The intimate couples sex retreat he showed me the photos of, and the schedule of what was involved, left me so flustered he barely touched me and I was moaning his name. Of course though, Rafferty also has another side, one that is all about depth of connection, so he’s been reading me his favorite books, while massaging my feet or something similar – drowning me in affection really. Once he leaves, I always find his other sweet gifts hidden around the place.
I’ve got an odd collection of O’Connor trophies now. Keegan’s pillow saturated in his sleepy scent, Tynan’s unwashed training singlets full of his energy and subtle lemon perfume. Ronin’s clean socks, of all things. But I admitted in between whispered kisses with Rafferty one afternoon on the sofa that my feet are always cold. Rafferty’s gift, besides his orgasms, is himself. Even on days that aren’t his, he sneaks in, and with one flutter of his eyelashes, I melt.
Keegan is like a shadow, keeping his distance but leaving me feeling like he’s always watching. Ronin is constantly phoning tocheck up on me. Tynan waits just down the road from the train station, in a hidden lane, ready to whisk me off every day to work out.
Each and every time, he does the same thing too. First his eyes are on mine, and I lose track of time and space for a while before he looks down to my hand, to check if I’ve slid the ring back onto my finger. Tynan never says anything about it not being there. At the same, there’s something between us that wasn’t there before. And we’re both aware it’s up to me to close the gap. I get it, though—why would you invest in someone if they’re not prepared to work towards a common future?
I’m exhausted after working so many shifts and juggling courting Pack O’Connor and being chummy with Walsh and his friends. And Walsh must notice because when I walk in ready for work, he cancels my lunch shift before I can step behind the bar. Grabbing my bag out of the staff room, I wave a hasty goodbye to everyone and disappear before he changes his mind.
After stopping at the chippery, I’m literally on cloud nine as I wait for the Uber I called. The hot chips have the perfect balance of salt and a dash of curry sauce that makes them extra tasty. It’s definitely a sign of how tired I am. Normally, I don’t go out of my way for fried food, but I’m so glad I did.
The Uber driver doesn’t speak actual words when I get in the car, slapping at a sign stuck in the middle and using his face to express his distaste as a way to communicate. I get he probably deals with a lot of messy people, but to paint everyone with the same brush is pretty shit. He then drives as shitty as he acts. I slam against the seat belt at least a dozen times in the space of ten miles. The guy’s a freak, and I honestly don’t think he has a driver’s license. He’s a danger to everyone on the road and pretty much ruins my chippy high.
Climbing out at the corner where I asked him to drop me, I lean down. “You know, being in the service industry myself, Isometimes think it’s good to remember to treat people how you want to be treated yourself. So, I gave you five stars, but this is on the house.” I flip him the bird.
His shitty attitude goes from level forty to a hundred in half an inhale. I stand by what I did—honestly, this guy is a menace and shouldn’t be an Uber driver. I expect him to get his rant done then hightail it, but he starts yelling even louder and flicks his seat belt off.
I shouldn’t laugh, but I do. I go to walk off, and he’s out of his car.
“Stay there, bitch!”
And in three words, he goes from being a rude dick to being an absolute arsewipe. He barks at me. He’s an Alpha, so his command hits differently, but he’s not a strong Alpha. Tynan would be able to exert more dominance in one of his whispers. It’s not the point, though. You don’t freaking Alpha bark at people because they give you a bit of what for after you’ve been an epic douche.
“Sorry if you took offense to me being as delightful as you were. And maybe I was being rude, but you ruined my happy-happy, joy-joy. Go away, we are done here,” I snap back at him.
The whole thing is escalating, and if anything, he looks even more irrational now. Some Alphas are just about proving they’re stronger, more powerful, all that macho bullshit that makes the world more dangerous than it already is. I start walking off.
“Stop,” he barks at me again, lunging at the same time.
He grabs my arm, his nails raking over my arm. My chips go flying everywhere, and my carefully constructed disguise snaps. I move on muscle memory with a detachment that comes from years of experience in the field. In a handful of moves, I have his arms twisted behind him, his legs kicked out wide, and my hand searching for cuffs.
And then I realize what I’ve done. With a shove, I spin and run off, leaving him, and myself, wondering how the fuck that just happened. Pulling my bag close to my body, I race down the road, using the park and the rear housing lanes to crisscross my way home. I feel sick, not because of what I did or why, but because of the possibility that someone saw an Omega go fullLaw and Orderon an Alpha.
I’m all in my head, running through how I slipped up, when I let myself in. And instantly, I’m aware I have company. Pack O’Connor are relaxing in my house.
“Did I forget we were doing something?” I ask, hovering at the door, feeling sick I completely missed seeing their car outside.
The four of them were already looking in my direction, no doubt hearing the lock disengaging, but their expressions go from cheery to downright hostile. They flip as fast as my dickhead Uber driver.
“What?” I ask suddenly, looking down at myself, trying to figure out what’s got their attention.
“Why are you early?” Keegan asks, blasting to his feet and coming in fast.
“Because I am,” I answer, throwing up a hand. “What’s wrong? Why are you here?”
“Why are you scenting so anxious, sweetheart?” Rafferty approaches from the other side of the room.
Ronin’s storming over this way too. “Why are you bleeding?”
I duck under his arm, weave around Rafferty, and have to jump backwards to escape Keegan. “Oh my god. Stop. You’re freaking me out, you freaks!”
Clearly, my communication skills are shot, but it’s been a hell of a week. I keep backing up, their scents hitting as hard as their presence. “You guys are so full on sometimes. Give a girl some warning.”
“There’s lots going on, Tally girl. And honestly, we didn’t expect you back so soon. The scratch on your arm, and the anxiety ruining your peachy scent, set me off,” Ronin says softly, explaining himself as he takes a series of slow inhales and exhales while a smile takes the place of his ugly outburst and his chocolate and pepper scent clouds me. Doing what a good Alpha should with his designation, helping everyone find their equilibrium after my chaotic arrival.
Keegan is equally responsive, swallowing his scowl and pushing his hands into his trouser pants, intentionally appearing more relaxed. As much as a man like Keegan can. A noticeable wariness remains in his eyes, especially when they dart back down to my arm every few moments. But he drops the bull in a china shop thing he had going on.
I get a tight smile as he floods the room with his own unique scent, which is his apology and confirmation he’s not about to lose it again. I give him a tiny smile right back, and his eyebrows flick up in challenge. I guess he wanted a bit more, but that’s all he gets. For now.
