Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Jayce
I’m dead tired from a week of work. Construction is no joke, and although I’m the foreman, that doesn’t mean I don’t step in and help out. I’m used to hard work, and I won’t ask my crew to do something I’m not willing to do myself.
Despite the physical strain, though, the mental exhaustion is worse. I was already jealous, afraid to hope, when Hayden told me about Siobhan after treating her. I’ve never been a jealous man, but I can admit to feeling it then.
But now they’ve gone behind my back. They could have taken me with them, could have at least texted me ahead of time to let me know their plans.
We’re supposed to be pack, and pack doesn’t keep secrets or make life-changing plans without telling each other.
It feels like a betrayal, even though they didn’t mean it that way.
Every step away from them feels like another shard in my heart, but I need the space.
I need to clear my head, let out some of the anger where there’s no chance of catching them in the crossfire.
I shake my head as I slide open the door to our garage, flicking on the light without looking and then striding past my workshop area to the punching bag in the corner.
I normally use this as a workout on my days off.
I don’t get angry. Not usually, anyways.
I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve been truly mad, but this feels different.
Hurt buried deep beneath the frustration.
I pound one fist into the bag, then pause when the skin of my knuckles stings.
If there’s any chance of me joining them on that date…
I turn around and snag my gloves, slipping them on and then going back to the bag. I don’t want to show up with bloody knuckles. That’s not the kind of first impression you want to make on any omega, let alone one that’s probably a scent match and possibly your future mate.
The bag takes the brunt of my anger and hurt, faithfully swaying and grounding me, offering a safe way to let the emotion out. My thoughts fade with each punch, blissful oblivion slipping in as I sink into the zone.
Thud, thud, thud.
Thud, thud, thud.
I only stop when sweat drips from my forehead and my arms are shaking.
I step back and rest my hands on my head, then walk a slow lap around the outside of the house.
It’s not a big place, certainly not good enough for an omega, but we’d always planned to get something nicer.
A house more suitable for a pack, if we ever found them.
Now another worry seeps in. We have a decent amount saved, but not enough for a new house.
Maybe if we sold this one first, we could swing a down payment, but paying for another entire human?
I suck in a breath, thinking through my options.
I haven’t wanted to move up to a desk job, despite it being offered.
I like the manual labor and working outside, but a cushy desk job would be year-round, rather than only when the weather cooperates.
I’d miss my team, but I’d do it for my pack. For Hayden, the asshole, and Siobhan, our potential omega. Maybe even Aury, if he’ll have us. I’ll give it some thought, ask this weekend if the offer’s still on the table.
With that, I suck in a slow breath, my heart having slowed to resting, and step back inside.
A shower is running upstairs. Hayden is probably worrying about me.
We’ve put off bonding until we could find our omega, but part of me wishes every so often that we did have that link between us.
I trust them, but some reassurance of where their thoughts and emotions are would be welcome right about now.
I’ll have to take them at their word. It wasn’t malicious, simply poor decision making. Probably thanks to their alpha instincts riding them. I can’t imagine what it’s like meeting our scent match—when she’s badly injured—and then being forced to leave her in someone else’s hands.
I suck on my teeth, then roll my eyes.
Alright, so I acted a little irrationally, too. Perhaps they wouldn’t be opposed to me joining them in the shower this time.
When I knock and crack the door open, it’s to see Hayden with their forearms braced against the wall under the shower head, water cascading down their head and back.
Their hair is plastered to their face, mouth open and shoulders drooped.
They turn their head the slightest bit to look at me, as though they can’t muster up the energy to do more than that.
“I shouldn’t have walked out like that,” I say, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.
“It’s okay,” Hayden says. “I get why you’re mad. I would be too.”
“Can I join you?”
They turn to look at me fully this time, surprise flitting across their face. They swallow hard, throat bobbing as they straighten. “Yeah. Of course.”
I slip out of my sweaty clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor, then pull open the shower door to join them.
“I was mad, yes,” I murmur, leaning against the opposite wall from them and letting the chill tile ground me further. “But I think more than that, I was hurt. It felt like a rejection. When you didn’t tell me.”
“I’m so sorry, Jay.” Hayden reaches for me, shaking their head. “I never meant—That’s not—”
“I know. I know that now.” I let them curl their hand around the back of my neck, pulling me away from the wall and into their body. I might be wider and stronger, but they’re just as tall and have the typical alpha musculature.
“You’re involved with every step forward, from here on out. It’s me and you, always.” Hayden rests their forehead against mine, and I breathe in their familiar Palo Santo scent. It helps calm me, and I nod, matching their hold by sliding my opposite hand around their shoulder and into their hair.
“Thank you for telling me about them,” I say, fisting my hand in their hair. “But I think you have some apologizing to do.”
I look deep into their brown eyes, letting them see the fire in my own. Their smirk is slow, lighting up my insides as it stretches, and their cock hardens between us.
“Is that so?” They purr the words, and I hold my breath, wondering if they’ll let me take charge this time. I’m a natural switch, but I don’t often get to dom with Hayden. They prefer not to switch, and only do so when they can sense I need it.
I nod, flexing my alpha aura. They could take it as a challenge, but they won’t. Hayden narrows their eyes for a brief moment, then nods and steps back.
“How can I make it up to you, alpha?” They fist their hands at their sides, then force themselves to relax. I grin, but decide not to push my luck this time.
“On your knees,” I growl, and Hayden looks me in the eye, then slowly lowers. Ensuring I know they’re complying because they want to, not because I ordered it. I roll my eyes, and they smirk.
Then they’re kneeling in front of me, water pounding at their back. Gorgeous golden bronze skin on display and dark eyes peering up at me through darker lashes. Fucking gorgeous.
“Open,” I say, placing my thumb into the divot on their chin. Their stubble is soft bristles under my finger.
They drop their mouth open and stick out their tongue, then their fingers trail up my legs. They trace my many freckles without looking, having memorized them years ago. One hand dips around to grab my ass, while the other swirls up over my hip and then past my ribs to graze over my nipple.
I lick my lips and fist my cock, giving the base a firm squeeze.
“My shirt is on the counter,” Hayden murmurs, and my eyes narrow. I didn’t say they could speak, so what— “If you want her scent.”
Oh, fuck.
My cock jumps, and I have to look away from their smug grin.
“Fucker,” I grumble. But I slide the door open and snag their tee, then bring it up to my nose.
“Ho-ly mother.” I groan, and I don’t realize I’ve closed my eyes until they pop open when Hayden sucks my cock between their lips and takes me all the way to their throat.
“God-damn,” I bite out, my entire body tensing. Thanks to her perfume on their shirt, I’m ready to blow after two seconds.
Hayden hums, sending vibrations straight into my balls.
“You asshole.” I fist my hand in their wet curls and tug them off my cock.
Hayden laughs, tilting their head back, not even protesting when I pull harder on their hair, forcing them to crane their neck. My other hand squeezes the base of my cock again, trying to stave off my impending orgasm.
“Just helping you out,” they say. “Thought you’d like it.”
“You’re an entitled shit,” I grumble. They continue grinning at me, giving an insolent shrug, and I snarl. “Put that mouth to better use.”
I shove them back onto my cock, thrusting to the back of their throat. Hayden gags, their eyes tearing up even as they promise retribution. I don’t care. Fuck them. Fuck them straight to hell and back.
They suck as I pull back, and I moan. “Such a fuckable mouth,” I say, then thrust back in. In and out, over and over. Hot, wet suction, and dark, furious but turned on eyes. “Let me into that throat.”
Hayden sucks in a quick breath through their nose, and then I shove forward while forcing their head down, plunging myself in. A ragged groan rips from my chest.
“Swallow,” I demand, my voice hoarse from how good their tight throat feels on the head of my cock.
They do, contracting around me, but it’s not quite enough. I pull out, waiting only a second for them to breathe.
“Again,” I say, gritting my teeth. Hayden moans, and only then do I notice their hand on their own cock. I sink into their throat and they moan again, the vibration so intense I shout as fire shoots down my spine and into my balls.
Siobhan’s heady scent lingers in my nose, and Hayden’s hot mouth is bliss wrapped around my cock. “Come with me,” I say, knowing they’re close too. Their body tenses and they groan as they come. It sends me over the edge.
“Take it all,” I groan. “Swallow like a good little alpha.”
Hayden snarls at that, despite being mid-orgasm themself, but it’s too late. Pulse after pulse of hot cum floods their throat, and they have no choice but to swallow or choke. My lungs heave and my legs tremble as I come back to earth, and I grin down at them, patting them on the head.
“That’s a good cum slut,” I say.
Hayden shoves me away and surges to their feet, murder in their eyes and muscles tense, but I just laugh.
All the hurt and animosity, jealousy and rage I was feeling earlier has melted away.
Like they sucked it right out of my cock.
This thought makes me chuckle again, and they pause, slowing their breathing as their eyes scan up and down my body.
I feel looser, more relaxed than I have in weeks. They swipe the back of their hand over their chin, chest still rising and falling with rapid pants as they try to catch their breath.
Then they seize the back of my neck and smash their lips to mine. I let them plunder my mouth and shove me back against the wall, happy to cede control now, and their body softens against mine.
“You’re lucky I love you,” they grumble into my mouth.
I grin against their lips, my heart settling at their answering smile against mine.