Chapter 16
Sometimes, I'm not quite sure I understand how James and I fit together.
I know nobody else does.
Since the day I was written off, the day I stopped being useful, he's been the one who is determined to hold me together, even if it's only with tape and unfounded optimism.
Even if there isn't much point to it, he's never faltered once.
Occasionally, I think I have him all figured out—but then the prick goes and pulls a stunt like this.
Seb's sitting cross-legged at the head of the bed, doing his best not to crack up while he plays the part of the reprimanded bratty student. James is standing over us like a teacher and seems to have decided to use Dellie and me as educational props.
Fuck. Poor Dellie. She barely knew where to look after nearly faceplanting in my crotch. I'm pretty sure nearly any other omega would run screaming for the hills.
The way we sometimes like to play when we fuck—only sometimes, when it's just us, definitely not when we're working—well, it really isn't for everyone.
James keeps his dominance strictly within the bedroom, and only lets it out occasionally—other than when he thinks we need looking after, that is, in which case he takes charge and doesn't let go.
That being said, I actually had no idea he was a Dom until I'd been dating the pack for nearly a month. It was even longer before he told me about his instructor kink, and longer still before I understood how much fun a little bit of educational role-play could be.
When Seb joined our pack, and we realised just how well his love of bratting and his student kink fit with James' preferences, and I discovered that an occasional hint of instructional objectification could be a lot of fun, we found a whole new way to play together, even if it's one that—up until now—I thought James wanted to keep just for us.
But we haven't played together like this for months.
Yet… he's inviting her to join in our game and play by our rules for a little bit. And she seems to be willing to join in.
And as excited as my alpha is at that prospect—and, envious as I am that I'm the only one who hasn't tasted her yet, I want her to go and get some sleep even more.
Much as my alpha may hate me for it, I fucking refuse to be the one who overwhelms her or pushes her too hard.
Not. Fucking. Happening. Even if this is the only shot I get with her.
Dellie's cheeks are reddening as James cups her face.
The tense laughter has fallen away. My alpha is yammering, trying to convince me that her breathing is quickening, her pupils are blown, and she's raring to go.
I mentally swat him away, and pull my focus together the way I used to before the starter's pistol.
But… as James redirects her focus back to him, pulling her gaze to meet his, her nipples are drawing themselves into tight, pebbled peaks.
Her chest is flushed. She's panting. The way her body is reacting to his suggestion makes me wonder if this is a game she is eager to play—even if it's also new for her.
James' grumbly growl pulls my attention back to him. It's unfair how hot he is when he's like this. "Well, lovely? Did Zeke make you feel safe in the car?"
She licks her lips. "Yes. He's really good at that."
"Hmmm. How did he do that? Was it because he made sure he understood what you were comfortable with? And checked in to make sure he'd understood?"
She nods. "Yes. And he's really careful with people's feelings. And he seems to notice… things that matter and are easy to miss."
Oh.
I should want to brush it off. I should be embarrassed.
But I want to bask in the glow of this feeling.
Heat diffuses through me as a small smile flits over her face. She looks over at me and blushes, then leans into my shoulder. James is blinking, too rapidly. He swallows a couple of times, and looks at Seb, whose mouth is twisted in a wry grin—
"You seem to be really good at it." Her voice is so quiet, I wouldn't have thought she'd spoken if I hadn't felt the warmth of her breath against my ear.
I let my lips drift across the bare skin of her shoulder, then pull back, taking her in. Her eyes are sparkling in the dim light. James raises his eyebrows at me.
She's looking up at me, an unspoken plea writ large on her face. I catch James' eye and nod.
James gently redirects her face back towards him. From the corner of my eye, I notice some of the tension ebb out of Seb's mouth.
"Now, focus, lovely. Or Seb won't learn his lesson." There's hungry humour glinting in James' eyes. Dellie can obviously see it, too, as her mouth quirks with suppressed laughter. He stands in front of her, and strokes her face.
"Yes, Alpha. Um, Sir."
I see the little clues that James' alpha really, really liked that. He's standing just that little bit taller.
"And not once did you nearly hit him—or anyone else for that matter—in the crotch?"
She shakes her head and snorts. I suppress a grin. Seb's rolling his eyes and chuckling.
"No, Sir." There's a cadence of laughter in her voice. My alpha relaxes a little more. I stroke her arm gently and she leans more into my side.
"Hmmm. So it is possible for you to have an orgasm without nearly causing serious bodily harm to one of your alphas, then?"
Dellie bursts out laughing. James' eyes are twinkling with dark humour.
"Yes, Sir," she giggles, breathlessly.
"I think you also gave a demonstration of that, James," I add, smirking.
James feigns exaggerated surprise. "You're right, Zeke! I did! How could I have forgotten that? Hmmm. Well. Seb clearly needs to learn how to do that for his omega, doesn't he, Dellie?"
She nods, her face growing redder. "Yes, Sir."
He squats down meeting her gaze, drawing slightly closer to her face. "What do you think, Dellie? Would he benefit from a practical demonstration?"
She licks her lips, her body leaning imperceptibly closer to both of us. Her gaze flicks to me, then to James. She pauses, then nods. "Yes, Sir." Her voice is barely louder than a whisper.
He glances at me. I raise an eyebrow, but I don't shake my head.
"Considering you both saw my example earlier, and it clearly didn't stick for Seb—then perhaps, given the outstanding example Zeke set in the car earlier, that Seb missed because he was sitting in front of you, maybe Zeke should demonstrate?
Do you think that's a good idea, Dellie? "
I swear, that omega could out-blush a cherry. She glances at me, her eyes holding the question.
… her choice her choice her choice her choice…
I'm having to hold back my alpha with both hands. My knuckles are white from how hard I'm gripping onto the comforter.
… fuck.
Concentrating on not letting myself look too lecherous, I let my mouth drift into a soft smile, and gently stroke her cheek with my thumb. "I'm fine with whatever you want, darling."
She glances at Seb.
"Hey, I'm down for whatever."
I don't remember Seb grinning like this in years. His eyes flick to James, who folds his arms and glares at him. He clears his throat. "Sorry, Sir. I'll be respectful."
James nods, standing just a little more upright, confident satisfaction and dominance radiating from his expression.
How can one person make all of us just… click into place like this?
Her eyes flick up at James. She breathes a trembling sigh. "Yes, Sir."
The gentle kiss James drops on the top of her head is laced with so much tenderness that it makes my heart ache. It's a side of him I've only ever seen come out with me and Ralph. But I'm weirdly not jealous. It just… makes sense.
"Good girl, Omega." The rumble in James' voice makes Dellie shiver and me twitch. Or maybe it was his words. It's hard to tell.
Scooping her hair over her shoulders, I lean towards her neck and drift a soft kiss over the side of her jaw. "You just let me know when things are practical enough, okay? Your 'stop' always works," I murmur the words into her ear, then pull back so I can see her eyes.
They're bright and infused with warmth. She nods, smiling as her gaze meets mine again. Then she leans forward again and breathes into my ear, "you too, yeah? Or if we need to switch things up so it feels good for both of us."
The urge to bury my nose in the nape of her neck, to sink my teeth into her creamy flesh, hits me in the gut.
I force myself to breathe slowly, to keep still, even as her scent fills my lungs, curling and settling inside me, as the heat of her bare shoulder radiates against lips.
"I know where my limits are." I close my eyes as I murmur into her collarbone.
"I'm not so broken that I can't make both of us feel good without breaking myself further. "
Her hair tickles my neck as she shakes her head. "I don't think you're broken. Not… not in the ways that matter."
The words sink into me like a rock into a pond.
I lean back slightly, tucking a recalcitrant strand of hair behind her ear. A soft smile melts across her lips as her eyes dart across my face. There's a glow that radiates from her that warms me in a place I hadn't realised was cold.