Jason caressed my cheek with a gloved hand. “Nothing will keep me away, baby. There’s mac and cheese and cookies waiting. I’m ready to party hard.”
I laughed, but I was ready to cry again too. Hugging myself, I watched him leave the house and disappear into the snowy night with the bright beam of the flashlight. I stood in the same spot even when I couldn’t see it anymore.
He’d be fine. Ozzi would be fine. We’d eat and laugh about it, and I was never going to let them leave my sight again.
Fuck. I was in trouble. So much trouble.
I rushed back to the kitchen and put myself to work. Christmas cookies cured everything. No worries, no tears, no falling for two gorgeous Alphas.
But the magic was ruined as I cried into the dough. So I decorated the gingerbread people with boobs and dicks and stared out the windows into the darkness.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Ozias
I pushed myself hard, plowing through the snow, but nothing could chase off the heat searing through my veins from the sight of Lyla with her mouth around my cock. How she eagerly slid it between her soft lips, teasing the head, and sucking it all the way to the back of her throat. I’d never come so hard in my life.
The journey to the post office went by in a blur. How she touched me, kissed me, like there was no one else in the world.
I dropped off the packages which were already labeled and paid for. I highly doubted they’d get out before Monday, but there was nothing we could do about the weather.
Why did I give in? I couldn’t be the Alpha for her. My family was so important in my life, I couldn’t let my choice of a mate be the thing that had them turn their backs on me. But seeing Lyla quivering with her heat pains, the yearning in her voice as she begged me to stay, and how right it felt to hold her, made me want to give up everything to worship at her feet.
The wind whipped me and wailed in my ears as I trudged back to Primrose House. It mirrored the battle within my heart. Yaya said to give in to the madness, but I didn’t think I’d be able to live with myself if I did.
Somewhere to my right, a woman called for Bluebeard. Her cries grew frantic, and there was no way I could ignore her.
When I found her, she was digging frantically into the snow with her bare hands. I ran up and she grabbed my arm. “My Bluebeard! He ran outside and disappeared!”
It turned out Bluebeard was a miniature Chow Chow, and the furball was curled up in the snow living his best life. I shoveled out a small section of the yard for when the dog neededto come out and do his business. Bluebeard’s mom sent me off with some hot tea and tears of thanks.
Two blocks over, I’d found a widower who had tried to shovel his way to the mailbox but fell in his drive and couldn’t get up. I helped him inside and checked him over. He might have a few bruises, but he thankfully hadn’t broken anything.
Jason found me as I was shoveling a path to the mailbox. It was no surprise that he knew the old man. Mr. Radovitz had been Jason’s physical education teacher in high school. When I brought in the mail which had been outside, and he discovered a Christmas card and drawings from his granddaughters, Mr. Radovitz thanked us with hot toddies.
“And you must each take one home with you.” The old man shoved a forty ounce travel mug into my hand and then handed one to Jason’s as we put on our boots in his mudroom.
My eyes went wide. Was this all alcohol? “Thank you, sir, but we couldn’t—”
“Yes, you can. You’ve made my Christmas by bringing me that card.” Mr. Radovitz stepped back when I held the mug out to him. “I’ll see my granddaughters in January when the cost of traveling is cheaper, but I still miss my family at Christmas even if I have dinner with the Jones’ next door. Wilma’s turkey is a little dry. Nothing like my Dolly’s turkey, God rest her soul. She could cook a bird like no other.”
“Dolly was a hoot. She used to coach the girls’ volleyball team and they made it to state finals every year. Then she’d host a party for them and only let us guys in if we did yardwork for her.” Jason laughed along with the old man.
“Dolly was brilliant. She would have given me trouble for trying to shovel with my bad back.” Mr. Radovitz shook his head and sighed. “It was her guiding you to me today, Ozzi. I’m sure of it.”
I wanted to say it was actually Bluebeard’s snow adventure that brought me this way, but the retired teacher was safe and warm, and happy to have us visit. “Whatever brought me got me here just in time. You should really carry your cell phone with you everywhere.”
“Bah. I hate those things.” Mr. Radovitz snorted. “But I get your reasoning.”
“And speaking of angels, we have our own worried angel waiting for us. We should get going before she comes after us herself.” Jason had made no attempt to surrender his travel mug full of booze. He sipped it with a smile.
“Oh?” The old man’s bushy eyebrows rose. “You two young men have yourself a special lady? I saw your mom the other week, Jason, and she didn’t say anything.”
“We just met Lyla this week, but she’s the one. I can feel it in my bones.” Jason nodded and I wanted to strangle him. The last thing we needed was for someone to spread misinformation and then it would be all over town that we were dating Lyla within an hour.
“Lyla. That’s one of Eloise’s girls, isn’t it? The pretty blonde one with all the Christmas stuff?”
“Yup, that’s her. Most beautiful girl in the world.” Jason lifted his drink in a cheers motion and took another sip. I mentally facepalmed.
“She’s a nice girl. You better treat her right, Jason Ward. You caused a lot of girls trouble in school.” Mr. Radovitz shook his finger at Jason who just continued to grin. He then turned to me. “Ozzi, you have my wife’s and my blessings. You’ll know it’s real when you feel a little crazy. Sometimes a lot crazy, but true love walks that edge. Just keep your friend here in line.”
