Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Leon
The tension between my omega and I rose to a level I couldn’t ignore. Bowling was fun and playful, until it turned flirty.
Neither of us took it too far… but I could feel my entire body lean toward her like a magnet, my attention forever split between her and the rest of the world.
As much as I wanted to claim her, to find peace with my omega, I wasn’t sure either of us was really in the headspace to take our relationship to that level.
It was too soon, right?
Her scent teased me as much as she did. The sweet and tart mix of champagne, grapefruit, and vanilla was strong enough it lingered on my skin when she brushed against me.
Or maybe it had simply imprinted on me, my mind clinging to it like a lifeline in this chaotic life.
How was it only a few weeks ago I was escaping my own personal hell and now I was here?
There was no denying that her scent went beyond smelling incredible. I was drawn to her in a way that I’ve never felt before. I trusted her implicitly already.
Only fate could have taken two broken souls like ours and led us together in a place that was near impossible to find.
Aries seemed oblivious to my tumultuous thoughts, her smile bright as she hooked her arm in mine and led me out into the evening air.
“You know, tonight is the most normal I’ve felt in a long time,” she said as we climbed into her SUV.
Her cheeks were pink from laughing and the excitement in her eyes was making the blue-gray seem even brighter, almost metallic. She was gorgeous.
“Same here,” I said honestly. “I didn’t expect to find that here.”
“This place has a way of bringing out the best in all of us. A life without fear can do that,” she said as she turned the key in the ignition.
When I said nothing I felt her gaze land on me. I tried to paste on a smile, but she frowned.
“Is something bothering you, Leon? Did you not have a good time?”
She seemed so worried, and I hated that I was bringing the evening down.
“Nothing like that. I had a great time. It just felt like things were heating up, and…’ I trailed off, fighting with myself to find the words and not make a fool of myself.
But Aries deserved my honesty. “I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve never been with someone I chose.
I really like you, and I don’t want to mess this up. ”
“If you’ve never chosen, then this is your first time.
We go at your pace,” she promised, her eyes burning with conviction.
This omega had a way of chasing away every fear I had.
“I’ve had time to come to terms with mine.
I’ve been with a few men here and there but I wasn’t interested in more than that.
With you, I think I’m ready to try for more. When you are, of course.”
“I want that, too. I’m ready. I just don’t want to do something you’re not comfortable with.”
“We’ll take it slow and see where we get,” she said easily. “There’s no wrong way to do this.”
“We’re mates, right?” I whispered. “Scent-matches?”
“Yes, I think so,” she agreed, eyes burning into mine.
“I’m glad my first time is you, then,” I said, embracing her logic.
They didn’t get to take anything else from me. They’d taken so much over the years that this was all mine.
With Aries, I finally had someone I could move on with. To find my place in the world and not let myself drown in the broken, painful memories I was left with.
I wasn’t perfect yet. There were steps to take and therapy to be had. But… there was also a life to live and I wanted that with her.
Aries focused on the road, her hand reaching out to wrap around mine. Even that small contact was enough to have my heart racing. Everything this woman did drove me insane in the best way.
“My alpha and I were going to run away together,” she finally broke the silence. “I asked Lark to find him for me and she sent me the information. I haven’t been brave enough to read it… but if she did find him, someday I might want to reach out. Would that bother you?”
Her alpha. She had one already. I knew from her story but I hadn’t considered him coming here to Widow’s Peak. The thought threatened to burst this little bubble of safety we were creating.
But I trusted Aries.
If she needed him, then she should have him. I could share with a pack.
At least I hoped I could. It might be strange at first, but Aries wasn’t the type to throw me aside the moment he was back in the picture.
“If you decide you’re ready, I’ll be right by your side,” I promised. “We’re in this together.”
When she parked, we both climbed out. She met me at the front of the SUV, taking my hand and leading me inside.
“No pressure, Leon,” she promised as she unlocked the door and pushed it open, pulling me inside.
Just like that the heat was back between us, teasing us.
I was done letting fear and worries rule my life. She was mine and I wanted her.
Aries let out a gasp as I stepped forward, my hand resting on her neck, my face inches from hers. Her scent perfumed around us, creating a bubble that was purely Aries. It felt safe and warm and inviting.
Then her lips were on mine. I let my eyes flutter closed, locking myself in this moment. She was warm and sweet on my tongue, her lips plush. A small whimper escaped and that was all it took for me to be hard as steel.
I let my kisses trail away from her lips and down her neck, my nose teasing along her scent glands, soaking in every ounce of her intoxicating sweetness.
“Not here,” she said, pulling out of reach and offering me a sly smile. She turned, swinging her hips as she moved down the hall to her room.
So far, I’d slept on the couch. The thought of waking up next to her had my heart beating faster, my feet following her in hurried steps like I couldn’t risk being away from her for even a second.
“If you’re not ready,” she started when she turned around to face me, but I kissed her before she could finish.
“I’m ready,” I said. “This is ours.”
“Then I’m yours, Leon,” she said before lifting her shirt over her head.
Aries was standing in front of me in a lacy black bra and her jeans. She made sure I was watching as she unbuttoned those as well, shimmying them down her hips, taking her lacy panties with it.
My mouth went dry at the sight of her. She had smooth, creamy skin. Her hips were flared but she was fit, the hint of muscles showing under her omega softness from her time spent at the gym.
Fit, but soft, a lethal combination for my heart.
No hesitation, I reminded myself.
I truly felt like a virgin. I’d never been given the chance to draw pleasure from my partners and I couldn’t help but worry if I’d be able to give her what she needed.
Back at the facility, we were forced to fuck the omegas and move on, faces blurring, tears falling… fuck.
No.
Not now.
I shoved it back and focused on the goddess standing before me. Her lips tilted into a smile as I started to lift my own shirt. I wasn’t as fit as her yet, but I was trying. My form was far too thin still but I wasn’t shy about my body.
Before I could unbutton my own slacks she was there, doing it for me and shoving them and my boxer briefs down my hips. My cock was hard and leaking, nearly smacking her once it was no longer confined.
Aries dropped to her knees, those bright, bluish gray eyes asking permission. I nodded once and bit my lip as she wrapped those red-stained lips around my cock.
Fuck, her mouth was wet and hot and so fucking good.
Pleasure jolted through me, my hand instinctively resting on her head as my head tipped back.
I focused on breathing so I didn’t lose it too soon.
I wanted to savor the slide of her wet lips and the teasing swirls of her tongue with each movement.
Then she swallowed. Her throat constricted around me, tight and hot and nearly sending me into the afterlife.
“Fuck, Aries,” I groaned, my hips jolting forward despite trying to not overwhelm her.
“I can take it, Leon. Let yourself have this,” she ordered in a husky tone. The trust she had in me was enough that I thrust forward tentatively. I kept the movements short at first, but her hands digging into my thighs demanded more.
I could smell her slick in the air, a sign she loved this as much as I did. Slick that I would absolutely be devouring with my tongue the moment she released me.
My movement picked up and so did her efforts. She sucked hard, swallowing me down again as her hands found my balls, massaging them until I couldn’t resist. I’d never felt pleasure like this and the fact it was Aries giving it to me only made it better.
This was what I wanted in life. A woman who wanted me as much as I wanted her. A pack to build a life with.
I let out a low moan as I came down her throat. My omega drank me down with a happy sigh on her lips.
When she pulled back I wobbled for a moment, breathing hard as I tried to regain my composure.
“We can stop here if you need,” she said without a hint of irritation. Aries was always so calm and it helped me stay in that state of mind as well.
This was incredible and I was not ready for it to end.
“Absolutely not,” I said on a growl, lifting her up and surprising us both as I carried her to the bed. I dropped her on the edge and pulled off her clothes before falling to my knees. “It’s my turn to taste you. I’ve been dreaming of this from the moment I scented you.”
She parted her legs, hooking them over my shoulders and pulling me closer to her glistening pussy. Her scent was so strong it had my head spinning, and the moment my tongue slid through her slick, I was lost.
I needed more.
Aries whimpered as I licked and sucked every inch of her pussy, not diving into her core yet, too busy savoring the sweetness bursting on my tongue.
“Fuck, Leon,” she whimpered, gasping out as I sucked hard on her swollen clit, her slick gushing down my chin as I finally sank a finger into her core.
She was so wet I added a second, fucking her gently as I continued to tease her, curling my fingers slightly to tease over where a knot would lock her.
That was the end of her control, her body tensing, fingers gripping my hair as she came hard, a cry on her lips and slick bursting on my tongue.
The sound of her losing control chased away any worries that I couldn’t give her what she needed. The evidence was right in front of me and dripping down my face.
I cleaned her up with my tongue, slowing my movements as she came down from her orgasm, easing her down as her chest heaved.
My omega’s eyes were glassy as she looked down at me. “That was the best orgasm I’ve ever had.”
As much as I wanted more, I also wanted to bask in this moment we’d created. Soak in the afterglow and only take it further later when we’ve had a moment to breathe.
“Come here,” I said as I stood, crawling up her bed and snuggling in, opening my arms. Her entire face lit up, the sweet smile melting my heart. We were both so damn touch starved that I knew I made the right choice.
She fell into my touch, her soft sigh of contentment matching exactly how I felt. Our scents calmed now, shifting to something sweet and serene.
A calm after the storm.
I pulled a blanket over us, my eyes drifting closed as I ran my fingertips up and down her arms. This moment felt like it was rewriting my DNA, changing me into a new beta.
Just as I started to fall asleep wrapped around my mate, Aries’s phone let out a shrill ring, making us both jump.
She let out a cute groan of defeat. “That ringtone is the widows.” She slid out of bed to retrieve her phone from her jeans before joining me again.
The clock next to her bed said it was almost midnight. If they were calling now, this might not be good news.
“Hello?” Her voice came out in a rasp. I watched her face go from worried, to stark white. I couldn’t get a read on what was going on. She barely said a word before finally asking a few pointed questions on a location and time.
When she hung up, she swallowed hard, looking a bit sick.
“What is it?” I asked as I soothed my hands through her hair, trying to offer reassurance.
“We have a pretty big group of omegas coming. Eleven women.”
“I hate that there are so many of them, but at least they’re safe?” I pointed out gently.
“You’re right. It’s just… Usually, one of us is there, but when it’s a group like this, we all like to be there because we’ve all been through it.
It helps them find their place here. It always reminds me of that fucking place.
Even with Gideon gone, it’s hard to forget it when I’m faced with that kind of reminder.
I was having nightmares again before you moved here.
I guess you were a good distraction but I’m terrified for them to hit me again. ”
She dropped her phone on the side table and fell back against me.
“You’ve helped take care of them.”
It was refreshing to know I had a hand in her finding a little peace in this crazy world. She gave me that, too.
“I can go with you,” I offered, unwilling to let my mate face anything alone if I could help it. We were a team now.
She looked relieved. “It’s not our normal protocol, but given the nightmares and the stress lately… I think they’ll understand. If you’re truly willing?”
I kissed her shoulder and pulled her closer to me.
“I’ll always be there when you ask me to be,” I promised. “Nothing could keep me away.”
She rolled us both over, straddling my hips. My hands ran up her bare thighs, settling there as I stared up at her. She was gorgeous. Her lipstick was smudged, her hair wild from my fingers locking in it earlier. My omega, looking more ethereal than she ever had.
“How did I get so lucky, Leon?”
I pulled her down, kissing her soundly, nipping at her lip before pulling away, savoring the sweet smell of her scent.
“I’m the lucky one.”