“She did,” Liam confirmed.
I swallowed down my frustration. None of us felt easy being away from our omega right now, and they were being nice to let me have the first solo day with her. “I’ll keep her safe,” I said, meeting Gray’s eyes.
He took a deep breath and nodded. “I know.”
“I’ll see you later, daddy,” Westin said softly, squeezing Gray’s hand. He softened even more, and I turned away to hide my smile. She knew how to play each of us.
Westin’s arms were tight around me as I started the engine and pulled away from the house. “Bye!” she shouted, turning to give our pack a wave before returning her arm around me. I tugged on her hands to pull her flush with my back.
We made our way through the narrow streets past the port, hitting a quiet stretch of road. Westin ran her hands down my chest and the wind was warm as it whipped along my skin. The helplessness I’d felt watching Westin go through chemo, and then having to sit through that horrible fucking appointment with the doctor, still lingered in my chest, tight and squeezing. But as I reached back and ran my hand down her leg, caressing her soft skin, I finally felt like I could breathe.
After about an hour, I pulled up to a quiet beach one of the locals recommended. I unclipped Westin’s helmet and pulled it off, smiling as she ran her hands through her hair with a little pout.
“So fucking beautiful, baby,” I murmured, pulling her close and pressing kisses down her face. She giggled before throwing her arms around my neck, standing on her tiptoes so she could kiss me. I gave her perfect ass a squeeze before slipping my hand into the back of her shorts pocket, keeping her against me as we walked toward the water.
We rented a set of lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach and ordered lunch to be brought out to us. Westin stripped off her shorts and tank top, revealing a tiny white bikini. I wanted to demand she never get dressed ever again and simultaneously tell her to cover up so no one else could see her like this. She lay down on the lounger, a little smirk on her lips as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.
She held her hand out to me and I laced her fingers with mine. “I can’t decide if you look more angry or horny right now.”
“Both,” I groaned, throwing my arm across my face, earning me a giggle.
I reluctantly let go of her hand when our food came. I scarfed mine down, wanting her back in my arms.
“Do you not like it, baby?” I asked as Westin picked at her sandwich.
“Oh no, it’s good,” she said, flashing a smile. “I’m just not super hungry.”
“Do you want something different?”
She shook her head. She ate a few more bites before she lay back in her chair. Chemo had fucked up her appetite. Sometimes, she hardly ate anything for days besides the protein drinks Gray pushed on her. Other times, she kept eating as if she’d never get full. I was tempted to push her to keep eating, but I trusted her to know what she needed right now.
Her eyes were growing heavy. “Are you tired, babydoll?”
“Just a little, but I’ll rally.” She curled up so she was facing me. “What else do we have planned today?”
I had a long list of shit we could do saved on my phone, from shopping to tubing to visiting other parts of the island, but I was just as content to lie here with her in the sun. I reached over to run my thumb over her jaw. “Just this, spending the day with you.”
She gifted me with the most beautiful smile that just confirmed what I felt deep down—I was put on earth to make her happy.
“Come here, baby.” She came over to my lounger, lying down half on top of me. She was tiny and soft against my body, her steady breaths warm against my chest as she drifted off.
I’d spent so many days and nights alone. From the terrifying days I spent as a child when my mom didn’t come home to the isolation of foster care to my years in a prison cell… I’d come to believe that it was all I deserved. I didn’t deserve to have someone, or a group of people, who stuck by me, wholovedme. But against all odds, this vibrant omega came into my life and created the family I never thought I’d have.
My eyes drifted shut. For years, sleep had eluded me. Life had taught me too many bad things happened in the darkness, and my mind wouldn’t let me relax enough to let go. But now,with my omega’s arms around me, my body knew it had found safety.
A light fingertrailing over my chest pulled me from sleep. I smiled as I realized Westin was tracing my tattoos. There was a blank spot on my chest, and I wanted her name there.
“How’re you feeling, baby?”
“Better,” she said, resting her head on my chest. Her brow furrowed. “Sorry I got so tired. I don’t want to waste our time together.”
My grip tightened on her. “Having you sleep on top of me in that tiny as fuck bikini is in no way a waste of time.”
“If you say so,” she said skeptically, but her expression softened. A few quiet minutes passed before she spoke. “Do you want to get in the water?”
“Yeah, baby.”
My eyes were glued to her as she slowly got up. She stretched her arms into the air and arched her back, giving me the perfect view of her thong bikini. My cock stirred against my swim trunks. Now I needed to get in the water before everyone on the beach saw my fucking hard-on. I stood quickly, snagged her around the waist, and carried her towards the waves, the sound of her laughter bouncing through my chest.
