, though I’d hoped he wouldn’t be.
“I’m going to be a good alpha for you. I promise.”
“I believe you. I’ll do my best to be a good omega, but I can’t make any promises.”
Luke snorted. “Aves, you’re already damn near perfect.”
“You’re going to give me an ego talking like that.”
“Tragedy. When your ego gets too big to fit through a doorway, I’ll worry, but until then I’m going to compliment the woman I love.”
His words warmed down to my toes.
Luke was my alpha.
If only teen Ava could see me now.