Smoky tendrils snake into the air, and I grab the impossibly hot bread and toss it directly into the sink, slamming the faucet on and watching as it soaks through.
Crisis averted.
“Is everything…” Asher stops as he enters the room, realizing Vonn is in our apartment. In all the confusion, he followed me into the fray. “Oh, hey, what are you doing here?”
Good question, son. I realize belatedly that I never got an answer.
“Well, I came to bring you some tickets to tomorrow’s home game. But I didn’t wanna show up empty-handed, so I brought some pastries, too,” he explains, setting down the enormous pink box in the center of our rickety kitchen table before swirlingan iced coffee my way. The ice clinks together, making my body jones for a heady hit of caffeinated goodness. “And a coffee for your mom.”
This Alpha has truly found a way into my heart.And maybe my panties.
With Asher here, I set aside my many questions and choose not to fixate on how he got my address. “Oh, are all the kids getting hand-delivered tickets?” Part of me wants him to say yes, while the other is very much hoping that he’ll admit that he wanted to see me.
“No. And no other families are going to be sitting directly next to me in the stands, either.”Pushy, sweet, adorable Alpha.My inner omega preens at the recognition. Although I want to maintain my distance, this man is making it hard to be wary and cautious. I know how evil and cruel Alphas can be—I’ve got the memories to prove it—but I so badly want to believe that Vonn is different.
A shiver of need courses through me. To hide it I head for the cupboard and grab us some plates.
“Well, sounds like you got here in the nick of time. Mom’s a great cook, but this is way better.” Asher opens the top of the box and marvels at the sheer number of morning pastries within. “These all look amazing. Can I have some, Mom?” His eyes plead with me. Treats like these are so rare for us, and I would never deny him anything. Still, I appreciate that he asks.
“Of course, baby. Take whatever you want. Do you want some orange juice with it?” Having a job to do allows me to get my bearings, as I scoot over to the refrigerator, knowing that my son will indeed want orange juice. “Vonn, how about you? Something to drink?”
“Orange juice is great. It’s my favorite.” He takes a seat, smiling at Asher. They share a moment, and the sight of the two of them connecting makes something squeeze painfully inmy chest. It strikes me that Asher has never had a morning like this. My son has never had the constant praise and approval of a good man, and I wonder for a moment if that will damage him. But no father figure is better than a bad one. The scars on my psyche make that clear. At least I’ve given Asher a happy home and protected him from as much as I can. Father figure or not, I won’t regret that.
Vonn comes over to help me, grabbing plates and ripping off paper towels to use as napkins. He sets them on the table and brushes against me gently with each pass through the small space. Try though I might, there is no way to deny my attraction, and my body completely betrays me. My perfume bursts inside the room, and Vonn does his best to muffle a strangled groan.
I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to keep my hands off him. This man is just too enticing. He says all the right things, he does all the right things, and then he shows up with pastries and coffee for my son and me. Though I don’t know how he got my address, I’m sure glad he did.
“Mom, taste these; they’re amazing.” Asher’s voice knocks away the lust-filled haze, prompting me to grab the two glasses of juice on the counter. Snatching them way too quickly, I barely avoid a spill as I plunk them onto the table.
Vonn passes a coffee my way, and I take a deep sip. It’s a sweet blend of hazelnut and chocolate, just like his scent, and I narrow my eyes, wondering if he chose those flavors on purpose. The heated way he watches me lift the cup to my lips makes me think he did.Well played, sir.The desire to lick him, to taste him, grows in my belly, spreading further and further until I need to cross my legs to stop the pulsing in my core. Vonn and Asher carry on their conversation while I battle my own hormonal demons, and I want to kick Vonn under the table for looking as unaffected as he does.
You know what you did.
If I’m suffering, he should, too.
Vonn pushes the box toward me, and I blindly grab a treat. The fire in his gaze does nothing to stop the heat between my legs, and it makes me feel a little better when he turns back toward my son. There’s nothing for me to do besides admire the Alpha god before me. His thick thighs and broad shoulders make me think of all the ways he could use our size difference to my advantage. I know Julius promised me all the orgasms, but I’m pretty sure Vonn will deliver them just as well.
Fuck, no, what am I thinking? My son is in the room.Bad Nixie. Bad.
But my entire identity has been wrapped up in being a mother for so long. Too long perhaps, and the slick sliding down my legs is making it very clear that my sexual sabbatical should be over. And this man should be the one to end that.Mine. His scent invades my nose, and the electricity crackles between us. But Vonn remains focused on Asher, dropping furtive glances my way every few seconds.
It’s like our own little secret, and it just makes the moment hotter. The tension between us grows taut. I want him in a way I’ve never felt toward a man in my entire life.
Mindlessly, I bite into the pastry, not even looking at it. Flaky Nutella goodness bursts across my tongue, so sweet and nutty. Desire burns through me, leaving a slick trail on my thighs.
“Hey, Mom, Tyler texted. His dad’s outside. I’m gonna go, okay?” Asher jumps up from the table and comes around the table to hug me. Shaking myself out of my stupor, I hug him back and then leap up from my chair, too.Mom mode activated.
“Here’s the money. You have your phone. Tyler’s dad said he’s going to drop you guys at the movie theater and then you’re gonna go into the pizza place next door for lunch. When you’re getting kind of bored, send me a text. It should only take me ten minutes to come pick you up.” Asher rolls his eyes at thereminder, since we’ve talked this through at least twenty times. “But make sure you text me and check in every half an hour or so.”
This is Asher’s first time going out into the big, bad world all alone. Even though Tyler’s dad said that he would make sure they got into the movie theater, I’m still nervous. My boy is getting more grown-up, and I’m trying to give him space, but my inner helicopter mom doesn’t like it one bit.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll check in a ton of times.” I kiss him on the cheek, and he rushes for the door.
And just like that, I’m all alone with the man whose scent drives me wild…
Climb him like a tree,my inner omega whispers… and I no longer want to hold her back.
Chapter Twenty-Four
