Chapter 30
Beck
“Oh shit, that’s hot,” I whisper to Leo.
The two of us hover outside the elevator doors, watching Eli and Andi make out like teenagers. I mean, I’m not stupid. I knew when we left the two of them alone that they’d probably get up to something.
But I don’t think I expected my body’s reaction to the sight before me.
Andi’s legs are wrapped around Eli’s waist, her toes pointed as she lets out a breathy moan into his mouth.
“Wow,” Leo whispers back.
What else is there to say?
“You think it’s weird that we’re watching?”
“Eli knows we’re here. There’s no way he didn’t hear the elevator door ding open with his alpha senses.” Leo’s lips tug up into a grin. “The guy wants us to watch.”
“So he’s staking his claim?”
“I mean, he did watch the two of us with her on the dance floor last night. If I were him, I’d want to stake a little claim too.”
I feel myself growing hard in my sweatpants the longer I watch.
And boy, do the two of us watch for a long time.
Or maybe time is just slowing down because of how good they look together.
Andi runs her manicured nails, through Eli’s hair, tugging the strands in a passionate, almost punishing way, pulling him even closer to her. He matches her energy by hooking her leg above his hip, spreading her open to him and making her t-shirt ride up.
I catch sight of black lace before it’s gone and have to bite my fist.
“I feel like I’m in the cuck chair right now,” I groan. “All I want to do is join in.”
“I want to say we should give him his moment, but I’m inclined to agree,” Leo bites out, setting down the bag of food on a cabinet.
We barely make it a step towards them when the elevator doors ding behind us.
“Damn, that’s certainly something,” Everett comments, stepping between Leo and I.
Eli’s shoulders stiffen, and he reluctantly breaks the kiss.
Andi lets out a little whine, rolling her hips into him.
“Wait,” Eli grunts, gripping her hips and stilling her movements.
She peeks around Eli’s shoulders and lets out a squeak of mortification.
“Oh my God, how long have you guys been there?” She hides back behind Eli.
“I don’t know how long these boys were watching, but unfortunately enough, I just arrived,” Everett comments, his piercing blue gaze locked onto her with an intensity I find hot, and it’s not even directed at me.
“And you guys?” Andi’s cheeks are flaming red when she builds the courage to peek around Eli’s broad frame again.
“About five minutes or so,” Leo says, clearing his throat and picking up the bag of breakfast sandwiches.
“Five minutes?” She turns her gaze up to Eli. “Did you know they were here?”
He just shrugs, flashing the two of us a devilish smirk.
“Oh, he totally did,” I tease, making my way towards the two of them.
The smell of bacon from our earlier cooking debacle is smothered by the mix of Eli’s blood orange scent and Andi’s chamomile perfume. It creates this perfect blend of soothing, fruity tea that I want to bottle up and hoard for myself forever.
“You fucking dick!” Andi hisses, unable to hide her grin as she slaps Eli in the chest.
He just continues flashing her that obnoxious smirk before taking a step back and letting her hop off the counter. She tugs the hem of his shirt down to cover her bare legs and glances at Everett.
“Sorry you had to see that,” she says, nervously pulling her braid over one shoulder.
“No need to apologize,” Everett says, pulling out the barstool directly next to her, sitting right in front of where she was spread out on the countertop.
Damn, looks like Everett’s staking his claim too. He doesn’t need to say anything more to telegraph exactly what he’s thinking.
I didn’t know it was possible for her to get even redder. The flush reaches the tips of her ears.
She spins around, away from the two alphas whose alpha-ness is swirling around in the air, creating a heady mix of dominance that has my inner omega purring.
“What is going on?” she whisper-yells to me, pressing the backs of her hands against her cheeks. “I’m dreaming, aren’t I?”
“Nope, not a dream, Starlight,” I say, leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. They’re soft and swollen from Eli, which sends a thrill shooting straight to my dick. “He kisses well, doesn’t he?”
“It’s unfair how well he kisses,” she huffs.
Eli lets out a soft chuckle of laughter under his breath.
“Shut up,” she scowls, shooting a glare at him.
“Didn’t say anything,” he shrugs, helping get breakfast prepared.
And by prepared, I mean figuring out whose sandwiches are whose. Because apparently, he and I are hopeless in the kitchen. Me more so than him, but still.
Even though our kitchen has a couple of extra people, something about it just feels right.
“So, what are you doing here?” Andi mumbles into her sandwich, eyeing Everett over the wrapper.
“How much do you remember about last night?” he asks, his lips quirking up in a smirk.
Her eyes go wide.
“I didn’t say something crazy, did I?” she gasps, turning her eyes to me.
I shrug, taking a bite of my sandwich.
“I mean, Everett did follow you when Eli carried you to bed,” I answer.
“What’s your definition of crazy?” Eli asks, a teasing smirk appearing on his lips.
“Oh God, I totally said something insane, didn’t I?” she groans.
“It’s okay, you’re in good company,” I say, bumping her shoulder with mine. “And the guys are just teasing you. Everett’s here ‘cause we need to make a call.”
“To that journalist from last night?”
“Yeah.” I nod. I turn my gaze to Eli. “I’ve been giving it a bit of thought.”
“Oh, have you now?” Everett asks, his brows raised in curiosity.
“I have.” I nod.
I barely got any sleep last night. I was thinking so hard.
Ever since I became an omega, it’s felt like I’ve been floating through life. Nothing ever truly felt like it was mine anymore. Not my body, not my feelings, not even my dreams.
My designation is undeniably tied to my career in some way or another. Even if I theoretically could have made it as an artist without my designation, it’s undeniable that I became as successful as I am as quickly as I have because I’m a male omega.
This industry loves new and shiny things.
“Look,” I say, swallowing past a lump in my throat. My burnt caramel scent takes on a harsh edge with my anxiety.
Andi reaches out, her fingers pressing gently onto my thigh.
I flash her a small smile.
God, she’s perfect.
“I’ve been passive in every aspect of my life for a long time,” I start. “It wasn’t until I met Andi that I started to gain a little bit of perspective.”
“Me?”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I think this sort of industry makes it so that the only comfortable place for omegas is one where we’re following the whims of other people. I just didn’t realize it until I saw an omega with bad people around her. It’s why I was so adamant to help you.”
I lace my fingers with hers, squeezing her hand.
“You were very adamant,” Everett says, letting out a soft huff.
“And you took a lot of convincing,” I say, turning my gaze to my boss. “Which is exactly my point. I want to take charge of my life a bit more. I don’t want to cause any trouble, and you’re a fantastic boss, so please don’t be offended. I just...”
“Go ahead, Beckham,” Everett says, his expression softening.
“I think we should accept Cameron Foster’s request. I’ll do the interview.
But… I don’t think we should stop there.
The guy makes documentaries. Docuseries, even.
Legit ones. What if we agreed on the condition that he shifts the focus of his piece to omegas in the industry, rather than just male omegas? ”
The silence from everyone else makes me uneasy.
I turn to Andi, who stares at me with wide eyes.
“You deserve a voice too, Starlight.”
She opens and closes her mouth, as if she’s struggling to find something to say.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Eli grunts.
I shoot him a relieved look of gratitude, some of the tension lingering in my shoulders seeping away.
“I think it could work,” Leo adds, nodding. “That way the burden isn’t all on Beck, either, considering he’s the only real male omega public figure.”
My gaze turns to Everett. I’ve never done anything in this industry without his go-ahead. I’d ideally not like to start now, though I feel passionately enough that I’d be willing to do it without his blessing.
“This is an intriguing idea. I’d be curious how this ‘Cameron Foster’ reacts to the proposal. But if it’s my support you’re looking for, you have it.”
Only one more person to go.
“What about you, Starlight?” I ask, my voice going quiet when I see the expression on her face.
A maelstrom of emotions swirls through her dark gaze.
Right when she’s about to answer, an annoying pinging sound echoes through the room.
“The hell is that?” Eli grunts, standing from his barstool.
Andi’s eyes go wide and she drops my hands.
“Shit, shit, shit, where’s my bag?”
“Over on the coffee table,” Leo answers. “Why?”
“Is that... someone pinging your phone’s location?” Everett asks, his brows drawing down in concern.
“That’s my mom.” She winces, scrambling towards the living room.
I’m quick to follow her.
She digs her phone out of her purse she had at the club last night, grimacing as she silences the noise.
“Everything okay?” I ask softly, peering over her shoulder.
She’s practically vibrating with anxiety so strong it borders on terror.
“Y—yeah, just fine,” she says, her knuckles white around her phone. “I just… had it on do not disturb mode.”
I manage to snag a peek of her screen before she unlocks it.
Thirty-two missed calls from her mom.
Thirty-two?
That’s insane.
Someone must have died.
“I need to take this,” she says, flashing the rest of us a wobbly, apologetic smile.
“You can take it in my bedroom, if you need privacy,” Leo says, his brows drawn down in concern.
Andi immediately spins on her heel, rushing down the hall and not sparing any of us a backward glance.
The bitter aftertaste of her chamomile perfume permeates the air, lingering at the back of my throat.
Something awfully close to guilt gnaws at me.
Even in my attempts to help Andi, to show her that she is important enough to me that I want her to have a voice too, I completely forgot that it’s not that simple for her.
“Can we postpone that call?” I ask, my brows drawing down in concern.
“Of course,” Everett nods, standing from his barstool.
Andi deserves her privacy, but the four of us are nosy. And I’m sure we’re all grappling with the same feeling that something is wrong here.