Yeah, I’m good and fucked where Cove is concerned.
Damian is already passed out by the time we make it back to the bus. Ravvi and Cove disappear into her room, and the driver takes off, putting us in motion to chug along to the next city.
I keep my ass in the living room, watching the sports highlights from the football games this week. I finish off the rest of the six-pack I find in the fridge and devour a couple of sugar cookies that I have no idea where they came from.
I’m debating if I should face-plant into my bunk or take a quick shower before bed when the door at the back of the bus opens and someone goes into the bathroom.
Huh.
I guess that settles that.
The water turns on, and I wait to see if the moaning is going to start back up. It doesn’t, and I zone out, watching the TV.
I’m half asleep in the chair when I hear rustling coming my way. I swivel the seat to check out what’s happening, and Cove comes to a stop in front of me. She’s wearing one of my old T-shirts, and my lips tip up as my head tilts.
“It was in the laundry baskets the team delivered while we were out.” She twists her fingers together, but all I can focus on is how my shirt falls down her thighs. If she stretched up onto her toes, I’d get quite the view.
“And you stole it.” I smirk, shaking my head. It tickles me on some deep level.
“I did. I was really missing your scent,” she murmurs, taking a step forward. “I was hoping to talk to you.”
The omega moves closer, and I lean back in the chair. She doesn’t hesitate to climb directly onto my lap.
My hands fly to the backs of her thighs as she kneels over me. “I’m here. Say whatever you need to say.”
She sits down, settling on my lap and trapping my hands under her. I could easily pull them free, but I’m enjoying being able to caress her soft skin.
“Did you only participate the other night out of obligation?” Her lips push together as her head tilts. She’s dangerous, looking up at me from under her dark blonde lashes.
“No.” I bark a laugh. “That was solely because I wanted to see what you taste like, princess.”
Her brow furrows. “You kissed me, but?—”
“Make no mistake, I licked your slick from my fingers when I jerked off in the showermultipletimes.” I quirk an eyebrow, waiting to see what she thinks of that piece of information.
“Oh,” she whispers, licking her lips.
“Yeah.” I chuckle, teasing my thumbs over the backs of her thighs.
“Things have been busy. I guess I just wanted to tell you that I am attracted to you. I like you a lot, Declan.” Her pink cheeks give away her discomfort, but there’s something so earnest about the look on her face that it makes my chest tight. “And it seems like maybe you’re drawn to me too, but then I think back on the last few months?—”
“I’m sorry.” I stare straight into her eyes, praying she can feel the sincerity in my words. “I have bad history with omegas…”
“I know a little about your mom, but you have to understand, not all omegas are the same,” she says softly.
“Yeah.” A mirthless laugh escapes my lips. “I spent a lot of years around Lyric. We were never close or anything, but she did try to get me to hang out at her charity, painting or learning an instrument.” I glance away from Cove. The lights and shadows of the objects the bus passes flicker across the wall. “Dexter and Love put me in this fancy private school. I was so out of place.” I laugh, and my head shakes. “Middle school was fine, but high school was a nightmare. I hated it, so I kept to myself. Head down and focused on getting my diploma, but my senior year, I fell hard for my math tutor. She hadn’t presented yet, but based on her scent, it was clear she was going to soon. Shit, I’ve never told anyone this story. Not since it happened.”
Cove pulls her hand to my chest and rubs her fingers over my heart. I’ve never met an omega as attuned to my emotions as she is. It should scare me, but some part of me likes it. It makes me feel connected to her on some deep level.
“I purposely went out of my way to make sure no one knew who I was related to. Pops was the one who went in for meetings, and by then, I was old enough to drive myself to and from school.” I shrug. “I never broughtanyoneto the house, even though Dexter told me I should. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why she kept pushing to hang out at my house. I wanted to make her happy… Sorry, I’m rambling.”
“I’m guessing she knew who your family was?” Cove brings her other hand to my jaw, tilting my face back to hers. “I don’t have to know every detail to understand she hurt you in some way.”
“Oh yeah, she knew…” God, I hate thinking about Lindsay. I can see it now for what it was. Infatuation with finally having someone who pretended to be interested in me. She was soft and sweet, or that’s what she showed me. In reality, she was a lot more conniving than I gave her credit for. “She showed up one Saturday when I was out with Love and Issac. Jude let her in because he knew she’d been over before. It was a big fucking mess. Can I leave it at that?”
“Yeah, you can.” Cove runs her fingers over my cheek, and my eyes fall shut.
I feel like I owe her some type of explanation for why I’m so uncomfortable around omegas.
