He carries me through the tunnel of noise. The heat becomes a wall. He reaches the end of the hall, where a window stands already shattered.
He hoists me up onto the sill. “Go, Sunflower! Jump!”
I look back for a split second. The smoke billows around him, a black shroud that hides his features, but I see the glint of his eyes, wide and terrified. He shoves me through the opening just as a thunderous roar erupts from behind him.
The roof collapses. A waterfall of sparks and burning timber crashes down into the hallway where he stood.
I hit the overgrown grass of the yard, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs, and the darkness finally wins.
The memory fades, leaving me gasping for air. I clutch my stomach, my heart racing at a speed that will trigger an alert on the security desk downstairs.
I remember the feeling of those hands, the way he threw me to safety. I always assumed all the boys had made it out. We were so close during the few months I got to be there while my mother figured out her shit, hiding me from a father I later learned wasn’t looking for me and wanted nothing to do with me. Wealways said we’d stay together past the shelter. Obviously, that didn’t happen when we weren’t given control of where we went after the fire. But theten survivors statistic haunts me. If there were sixteen kids in that home, and my group occupied five spots...
What if I’m the reason someone died? What if Reid stayed in that hallway for too long because of me?
I need to focus on something else and type in the Remote Alpha Aid address. Someone may or may not be on at this time of night. It’s starting to feel like an addiction, needing them, but for the first time in my life, I can interact with Alphas and feel safe. I need the noise to stop.
Friday’s icon glows; he’s online. The “chill” Alpha. The one who watches videos with me. The one who promises a session that feels like hanging out with a friend. I need a friend right now.
I hit the request button, my gaze fixed on the loading icon. I need to vanish into a world where Cross-Sterling never existed. I need Friday to distract me.
Friday’s masked face occupies the screen. He wears a pale blue medical mask tonight, his gray eyes crinkling at the corners. He sits in a comfortable-looking chair, his broad shoulders relaxed against the dark backdrop of his studio.
“Zo, sleep remains elusive for us tonight, it seems.”
I let out a short, breathless laugh and run a hand through my messy hair. The golden-blonde puffs feel tangled and wild. I probably look like a hot mess. I lean into the glow of the screen, searching his eyes for the comfort I seek. “I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep. I just had some really bad dreams. I saw you were on and I just... I want someone to hang out with. Maybe have a little fun to get this energy out of my system?”
Friday leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He projects a slow, steady calm that makes the room feel smallerand safer. “I can help with that. But first, Zo... do you have a knotted dildo handy?”
I bite my lip, feeling a flush of heat. I glance toward the nightstand. “I have a dildo. But it’s not knotted. I’ve... I’ve never actually taken a knot before. I’m a knot-virgin.”
Friday’s eyes crinkle with a smile. “That’s perfectly okay, Zo. There’s a first time for everything, but tonight we’ll use what makes you comfortable. Get the one you have and get above the covers. Take off those sweats. I want to see you.”
My heart hammers against my ribs. I stand up, kicking off my sweatpants and sliding out of my underwear. I climb back onto the bed, sitting on top of the velvet duvet. I pull the dildo from the drawer; it has a realistic look and feel to a Beta cock.
Friday raises a hand, gesturing for me to settle. “Good. Now, I want you to get comfortable for me, Zo. Prop yourself up on those pillows. Make sure you can see me and make sure you’re relaxed.”
I do so, sinking back against the headboard, my legs parted slightly. The camera is far enough back that he can see my side profile.
“There. Perfect.” Friday’s voice drops into a rhythmic, hypnotic cadence. “Now, close your eyes. Picture a white house on the edge of a cliff. You can smell the salt and wild rosemary that grows nearby. Waves crash outside, and inside the house, the fire in the hearth crackles.”
I relax into his words. The stress of the night eases away a little.
Friday shifts his shoulders against his chair. “I’m in the house with you. I come up behind you while you watch the storm outside. Reaching out, my hands find your waist and pull you back against me. I let you feel my erection through your silk robe. I lean down and kiss your neck, right where your scent is strongest. My hands run up your sides and fingers tug the silktie of your robe loose until it falls away. I run my palms over the curve of your hips and up your spine, letting you feel the weight of my touch. You belong here. You’re my Omega.”
The words send a jolt through me, a liquid heat that settles deep in my lower belly. I look into the camera and grin. I crawl forward on the duvet, dropping onto my elbows so my face is level with the lens. I lift the dildo, holding the thick, smooth shaft close to my cheek as I stare into the screen. “I want to show you how much I belong to you.”
Friday’s free hand digs into the leather armrest of his chair; his shoulders stiffen against the backrest. He tracks the movement of the silicone against my skin. “Then show me, Zo. Show me exactly what you’d do for your Alpha.”
Please let this look sexy. I've never done anything like this before. I bring the head of the dildo to my lips.
Friday shifts the chair back so I can see more of him and pulls his cock out of his boxers, his eyes darkening. He pumps his shaft with a slow, deliberate intensity, his hand sliding the full length of his erection. My eyes widen as I see the distinct knot at the base.
Friday’s other hand comes up to squeeze his knot, his knuckles white against his pale skin.
I swirl my tongue around the tip of the silicone, then slide my mouth down over it. I make sure he can see every movement, the way my cheeks hollow as I take as much as I can. My head bobs in a steady, rhythmic motion as I increase the speed, my eyes fixed on the screen.
He leans back, his breathing audible. “That’s it, take it deep. Suck on it like you’re trying to pull my soul out. Imagine the taste of the salt on my skin, how I’m hitting the back of your throat.”
