“Yaya didn’t name her. She said she couldn’t even see her in the dream, but Yaya told me that right after my mom informed me Thea would be at the New Year’s Day dinner with her family. That’s more than just a coincidence.”
I rolled my eyes. Total bullshit. “Whatever, man.” He would change his mind once he got to know Lyla. “Let’s just get some burgers and go to Primrose House.”
There were only two people in Culver’s and no other customers. We got five bags of food and pointed our truck toward Primrose House. Thankfully we could stay on Main Street most of the way, because once we turned onto the block that Primrose House was on, the road became much more treacherous.
“I think we should park here and walk the rest of the way.” Ozzi slowed to a stop.
I shook my head and motioned him forward. “We can make it. We can shovel out her driveway if need be.”
“We might get stuck.”
That was the plan. “We’ll be fine.”
We made it to the end of the driveway and got stuck. The ground dipped where the road met the sidewalk and the drift was deeper there than we expected. Ozzi shot me a look as he switched off the engine. We weren’t blocking the street, and it wasn’t like any other car was going to come along any time soon.
We grabbed the bags of food and hopped out of the Explorer. Ozzi didn’t say a thing to me as we trudged through the snow to the porch. Someone had shoveled the front, but snow was already piling up again.
I was at the door first and pressing the bell. The energy in me was equal to a happy dog wagging their tail a mile a minute. Ozzi walked up beside me, still being stubborn and not looking at me. I smirked, and I was about to ring the bell a second time when the door swung open.
Lyla stood there with her golden blonde hair mussed and a flush in her cheeks. She wore some wacky gingerbread men Christmas sweater which stretched the line of cookies tantalizingly over her chest. There was scotch tape on her sleeves and a tiny smudge of chocolate on her jaw. She stared at us with her mouth forming a little ‘o.’
Even in this chaotic state, she was beautiful. In fact, I loved this look even more. Messy, rosy skin, and chest heaving with each breath.
Before I could say anything, Lyla grabbed Ozzi and I by the front of our coats and yanked us into the house.
CHAPTER ELEVEN - Lyla
The two perfect specimens. I mean, models. Step-in mannequins.
“Kick off your boots, come into the living room, and remove your shirts.” I hurried back into the main room and tossed some tissue aside to scoop up the two big sweaters from the box. The space looked like a tornado of elves had blown through, and my head was spinning with the same mess.
Anything to forget the throbbing between my legs, the crazy need for an Alpha to fill me and lock in his knot.
Jason stepped in first and put down the bags he’d brought. He grinned as he shrugged off his coat. Mm, fuck, he was delicious. Still in uniform, and God, I wanted him to perform CPR on me. “Hi Lyla. What’s going on? Did you lose a fight with a reindeer?”
Ozzi followed at a more cautious pace and didn’t make a move to take off his coat. His gaze swept across the room and settled on me. Oh to stare into those dark dreamy eyes as he rammed himself up inside of me. “Are you all right, Lyla?”
No, not at all. I’d gone insane, especially since I’d just invited two Alphas inside when I was an unclaimed Omega in heat all alone. But I needed models.
An absolutely rational reason.
“I’m good. Fine and dandy.” I chirped and motioned to them. “Coats and shirts off. I need you two to try on some sweaters for me. I’ve been packaging gifts and wrapping. No reindeer were harmed, but I do have a few papercuts.”
Jason hadn’t hesitated. His coat was off and he unbuttoned his shirt. It stretched across his chest as his muscled arms flexed. How easily he could pick me up… “We brought you some food to help make you feel better. Maybe we can help youwith your wrapping too. It’s like you’ve bought gifts for the whole town.”
Wrap me up like a bow around you. Did I say that out loud?
I laughed like a maniac and motioned to the pile of gift bags in the farthest corner. “These are for the girls at Big Sisters. I’ll have to deliver them tomorrow. And under the tree,” I twirled and struck a pose like a game show model. Vanna had nothing on me. “The gifts here are for Miss Eloise, Mariska, Emberlee, and myself. I might have gone a little overboard this year, but Mariska’s leaving and Miss Eloise…” Yeah, I didn’t want to think about the fact I’d almost lost her.
Forcing my smile to stay, I moved on to a stack of boxes. “These are orders from my customers that I need to mail. Priority overnight. So they’ll be there in time for Christmas. This last batch is for my family. I’ll have to overnight them too, but I just finished sweaters for my brothers. I’m not sure if they’ll fit or not, and that’s where you two come in.”
All perfectly innocent. And holy God, Jason peeled off his uniform to leave him in a skintight undershirt. The hot Alpha had more muscles than the Abdominable Snowman. I could barely stand as my legs became wobbly.
Yet it was Ozzi who came forward. He didn’t hesitate as he slid an arm around me and laid a hand on my forehead. Concern creased his gorgeous face. “Jason, go get some cold water and a wet cloth. She has a fever.” He gently led me toward the couch. “Sit down, Lyla. What are you feeling? Coughing? Congestion? Any difficulty breathing?”
Yup. A lot of difficult breathing with him touching me. The spots his hands connected with me were sizzling like the hottest flames. I leaned into him, head on his shoulder, and inhaled deeply.
Black sugar and early myrrh enveloped me. Along with something sweet underneath. A second breath said that surprise was raspberry, and I melted even more.
