Chase eyed the strangers, intrigued by how different they were.The one interested in Phoenix was tall, blond and built like a brick, all wide shoulders and big muscles, clad in a tight T-shirt and baseball shorts.There were hints of Morsert province in his bone structure and a scroll of tattoos on his biceps.The one raking his green eyes over their group was smaller, more compact but equally thick.Long dark hair grazed his polo-shirt collar, paired with cargo shorts, and his skin was tanned, like he’d seen the sun recently.The last alpha was thin and medium built with light blond hair and blue eyes.A far less intimidating but distant gaze peeked from under a baseball cap, matched with a shirt of bright flowers and plain skinny jeans.
“You’ve never brought an omega before, King,” Skinny Jeans remarked, staring at Phoenix intently.
Caroline had to nudge Phoenix before he looked away.
“More than one,” the blond remarked, tucking his hands into his cargo shorts.
“They’re not for you.”Ford sipped his beer before passing the bottle to Chase, who sipped and wrapped an arm around Lucky’s neck, a not-so-subtle reminder that he was off limits.
Five foot of feisty omega, easily recognisable as Jesi, shoved the ogling alphas out of the way.“Amazing.I’ve been on your team for years and none of you drool over me with the disrespect you’re showing these omegas.”He made deliberate eye contact with each ORTa.“Theseunderageomegas, on Heatwave, who are about to meet the badass ORT for the first time, and be surrounded by a group ofadultalphas they’ve never met.Never mindtheircomfort if that means bolsteringyourego and giving you fresh meat to ogle.”Once he made his point, and each of the alphas looked uncomfortable, he turned with a flair that had Ford grinning in pride.
Lucky slipped from under Ford’s arm and hugged the omega.“I’m Lucky.I know we met before, but you’re honestly a bit of a blur.I’m so happy to meet you again.”
Jesi wrapped his arms around Lucky’s waist with obvious reluctance.He patted Lucky’s back, breaking the hug.“I’m glad you’ve fully recovered.”
Lucky nodded, not bothered by the reminder of the last time they’d met.“There’s so much I want to ask you,” he gushed, grasping Jesi’s hands.Then he flipped a switch, to focus on the group of alpha ORT, stepped closer and pointed to the polo-shirt.“Roby.”The man grinned at the agent next to him, who raised an eyebrow.Lucky glanced between the two remaining men, then swung his arms behind his back with confidence.“That makes you Tomm.”He stopped, offering his hand to the alpha in baseball shorts.The man shook his hand briefly, then Lucky stepped towards the last man in the skinny jeans.“And you’re Sykes.”
Sykes froze when Lucky hugged him, clearly taking Ford’s advice to treat the ORT like family to heart.
Lucky released the ORTa from the hug with a beaming smile.“Thank you for keeping Ford safe.He means everything to us.”
Chase’s heart fluttered at the look Lucky shot him when he said ‘us’ and not ‘me’.Even Ford slung an arm around Chase’s neck, looking smug with pride for these two feisty omegas who could ease the awkward tension of meeting new people.
Then Sykes stepped up behind Lucky to wrap both arms around his waist, and every nerve bristled.“You’re a sweet thing.”
When Grant stepped forward, Chase put a hand out to stop him.He wasn’t threatened by an ORT asshole getting close to his omega.Lucky had proven more than once that he could handle any alpha who dared touch him without his consent.
Lucky tangled fingers with Sykes, making it clear he didn’t mind the contact.Maybe knowing that Sykes was Ford’s closest friend in the ORT made a difference.“Will you introduce me to Darkin?”
“Why?”
“Because he shot my mate.”
Jesi gasped and spun to face Ford, who was oblivious, with eyes for no one else.
Ford stepped into Lucky’s orbit to tuck his finger into the waistband of his shorts.“Come here, you sexy fuck.”
Lucky laughed until Ford shut him up with a kiss.The moan Lucky let loose was positively obscene, and every one of the ORT looked uncomfortable.
Grant hit Chase’s arm to get his attention.“Let’s find me a beer.I’ll needta be plastered to put up with this shit all night.”
When Grant grabbed a startled Phoenix’s hand, he reached for Caroline, pulling her along.She smiled shyly and gripped his hand as Grant led the way through the open gate towards the bonfire.
He could hear Kain grumbling as he walked away.“Nobody tell you it’s cruel to make out in front of singletons?”
Between long, deep kisses, Ford whispered to Lucky, encouraging his happy laughter to the point he was in a fit of giggles.His three ORT friends looked on in confusion, like they’d never seen Ford this way.Chase wouldn’t be surprised.He wasn’t normally an expressive person.
But Grant was right—they’d better get used to it, because this was their night to be flirty and fun, to embrace the freedom of building their bond, and Chase intended to enjoy every minute.
Ford
His friends were assholes, but he hadn’t expected them to scare the omegas.The way Lucky had eased the tension and taken the attention was fucking adorable.When Lucky ducked away from his kisses, Ford was disappointed, until he stepped closer to Jesi and tucked his hands into his back pockets, probably belatedly remembering Ford’s warning that Jesi wasn’t fond of unexpected contact.“Is there anything to eat?I’m starving.”
Jesi took his hand and Ford could see that Lucky had successfully charmed yet another person in Ford’s life, though the way he’d won over Sykes had been unexpected.
“Kain!Back away from the alpha,” Lucky shouted, sparking off a round of deep-voiced echoes from the ORT already on the beach.
Ford couldn’t possibly love the cheeky shit any more than he already did.
