But not because of the nice new digs. Because he gets to live on the same property as Adley.
Meanwhile, my dumb ass hasn’t even kissed her yet.
What kind of Alpha am I?
Obviously, the pussy kindthinks the Alpha male with a tiny kitty on flopped on his shoulder.
I chuckle to myself in my chair in Adley’s backyard. She’s playing with the dogs while Odin and I bask in the warm sunlight together.
He’s become my little buddy now. And I really think Dini is starting to come around after we bonded over some treats.
Maybe.
Danko woofs happily, a big sound for a little dog, his butt wiggling. Bat and Crooze start to wrestle on the ground, just as a black bullet whizzes by with a snarl and loud bark. Immediately, Bat and Crooze separate.
“Nikki!” Adley’s tone is barely admonishing. “They were just playing, girl. No need for Law Dog now.”
Nikki looks at her with such intelligent eyes, I’d believe she understood English if someone told me. Then, Nikki trots over to Adley and climbs into her lap, snuggling against her belly.
This impossibly warm feeling envelops my body at the sight of Adley smiling and playing with the dogs, looking happier than just about anyone I’ve ever seen. Simple things bring her immense joy.
“Was your job in L.A. stressful?”
Adley blinks at me in surprise, then laughs. “Yeah, you could say that. Being a marketing manager for a major financial firm meant that a lot was riding on me, my team, and our continued evolution. I had to keep up with trends, understand the customers, and work with the advertising department to create killer plans with killer ROI.”
I give Odin’s head a little scratch. “So this is some change of pace, huh?”
She laughs harder this time. “If I can make this work—I mean,reallymake it work—this will be the best life change ever.”
“Tell me about making it work. What does that mean to you?”
Her gaze shifts back to the dogs as she considers. “If I can bring in the right amount of donations and not bleed myself dry like Jim did, I’d love to expand the sanctuary. Build dog and cat condos in a larger yard so they have more options for where to sleep and relax. Get some pet doors put up in this place because I can’t believe Jim never did that. And just be… happy.”
Her last word is quiet and airy, like she isn’t sure it’s possible, or doesn’t want to scare happiness away.
I get up, hold back a hiss at the pain from sitting with my leg out for too long, put little Odin in his cat bed beside the table, and go to Adley. When I extend my arm, she picks Nikki up and places her on the ground before taking my hand and letting me pull her up.
My palm caresses her cheek softly, and I hope my skin isn’t too rough against her smoothness.
“We will make this work,” I say it will all the conviction I have, because I know it’s true. “We’re going to make your dreams a reality.We.Not just you.”
She frowns, and I really don’t like her doubts right now. “I didn’t intend to bring anyone else into my mess.”
“It’s not a mess. It’s destiny.”
With a little intake of breath, she looks up at me with those big, chocolate eyes, pale pink lips parted, and I am done for. I swoop down and capture those lips with mine, part them further with my tongue and dip inside her mouth, relishing in the moan I coax from her. One hand tangled in the hair at the back of her head, my other arm wraps around her back, pulling her small frame against my body, feeling her breasts press against my ribs. My groan is almost a growl as I feast on my Omega, tongues dancing in such synchronicity, I have to believe it’s because of our bond. We know each other’s moves before we make them.
Her hands come up to firmly hold my face, and the warmth that fills me overflows. The sense of belonging, the sense ofsafety, of love. Undying and unquenchable love. I know it in the depths of my soul.
But it’s over too soon as Adley steps back, her face flushed, lips puffy and wet, and my cock is stiff as steel before I even realize it’s happened. Her eyes drop to where it strains against my zipper, and this vixen bites her lower lip, turns hooded eyes up at me, and comes closer again, hooks her fingers into the waistband of my jeans.
“Want me to help you with that?”
Uh, yes. Yes, I fucking do.
But I let out a breath and grip her wrists, pull her palms up to my pecs, where I cover them with mine.My mama raised a gentleman, and I will stay one, even if my balls ache for it.“Another time.”
Her gaze narrows, up at me, her expression borderline incredulous. She knows I’m fighting my instincts. But she lets it go and steps back again, leaving her scent wafting through my nose and into my lungs, sweet and floral and so fucking delicious.
