Chapter Sixteen
Gy
The sweet scent of honeysuckle turns acrid, and my nose wrinkles.
“Willow?” Her beautiful silver eyes roll back. What the actual fuck?
Having leaped from my seat, I rush around the counter. My hands reach out, willing time to slow as her legs crumple.
Make it. Make it. Stretching my arm muscles until they cramp, I grab for the tiny omega, who’s suddenly swan-diving toward the hard tile floor.
My fingers make contact with the soft skin of her arms in the nick of time. Hauling her slight body against mine, I lift her easily, then reposition Willow until she’s cradled safely in my arms.
I spare a glance at the object in the box, and it looks like a broken piano key. Nothing overtly sinister, but as the brother of a serial killer who liked to send gifts to his future victims, I’m not one to judge what may be deemed threatening.
Bruce eyes me warily, his lips pulled back in a snarl. But he doesn’t move to bite or attack, merely lets me know with his presence that if I put a finger out of line, he’s gonna take it off. The moment is fraught with tension, neither of us ready to bend, one Alpha to another.
Still, he allows it, and I find myself grateful… to a dog.
Willow twitches, letting out a soft whimper, and I tighten my hold. I never expected to bring an omega into my life, so having one in distress cuddled against me makes my hindbrain do all kinds of things. For a moment, I freeze, trying to remember how to calm the fragile creatures.
Figure it out, you big dummy. What do omegas need? Softness. Sweets. Enclosed spaces.
Unsure whether she has chocolate on hand, I opt for the first, wandering into her living room. The couch is open and inviting and I consider laying her on it alone, but my instincts urge me to stay.
With a deep sigh, I settle in, holding her close and wondering how long it will be until she comes to. There’s a soft blanket on the armrest, and I drape it over her, even if I’m already too warm.
My fingers find her pulse, thrumming in her wrist, and I count her heartbeats.
Noticing when the rapid thump starts to calm before ratcheting up again.
She thrashes for a moment, letting out a whine that’s all omega.
A rusty purr rumbles in my chest, filling the room.
It’s been so long since I’ve used it that the sound shocks me.
Willow stills in my arms, her pulse slows, and finally her eyelids open.
The sight of their silvery depths allows me to breathe a sigh of relief. Despite it being mere minutes since she passed out, it might as well have been an eternity.
Willow blinks a few times, coming back to herself, and even though I loosen my arms to ensure she doesn’t feel trapped, the little omega doesn’t seem to care.
Her freckled nose twitches adorably, taking deep breaths of my scent, then sniffing around for more.
In this moment, she’s completely unguarded, giving me a glimpse of the way things could be between us.
Will be, one day.
Honeysuckle blooms around me for an instant, then she presses her cheek to my chest. Scent-marking me.
My breath hitches, purr stuttering to a stop.
“Oh, God.” She sits up suddenly, hand covering her mouth in horror. “That was so rude. I shouldn’t have done that.” Her eyes jump around the room, worry vibrating through her body.
“Baby girl, you can leave your delicious honeysuckle on me anytime. I’ve never been happier.” She eyes me warily, but the tension leaves her shoulders, and with just a little tug, she snuggles comfortably back into my side.
Right where she belongs.
“What happened?” she asks, her brow furrowing as she tries to remember. “I…” I tighten my hold, loving the soft feel of her body against mine, and do my best not to frighten her.
“You opened that little white box and relocated yourself to the floor.” My attempt at a bad joke doesn’t get so much as an eyebrow lift, so I continue, “I picked you up and brought you in here. You haven’t been out long, just a few minutes.”
Willow stares off into space, biting her lower lip, and my baser instincts go on full alert. Baseball. No. Death. Serial killers. I try to think of something else, but nothing is enough to overpower how badly I want to kiss my scent-match.
God, she’s gorgeous. Wrapping myself around her, I slide our hands together, and she immediately flinches and pulls them away. I get a quick glimpse of her fingers before she leaps from my lap and busies herself folding the blanket.
What the hell? They looked like something might be wrong, but I don’t know how to bring it up. As she flits through the room, creating space between us, my skin starts to itch.
“The piano key. That was such a strange gift. I wonder how it ended up on my porch.” She pretends like it was no big thing, but it’s a lie, and not even a good one.
“Want to tell me why it scared the shit out of you?” Her head whips around, scent spiking with uncertainty.
“It didn’t. I think I just had low blood sugar or something.” Deflection. Classic.
I war with myself, wanting to call her out on it and demand her secrets. But I’ve known the omega for less than a day—giving me no right to her truths. Not yet, anyway.
So, I do the only thing I can to bring her back to me.
“How about we go for a ride?” Before she has a chance to say no, I play my trump card.
“Go visit Bigfoot and see if he’s still what you’re lookin’ for in the light of day.
” I have reservations about letting her near the beast, but now that I’ve seen Bruce and she’s told me more about training protection dogs, I can’t help but give her a shot.
“On your motorcycle?” She toys with the ends of her hair, giving me another glimpse of her fingers. They’re misshapen, deformed in a way that screams of being tortured, and anger burns in my gut.
I’m gonna need a name. But first, earn her trust.
“Yeah. Got it out front. You can take your car to the clubhouse if you like, but there’s nothing like being on a Harley. The speed. Sun on your face. Wind in your hair.” Her eyes sparkle with interest, yet caution remains. And after last night, I can’t blame her.
“I’ve kind of always wanted to ride one,” she admits, petting Bruce. There’s something holding her back.
“But?” I prompt.
“But will you swear to bring me home when I say so? There’s a training class tonight, and I’m teaching… Also….” Her scent bounces between excitement and uncertainty. “Being stuck is my worst nightmare.”
Willow offers her vulnerability on a silver platter, and I want nothing more than to promise her the world.
“You say the word, and I’ll take you straight home. And if for some reason I can’t, Puppy will.” She considers my offer for a moment, finding it acceptable, and nods.
“Okay. I need to get some of my training stuff and make sure Bruce has water and plenty to do while I’m out.” Willow takes off into the kitchen, where I can’t help but notice the wary glance she makes at the piano key one last time.
There’s so much I want to know about this woman, but my senses tell me that pushing too hard will make her disappear in the blink of an eye.
Slow and steady.
Before long, Willow comes barreling back into the room, where Bruce has been mean-mugging me. Her hair is now up in a long braid that shows off her slender neck. My teeth ache to taste her, sink into her flesh, and bond her to me forever, but I hold myself back, knowing how important restraint is.
“Okay. Let’s go!” she chirps. I head for the door, opening it for her like the gentleman I barely remember how to be. The beautiful omega maneuvers around me, drops a final kiss on Bruce’s furry head, then locks the door behind us once we step onto the porch.
“You don’t want to set the alarm before you leave?” She wrinkles her nose, and I hold up my hands. “Just trying to make sure the house stays safe while you’re gone.”
Willow sighs, then taps her phone screen. “Armed. Not that Bruce isn’t more than capable of protecting his home."
She has a small bag in her hand, and as we get to my Harley, she pauses, scanning all the chrome.
“Do you want me to store your belongings?” Pointing to the leather pouch beside the seat, I indicate the small saddlebag on my motorcycle that I keep in case I pick up snacks.
She hesitates for a moment, her now-gloved hand tightening on the bag.
Is there really training stuff in there?
Or weapons? Willow is a spitfire, but still, I’m not eager to get another lesson at the other end of her taser.
Then again, I’ll take my chances if it means spending more time with her, especially when she’s wrapped around me. Swallowing hard, she hands it over hesitantly.
“You’re safe with me, Willow.” My girl doesn’t know it yet, but I’d do anything to protect her. Anything.
After snagging my helmet off the seat, I turn toward my omega and place it on her head. “If you’re going to be riding with me, we’ll get you your own soon. For today, I’d like you to use mine. Make sure we safeguard that precious brain of yours.”
She looks between me and the bike. “But what about you? Don’t you need one?”
“Nah, my head’s hard as a rock. Plus, I’ll go slow.” She grins wickedly at me, wiggling her eyebrows before nodding. The helmet wobbles forward, making her laugh before she pushes it back in place.
“But not too slow!”
“Never,” I rumble, eliciting a little shiver from her. Once I’ve thrown a leg over my Harley, I make sure it’s balanced before offering my hand to my omega. Using it to steady herself, Willow slides on behind me gracefully, then searches for a handhold, giving me way too much space.
That just won’t do.
Turning the key, my bike roars to life, vibrating below us, and Willow yips. My cock jumps once more, and I ignore the fucker, instead reaching back to grip her knee.
With a gentle tug, I bring my omega flush against my back, her lush breasts pressing into me. God, I can’t wait to taste them, lick them, bite them. Her hands come forward to grasp my wrist.
“Like this. Arms around me, babe. Just stay relaxed and loose.” She lets out what sounds like a strangled moan, and I wonder whether my bike is affecting her tender cunt. I hope it is. My inner Alpha loves the idea of her wet and slick, leaving a trail along the leather seat.
Fuck yeah. Tentatively, Willow bands her arms around me, and I squeeze them.
“That’s my girl.” I grasp the handlebars. “Hang on!” With those last words, I peel away from the curb, pleased when she holds onto me tighter.
Willow’s pussy rubs against my back, and I swear I’m in heaven. I only wish the drive between her place and mine were longer.
But this is just the first ride of forever.