Chapter 23
Emmett
“Are you sure you want to spend your day doing manual labor?” I ask Aiden as we get out of my truck.
He shuts the door and makes his way around to my side, giving me one of those smiles that gets my heart racing.
“Can’t think of a better way to spend my day.” He shrugs. “Being stuck in my hotel room alone, or hanging out with my Omega? I think the choice was pretty obvious.”
I warm at the mention of me being his Omega.
It’s been a little over a week since these two men came into our lives. While it was a big shock, it was a good one.
I think it’s safe to say that both Lexi and I have gotten used to the idea of forming a pack with these men and adding them to our lives.
They already treat us amazingly and are over the moon about the baby.
I thought I might get jealous of having to share my girl with them, but honestly, seeing her with them, the small touches and the way they make her smile and laugh, it feels right. It makes me happy.
So much of the last few years of my life have been centered around Lexi, so having two new Alphas to add to the mix has been an adjustment.
I automatically go to Lexi for everything.
Touching, kissing, cuddling. I don’t want the guys to think I don’t want to get to know them better or have an intimate relationship with them.
It’s something that I’m going to have to work harder on, because I do want their touch.
I think about them just as much as I think about Lexi.
Hell, most of the time I’m thinking about the four of us together.
A lot of that could be due to the fact that I should be starting my heat any day now.
“Can I talk to you about something?” I want to bring this up before I forget. I already talked to Lexi about it, voicing my wants when it comes to my heat, and she agreed.
“Of course. Anything.” Aiden shoves his hands into his pockets, all his attention on me now.
God, this man is so damn sexy. He has a youthful, but rugged look to him. And that plaid coat... do I have a mountain man kink? Maybe. Or it could be an Aiden kink? Maybe both?
I clear my throat, feeling a little weird talking about this right here in front of the high school. Thankfully, it’s the weekend, and there’s no one around but the men working on the roof. That's why we’re here, to lend a helping hand in fixing it.
“I’m gonna be blunt. My heat is coming in a few days. I can’t pinpoint the day, but it’s soon. Anyways, I want to make sure we are on the same page before it starts.”
“Okay.” He nods. “That sounds like a good idea. We will respect whatever you choose. If you’d like just Lexi, that's fine.”
“Actually,” I lick my lips. “I’d like it if you and Sloane were there.”
His lips lift into a smile, and god he looks so damn cute. “Yeah?”
“I mean, I don’t see why not. I’ve had lots of heats on my own, and I’ve been fine, but I think having my pack would make it a million times better.”
His lips part, eyes sparkling, and it takes me a second to realize what I’ve just said.
My heart races as he steps up to me. “Your pack?”
“Yeah. You’re my Alpha, so is Sloane. Lexi is my Omega. My pack.”
“Fuck.” His voice is thick with emotion. He swallows hard. “I’ve spent so much of my life searching for Lexi, knowing she was meant to be mine. Never did I expect for her to lead me to you, too. You’re the best kind of surprise.”
My heart thunders in my chest, body prickling with emotion.
This man is everything I didn’t know existed, and I’m glad I didn’t let my past write off all Alphas. It would have been a shame to pass on Aiden and Sloane because of what some bad apples did to me in the past.
“Aiden?”
“Yes, baby?” His voice is gruff, making me shiver.
“Kiss me.”
“Thought you’d never ask,” he growls. He boxes me in against the car and kisses me until my head spins. His lips feel so right against mine. I whimper, grabbing at his coat, my cock thickening in my jeans.
We stay like that for a moment; each stroke of his tongue against mine sending me higher and higher until I feel like I might pass out.
When we break apart, we’re panting heavily. He rests his forehead on mine. “Let's get that work done, then I can have you all to myself.”
“I’m going to need a moment,” I sigh heavily, closing my eyes as I lean my head against the car.
“Me too,” he chuckles. I open my eyes and smile, a giddy feeling fluttering through me again.
We both laugh and lean against the car, standing in silence. I lean my head against his shoulder, and he kisses the top of my head.
After a few minutes, my dick finally starts to behave, and we head over to the crew of men working on the roof.
We jump right in, focusing completely on the task at hand. I’m kind of disappointed that I don’t get to talk to Aiden much, but we’re here to do a job.
Instead, we sneak glances at one another, smiling and laughing softly to ourselves.
The guys are welcoming to Aiden, which is a nice change from how people have been treating the new Alphas since they’ve arrived in town.
I understand, though. When you build a town focused on the protection of Omegas, there’s going to be caution and wariness with Alphas. With anyone new, really.
We’re done by noon, and I’m glad because I’m starving.
“That went a lot faster than I thought it would,” Aiden says as we head toward my truck.
“When you have a big group of people, the job gets done quicker.”
“Is this a job of yours?” he asks, nodding toward the school. “Construction?”
“You could say that. I help out a lot when I’m not working at the club.”
“Must pay nice.”
“Actually, it pays nothing,” I chuckle, getting into the driver's side. Aiden gives me a weird look through the front window as he makes his way to the passenger side.
“What do you mean? You don’t get paid?”
“Nope.” I start the truck up. “We have a construction company that does contracts. Those pay, but I don’t do any of them. I only help out when it comes to jobs in Widows Peak and the towns around us that have helped us over the years.”
“How so?”
I pull out of the parking lot and head right for the diner. I need a good, greasy burger and fries right about now.
“When Lexi and the other girls came to Widows Peak, the town was abandoned. Some buildings were started, and even a few houses were built. But apart from that, they pretty much started from scratch. Neighboring towns found out what the girls' vision for this place was and donated their time and resources to help. Over the years, one building and one house at a time, it became a fully functioning town. It hardly cost a thing thanks to the donations of these companies and the people, so, as a thanks, we help them right back whenever it’s needed.”
“Whoa,” he says softly. “That's amazing. Lexi and her friends really did that?”
“She’s pretty fucking amazing, right?” I grin at him.
“That’s an understatement."
We get to the diner, and Aiden ends up ordering the same thing I do. We eat and chat. I tell him about some things that happened over the years here in Widows Peak, and he tells me about his life. Mostly stories about him and Sloane. Some of the Sloane stories make me nearly choke with laughter.
By the time we’re done, I’m fed and happy. “That hit the spot,” I sigh, then pout. “But now I want dessert.”
He chuckles. “Let’s order some.”
I shake my head. “Not from here. There's this little ice cream place just a few blocks over.”
“Then let’s go.” Aiden stands and pulls money out, placing a few hundreds down.
My eyes widen. “Our bill was only thirty bucks.”
“Great service.” Aiden grins. “Come on. Let’s go get my Omega his ice cream.”
My cheeks heat with embarrassment as he holds out his hand for me, but at the same time, I love it.
Taking his hand, I let him pull me to my feet.
We chose to walk instead of driving since it’s not very far.
“Kind of cold to be eating ice cream,” Aiden teases, taking a lick of his cone. “But I have to admit, it’s pretty good.”
“So good,” I groan, enjoying my peaches and cream.
“What kind do you have?”
Licking my lips, I grin as we walk back to the truck. “My favorite flavor."
“Okay, and that is?” He chuckles.
“Peaches and cream.”
“Fuck,” he breathes.
“It’s the closest thing to her sweet slick I can get,” I chuckle. “When I tell you I’ve been obsessed with that girl for years, I’m not lying. Honestly, I’m surprised she agreed to be my friend, let alone agreed to date me. Most people would be running for the hills.”
“Our girl isn’t most people.”
“Not at all.”
Aiden’s attention is on me now. Specifically, my mouth as I lick my cone.
My pulse spikes, arousal churning in my gut.
“What are you thinking about?” I murmur.
“Sorry.” He clears his throat. “That was rude.”
God. Could he be any sweeter?! If this were Sloane, I know he would have said something about picturing that cone as my cock or something. And I’d get turned on because it’s Sloane.
But Aiden seems like he’s worried about saying the wrong thing, though.
I grab his arm and pull him into a little alleyway.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, brows furrowed with worry.
“I need you to stop tiptoeing around us. I know you’re afraid to say something that might offend us or something. I can’t speak for Lexi, but I can speak for myself. Say what's on your mind. Don’t hold back. Be you.”
“I am being me.” His brows furrow.
“Okay.” I don’t think he’s lying. Maybe this is just who he is. “When I asked you what you were thinking, you lied to me.”
“It didn’t matter.”
“It does. Now, what were you thinking?”
He looks wary. “You really want to know?” He’s blushing! Holy shit, he’s blushing.
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t want to know.”
He licks his lips, taking a deep breath. His words come out thick, with a hint of need. “I was thinking about all the ways I wanted that same tongue to do dirty things to me. Things I shouldn’t be thinking about because we’re having a pleasant time and I shouldn’t be ruining it.”
My cock twitches, and I take a step back, holding myself up against the wall.