“Don’t you dare open that pretty mouth and tell me that everything’s fine. This is no longer just a fake engagement. We are scent-matches, Cole. Talk to me.”
She didn’t remove her finger from my lips until I nodded my head.
“I’m just realizing that I packed up and left everything behind and didn’t really bother to keep in touch with my brother or North. Or rather, I didn’t try enough. I gave up on them and didn’t look back, Aspen. No wonder he’s so angry with me.”
“So, you were close,” she said, as if I’d confirmed something for her.
I nodded, not bothering to deny it.
“At one time, we were all best friends. Their friendship goes beyond anything I’ve ever seen. But the three of us spent a lot of time together. His parents were close with mine, which meantthat our families were constantly together. It wasn’t just mom, it was them. I just left everyone behind and didn’t look back. Maybe it was just easier for myself, but I didn’t consider how shitty that was to all of them.”
I almost expected to see judgment in her eyes, but I should’ve known better. She was hardly the type.
Instead, I found understanding.
“I don’t exactly have that sort of relationship with mine, so I can’t say that I understand what it’s like to have someone that close. Honestly, a lot of my adult life, it’s just been superficial relationships. Not even real friendships with coworkers. Hell, my pack didn’t even care enough about me to not cheat on me. But that doens’t mean you can’t fix this. Show them they mean something to you.”
She shrugged like it was no big deal, but I could see how much it hurt. It made me want to fix this more than ever. She deserved a strong pack, a close one.
“Maybe this is our chance,” I said, “for me to make amends and reconnect with my family, and for you to have a chance to know what real family is like.”
“That sounds nice,” she said, her hands still resting on my cheek. She leaned up, pressing her lips to mine. It was like she couldn’t help herself, and I loved that I had that effect on her. This omega made me want to change, to stop hiding in my work quite as much.
I deepened the kiss, almost desperate now, my cock aching as I pulled her closer so our bodies were pressed against each other. I knew she could feel what she did to me, and I genuinely hoped that I had the same effect on her.
Aspen
Having Cole this close was driving me crazy. It had been such a strange, emotional day that I should’ve been demanding time alone to process.
Yet, I found myself wanting to run right into this alpha’s arms and have him take me straight to bed. I wanted him to show me how he felt about being scent-matches.
His lips teased against mine, melting me from the inside out. Strong hands dug into my hips as he plastered me against him like he didn’t want to let me go.
Our tongues danced together, a playful duel that had my pussy aching already. If he could kiss like this I just knew he would ruin me with his knot.
My chest was heaving by the time I pulled back from the kiss, looking up at him. Maybe I was pathetic for needing reassurance, but I felt no shame in the question that was falling from my lips.
“Tell me you want this. Us.”
His dark eyes met mine, conviction blazing in them. “More than anything.”
There was no hint of hesitation from Cole. He wanted, noneeded, this as much as I did.
“I need you, alpha,” I breathed out in a near-whimper. Cole didn’t know me well yet, but he knew enough to know that I meant every word. “Please.”
Cole let out a soft growl and picked me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist and buried my head in his neck, nose teasing over his warm skin, soaking in his scent. It was strong here, blood rushing through his veins and making it that much more powerful. The smoky and spiced scent made my head swim as he carried me to the bed.
He paused at the edge, pulling me away to look at him.
“Are you sure about this, omega? I have a feeling that once I have a taste of you, it’ll never be enough.”
Swoon. Was he kidding me with words like that? How was I going to resist this alpha? I swear my whole body melted into a pile of goo.
‘Good’ was my only response before I slammed my mouth to his, kissing him hard, my need so strong I knew he felt it in the way my mouth begged him for more.
That was all the encouragement my alpha needed.
Cole broke the kiss and laid me out on the bed. He didn’t stand back and study me like I expected. His mouth was already on me, teasing along my jaw before nibbling that sensitive spot behind my ear. Slick was pooling between my thighs already. It was insane how wet I was for this alpha. That wasn’t something I’d ever experienced before. The mix of his intoxicating scent, his primal growl in his voice, and his possessive words, all spoke to the omega inside of me in a way that already ruined me.
