Chapter 16 – Damian
Chapter Sixteen
Damian
“Nice to see one of you finally checked your texts,” Declan rumbles, shaking his head.
“Nah, Ravvi got a feeling. He told me I should come check in.” I shrug, crossing the room in a few long strides.
I’m sure that gut feeling came from one of the whispers, but we don’t talk about that in public. Declan knows the deal, and the greenroom is private. I just don’t trust some reporter not to be lurking outside the door, waiting to grab any crumbs of a story they can pick up.
I’m more focused on the way the veins stick out on the back of his hand that rests on Cove’s spine. It looks like he’s got a death grip on her. That, combined with the tightness in his jaw, leads me to believe I intruded on something.
What?
I’m not sure.
I do decently well at picking up on emotions based on facial expressions, especially when someone is irritated or agitated. I just never know how to set them at ease once I’ve come to that conclusion.
I got the flavor of neurodivergence where I struggle to pick out my own emotions and self-regulate when they’re extreme.
Declan and Cove look cozy.
I’m not shocked.
Ravvi and I have talked a few times about the way the two of them have been dancing around each other.
I mean, Declan always hops up to check on her when she’s sick. Even when she tells him to fuck off, he sticks around and makes sure she’s okay.
He’s braver than I am.
I’m a sympathetic puker.
I hate that she doesn’t feel well, but I have to pop in my earbuds the second the retching starts. Otherwise, I would be fighting her for the toilet in less than two minutes flat.
Dammit.
That makes me sound like such a shitty prospect for a boyfriend. Even wanting to be a boyfriend is somewhat of a new concept for me.
Growing up in a huge family pack was chaotic, but it was also rewarding. There was always someone around when we needed them, and my dads all have such different personalities that they were able to help with different things.
I’ve always assumed Ravvi and I would end up in a pack together.
We’re too close not to.
He’s basically the only person in the world who knows how to handle me during a meltdown… Except, Cove did everything right the day I got overstimulated after our show. She kept me company, but didn’t push, and it was exactly what I needed at that moment.
“Damian.” Cove twists on Declan’s lap, and her glassy eyes meet mine over her shoulder.
She stretches out a hand, and my heart thumps rapidly as I take it. Her skin heats mine, making my eyes widen.
“Shit,” I whisper. “What’s going on? Why are you so hot?”
Cove snorts. “Thanks, I’ll take that compliment.”
I frown. “That’s not what I—”
“She’s having a heat spike,” Declan says, cutting me off.
“God, you guys. I’m not that clueless,” I mutter, pulling the beanie down over my ears.
I was using it to hide my earplugs in the interview, but I plucked them out on the way over here.
The pair I was wearing wasn’t completely noise canceling.
They just helped keep the static background noise down. “What do we do now?”
“Now we get Cove to the bus.”
Cove refuses to let us help her into her jacket for the trip outside. It’s not worth the argument, considering she’s running a fever.
Declan escorts us, looking every bit the hardened ex-military bodyguard. His head swivels, and I’m convinced that he’s just itching for an excuse to fuck someone up.
I carry the omega, and she doesn’t make it easy. I’m a skinny fuck, but it’s not that she’s too heavy. She just won’t stop wiggling. Eventually, she moves from being cradled to my chest like a bride to being wrapped around my front. She grinds against my leather pants, nipping at my ear.
Huh.
I guess I figured out how people fuck standing up.
I always thought the height difference would make it impossible, but I could easily slam her back against the wall and plow up into her.
My dick is down for trying, even if I would have no idea what I’m doing.
It’s an unexpected reaction.
Most of my life, I’ve had no real interest in sex.
Objectively, I can tell when someone is hot, but I’ve never had any preference when it comes to bodies. Three of my dads are bisexual, and two of them are in a long-term committed relationship.
I think bi fits my sexuality, but I’ve never put much thought into it. Especially considering I’ve spent extended periods of my life not interested in sex at all.
I’m attractive—at least physically. Old ladies in the grocery store used to tell me I was going to be a heartbreaker, back when I couldn’t have been more than four or five years old.
Throughout school, I was mostly able to pretend I didn’t notice when someone was flirting with me.
On the rare occasion they didn’t take the hint, I had no problem flat-out telling them that I wasn’t interested.
My reaction to Cove is very different to how I react when anyone else shows interest in me.
My dick is hard, pressing against the material of my pants almost painfully.
It’s easier to fit myself into the skintight leather with nothing under them, but I’m beginning to think going commando tonight was a mistake.
There’s no way that she can’t feel how hard I am. I don’t have the first clue why the thought makes my face heat.
Cove is clearly attracted to me.
Being attracted to her in return is a good thing.
I think.
My family pack has always been open about sexuality. They’ve educated me and my brothers about safe sex and gone on and on about how it’s an important part of intimacy and an expression of love.
I’m not sure how I ended up quite so awkward when it comes to the thought of being physically intimate with a woman I’m interested in.
It should come naturally, but I’m the least laid-back person I know when it comes to emotionally connecting with people, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that physically connecting with another person gives me endless anxiety.
Still, this is Cove.
I’m going to figure it out, even if I look like a fumbling idiot. Half the battle is being able to take instructions, right?
Shit.
I should have spent more time watching porn made for women. My brother has a weird obsession with that shit. He swears it’s more emotionally focused than the stuff made for guys, and it highlights ensuring a woman gains pleasure from sex.
Dammit.
We need Declan more than I want to admit. He’s the only one of the three of us with actual experience when it comes to women.
Cove moans.
That might qualify as a groan. It didn’t seem to indicate pleasure.
She moves to sucking on my throat as she grinds her pussy over my zipper.
I’m going to be sporting my first ever hickey come tomorrow. The press will have a field day with that, but fuck it.
Let them speculate.
“Damian, I need…” she sobs against my skin, and my chest gets tight.
I hate hearing her hurting. “Shh, it’s okay. I’m going to take care of you. I promise.”
I get the door open to Cove’s bedroom and prepare to lay her down on the mattress, but she shoves at the sides of my shirt.
I’m in the same open button-down the wardrobe chick put me in for our show. I’m technically supposed to return this outfit to them, but they’ll have to deal.
Cove gets the material pushed down my arms and shoves her mouth to mine.
Her skin is so hot that I gasp, and the omega takes the opportunity to slide her tongue into my mouth.
She’s much better at multitasking than I am. She continues pushing my shirt to my elbows, and I think she only stops trying to get it off me when she realizes I would have to let her go to shake out of it.
Her hand wraps around the back of my neck while the other reaches between us and starts working my belt one-handed.
I’m still frozen, standing in front of the end of her bed. Keeping up with the kiss is overwhelming enough.
It’s a phenomenal kiss.
Worthy of being called an all-consuming distraction.
Cove isn’t afraid to fully fuck my mouth with her tongue.
It’s hot, and my knot throbs.
I’m not sure how she manages it, but she gets my belt open and moves to the button and zipper on my pants. Peeling myself out of the leather isn’t going to be easy.
“You two stay here. I’m going to find Ravvi,” Declan says from behind me.
I forgot about him for a second, and I jolt. Pulling back from the kiss, I glance over my shoulder at Dec.
“Hell no,” I growl. “I don’t have any idea what I’m doing. He’ll find his way here.”
“Let nature guide the way. You’ll be fine.” Declan backs away, and I frown.
“I will tackle your ass if I have to. Get in here and help me.” I don’t have any delusions that I would be able to stop him, but he needs a wake-up call.
Cove has trauma from being left when she went into heat last time. They’ve been skirting around each other for a while.
I’m not going to let him fuck off because he’s scared.
I’m scared too, but I’m going to do the best that I can.
“Please, Declan?” Cove asks.
Declan’s head falls back as he curses at the ceiling.
“You can’t leave me, no matter what,” she whispers, patting the back of my neck.
Shit.
I still feel bad about that debacle.
Back then, I was still figuring out my sexuality, or lack thereof—I fully thought I was asexual at that point—and I know Ravvi was protecting me in his own way by insisting I left.
He made sure I wasn’t put on the spot, having to explain to everyone why I might not be able to participate. I’ve grown into my own since then, and I know what I want.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I assure her before looking back at Declan again. “The first time she went into heat was a mess. We need you here.” Focusing back on Cove, I continue, “I’m an adult now, and I won’t be going anywhere. I’m with you, Clover.”