Except my omega had other ideas, and for some reason, my feet moved of their own accord, already halfway to where that gorgeous man sat, looking like a Grecian statue.
I ignored his fiery stare, running my finger over the weight plates on the bar.
“Do you want to try?” he asked.
Air whistled through my nostrils as I snorted. “And be crushed to death? Pass.” I could count on one hand the number of times I lifted any sort of weight.
He stood, his shadow blocking out the bright overhead lights. I took a small step backwards, needing more space. Thick clouds of his scent lingered in the space between us, making my thighs damp with slick.
“Maybe someday you could handle this weight.”He smirked, and I hated how much I appreciated his smile. His pearly white canines were slightly longer than the rest and I instinctively bared my neck slightly. “How about we start out with this?”
Before I could respond, he removed most of the plates, leaving one small one on each side. I tugged at the hem of my sweater, eyeing my less than appropriate workout clothes. His large hand splayed out on the bench, giving it a pat.
My chest heaved with a slow breath as I lay down. Kaelen’s hands covered mine, bringing them to the bar and positioning them. Desire shot straight to my center. I closed my eyes, refusing to show how affected I was by his electrifying touch.
The metal bars on the side of the bench rattled as he lifted the bar, holding all the weight while he moved it over me, above my head.
“Now breathe,” he instructed, his voice thick and smooth like honey. “Lower the bar down to your chest and then push up. Feel it in your arms. Don’t let the bar control you. You control it.”
Eager to please the alpha, my omega followed his directions. My arms swayed as I struggled to lift the weight after bringing it down. Slowly, I lowered it again, surprised when I lifted it once more.
“Good girl,” he murmured, his accented voice laced with approval.
The praise made me whimper. I bit my lip, happy that he said nothing. Instead, he watched me, straining to finish five reps before my arms gave out, and he placed the bar back into its restingposition.
I sat up, rubbing the back of my hand across my brow. Kaelen crouched beside me, now at eye level, handing me a water bottle. My fingers brushed along his, unsurprised by the calluses. When his hand retreated, I missed the closeness.
Silently, I took a sip, not knowing what to say.
Almost as if in slow motion, Kaelen reached out, his fingers gliding along my temple as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The tender gesture was so at odds with his intimidating persona. I enjoyed it. More than I should.
“My Da always said pretty omegas had a way of making you question everything.”
“What was he like?” I asked, desperate to change the subject before I did something supremely stupid.
Like asking if I was the pretty omega making him question things.
A nostalgic look came over his face, dulling the sharp cut of his jaw.
“An Irish immigrant who came to Boston with nothing but the clothes on his back and a fierce determination to make a name for his family.”
I scooted closer, resting the metal bottle between my thighs, enamored by the fondness in his tone.
“My Ma, she was an anchor. A gentle soul with a will mightier than mountains. An omega with the spirit of an alpha. They were devoted to each other. The kind of bonded mates you read about in fairy tales. Every decision he made, every fight, was for her. For his family. He wanted to build a legacy for their children, a future for the ones he loved.”
My head fell.
When I was younger, that was something my dad always talked about. Being a senator, making the world a better place, having something to leave my mom and me. He wasn’t that person anymore. The power and corruption twisted him into someone I hadn’t recognized in years.
I gave up hope that I’d ever know that man again.
“After his heart attack, my da held on long enough for me toget to the hospital. He told me to carry on our legacy. To protect Aidan and Liam. To be strong. I admired him. Wanted to make him proud.”
Emotion curled around his words, his vulnerability startling me. He bared a raw piece of his soul to me. A piece I suspected very few, if anyone, had ever seen.
It was a weakness. It was power.
Power over him, and he offered it to me willingly.
