When Bayleigh steps into the room, she’s glowing. She has a smile that stretches from ear to ear, and she’s holding Korbin’s hand, her eyes looking up at him like he hung the moon just for her.
It’s the same look I’ve seen on her face when she stares at Lincoln, the way she does with me.
All fear and doubt about us being a pack fades away, replaced by excitement for what’s to come. There’s no jealousy; instead, something else stirs in me. Something warm. Proud. Anticipatory. Like seeing her happy loosens something in my chest instead of tightening it. Is this how a pack feels about their omega? Is this what I…no, we’ve been missing?
Thank fuck Lincoln ran into her at the rink. Spilled her popcorn and then decided to replace it and sit with her. Claiming her even then for him. For us.
Korbin pulls her into his arms, kissing her softly on the lips, then tilts her head up and says something to her, before releasing her and heading upstairs.
Lincoln smiles at her, but continues practicing the lesson on his video, leaving me to take full advantage of the moment.
I jump up from the couch, stepping over Lincoln’s extended legs, and make my way toward her.
“Hey,” I say softly, brushing my fingers along her wrist. “Come with me?”
She nods, cheeks pink, and lets me lead her up the stairs to my room.
The room is dim when we step inside, the only light coming from the Scentsy burning across the room. Excitement courses through my veins, and I wonder if she feels the same. I don’t bother turning on the light; there’s enough in the room so she can read my lips.
“How’d it go?” I ask, trying, yet failing, not to sound like I’m holding my breath in anticipation of the worst. Her body language tells me it went well, but the alpha in me needs to hear it.
Bayleigh blushes deeper. She signs something quick and shy. But I don’t understand it.
“I’m not that good yet, Baby. I have no clue what you said.” Fuck me, I really need to get a rush on learning sign language. I make a promise to myself that every free moment I have not on the ice or with her is spent learning.
She says the words as she signs.
“It was amazing. We had a good time. But, I missed you.”
My heart races, faster than it has during a tied game, in overtime, as when I’m planted in the crease waiting for the shot that decides everything.
“You… missed me?”
She looks down, embarrassed, but nods once.
Something overtakes me. I step closer to her, cupping her jaw gently with one hand, tipping her head upward. “Bayleigh, Sweetheart?—”
She leans into my touch. And I kiss her, forgetting what I was going to say.
Slow at first. Like I’m afraid she might vanish if I breathe too hard. But when she curls her fingers into my shirt, pulling me closer, I can’t help but deepen the kiss as the softness it once held turns into hunger.
Her minty scent surrounds me, and I want more. My hand settles on her waist. The other slides up her spine while pressing her body closer to mine, trembling just enough for me to feel.
“Stay with me tonight?” I ask, pulling back enough so that she sees my lips.
She nods, and it’s all I need. I pull away from her, long enough to step across the room and lock the door. Tonight is for us, and I don’t want anyone interrupting it.
“The other night, it was so hard not to take you. But I knew it wasn’t the right place. But now…” She places her fingers over my lips, stopping me mid-sentence.
Slowly, she reaches down, taking hold of the hem of her sweater, and pulls it over her head, dropping it to the floor. She’sleft in a black lacy bra. Next, she slips off her shoes, hooks her fingers in her leggings and pulls them down.
I lift my finger to my mouth, biting down on it at the sight before me. She’s absolutely gorgeous and owns the moment.
“I want to finish what we started,” she says, her voice husky with need.
We move toward each other at the same time, as if there’s a string attached to each of us, pulling us closer.
My clothes and the rest of hers fall away, not rushed, not sloppy—like each piece removed is an offering. Finally, we stand before each other naked. She’s stunning. And she’s going to be mine. Ours. All we need for her to do is accept us as her mates, her pack, her alphas.
