Genesis stumbled slightly, maybe tripping on a carpet she hadn’t noticed, or maybe just off balance from being drunk on alpha—it was hard to be sure which. Gabriel pivoted quickly to catch her, wrapping his arms around her protectively and pulling her against his hard, powerful body. Surprised, Luke pulled to an abrupt halt behind her. She could feel the heat of both their bodies, wreathing her in a haze of vanilla, charcoal, and cloves, suede and sawdust and saffron. Her stomach clenched hard, and an unexpected gush of slick soaked her panties—something that usually only happened during her heats, thanks to her suppressants. Genesis couldn’t help the low whine that escaped her throat.
Two pairs of darkened eyes snapped to her face, pupils blown wide. From the flare of their nostrils, both alphas had caught the scent of her arousal. Luke stepped closer, sandwiching Genesis between his body and Gabriel’s. She shuddered, another gush of slick making her squirm against the hard press of Luke’s cockagainst her ass, and Gabriel’s against her belly. She arched her back, eager for as many points of contact between their bodies as possible.
“Fuck it,” Luke groaned, before grabbing her chin and covering her mouth with his.
Chapter six
Gabriel
“Fuck it,” Luke groaned, taking the words right out of Gabriel’s mouth.
Gabriel had spent nearly every waking moment thinking about Genesis Valentine over the last week. Now, here she was, smelling like a promise and looking like a fantasy come to life. He’d been trying not to seem too eager, so as not to make her uncomfortable on her first night, but Luke had shredded that plan.
Genesis’s neck was arched, her head angled backward by Luke’s grip on her chin. He kissed her roughly, and Gabriel could tell that she liked it. The smell of her growing arousal already had his cock straining against his zipper. Her small breasts were pressed against his chest, her nipples peaked and inviting. Gabriel lowered his head, running his nose over her exposed throat.
Genesis froze, a spike of fear marring her scent. She broke the kiss with Luke to turn her wide eyes on Gabriel. He stiffened, his instincts acutely focused on easing her fear. It took him only a moment to realize his mistake.
“You’re okay,” he assured her, purring softly and running his hands down her arms. “No teeth, I promise. I’ve been dreaming about your scent all week. I just wanted a closer sniff.”
Genesis relaxed a little, leaning against Luke, who hadn’t taken his eyes off of her for a moment. The hand that had gripped her chin now rested lightly on her throat, his hold gentle but firm. Gabriel knew that dark look, that dominant stance. Luke was slipping naturally into Daddy mode which meant hereallyliked this woman.
“You thought about me?” Genesis asked, bright eyes sparkling at him with that hint of snark that he liked so much.
“Every day,” he replied honestly, and Genesis gave him a sweet smile that made him want to paint and cry and roar and burn the world down. Anything to earn more of her smiles.
Gabriel had known when she walked into their packhouse for the first time that Genesis Valentine was about to blow their world apart. He just hadn’t thought it would happen so fast. Luke Wyatt was stubborn as all hell. Gabriel had expected more of a fight.
There’s still plenty of time for him to fuck it up, he thought wryly. Luke was excellent at self-sabotage. It’s like he wouldn’t allow himself to enjoy anything too much. Gabriel suspected he was punishing himself.
Luke met Gabriel’s gaze, though it appeared to take a considerable effort to pull his attention away from Genesis. “This is another reason we planned to start with dinner. We intended to talk safety and boundaries and shit before anyone so much as touched you. Nice going, Gabe.”
Luke was trying to sound cranky, but Gabriel heard an unusual lightness in his tone that warmed his insides. Of his packmates, Gabriel worried most about Luke. He’d always battled depression, and it had gotten really bad after Evie died. Though he’d gotten better over time, Luke still hadn’t recovered, hadn’t put down the burden of guilt and grief that followed him like a storm cloud. But, in that moment, Gabe saw a glimpse of the old Luke. If Gabriel hadn’t already liked Genesis, he’d be completely smitten with her based on that alone.
“That’s right. Dinner. That’s probably a good idea,” Genesis replied with a shaky laugh. Her golden-brown skin was flushed, her plump lips slightly swollen. Gabriel wanted desperately to taste those lips, to taste every inch of her until Genesis was the only flavor he knew.
But he needed her to feel safe first. If she tensed up every time their mouths were near her neck, she’d never be comfortable. Gabriel brushed his fingers over her cheek, enjoying the way her skin flushed further beneath his touch, how her pulse fluttered, and her lips parted. He smiled. He could take his time.
He stepped back, taking her hand again and pulling her away from Luke and toward the dining space. Gabriel smothered a smile thinking of what Lando must’ve been sensing through the pack bond over the past few minutes. It must have been difficult sitting and waiting through the uproar, but when they entered the main room, Lando was perfectly composed. He sat at the head of the table, sipping Aperitivo, and scrolling on his cell. If they weren’t so close, Gabriel wouldn’t have noticed the telltale tic in Lando’s jaw. Yeah, his pack leader had felt it all.
Gabriel didn’t feel too bad for him. Lando had gone all “Orlando Rossi, CEO” over the last week, taking charge of Genesis’s arrangements with gusto. Though he hadn’t let his packmates do much of anything, he’d at least updated them each evening on his progress, while practically glowing with delight.He seemed ten years younger, and more relaxed than Gabriel had seen him in a long time. His pleasure had hummed through the pack bond all week. It was remarkable how doing anything in service of an omega could give them such an intense sense of satisfaction.
Lando stood, his eyes intent on the omega. “Genesis, I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see you again. I assume everyone has taken good care of you thus far?”
Gabriel fought against his grin as Genesis stumbled a little over her reply, cheeks pinkening. Obviously, she was still thinking of how Luke and Gabriel had beenextremelyready to take care of her a few minutes ago. Though Lando had surely caught the delectable scent of her slick, he didn’t comment. Instead, he took her hand and led her to a chair at his side.
Gabriel exchanged a wry look with Luke before snagging the seat on Genesis’s other side. Luke took the spot across from her and fixed her with his steely gaze. The guy could be surly and intimidating, but Gabe knew his current stare was just pure lust. He could probably still taste her on his tongue, the bastard. Gabriel should’ve kissed her himself, maybe when they were alone in the cottage.
Luke shot him a sly grin, as if reading his mind. “Gabe was dawdling in the yard, apparently willing to let us all starve. What kind of behavior is that on Genesis’s first day?”
Gabriel rolled his eyes, but Lando ignored them both. He only had eyes for Genesis. “I hope you’re hungry. Marco has been very excited to cook for an omega again. I apologize in advance for all the nutrient-rich meals he’s going to force on you.”
Luke scowled. “He’d better not start trying to change our diets, too. If he starts that shit about cutting out pork, I’ll throw him out on his ass.”
Genesis cocked her head at Luke, a sexy smirk on her full lips. “Your chef is right about the pork. Itisbad for you. At your age,you need to be thinking about a heart healthy diet. Maybe having me around will be good for you in more ways than we thought.”
Luke’s jaw dropped and Gabriel couldn’t help laughing. Genesis picked up her water glass—probably to hide her grin—casually sipping and watching Luke, while clearly reveling in her accomplishment. She’d probably already realized that Luke Wyatt Wilder was rarely struck speechless.
Lando smiled, watching the exchange with obvious amusement. “Did you just call us old?”
