Chapter 19
“Dominic.”
My voice is full of panic, and I silently curse myself. No one is going to calm down with me sounding like I’m a second away from hiding in fear.
I’m no stranger to a fight. Go to enough bar outings, and you’re bound to see a couple. Seeing two Alphas go at each other? That’s an entirely different experience.
The men circle each other, a light sheen of sweat coating Dominic’s back as he blocks another punch from Rylan. His white shirt clings to the muscles of his back and the groove of his spine while his hair loses its pristine styling in favor of its natural black waves. Rylan snarls and launches at Dominic again.
“Rylan.” I manage to put a bit of bite into my voice as I realize there’s more blood than there was when I first saw him on the couch.
I step up to them and try to pull the men apart, but it’s like I’m not even there. Dominic, to his credit, seems intent on just dodging whatever Rylan throws at him, but he doesn’t manage to miss all of them. Each heavy hit has me cursing under my breath. I shut the door and lock it before someone can hear the mess and call the police.
Dominic takes Rylan to the ground in a move so fluid, it’s momentarily heartbreaking. It’s clear he’s the one used to dealing in violence. Rylan snarls and tries to force them to roll, but Dominic is too strong, even with Rylan’s designation lending him more strength than I could ever dream to have regardless of how much of a gym rat I became. He forces Rylan’s hands wide, and it throws Rylan off center.
I take the moment and dive between them, pushing Rylan off Dominic entirely. Forcing him onto his back, I straddle his thighs and cup his cheeks.
“Rylan,” I say again with the same bite.
His lip is split, and a bruise already shadows his cheek and throat. It mirrors the snake tattoo on the other side, and the irony almost has me smirking. Almost.
Dominic doesn’t move from where he’s sprawled on the floor nearby. He’s barely breathing, and I glance at him. His eyes are locked on Rylan, but his body is relaxed. His hands rest flat on the hardwood floor, and he doesn’t seem concerned about his knuckles being split open.
“What the hell is going on?” I ask.
I don’t move off of Rylan as he adjusts under me. I swing my gaze back to him just in time to watch his eyes flutter closed and his throat ripple with a heavy swallow.
“Sorry,” Rylan mutters. “I can’t… The idea of you being with anyone else sets me on edge. You being with Dominic? My best friend since we met at the Council’s required classes? It’s not something I can just sit back and take.”
I drop my hands as shock courses through me. “What?” The question is barely more than a whisper.
Dominic grunts. “Be more honest than that, Rylan. I don’t really feel like getting punched again.”
“I want to fuck you,” Rylan bites out, his eyes still closed. Lightning races down my spine and straight to my dick. He continues, his hands fisting at his sides. “Bend you over the closest surface until you’re screaming for me. I could tolerate the need when we were just in the orchestra. But you here? In my space? The need is so strong that I can’t… I can’t fucking look at you without losing some of my sanity.”
He sits up and looks at me. So close to him, I can smell the earthy scent of his arousal. “You showing up with his hickeys all over you nearly decimated my control. I fucking need you, Jasper.”
I frown, confusion making me hesitate. He’s describing how an Alpha reacts to an Omega. How could he possibly feel this way about me?
“But I’m a Beta,” I say. His jaw clenches, and Dominic grunts, the sound low and derisive.
“So?” Rylan grips my throat, the same soft and controlling touch from Monday.
My blood heats.
I force myself to break his hold and stand, walking past them both and into the living room. Running my hands through my hair, I take a deep breath and try to understand what exactly happened.
“But you want to match. You want to register and be matched with an Omega and have a pack.” As I say the words, the euphoria and desire induced by his touch fades. If I were Omega, I’d still be panting, needing his touch like I need air. My voice drops to a whisper, and the hopeless thread weaving through it is impossible to miss. “And I can’t give you any of that.”
“Maybe he doesn’t need it,” Dominic says. He sounds like he’s gotten up but hasn’t gotten closer. I don’t turn around to double check.
Rylan grunts. “Alphas need packs. Whether an Omega needs to be at the center is the argument.”
Someone sighs.
“Accidenti, amico.” Dominic groans. “I am trying to help you. Stop being pedantic.”
“Fuck off, Dom,” Rylan mutters.
I run my hands over my face and turn back toward both men.
“What are you suggesting?” I ask without preamble.
Dominic leans against the island, his hands shoved in his pockets, his eyes locked on me. “Be with us both, Tesoro.”
My gaze snaps to Rylan. He’s staring at Dominic, his eyes wide. His eyes close again for a heartbeat and then he glances at me.
“Dominic doesn’t want children.” I’m not entirely sure why I say it.
Rylan smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’m well aware, Jasper.”
“Somebody say something, then, because I don’t know what the fuck is going on.” This time, my voice bites.
Rylan glances at Dominic before crossing the room to me. “I want you. Dominic clearly wants you. I have no qualms with choosing to be childfree. Is this a dynamic you could be content with?”
The moment his hands graze my neck, something settles in me, a weightless feeling just under my sternum that I haven’t felt since Seattle—since Violet. Rylan traces the chain of my necklace.
“Why an Omega symbol?” he asks, tracing the silver pendant.
“It was for someone I loved in Seattle.”
Dominic speaks from across the room. “They were an Omega?”
I nod, my throat suddenly dry. “She is, yeah.”
This will be the moment they realize I can’t offer all of myself, that despite my best efforts, part of my heart still belongs to Violet and probably always will.
Rylan nods and tucks the necklace under my shirt without comment.
“So?” Dominic asks. “Is this something you want?”
Surprise has me hesitating. “You’re not concerned that I’m still caught up over an ex?”
Rylan shrugs. “We all have baggage, Jasper. You’re here with us now, not her.”
Dominic crosses the room, standing behind me, his breath hot as sin against the sensitive spot just below my ear.
“Yeah, all right. Let’s try it,” I whisper.
The men don’t hesitate.
Rylan grabs me by the throat, pulling me into him, grinding our hips together before slamming his lips into mine. He’s rough and overbearing, and I melt at his feet because of it, each dominant touch making my dick ache and my heart race. He bites my lip hard enough that I gasp, and then his tongue is twisting into my mouth.
Dominic’s low laugh against my throat is my only warning before he’s bruising the sensitive spot just under my ear. He grabs my hips, pulling them back until I can feel the ridge of his cock against my ass. I groan into Rylan’s kiss, and both Alphas chuckle.
“Fun fact,” Dominic whispers into my ear. I shiver, melting against him, and he grinds against me. “Rylan and I have never shared before. He tends to like people that…” He bites that bruised skin again. My knees buckle, but he forces me to stay standing, his grip tight enough to bruise. “Well, they’re not typically my type.”
I pull away from Rylan.
“Bringing up past lovers when I’m caught between you two with the hard-on to end all hard-ons is not the best move, Dominic.”
I mean for it to be dry, a little biting, but it’s too breathless and desperate to hit that way.
Both men laugh. “Noted,” Dominic whispers against my ear.
I shiver. Dominic traces the waistband of my slacks before undoing the button and fly. My breath catches in my throat, and I press forward into his touch.
“Which drawer?” Dominic asks.
My brain is already muddy, lust overtaking me as completely as the tide. I swallow and ask, “What?”
Rylan laughs, his grip tightening on my throat. The pinch has me pressing my hips harder into his. Dominic’s hand gets caught between us, and I groan.
“Your lube, Jasper,” Rylan says. “Unless you want me to get mine.”