Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
shay
My exhaustion, in combination with the alcohol in my system, isn’t helping me process my rapidly colliding emotions.
How long has it been since I let myself feel things like desire, attraction, flirtation, or even the inherent need to be comforted?
Sure, lust is always present, especially when you’ve spent six years denying it and only taken care of those needs when it feels like you’re going to explode if you don’t.
I’m a twenty-eight-year-old Omega. It’s crazy to think that biology has chosen this moment to step forward from behind the curtain where it’s been hiding to take center stage.
But it has, and the question is, what am I going to do about it?
The fact of the matter is that I’ve never even been remotely tempted before. These guys, though? There’s an irrefutable draw that is making it harder and harder to remember why I shouldn’t want this.
I had been so sure Miles had ripped out what was left of my broken heart, but if that was the case, why is it beating so hard right now?
“Say something, sweetheart,” Ridge whispers.
Words stall on my tongue. “I can’t…”
Before I can get them into some semblance of order, he smiles, but I’ve spent enough time with him to know there’s something else lurking in his eyes. “We know. It’s okay. It doesn’t change anything. We’d never—”
Leaning closer, I place a single finger over his lips, shocking him.
His eyes go wide as I force out what I need to say before I lose the courage.
“I can’t promise anything. I’ve been alone a long time, and I swore that I would never put myself in a position to rely on another person, especially not another Alpha, ever again.
I’ve got walls a mile high—ones I never expected anyone would be willing to scale to be with me.
And it’s okay if that ends up being the case with you guys.
I’ll be okay. I’m just… I don’t know…flattered and more than a little surprised anyone would even be willing to consider it. ”
His hand gently grips my wrist as he tenderly kisses the finger blocking his mouth then pulls it away. “Do you think you’d be willing to at least let us try?”
Studying the intensity in his blue eyes, I let the towel fall to the floor as I stand.
My heart is pounding in my chest like a sledgehammer, but the alcohol has given me courage I wouldn’t have otherwise.
Placing my knees on either side of his hips, my hands slide up his chest until my fingers are trailing up the still damp skin of his neck.
The sizzle I feel while touching him has me fully giving in to what I’m feeling, wanting to let go of the past so I can simply live in the present.
“How about we test it out right now before you give everyone else the green light? Because if I can’t let you in, someone I trust, then the others don’t stand a chance.”
His hands grip my jeans just below the sliver of bare skin exposed beneath my tank top, long fingers threading through and gripping the belt loops. “You sure?”
The side of my mouth quirks up. “I’m straddling you on your sectional with my perfume spilling out faster than Preacher Joseph’s sermons. What do you think?”
His eyes flash with a hunger that matches mine. “I think you’ve been drinking, so I’ll be sure to not let this little test of ours go too far, but I’m more than ready to reach first base—maybe second—before I shoo you off to your room so you can shower and go to bed.”
My belly flips. “Then batter up, ass man.”
With a growl, he closes the distance between us and smashes his mouth to mine.
His lips are soft but persistent, and the first taste of him has a moan escaping.
Warm hands slip from my hips, his fingertips brushing against my skin as they slide under my tank.
Calloused palms splay out against my back, drawing my body into his.
Something long and as hard as a steel rod presses against my core, and a ragged whine rushes from my mouth to his.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve been touched like this. Kissed like I was the most precious thing ever created. I’m not sure either has ever happened, to be honest. It makes a girl feel powerful despite my worries that I’ll simply break under the pressure.
When his hand settles just above my ass and forces my hips to rock against him, I gasp. It’s the invitation he’d been waiting for. His tongue rushes into my mouth to play with mine, bringing with it a flood of mint and lime with a hint of vanilla that makes my mouth water.
“Fuck, sweetheart.” He groans when my hips cant forward again. “You’re better than I ever imagined.”
Soft lips kiss along my jaw, his tongue flicking out to lick along the sensitive skin of my throat.
“Pretty sure you hit a double, Ridge. Round the next base.”
He chuckles as the pads of his fingers slide my tank top up and over my bra.
“So demanding, aren’t you?” Pulling back just enough that he can look down at the lacy white bra he’s just revealed, he swallows harshly.
My time out in the storm has made it damn near translucent. “God. You’re fucking perfect.”
“Don’t forget needy.” My breaths are coming in harsh pants as I try to get a grip on the yearning that has spiraled out of control faster than a brush fire. “Please, Ridge.”
He presses a kiss to my cleavage, drawing out a harsh inhale. “How long’s it been, sweetheart?”
“Too long.”
Growling against my skin, his fingers trail over my ribcage until his thumbs are brushing over my breasts. “How. Long?”
“Over six years.”
He curses, his thumbs dipping into the cups of my bra and tugging them down until my breasts are bared for him. “Just a double,” he murmurs huskily—more to himself than me, I think.
Then the warm wetness of his mouth engulfs one hard nipple, licking and sucking until tingles start to gather at the base of my spine. I’ve never been a woman who got off on nipple play, but after a half-decade of deprivation, my body is a livewire just waiting to spark.
“Oh. Oh, fuck. Please…”
My hips are bucking against his length hidden beneath me, the friction making me crazy.
When he gently bites down on my nipple, then shifts to the other one and sucks it into his mouth, I explode, biting my bottom lip to keep myself from crying out his name.
He releases a low rumbling noise before he grunts, dropping his forehead to my shoulder as my body continues to shake on top of him from an orgasm that has left me damn near floating despite both of us still being mostly clothed.
“Did you just…”
He snorts against my collarbone. “Yes. I just came in my pants like a schoolboy. If you tell anyone about this, I’ll have to kill you.”
My fingers are playing with the hair on the back of his head, a sleepy grin spreading across my face. “For the record, I’m really wishing you would’ve hit at least a triple.”
His laughter lights something in my soul that I long thought was extinguished.
“That mean I passed the test?”
“With flying colors.”
“And the others?”
I pause, feeling out the part of myself I’ve kept locked away for so long.
There’s only a hint of fear, with a smidge of worry and hesitation.
Mostly, there’s a lot of excitement. My brain tries to insist that I take a step back and consider the ramifications, but my vagina is already brushing out the cobwebs and damn near rollin’ out the welcome mat.
He misreads my hesitation, lifting his head and gripping my face with both hands. “Hey, we can keep it between us for now, take things nice and slow. If and when you’re ready to let them in, we can work through the logistics of that together.”
“Maybe we don’t do that. I was just going to say that if you give me too much time to think, I’ll talk myself out of this,” I murmur softly. “Okay?”
His grin is bigger than a kid on Christmas morning. “Oh, sweetheart. You may have just opened Pandora’s box.”
I shrug, a smile playing across my lips. “If the story is to be believed, then that means there’s a little bit of hope there too.”
“Indeed there is, sweetheart. Indeed there is.”
I don’t argue when he carefully straightens my bra and slowly pulls my shirt back into place with a deep sigh.
I don’t even say anything when he stands up, carrying me out of the room and up the staircase.
If any of the guys opened their doors and saw us right now, they’d know exactly what we’d just been up to thanks to our pink lips, mussed hair, and combined scents, but I find I wouldn’t even mind if they did.
Ridge stops at a door at the end of the hallway and sets me on my feet, placing a sweet kiss on my forehead. “This is your room. It has a private bathroom that should be stocked with the basics. I think Lyon put your bag in there already.”
He reaches around me to open the door, then presses his hand to my lower back and guides me into the room. When he doesn’t step inside, I eye him over my shoulder.
“You okay?” I whisper.
He plants his hands on each side of the frame, and the appreciative way his eyes trail over my body sends another rush of need pulsing between my legs.
“I’ve never been more okay in my life, but I meant what I said. I won’t push too far tonight.” The muscles in his jaw work as he stares at me with the same desperation I know is written on my face. “I’ll just issue this warning.”
My eyebrows shoot up, and I suck my lower lip between my teeth as I watch him struggle to stay where he is. “A warning? Sounds serious.”
“The second I get my hands on you again, you’ll see why I won the MVP award my senior year of high school when I took our baseball team to the state championship. Broke the record for home runs.”
I can’t stop the whimper or the way my thighs press together to ease the new ache he’s left me with. “That was just…cruel.”
“So is making me come in my pants and not inside your sweet pussy.”
“If you don’t go right now, I’m going to throw myself at you and ignore your silly attempt at being noble.”
His nostrils flare, and his knuckles are white where they’re gripping the wood.
“Fine. One last thing. Want me to talk to the others, so you don’t have to explain what’s going on here? You’ll be free to test those waters as you see fit. Just remember what I said. There’s not a man under this roof who will say no to you. Understand?”
I swallow and give him a nod because if I try to speak, I’ll just beg him to stay.
“Night, sweetheart.”
He pulls the door closed and leaves me to my thoughts. Deciding no good can come from that, I strip off my damp clothes and climb into bed. The sun is already starting to peek out from behind the mountains as my eyes finally fall closed, but I quickly I drift off into a dreamless sleep.