Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Riley
Brooks has officially moved in as of yesterday, claiming one of the other guest rooms as his. As soon as Sage turned her doe eyes on him and Vee, they caved. I think they both want him here too, as do I, so I suppose we all owe the omega a thank you for making it happen sooner rather than later.
Despite him not leaving every night now, and Sage having gone on dates with all of us, I’m still afraid something bad will happen. That somehow the pack won’t work out.
I’ve fallen hard and fast for Sage, and I’m currently falling hard and fast for Brooks, too.
Things feel unfinished, like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I suspect part of it is that Sage doesn’t have her nest set up yet, and the other part being her brother and his friend that she was staying with—and that missing person’s notice they put up.
We don’t know much about them, which means we don’t know what they’re capable of.
I desperately want this pack to work out, for all of us to be together, but there’s a part of me that’s holding back. Scared to hope for it or accept this as our new reality. I’m fine when I’m around the others, but when I’m alone in my room like this… That’s when the thoughts creep in.
Is Sage safe with us? Is there anything I can do to help?
To ensure she’s okay, safe, happy? Sage has already wormed her way into my heart, so if something happens to her, I truly don’t know how I’ll survive.
It’s terrifying to think you might care about someone more than they care about you.
I’ve always felt secure in my place with Vee, but with her former pack looming behind us, and another alpha here now, I don’t know how to move forward.
Like she can sense my distress, Vee knocks on my cracked open door.
“Yeah,” I call, and she nudges it open further.
Her beauty strikes me, as it often does, even after being together for years. Rich brown skin that glows in the soft light of my room. Lithe and tall, toned arms and legs. Big brown eyes, and lashes for days.
She purses her full lips when she sees me curled up in bed, then she steps in and pushes the door closed behind her. Her steps are soft but sure as she crosses to the bed.
“What’s wrong, Sour Patch?” she says, her voice soft as she curls her body around mine.
I relax into her, inhaling her warm cedar wood and fresh eucalyptus.
“I’m afraid this isn’t real,” I whisper. “Sage…” I trail off, no idea how to put into words my feelings and concerns about Sage. “And Brooks, I’m scared they’re going to leave us, or that he won’t want me the way I want him.”
Neveah strokes her hand through my hair, scratching my scalp with her nails. The blue is starting to fade; I’ll need to re-dye it soon. She places a soft kiss on the side of my neck, then wraps her arms firmly around me.
“I know what you mean,” she says. “I get in my head about it too, sometimes. It feels surreal. Too good to be true.”
I hum my agreement, and she continues after a few moments of quiet cuddling.
“I think it is, though,” she murmurs. “Real, I mean. I think they’re here to stay, Riley.”
I don’t reply, choosing to focus instead on her steady, comforting presence, and she holds me tight for a few minutes.
“Why don’t you go spend some time with Brooks? I think it might make you feel better.”
“You don’t mind?” I’ve heard how pack life is supposed to work, but Vee is my safe space. I won’t do anything to jeopardize our relationship.
“No, love,” she says, teasing her fingers through my hair again. “In fact, I would love nothing more than for you and him to spend some quality time together.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
I have no idea why I’m nervous, but my legs are restless as I quietly pad down the hall to Brooks’ room. I knock softly on his door, then wince, wondering if he heard it or if I should try again.
“Come in,” his deep voice sounds from the other side.
I enter to find the alpha shirtless on his bed, leaning back against the headboard with one leg bent and a book in his hands. He sticks a ribbon between the pages to mark his spot, then sets it on the nightstand as I push the door closed and tread closer.
It’s only when I’m next to the bed that I realize the book he’s reading is a romance novel. Even worse, it’s one from my collection, which means I’m very aware of how spicy it is.
“Did you steal my book?” My eyes fly from the book—noting he’s more than halfway through and therefore has definitely hit the spicy parts—up to his amused eyes.
“It looked well-loved, so I had to see what it was you enjoyed about it so much.” Brooks smirks, and my heart skips in my chest. “I’m definitely seeing the appeal.”
My face burns. I’m absolutely tomato-red, no doubt about it, and I have no idea what to say.
“Come here,” Brooks says, patting the bed next to him.
I scramble over, then don’t know how to arrange myself. Brooks brushes his hand along my shoulder, then wraps it around the nape of my neck. It’s surprisingly comforting in a secure way, and I relax into his hold as he pulls me down to his side.
“You okay, Ri?”
“I’m okay,” I whisper, snuggling into him. “Just getting in my head about all this.”
“Let’s sort it out. What’s got you worried?” His voice is gentle and deep, sinking beneath my skin.
“Besides how unreal it all feels, and Sage’s brother, and the fact my heart now resides outside my chest?” I try to make light of it, but Brooks doesn’t laugh.
“Hmm,” he hums, a low rumble against my ear. “I know what you mean. But since you phrased it that way, yes. In addition to all that, what’s going through your pretty head?”
I pause as my thoughts swirl, trying to pick which worry to start with. None of the expected ones emerge though, and instead, something entirely new slips out. “I think her heat coming up is making me nervous.”
Brooks hums, a thoughtful rumble as he considers. “Have you been part of an omega’s heat before?”
I shake my head. “No, never. Have you?”
“I haven’t,” Brooks says, surprising me. I chance a glance up at his face to see his strong brows pulled together, eyes distant. “Why are you nervous? To be honest, I am a little bit, too.”
I bite my lip and wiggle around, not wanting to put the thought into words. Brooks senses my hesitation, and he twists toward me.
“Talk to me, Ri.”
I stare at his muscular chest, then look away before I start drooling. He’s so freaking hot it’s unbelievable, and he seems to have no idea.
“I just,” I sigh, wrinkle my nose, then roll to my back and fling my arm over my eyes. “I’m afraid you donwantmelikeIwantyou.”
A gentle hand strokes along my arm to my wrist, then tugs it away from my face. Brooks’ warm hazel eyes are soft when I gather the courage to meet them.
“And how do you want me?” he murmurs, voice low and intimate.
“I want you in every way,” I whisper, staring into those mesmerizing eyes. He has flecks of gold and darker brown interspersed with the lighter hazel, and a ring of light green around the pupil.
“Be more specific, Riley,” he instructs.
I gulp. “I want to kiss you.”
“Then kiss me.” His reply is immediate.
“You want me to?”
“I do,” he says, cupping his palm around my cheek. He leans forward slowly, towering over me on the bed. “I really do, Riley.”
But then he stops, his mouth inches from mine as his breath ghosts across my lips. A disgruntled noise of protest leaps up my throat, and his massive hand squeezes the back of my neck, applying the lightest bit of pressure to nudge me closer to him.
I comply easily, eagerly, reaching up to him until my lips meet his.
It’s gentle, so different from how Vee and I kiss. He’s almost reverent as his lips explore, his tongue swiping out to taste my lower lip, then tangling with mine in a sultry dance.
I groan into his mouth and he seals his lips to mine, swallowing the sound as he rolls on top of me.
He’s broad and heavy, a god bestowing his presence on me and I sink into the mattress as desire swells through my veins.
His beard is a soft, bristled texture against my skin, and I imagine what it might feel like on other parts of my body.
One muscled arm is propped by my head, holding his weight off me, while the other slides from the back of my neck around my shoulder and then down my ribs. It settles on my hip bone and I nearly buck up into him, desperate for more.
Then he pulls away, kiss-swollen lips parted as he leans his forehead against mine.
“Riley,” he says, haltingly. “I’m not used to this. I don’t have sex often, and I’m rarely sexually attracted to others. But you and Sage, even Vee. You’re all settled in my heart, and my cock has definitely gotten the memo.”
I grin, delighted with that information, and he lightly slaps my hip.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Ri,” he says. “I want to take my time with each of you. Get to know you before we jump into bed together.”
“Okay,” I readily agree. “I want to get to know you, too. But I also want you to know that I’m ready to jump into bed anytime.”
Brooks groans with a huffed laugh, shaking his head as he rolls off me. I stick my lip out in an exaggerated pout, and he leans back in to nip it, then pulls me up with him to sit against the headboard.
“About some of your other worries,” he says, glancing at me.
“I’m still working all my same jobs as before, so I’m in her brother’s neighborhood nearly every day.
I’ve been driving by the house, chatting up the neighbors when I can, that kind of thing.
Trying to keep an eye and ear out to see what they’re up to, if anything. ”
“Oh,” I say, surprised but incredibly relieved by that news. “Have you heard anything?”
He shakes his head with a sigh. “Unfortunately, no. It seems they’ve always kept to themselves, and no one knows anything. I don’t think they even know Sage is “missing”. I do think we should have a pack meeting though. Discuss the missing person’s poster.”
“Probably a good idea. She didn’t deserve how they treated her,” I say, anger and hurt on her behalf rising inside me.
“No,” Brooks says, his voice icy quiet. “No, she really didn’t.”
We chat for a bit longer, then Brooks snags his book off the nightstand and opens it, holding it so we can both read quietly together. Thankfully, it’s not a sexy scene, so I manage to keep my hands and dick to myself.
I wake up to the sun streaming into the room and a massive body curled around mine. I scrunch my eyes closed with an unhappy mumble, and the chest behind me vibrates with a chuckle. Soft chest hair tickles my back, and Brooks nuzzles his nose into my hair.
“Good morning, sleepy beta,” Brooks croons in my ear.
My cock is at attention, and I desperately hope he hasn’t noticed. He said he wants to take things slow, and I’m determined to respect that.
“How did you sleep?” he asks.
“Like the dead,” I mumble, pressing back into him, only for my eyes to pop open in surprise when I feel an equally hard cock nestled into my ass.
“Ignore it,” he murmurs, tucking me more snuggly into his arms.
“Are you sure?”
He nods, scent marking my hair.
“Okay, but only if you ignore mine, then.”
Brooks stiffens behind me, then groans as he exhales.
“Goddamn it Ri, I knew that first day that you’d be the death of me.”
I grin, then shuffle and twist in his arms until I’m facing him.
“Thank you for last night,” he says. “I’m so glad you came in to talk with me.”
“Is it okay that I fell asleep in here?” Worry is still tingling through me, ready to flare at the slightest provocation.
“It’s more than okay. I loved getting to hold you all night.” Brooks’ voice is deep and warm, the coziest voice I could imagine.
“Okay,” I say, my cheeks heating.
Brooks is much sweeter than I expected him to be, and I don’t entirely know how to respond to it.
“Shall we get some breakfast?” he asks.
“Not yet, alpha daddy.” I wrap my free arm around him and tug myself closer, resting one cheek against his hard pec. “More cuddles first.”
He heaves a sigh as he wraps his arms around me, but I’m absolutely positive it’s overly dramatic, and that he secretly loves the nickname.