But Sir’s hands never gripped Gabriel by the hips, and Sir’s cock didn’t find its way between Gabriel’s lubricated cheeks. Gabriel woke abruptly instead, short of breath and harder than he’d ever been before. With a keening, frustrated groan, Gabriel rocked his hips into the mattress of his new bed and tried to work out hisarousal.
He couldn’t feel this way. Heshouldn’tfeel this way. He belonged to Garrison, not to anyone else—but there was Sir, with his dark hair and his green eyes, too beautiful for words and too kind to be real, watching from the back ofGabriel’smind.
What was he supposedtodo?
The dreams were nothing like they’d been before, and they ended in unfamiliar ways, too—in orgasm, so crisp and sweet that Gabriel wilted onto the bed and had to take a moment to himself to recover. Guilt hit secondslater.
He was being bad—worse than he ever could have imagined. He couldn’t stay here and face temptation, or he’d forget what he truly wanted, and who he truly belonged to. He had to get out now, before he did something he’dregret.
The dream was over, and he resolved to never have itagain.
15
Cedric
“It’s goingto take some work, but now that I understand my boundaries, I think it’ll go well.” Cedric held the phone to his ear as he pulled the overhead cabinet open and plucked the jar of coconut oil from the shelf. He picked up the spoon he’d left on the spoon rest and pressed it into the solidified oil, breaking off a small chunk to set in the heating frying pan. “There was an incident earlier in the day when he got spooked and bolted down the driveway for reasons I’m not entirely sure I understand, but other than that, there were no significant incidences. We spent the rest of the day getting to know each other so I could understand how best to approach the job. Sterling waspleased.”
Oli hummed. “Like bringing home a rabbit, it sounds like. So, you called Sterlingalready?”
Rabbit.
Cedricgrinned.
“First thing this morning.” He pushed the glob of coconut oil around the pan and watched as it melted. “I wasn’t even out of bed yet when I called him. He was awake and glad to hear from me. Apparently, Adrian was up all nightworrying.”
“I guess it’s a good thing you called, then.” The tone of Oli’s voice led Cedric to believe that there was something he’d left unsaid. Oli didn’t keep him waiting for long. “I think that it’s good that you’re being paid well for this job, but I’m not convinced that it’s a good job to take, even if it means you’re making a connection withSterling.”
“Why?” Cedric took four eggs from the fridge and rested them on the counter. He cracked the first one on the edge of the stove, then emptied its contents into the hot pan. “You don’t think I canhandleit?”
“It’s not you I’m worried about. You’re going to be fine. It’s that little fidgety rabbit of yours I’m worriedabout.”
“Mm.” Cedric set the empty shell down and picked up the next egg. “What about Gabriel, inparticular?”
“You said he spooked when you were outside. I’m no psychologist, but that seems to be a pretty big red flag, don’t youthink?”
“It was one time. He was with someone he barely knew in a place he’d never seen before. I came into this knowing that there was something strange going on. I think, if skittish is the extent of his damage, it’s not the end of the world.” The second egg struck the counter, the hairline fracture branching farther as Cedric pressed his thumb into it to split one half from the other. “I want him, Oli. I’m not giving up on him. I think he just needs to getsettled.”
“Well, you know better than I do.” Oli yawned. “What are you doing up this early, anyway? It’s not like you to be an early bird. Hell, if I could,I’dstill beasleep.”
“There’s always excitement whenever a new client enters my life.” It was partially a lie, but Cedric didn’t want to get into the truth. Not yet. Telling Oli that he couldn’t keep the damaged omega sleeping in his guest bedroom off his mind wouldn’t have gone over very well. His friendship with Oli spanned years, all the way back to the time when they were both juniors in high school, and Oli was the new kid in class—the very first out of any of them to have manifested his omega characteristics. They’d tried dating for a while, but after one outrageously unsuccessful romp in the storage shed behind the high school, they’d decided it was better they stop being lovers so they could be best friendsinstead.
Oli still lamented the fact that he’d never had a chance to feel what the others from Cedric’s short-lived high school relationships had so tactfully described as a huge knot, but by that time, there was no going back. The friend-zone had been firmly established, and they’d moved into almost-brothers territory. He supported Cedric, and he’d been there for him after he’d lost Brittany, but out of respect for Oli, Cedric did his best to keep sex-talk off thetable.
“Well, I’d be careful if I were you,” Oli said. “The Lowe family was weird during high school, and I get the feeling that they’re evenweirdernow.”
“Gabriel isn’tweird.”
“Mmhm. I thought so. I hear the defensiveness in your voice.” Oli sighed. “You’re up early because you were screwing him,weren’tyou?”
Gabriel, naked on his bed, the cute rounds of his ass almost heart-shaped as they tapered toward his waist. Pale skin and a smooth, hairless body. He’d perk that ass for Cedric, and then… Cedric blinked last night’s dreams away. They were disrespectful when Gabriel’s mental state was so fragile. What he needed wasn’t sex, and Cedric had to remember that. “Ofcoursenot.”
“That was a telling delay.” Oli chuckled. “Listen, I’m just about to hit the road so I don’t miss my interview. Do you want to touch base later when you’re feeling a little less defensive, and we can have an actual conversation about how you want to screw the brains out of the omega you’ve been asked todominate?”
“Idon’t—”
“Forget it. You can deny all day, but it’s not going to do you any favors. The problem with having a best friend who knows you so well—especiallyan omega best friend—is that I can read you like a book. You might think you’re being subtle about it, but you’re not.” Cedric practically heard Oli wink. “So I’ll call you tonight, okay? After this morning’s interview, there’s a career expo going on, and I’m going to dazzle them with my sunny brand of morningsarcasm.”
“You’re not going to need to go. You’re going to land the job you’reinterviewingfor.”
