Chapter 9 #2
I meant what I said. I’d prove to them that my goal wasn’t to hurt, own, or control them. All I wanted was to worship these omegas like they deserved. To succeed where everyone else in their life had truly fumbled.
I’d jump through whatever hoops they presented, and I’d do it with a smile on my damn face because they deserved this life together and so did I.
It wasn’t like I’d had a rough life. My entire life was full of comfort and security, just not any real connection anymore.
My parents were rich snobs. I was a prop, not a child to them. My grandparents were the ones who had made up for the coldness.
They were the loving, doting sort. If it wasn’t for them I’d probably be a very different person. They taught me to work hard and stay humble.
Two things that I made sure to always be. Not just for myself, but for my future pack.
I’d spent far too much time around pretentious assholes who wanted to wave their money and status around like it was some kind of character trait. It might find them an omega or two, but it wasn’t going to find the kind of omega that I wanted.
Omegas like Roxie and Rylan didn’t give a fuck about how much money was in my account. They cared more about who I was as a person.
“Alright, what’s your budget? I’d offer to pay but I know you wouldn’t let me.”
“You’d be right,” he scoffed. “I just need a few outfits for the resort. I won’t be in the pool the entire time.”
I nodded before glancing around, trying to decide where to start.
“Are you boys behaving yourselves?”
Roxie walked over, her arms laden with options.
“Is it my turn for the fashion show?” she teased.
“As much as it pains me to admit it, if you have trouble picking things out, Kota knows what he’s talking about.”
Rylan gestured toward the jade green swim trunks.
“Those look amazing on you,” Roxie said, admiring him before turning to me. “Maybe you’d have better luck than I did. It seems like the section here either has swimwear that’s basically triangles covering half a boob or something my grandmother would wear.”
“I’ve got you, but show me what you’re working with first,” I said.
She disappeared into the dressing room. A few minutes later she came back out in a swimsuit that had her wincing when she studied herself in the mirror.
It was too big around the midsection, the fabric folding strangely around her hips. Then she threw up her hands in frustration.
“See what I mean?” she complained.
“I do,” I agreed. “Which means it’s shopping time for me.”
“I feel like this should be some sort of bet,” Roxie teased, stopping me in my tracks.
I turned around, immediately interested. “A bet? Like… if I make the right choices, I get to pay.”
“I thought we already established that you weren’t paying,” Rylan said.
“No,” I corrected. “I said you wouldn’t let me if I offered. I’m not offering. It’s a wager. There’s a distinct difference.”
“Oh, is there?” Rylan laughed, shaking his head. It was the same exasperated look, only amusement was entwined with it now.
“Absolutely.”
“Fine. You find me the perfect swimsuit and I’ll surely let you handle it.” She made no mention of more outfits but if I was paying, I’d add those in, too.
My eyes roamed over her, not to check her out, but to gather her size, and then I was off.
This would be an easy bet. I moved between the racks, picking outfits that would flatter my omegas. There was something so satisfying about using my skills to take care of them.
“Mr. Mori, is there something one of us can help you with?” I came to this store often enough that the staff knew me well. The manager, Laura, stood there eager and waiting.
“Actually, if you could have someone take my choices over to the fitting rooms, that would be appreciated.”
“Oh, of course.” She immediately rushed off to find someone to be my personal assistant for the afternoon.
I tipped well enough that I had an eager and willing, partially excited employee waiting in front of me within moments. She took the large stack of clothes that I’d amassed and headed off to the fitting rooms.
There was still too much store to explore to stop now. I was also a little relieved that I didn’t have to see my omegas’ reactions to the clothes I was sending in.
I knew them both well enough already to picture the scowl on Rylan’s face and the incredulous look on Roxie’s.
After two more trips back to the dressing room for my assistant, I finally called it.
Everything was appropriate for the resort. I’d covered pool days, lounging, and even the formal dinners that I knew Coach was likely planning.
Though, I very much doubted that he told her about it. Coach seemed whole-heartedly against Roxie’s presence and thought it was appropriate to treat her like trash in response.
Something I’d speak up on every fucking time he did it. She wasn’t the enemy he believed her to be.
When I got back to the fitting rooms, both omegas were still perched on the cozy chairs waiting for me.
Having both of their attention on me had my cock hardening in my slacks.
“There’s no way we’re letting you spend this amount of money on us,” Rylan said carefully.
“Hell, there’s no way I’m spending this amount of money in general,” Roxie added on with a smile.
“There was a wager,” I reminded him.
“With Roxie,” he countered. “Not with me.”
Roxie let out a laugh. “But he’s awfully cute when he’s working this hard for us.”
“Exactly,” I said, gesturing toward Roxie. “Listen to your omega.”
He huffed out a sigh but didn’t argue further.
Victory.
The clothes were piled on the nearby counter. I separated out their clothes, handing them over before patiently waiting as they paraded in front of me.
It was exquisite torture.
My cock was hard, desperate for the omegas and the scents they kept showering me in. Each time they stepped out of the fitting room, I found myself more captivated than before.
Rylan pretended he hated every second of it, but I noticed how much longer he lingered in front of the mirrors now that he had clothes picked for him. He smoothed down shirts and checked the fit.
Now he looked at himself instead of immediately dismissing whatever he wore.
Roxie was even easier to read.
Every time she stepped out in something she genuinely liked, her entire face lit up. She’d turn and smile, body relaxed, and genuinely happy.
I felt absurdly proud. Not because I’d picked the clothes, but because I got to be the reason she smiled.
It was ridiculous. Pathetic, even. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to care. The more time I spent with them, the deeper I fell.
Every laugh, each sarcastic comment, even the eye rolls, had me craving more.
I wanted to belong to them and them to belong to me. Not in the possessive way some people talked about pack dynamics. This wasn’t about ownership, it was about acceptance.
In time, I’d earn my place beside them.
When Roxie stepped out in a black one-piece with cutouts along the sides, I forgot how to breathe.
“You’ve lost your mind,” she said, blushing furiously. It showed more than the others but in a way that was still classy.
“No. It’s perfect.”
“Kota.”
“Absolutely a yes,” I said again, ignoring her protests.
Rylan looked her up and down, his expression pained. “Unfortunately, he’s right.”
She groaned dramatically. “I hate both of you.”
“You love us.”
“I barely tolerate you.”
The lie was obvious enough that all three of us laughed.
God, I was in trouble. If Roxie and Rylan gave me the chance, I’d spend the rest of my life choosing them.