Chapter 16 – Riley Thomas
Riley Thomas
"A re you pouting, darling?" Finn asks, stretching across the couch and grasping my hand.
"No, I'm thinking," I say, staring down at the couch cushion. I showered and changed after work. I couldn't seem to fall asleep, and I didn't want to wake the girls, so I collapsed in the living room.
"You might want to work on your delivery in the future if you want anyone to believe such blatant lies," he says, grinning.
He scoots his tall, lithe frame next to mine on the long end of the sectional. His face is only inches away from my own as he tosses a hand over my hip.
"What's bothering you?"
"Nothing, I'm good," I assure him.
"You're lying and quite unconvincingly at that," he says, giving me a grin. He raises his eyebrows like he's just waiting for me to try to lie to him again.
"I don't think Cannon thinks much of me," I whisper, looking away from his intense stare.
"Cannon can be difficult to get a read on. Especially when you're first getting to know him. Try to remember he comes from a place of protection. It doesn't always help, but generally speaking it does soften the blow when he's unintentionally offended me."
"Really?" I ask. "He made me feel dumb for thinking Jasper wanted to be friends."
"Jasper Cleary?" His mouth falls open.
I nod. "I work with him a few nights a week. He's also dealing with a broken heart. I thought we had something in common. I don't have many friends right now."
"Hmm, you are a very tender and trusting little thing, aren't you?" Finn chuckles.
"You're not exactly helping me feel better." I frown.
"Jasper having a friend." He grins. "That is quite the novel idea.
Sure it could happen, I suppose. Somewhere on the line between the United States deciding to become a communist nation just for shits and giggles and hell actually freezing over.
But I don't want to be pessimistic if you're fond of him.
" He shrugs. "Jasper and Cannon have a complicated history, but I hold no ill will toward him.
I've just never personally seen anything all that compelling out of him. "
"There's just something about seeing him a little sad and broken that I don't like," I say, without meeting Finn's eyes.
"Omegas are very sensitive to the emotions of those around them," he agrees.
I'm likely coming off as weak and naive. Jasper might be a manwhore, he might not take life too seriously, but I don't think he's a bad guy. Certainly not to the level of Jeremy. I've seen real evil. Jasper isn't it.
"Did you know that I've always kept my distance from omegas?" Finn asks. His lips ghost over mine.
The zing of arousal that shoots through my system at the barest of contact is actually embarrassing.
"No." I shake my head. "I didn't. Why?"
Finn sighs. "It's likely a mental thing. My father's line is very serious about keeping the omega line pure. I was a travesty. An accident of birth that never should have happened."
He continues, telling me about his family pack. How his family shipped him off to school as soon as they were able.
"I'll never be an omega." He shrugs. "Hell, I never wanted to be.
All I wanted was that love from my family.
Love they were very good at withholding.
" His eyes stare into mine. "I've accepted it.
I've come to terms with the fact my family will never want that close familial bond.
It's why I'm lucky to have Killian and Cannon. "
"It's great that you guys have each other," I say, swallowing thickly. "You're really lucky to have that support."
"You have that now too," Finn says. "Just remember, it comes with the good and bad.
Packs are a complicated family dynamic. You get the good side of things when you always have someone at your back.
You realize the unfortunate realities of pack life when your pain in the ass pack mates won't stay out of your business.
Try to remember they do it because they care.
Don't harbor too much anger with Cannon. He can't help himself."
"That makes sense," I agree. "I'm sure I came off as naive. I've always been on my own in life. Learning to mesh with so many different personalities is new for me." My eyes squeeze shut. "But it's a good experience."
"I understand. I spent a great deal of my youth and teen years alone too. It's likely why I'm so odd."
"Stop." I frown. "You're absolutely fucking not odd. You're perfect."
"Oh darling," Finn smirks. "You do want to be kissed stupid, don't you?"
The spicy scent of his arousal unfurls in the air around us. My nostrils flare as I breathe him in. Finn presses his lips to mine. The stubble of his five o'clock shadow scratches against my face.
Finn moans into my mouth as our tongues tangle together. Strong hands grip my shoulders pushing me down as he cages me in. Finn's weight is a welcome thing, pressing into me deliciously as he notches a knee between my thighs.
Finn's pupils are huge as his eyes stare into mine. His tattoo covered hand caresses my cheek.
"Pursue a friendship with Jasper," he says, brushing a kiss against the corner of my lips.
"Or more at your discretion. We don't own you, but don't be afraid to communicate openly and honestly.
You needn't be ashamed or feel you have to keep secrets.
We all understand the pull between compatible alphas and omegas.
We're a perfect example. I'm quite fond of you, darling. "
"Me too," I whisper, wrapping my hand around Finn's neck and pulling his face to mine.
Finn grinds his hard body against mine in tantalizing movements that mimic the way he'd move if he was inside me.
The thin material of both of our pajama pants does little to hide his thick erection.
My pussy throbs and I ache to have him inside me.
Finn's hand brushes against my forehead, tenderly playing in my hair as he pulls his mouth from mine.
"I'd very much like to plan a date for us." Finn grins against my cheek. "When are you off next?"
"Not tomorrow night, but the night after," I say, blowing out a breath and trying to settle my raging hormones.
"Perfect." Finn affectionately rubs his nose against mine. "I'll make sure someone is 'round to watch the kids."
"Okay."
Life is totally different since meeting these men.
I've never had people I could ask to watch the kids so I could go do something fun.
I realize I've never been out on an actual date.
Jeremy frequently ordered take out and made it seem romantic to have dates at home.
But he never wanted to be seen in public with me.
Finn kisses me one last time.
"Good night, darling," he says, swaggering out of the room.
* * *
"Hey, we're friends right?" Jasper asks, leaning against the bar as he studies my face.
"Co-workers," I say blandly. "And you're a pain in the ass.”
"Shots fired." He chuckles, clutching at his heart. "We talk practically on the daily. I smile when I see your beautiful face. We've never fucked." Jasper ticks them off on his fingers. "Those three things mean we have a budding friendship. Don't ruin it, Riles."
"What do you need?" I ask, rolling my eyes.
"A date," he says, biting his plush lower lip.
"That's crossing the friendship boundary." I jab a finger at his chest over the bar. "I defended you to Cannon."
Jasper frowns at that.
"Listen I wouldn't ask, but my grandfather has a very frenemy type relationship with a business associate who's having a big winter party.
It's three weeks away, I'm not springing it on you last minute.
My ex will be there, and I need a date that will drive her absolutely insane.
Her little sister is an omega and no offense, but she hates you guys.
She's jealous as hell she wasn't born one. "
"Ooo I have an idea." I grin, leaning in conspiratorially. "Ask her sister. It'll have an even larger fuck you effect."
"You're awful. People call me a bad influence? Christ, they've never met Riley Thomas." Jasper snorts a laugh.
"I don't think I can," I say, shaking my head. "It's in the city, right?"
"Yes," Jasper agrees. His tone is perplexed as he frowns at me.
"You stay overnight?" I ask, pulling out my tips and starting to count them.
Jasper nods. "Usually."
"I can't leave my kids overnight. Are you insane?"
"Kids?" Jasper sputters.
"Two," I say, holding up my fingers. "How did you not know this?"
"Good God, you're unclaimed," Jasper hisses, studying me like a bite is magically going to appear.
"I'm well aware," I say, shaking my head. This conversation never manages to get anymore fun.
"Where are they?" Jasper asks.
"My girls?"
Jasper nods.
"Probably with Killian by now. He usually brings them home around eight so they can fall asleep and not have to be woken up when I get off," I tell him.
"Killian fucking Adler?" Jasper growls.
"Yeah," I say, nodding.
"What the fuck Riley?" Jasper hisses. "You know about his past? He's practically fucking-" My hand lands over Jasper's mouth.
"Don't say anything more," I grind out. "If he has something in his past he thinks I need to know, then he'll tell me. I don't want to hear anything else about it. I like Killian. More than that, I trust him."
"Holy shit, she's your clone. Did you give birth through asexual reproduction?" Jasper asks when I remove my hand.
"What?" I ask, turning around to see what he's looking at.
Killian stands, holding Cove on his hip.
"Mommy," she shrieks. "I like your job!"
"Hey sweetpea," I say, walking over and giving her a kiss on the forehead.
"Need to talk to you," Killian rumbles, giving me a look I can't decipher. "This is Jasper, he works with mommy and he's going to get you a drink. We'll just be one minute."
He sets Cove on the bar.
"Hey, Jasper," Cove says, crossing one leg over the other. She really isn't fazed by much. "I like chocolate milk."
"There is no dad, right?" Jasper asks, looking at me with shock. "She's your clone. Has to be."
"If she gets hurt…" Killian growls as he gently pushes me down the hallway.
Jasper swipes a hand through the air. "I've got this. Have a little faith. Okay, kiddo. What's your style? Mountain dew and french fries?"
"He's joking right?" I hiss as Killian shoves me down the hallway until we're alone.
He pushes my shoulders against the wall. His hand grips my hair at the base of my skull tilting my head back to look up at him.
"Heard what you said," Killian growls. His words vibrate against my ear as he speaks. "You didn't want to hear what he had to say?"
I shake my head no, but it's limited by the tight hold he has on my hair.
"No," I say, resting my palms on his chest. "I'm following my brother's advice. I failed to listen to it once and I won't make that mistake again. He said that 'If someone shows you who they are, believe them'." I swallow thickly. The air is charged between us. "I believe you."
"Damn, Riley." He cages me in even further with his hard body. His lips press against mine and soon he's devouring me whole. My hands fist in his shirt and I'm pulling him closer, but there's no space left between us.
"Let's get Cove and get home," Kills suggests.
I nod, trying to get my ragged breathing under control.
We head down the hallway hand in hand. Cove is still sitting on the bar top. She's got a to-go kids cup sitting next to her and a plate of fries.
"Jasper Cleary, if that's Mountain Dew in that cup…" I blow out a breath. "I won't be held responsible for the pain I inflict on you."
Jasper just grins.
"It's chocolate milk. Tell mom to relax, we're buddies now. You can bring the lovely Cove on our date if you'd like."
"What about Lils?" Cove asks, around a fry.
"Bring them all," Jasper says with a wicked grin. "You'd make my family happier with me than they've ever been."
"Date?" Killian asks. His eyes bounce between the two of us.
"A friendly date," Jasper says, smirking.
"He asked me to go to some family function or event… a thing. I told him I couldn't be away from the girls overnight," I say, moving to swipe a fry off Cove's plate.
"Kiki and Fefe can watch me and Lils," Cove says, shrugging.
"Please tell me Finnegan Sunderland is Fefe?" Jasper begs. "And you're Kiki? This is great."
"Fefe is Felicity," Cove says, butchering the name.
"I'm happy to watch the girls," Killian says, surprising the hell out of me.
"See, we've got it all figured out." Jasper grins.
Well, I guess we do.
Kills scoops up Cove in one arm and lays a hand on my back. "We good to go?" he asks.
I give a shaky nod.
"See ya later, Tater Tot," Jasper says, waving goodbye to Cove. "Three weeks. It's plenty of time to make plans." He winks and my heart skips a beat.
Killian guides us out to the truck. He gets Cove strapped into her car seat and climbs in the front next to me.
"She wanted to see where you worked," he says, brushing hair out of my face. "Finn is watching Lily, but she was out. Cove-" He glances back. "She was too busy tonight to sleep."
"It's fine," I say, staring up into his eyes. He's so damn gruff and manly. It does funny things to my insides.
"Soon," Kills says, brushing his thumb over my lower lip. He puts his arm on the back of my chair and glances around before he pulls out of his parking spot. "Very soon."
Good Lord, I hope that means what I think it does…