"Fair enough," Morrison concedes. "We'll make this last shipment count then. I've got three more buyers lined up who want in before you go dark. Can you handle five horses instead of the usual three?"
I do quick mental math, calculating space and risk and logistics. "Five is pushing it but manageable. Same price per head?"
"Double," Morrison counters. "Since it's the last one for a while and I'm giving you five instead of three. Call it hazard pay for the increased risk."
Double means this one shipment will bring in close to two hundred thousand dollars. Enough to cover Solana's needs for months, buy her anything she could possibly want, and make sure she never has to worry about money or security. The temptation is strong despite the increased risk.
"Deal," I agree. "But Morrison, after this, we're done until things settle. No exceptions, no matter how much someone is willing to pay."
"Understood. I'll have my people contact Stefan about the paperwork." He pauses. "And Jameson? Congratulations on the Omega. Hope she makes you happy."
The line goes dead before I can respond. I set my phone down and stare at the notes I've made, my mind already working through the logistics of moving five horses instead of three. We'll need to coordinate with Stefan on the documentation, make sure the timing is perfect, and keep everything as quiet as possible.
But first, I need to deal with this persistent hardness that's been plaguing me all morning. Thinking about Morrison and horse trafficking and forged documents did absolutely nothing to dampen my arousal, and now that the call is over, my mind immediately returns to Solana and the way she tasted on Dustin's lips.
The office door opens and Dustin walks in, sweaty and flushed from working in the barn. His scent hits me immediately, that hay and honey combination now mixed with the musk of physical exertion and something else underneath. Something that smells like vanilla and orchid, like he's been close enough to Solana that her scent has transferred to his skin.
"Solana's grabbing a shower," he says, dropping into one of the chairs across from my desk. "I'm going to figure out lunch after I clean up a bit. You want anything specific?"
I stare at him, taking in the sight of my Alpha all disheveled and smelling like our Omega. His shirt is sticking to his chest, damp with sweat. There's a smudge of dirt on his cheek and his hair is sticking up in different directions like he's been running his hands through it. He looks thoroughly debauched already and I haven't even touched him yet.
"How was your walk?" I manage to ask, my voice coming out a little rougher than usual.
Dustin's face lights up, his dimples appearing as he grins. "She's a natural with the horses. Thunder loved her and she actually laughed when he was looking for treats in her pockets. A real laugh, Kade. Not forced or nervous but genuine. It was beautiful."
The image of Solana laughing makes my chest feel tight with an emotion I'm not ready to examine too closely. "That's good. She needs more moments like that."
"She does," Dustin agrees. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his expression shifting to something more serious. "We need to talk about Morrison's shipment. Stefan called me earlier about the documentation and mentioned Morrison wants to increase the number. I told Stefan we'd discuss it first before confirming anything."
"Already handled," I say, gesturing to my phone. "Morrison just called. I agreed to five horses, double payment, but I made it clear that this is the last one for a while. We need time to settle with Solana before we risk bringing that kind of attention to the property."
Dustin nods slowly. "Five is a lot. We'll need to be careful about timing and keeping her occupied while the transport happens."
"We will be." I stand from my chair, unable to sit still anymore. The combination of Dustin's scent and the lingering arousal from this morning is making it impossible to focus on anything resembling rational thought. "But right now, I don't want to talk about Morrison or horses or shipments."
Dustin's eyebrows rise, a knowing smirk playing at his lips. "Yeah? Whatdoyou want to talk about then, Alpha?"
"Nothing." I stalk toward him, watching his eyes darken as he tracks my movement. "I don't want to talk at all."
I reach the chair and roughly grab his neck, hauling him to his feet and dragging him into a kiss. He tastes like sweat and coffee and underneath it all, that faint sweetness that's pure Solana. I lick into his mouth, groaning at the flavor and the way he immediately submits, letting me take control without any resistance.
Dustin laughs when I pull back, his face already flushed. "I was wondering when you were going to break. Do you know how hard it was being out there next to her, smelling like a whole flower shop? My cock has been hard for the last hour."
"Why do you think I didn't go out there with you?" I growl, my hand tightening on his neck. "I only got a sliver of her taste on my tongue, Dusty, and I want to devour her. So in an effort not to scare her, I'm going to devour you instead."
Dustin's laugh is darker this time, full of want. "Alpha, we don't really have that much time. Solana's shower won't take forever and I still need to make lunch."
"I don't need a lot of time." My eyes rake over his body with clear intent. "Strip for me."
His grin falters slightly, surprise flickering across his face. "Shit, you're serious?"
I squeeze his neck a little harder, just enough to make my point clear. "Deadly."
Dustin's pupils blow wide at the command, his hands already moving to the buttons of his shirt as I release him. He works them open slowly, revealing tanned skin and defined muscle inch by inch. The bastard is putting on a show, taking his time with each button while I watch with growing impatience.
Moving to the desk drawer where we keep supplies, I pull out the bottle of lube we stash there for exactly these kinds of moments. By the time I turn back around, Dustin has his shirt open but not off, the fabric hanging loose around his shoulders while his hands work at his belt.
He's taking too long. My patience, already worn thin from hours of denied arousal, snaps completely. We don't have time for this slow seduction, and more importantly, I don't want to wait anymore. The need to feel him around me, to take what's mine and remind both of us exactly who he belongs to, overwhelms everything else.
