34. Thirty-Three
Thirty-Three
Cozette
A knock on the door has Ridge getting up from his spot beside me, and when he answers, I hear him groan in annoyance before a piercing squeal assaults my ears.
“Surprise! Now, move! We’re not here for you.”
Ridge grunts, and I look back over the couch where I’m laying with Micah, amused by the sight of Ripley rounding the corner with her arms full and two unfamiliar faces trailing behind her.
“Fuck’s sake, Rip. That hurt. Go away!” Ridge growls, glaring at his sister while holding his side, and I cover my lips to stop myself from laughing.
“Shut up, you overgrown baby,” Ripley replies, rolling her eyes.
“You shut up, you prissy little brat!”
I snort, cupping my hand over my nose and lips, which has the sibling duo turning to look at me, Ripley narrowing her eyes and Ridge raising a brow.
“You’re supposed to be on my side. It’s the rule of being best friends and sisters,” Ripley huffs, pointing her finger at me.
As I drop my hand, I steal a quick glance at Ridge, unable to ignore the electrifying gaze he fixes on me, causing my heart to flutter. Turning my gaze towards Ripley, I casually shrug my shoulders.
“But he gives me kisses and cuddles,” I say softly, eliciting a groan from Ripley as she throws her head back.
“I don’t wanna think about what else he gives you,” she mutters with a shiver of disgust, and my cheeks flame as a squeak escapes me.
Ridge and I haven’t done more than kiss so far, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think about it. It’s like now that I’ve done it, now that I feel more comfortable, I’ve become insatiable for these alphas that call themselves mine. I want them all in the worst way.
“Why are you here?” Ridge huffs, walking over and sitting beside me on the couch, wrapping his arm around me and kissing the side of my head.
“I told you, I’m not here for you,” she says as she walks around, sticking her tongue out and flipping him the bird before she looks over at me with a grin.
“Time to ditch these alphas and have us a true blue girl’s night! Gabriel and River were absolutely put out that I asked Shade and Hunt to come and not them, but I told them we’ll invite them next time for an omega’s only night. Tonight is for us girls. No offense, Micah and Jeremiah, full offense to my brother, Manny, and Zeke, but scram! Shoo! Go out for a guys’ night, bond with each other or whatever it is you guys do. We need our space, and you can’t be around. Otherwise, Cozy will never spill all the juicy deets.”
“Hey! Ye canae just kick us out o’ our own house, ye wee brat!” Zeke grunts, crossing his arms and glaring petulantly at Ripley’s back.
“Sure I can. We need girl time without you lot around and being locked upstairs in a single room isn’t enough space. Duh,” Ripley says, turning to look at him.
I clear my throat, fidgeting in Ridge’s hold as everyone turns to look at me.
“Um. We could maybe have the sleepover in my nest?” I say, my brows furrowing.
“As much as I’d die to hang out in your nest because I know what they built, an omega’s nest is sacred. You might not like all of us other omegas in there, tainting up your space,” Ripley says, frowning.
“Do you let your friends in your nest?” I ask her quizzically, glancing at the other two women with her.
“I mean, yeah. Hunt, Shade, and Gabriel have been over for plenty of sleepovers. But I’m a bit of an outlier because I’m mated to an omega. That’s not to say I didn’t scrub and clean everything after to get their scents out once they left.” She glances at both women with a sheepish look. “No offense, guys.”
They both laugh and the one with two different colored eyes smirks at her.
“If we ever do a sleepover at our place, I can’t say I won’t do the same. But I’d let you guys in mine and Gabriel’s nest,” she says with a shrug.
“Ditto. Ripley always plans the slumber parties at her house because she likes to sneak out when we’re asleep to go climb into bed with one of her mates. I was actually a little surprised she called and said this weekend’s sleepover would be here.”
Ripley gasps and stomps her foot.
“I don’t always sneak out to sleep with one of them!”
“Uh, yeah. You do.” The one with dark hair and twinkling brown eyes snorts.
“Ugh, whatever.”
Ripley pouts and I laugh.
“I think I’d be okay with you guys in there, and this way, nobody has to leave. Maybe Manny and Micah will make us some snacks and dinner?” I say, looking over at the two with hopeful looks, and they both smile.
“Anything you want, mi Corazón ,” Manny murmurs, giving me a lopsided smile that makes my belly flutter.
A chorus of aww’s from all three women has me blushing all over again and all five of my guys chuckle at the sight, only intensifying the burn on my cheeks.
The woman with pretty curls that rival my own glances over at my alphas, a glimmer of recognition crossing her two-toned eyes as she smiles.
“Hey, there Micah! It’s good to see you again, and with an omega of your own. I’m happy for you,” she says to him, and Micah clears his throat, an uncomfortable smile gracing his lips as he darts a look at me before looking back at her.
“Thanks. It’s good to see you again, Shade. Seems all worked out after our last meeting?”
Shade snorts, a bright smile crossing her plump lips, the apples of her cheeks darkening.
“You could say that,” she laughs.
I look at them both quizzically, but Ripley distracts me, so I don’t question the odd exchange. But I am still curious as to how she knows my alpha.
“Alright, alright. Fine. You’re lucky I’m obsessed with Manny’s cooking and that I’m desperate to check out your nest in person. I’ve only ever seen pictures, and I’m totally jealous, despite how much I love my nest. Wait until you guys see it,” Ripley gushes to her friends, friends I think I’d like to be mine as well.
She’s practically dancing on her toes as she rubs her hands together, and I can’t help but giggle at her excitement at seeing my nest. I look at Zeke, Ridge, and Manny with a soft smile.
“It’s a wonderful nest. The best nest,” I say in response, liking the proud look shining in their eyes and the way they practically preen at my approval of the special space they designed and built just for me.
They should be proud. It’s a beautiful space, something picked straight out of a fairytale, and I can’t imagine anyone else having a nest as magical as mine.
As Ripley and her friends talk to the others, Ridge sighs and nuzzles against the top of my head.
“I guess my plans to steal away with you for the night are spoiled, Smalls,” he whispers in my ear, making me shiver.
I can hear the pout in his voice and when I glance up, I huff out a laugh at the exaggerated pout on his lips. I poke his lip, pulling my finger back quickly with a squeal when he nips at it, his eyes twinkling as he smirks at me. I roll my eyes playfully at him.
“You’ve waited this long to try for alone time with me. I figure one more night won’t hurt,” I whisper back, partially joking and partially not.
He raises a brow at me, gripping my chin.
“I was trying to be nice and give everyone their time with you. Because I know when I finally have you alone, I’ll become greedy for more. But it seems that was the wrong move,” he murmurs, eyes tracking the way my teeth dig into my bottom lip as I squirm in my seat, rubbing my legs together.
His nostrils flare as my familiar lemon bar scent curls between us, and when he kisses me, it takes everything in me to hold back the embarrassing moan creeping up my throat. Not that it would have made a difference, because the minute Ridge’s lips are on mine, I’m sent into a perfuming tailspin.
“Ewww! Absolutely not! Cease and desist that shit in my presence,” Ripley hisses, startling me until I jerk back, making Ridge groan and glare at his sister as I give her a sheepish look.
“Sorry,” I mutter, and Ridge growls.
“I’m not. It’s my house and I’ll kiss my girl if I want to, brat. Suck it up.”
And then he grabs my cheeks and kisses me until my chest feels tight and I get a head rush. By the time he pulls back, I’m dizzy and drunk on him, and I’m sporting the goofiest smile that has him grinning back at me.
“Ugh. You sicken me. Come on, bestie. Take us to your tower and let’s get this slumber party going,” Ripley says, gagging and giving her brother a disgusted look that makes me giggle as she grabs my hand and pulls me out of his arms and off the couch.
I give all five men a reluctant shrug and a small smile before I’m pulled out of the house and dragged down the porch and walkway. Ripley bounces excitedly behind me when we make it to the nest door, and I laugh under my breath as I push the door open and lead them all inside and up the stairs. They all murmur excitedly at my back as we make our way to the top, all of them gasping and looking around in shock and awe as they take it all in.
I cleaned up in here the other day, so my mini fort isn’t quite in disarray and the blankets and pillows are clean. Ripley raises a brow at me when she notices the fort and I shrug, chewing on my thumbnail. I like it and it’s the perfect size for me and my alphas.
“Where can we set up?” she eventually asks, and I point to a spot far enough away from the fort.
While they lay their things out, I grab my own set of pillows and blankets and make a spot for myself beside Ripley. Once we’re all settled, we sit, and I tuck my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around my legs.
“I’m Huntleigh, by the way. And that’s Shade. Ripley never introduced us, but we’ve heard a lot about you,” the dark-haired beauty says to me, leaning around Ripley and pointing over at Shade.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I mumble, and she smiles at me, prompting me to smile back.
As I steal a quick glance at Shade, I can’t help but wonder how she knows Micah. She smiles gently at me, like she can hear my thoughts, and I blush.
“Before I met Gabriel and the rest of my pack, I had to rely on heat services from the Omega Center. Micah was sent to me with another alpha one time, and he stayed with me until Gabriel and our alphas showed up to take care of me. The other alpha was a bit of an asshole, and Micah wanted to make sure he didn’t come back. No offense, Micah’s scent was just… not what I was looking for,” she laughs awkwardly, ruffling her hair and I shrug with a smile.
“I like it. Makes me feel safe and happy,” I murmur, and she grins at me.
“Good. He’s a great guy. Now, what are we watching?” Shade asks as she pulls out a plethora of snacks from her bag and starts passing things out.
“Wait, wait, wait! You’re saying you and Ridge haven’t done anything more than kiss?” Huntleigh gasps, sitting up from her spot and looking over at me with wide eyes.
Three rom-coms and several bags of chips and packs of cookies later, and this is where we’re at. It didn’t take me long to become comfortable with Huntleigh and Shade, both of them easy to get along with. It helps that neither have looked at me with a single ounce of pity and, like Ripley, they don’t treat me like I’m made of glass. Instead, they’ve made me feel normal and this entire evening so far is what I imagine slumber parties would have been like when I was a teenager if I’d had more friends.
“There’s a lot of them and only one of me. And he doesn’t make it easy to get alone time with him. I don’t know how you three do it,” I mutter with a frown, my cheeks flaming.
Ripley groans and covers her face with her pillow while Shade cackles and Hunt grins widely at me as her dark eyes twinkle with mirth.
“Out of all her guys, you have to fixate on what she hasn’t done with my brother? Seriously?” she growls, her voice muffled by the pillow she’s still holding to her face.
Shade rolls her eyes at her before looking back over at me.
“Well, for one, none of us are the only ones in our packs gettin’ it, if you catch my drift. I’m guessing there’s not a whole lota extra lovin’ going on with your guys,” she chuckles, nodding her head when I all but confirm her suspicions with my cherry cheeks. “Yeah, so you’ve got a lot of dicks for your one basket. Sorry, there’s just no easy way to put that.”
She shrugs, and Ripley finally sits back up with a huff, tossing her pillow behind her.
“Do you want something more to happen with Ridge?” Huntleigh asks, raising a brow as she pops a piece of candy between her lips.
“Of course I do. Being here with all of them has been easier than I thought it’d be. And the more time I spend with them—the more I know they’re mine—the more I want them. Being with them is as easy as breathing. It’s not… it’s not suffocating and I don’t feel c aged. They make me feel cherished, loved, free . And I-I love them,” I whisper, feeling a flush rush down my neck and chest.
When I glance at Ripley, her eyes are watery, and she looks so happy she could tackle me.
“I knew you’d be my sister for real, eventually. You and me, we were destined to meet. I’m even more sure of it now. Shit, I’m gonna cry. Pesky omega hormones!”
She blinks rapidly, wiping her eyes, and I have to blink my own eyes to hold my tears at bay as well as I reach out and tug her into a tight hug, nuzzling into her a bit while she does the same. Aside from Jeremiah, Ripley was one of the first people I ever let touch me willingly. When she’d asked to cuddle in that cage with me, completely uncaring for my nude state, I couldn’t say no to her. Because a part of me needed that cuddle just as much as she did.
When she pulls back with a sniffle, she gives me a lopsided grin and shakes her head.
“I’d much rather not hear about sexcapades with my brother, or talk about them, but this is you. And I love you, and I know how astronomical it is that you’ve made it to this point. So, if you’re tired of waiting for my brother to come to you, then you’ll just have to go to him. Tonight,” she says with a giddy grin and a waggle of her brows, before she gags, throwing us all into a fit of giggles.
“But it’s girls’ night,” I say softly once our laughter has died down and she shrugs.
“We’ll have others. It’s late, so none of us are going anywhere. The three of us will be fine up here, locked away in your tower, far away from where you two will be. We’ve got snacks and yummy leftovers, thanks to Micah and Manny, and there are plenty of movies to occupy us until we pass out.”
“What she said. I’m voting you go find Ridge and sit on his face,” Shade chimes in with a feral grin, cackling when Ripley starts gagging again and Huntleigh nods in agreement.
I want to go be with him. I want to so badly I practically ache. So instead of saying anything else, or coming up with reasons not to, I quickly stand and scurry down the stairs, the sounds of Ripley, Shade, and Huntleigh’s catcalls following me the whole way down and out the door. I can’t help but grin, in spite of my nerves.
I quietly enter the house, and when I pass the living room, I see three of my five guys lying around on the couch and chairs, watching some horror movie that has me scrunching my nose and closing my eyes when a particularly gory scene pops up. None of them notice me, and when I realize Ridge isn’t down here with them, I sneak upstairs, stopping off in my room to change.
In secret, I’ve been amassing and storing their t-shirts in my room, carefully hiding them under my bed, and donning them as pajamas on the nights I decide to sleep alone. I snatch the most recent one I swiped, the same one Ridge had on yesterday when he walked through the door after work. I couldn’t resist snatching it from the bathroom after his shower, despite how unappealing it may sound. The scent of him lingers strongly, and the well-worn fabric looks irresistibly cozy and soft.
I quickly remove my pajama pants and shirt, eagerly slipping into his. With a contented sigh, I lift it to my nose, inhaling deeply and feeling a shiver run down my spine as his intoxicating spiced gingerbread scent fills the air. When I let it go, the hem brushes against my legs, creating a playful tickling sensation. Not bothering with pants, I inhale deeply before stepping out of my room again, making my way towards Ridge’s door with quiet footsteps. With no warning, I gently push open his door and slip inside, making sure to close it as quietly as possible.
My breath catches in my throat as I glance at his bed. The moonlight streams through the open curtains, casting a serene glow that envelops him. He’s lying on his stomach, one arm cradling his head, while the sheets entwine around his legs, caressing the sculpted curves of his behind. I have a completely uninterrupted view of him right now, completely naked except for the sheet that’s barely covering him. I can’t stop the needy whine that crawls its way up my throat, gasping when he suddenly turns and looks around his room with sleepy eyes.
“It’s just me,” I whisper, moving closer and swallowing when my eyes drop down his chest and lower, not missing the way the sheet is tented.
He swipes a hand down his face with a yawn and scoots over before pulling his blanket back up and holding it out for me as he lies back down. I climb in, huffing, when I realize he didn’t hold the sheet up for me as well. He makes a strangled sound in the back of his throat when I try to slip under the sheet as well, clearing his throat when I look at him.
“I’m, uh, I’m not wearing any clothes,” he mumbles, and I shake my head, trying to climb under the sheet again and letting out a frustrated growl when he stops me again.
“ Nothing , Smalls.”
Narrowing my eyes, I snatch the sheet back up and hastily bury myself under it, evading any further attempts to stop me. I keep them narrowed as I scoot in as close as I can get to him until my body is lying against his and I can feel him through his shirt. Resting my hands on his smooth chest, I glide my leg between his thighs, fascinated by the rhythmic bobbing of his throat as I slide it further up. I keep sliding it up until I can feel the heavy weight of his sac resting against my thigh, causing a tremor to travel down my spine as he groans.
“I don’t care,” I tell him stubbornly, and slowly, his taut body relaxes until his arms are wrapped around me and his forehead is resting against mine, inhaling deeply.
“You smell like me,” he groans, shoving his face into the crook of my neck and sniffing along my shoulder. “Is this my shirt? Fuck, baby. I bet you look incredible in it, but I would have given you a clean one to wear if you wanted one of my shirts.”
He keeps sniffing me, and I grab ahold of his shoulders, digging my nails in as my panties grow damp.
“I wanted this one,” I breathe out, pushing myself closer to him.
He growls, kissing along my neck and nibbling on my jaw before he stops himself.
“My sister is going to throw a hissy fit that you ditched them to come crawl into my bed when she realizes,” he mutters, swallowing when he takes a breath and it has his semi-hard length pressing against my belly.
“It was her idea,” I whisper, licking my lips as I stare into his eyes and watch the way his nostrils flair as my fingers roam his chest.
“And why would she tell you to do that, Smalls?”
His voice, thick with desire, echoes with a mixture of longing, frustration, and an intensity that I can relate to all too well. I’m so completely gone for this man, for all of them,
“Because I needed my alpha. I needed you. No more holding back,” I whisper, trailing my hand lower until it wraps around his shaft and I squeeze slightly.
His chest rattles, a deep, soothing purr rumbling out of him as his hips buck up, pushing him more into my hand.
“You called me your alpha.”
My brows furrow as I look into his eyes, my heart fluttering at the reverent way he looks at me.
“Aren’t you? My alpha? You feel like mine,” I murmur, feeling uncharacteristically brave as I stroke him slowly, twisting my wrist and gasping when his hand moves down to grip my hip, squeezing.
As I stare into his eyes, I find myself wanting something more than just sex. I want all of him. I want to feel him inside of me in all ways, to forge the connection that will make him wholly and completely mine.
I want his bite. His bond.
I thought if I decided I wanted bites, it’d be Jeremiah I’d ask first. But looking at Ridge, watching his careful control, nearly at a breaking point, I want it to be him. I want it to be him, so he has no doubts, because I know that’s the real reason he’s held back. He’s afraid I’m going to leave, and I can’t blame him after the fiasco at Manny’s parent’s house.
I want to erase those fears entirely.
“Of course I am, Smalls. You’ve just never said it out loud like that before. I liked it,” he says on a strangled moan when my hand strokes him from tip to base, my hand bumping against his swelling knot.
“And I’m yours. So, make it permanent,” I tell him breathlessly, my nipples hardening beneath his t-shirt and pressing against him with every breath I take.
Ridge stills against me, and he pulls back enough to cup my cheek and look at me.
His eyes fly back and forth across my face, searching, and when he finds what he’s looking for, a deep, satisfied purr echoes from his chest and into mine, making my heart race.
“What are you saying, Cozette? Give me your words.”
“I’m saying… bite me, Alpha. Make me yours and let me make you mine,” I whimper as his hand slides between us and he slips his fingers into my panties.
I cry out when he slides his finger between my lips and slips it inside of me, curling it slightly. I never thought I’d crave the touch of another again, let alone crave it the way I do with these alphas. I thought I’d never be able to endure intimacy again, and they shattered all of those thoughts from the very first touch.
How could I not love all of them?
Jeremiah with his fierce protectiveness and undying devotion.
Zeke with his enduring commitment and unwavering love.
Micah with his endless patience and unflinching honesty.
Manny with his constant affection and persistent feelings.
And Ridge. Ridge with his steady loyalty and stubborn attitude.
Each and every one of them has effortlessly captured my heart, without any resistance on my part. Though they claim I’m the easy one to love, it’s them that are the ones who effortlessly won me over.
“You’re sure?” he breathes out as his finger continues to pump in and out of me at a leisurely pace that has me squirming and whimpering as I nod my head up and down so fast that I fear I look like a bobblehead doll.
“Yes, Ridge. You’re mine and I’m yours. I need you, Alpha. Please,” I gasp, digging my fingers into his shoulders when he adds another finger.
A pleased growl escapes his lips as he gently withdraws his fingers from me, prompting a cry of frustration from me. As he teasingly removes my panties, his gaze remains locked with mine, and my heart hammers in my chest as I find myself unable to look away. The intensity in his hazel eyes nearly takes my breath away, and as he grips my thigh and pulls it up onto his, I can feel his rigid length pressing against me, causing me to whimper. I clench when he presses his crown against my opening, and my mouth goes dry when he presses his forehead to mine, keeping his eyes locked on my face.
“I love you so fucking much, Cozette,” he whispers, and then he slams himself into me, taking my breath away as he watches every miniscule twitch of my features.
My eyes close as I moan when he pulls back and pushes back into me, pressing myself as close to him as I can get.
“Don’t close your eyes, baby. Look at me. That’s it. Let me see those pretty blues that destroy me every time I look into them.”
I whimper and moan in pleasure, his whispered words of love arousing me even further, leaving me yearning for more. With every thrust of his hips into me, Ridge never looks away. He holds my eyes captive, and anytime I try to close them, he begs me to keep them open.
“You are the most perfect woman. Perfect omega. I’m going to mark you and show you every day, for the rest of our lives, just how perfect you are, baby. My stunning, loving omega,” he grunts out, rolling his hips when his knot bumps against my opening and I cry out as my body tries to pull him in and lock him in me.
“Bite. Knot. Bite, please,” I beg, and he purrs, making me go lax in his arms.
As he slowly stretches me around his knot, I feel his lips trailing along my shoulder while he firmly grasps my hand, bringing it up to his mouth and kissing down my arm. The sensation of his tongue on the bend of my elbow makes me whimper, and I eagerly clench around him, taking his knot all the way inside me.
The minute he’s lodged deep inside of me, no chance of escaping, I feel his release spill into me, coating my walls and pushing me closer to the edge. When he sucks on the spot he licked before, I moan and then I feel the sharp prick of his teeth puncturing the sensitive skin. But the pain doesn’t last, and before I know it, a blindingly beautiful wave of pleasure washes over me, making me feel dizzy as I feel the bond slowly unfurl in my chest, bringing with it a whole host of new emotions and feelings. And then I notice which emotions are mine and which are Ridge’s and a sob wracks my chest at the overwhelming amount of love that he pours into me as he sucks and licks on the spot he bit me.
It’s nothing like all the times that Victor bit me, and with the addition of Ridge’s bite, I finally break completely free of all those chains that have held me down.
That’s the last time I’ll ever think of that man’s name.
When we’ve both caught our breath, I push against his chest. He rolls over, and I don’t waste any time clawing at his chest as I lean down and bite him right above his heart, the metallic tang of his blood coating my tongue as he groans beneath me. I feel him twitch inside of me, another bout of his release spurting against my oversensitive walls, and I clench around him as I lick the spot I bit with tender care, another softer orgasm washing over me. Once I’m happy that his bite is clean and taken care of for the moment, I collapse against him, reveling in the strength of the bond when it’s not one-sided and loving it.
“I love you, Alpha. So much,” I murmur sleepily, cuddling into him as best as I can with us locked together and his arms squeeze me tight.
“I know, Omega. I love you, too,” he whispers back, kissing the top of my head.
The next morning when we make our way downstairs, the two of us unable to keep our hands off each other, we’re met with a mixture of shock, excitement, and relief.
“I didn’t say go bond! But I’m not complaining,” Ripley snorts, shoving a spoonful of eggs into her mouth and I blush.
I make my way around the kitchen to each of my guys, giving them reassuring touches and kisses and checking with them to make sure none of them are upset. But I should know better by now. They each give me a kiss, touching the fresh bite on my arm, which sends light tingles skittering across my skin, though it’s not like when Ridge touches it.
When I’m seated at the island with a plate in front of me and my friends and family surrounding me, playful teasing and ribbing all around, I can’t help but grin. I’m so unbelievably happy that it’s insane, and it’s all because of a crazy omega saving me. If not for her, I wouldn’t be sitting here with my pack. My family.
Almost like she can hear my thoughts, Ripley glances over me and shoots me a wink before going back to picking on her brother and I open my mouth easily when Jeremiah lifts a forkful of food up to me with a raised brow because I’ve taken too long to get started.
Bossy alpha.