Page 21 of Bonded By Tea and Tarot

Now another worry seeps in. We have a decent amount saved, but not enough for a new house. Maybe if we sold this one first, we could swing a down payment, but paying for another entire human? I suck in a breath, thinking through my options. I haven’t wanted to move up to a desk job, despite it being offered. I like the manual labor and working outside, but a cushy desk job would be year-round, rather than only when the weather cooperates.

I’d miss my team, but I’d do it for my pack. For Hayden, the asshole, and Siobhan, our potential omega. Maybe even Aury, if he’ll have us. I’ll give it some thought, ask this weekend if the offer’s still on the table.

With that, I suck in a slow breath, my heart having slowed to resting, and step back inside.

A shower is running upstairs. Hayden is probably worrying about me. We’ve put off bonding until we could find our omega, but part of me wishes every so often that we did have that link between us. I trust them, but some reassurance of where their thoughts and emotions are would be welcome right about now.

I’ll have to take them at their word. It wasn’t malicious, simply poor decision making. Probably thanks to their alpha instincts riding them. I can’t imagine what it’s like meeting our scent match—when she’s badly injured—and then being forced to leave her in someone else’s hands.

I suck on my teeth, then roll my eyes.

Alright, so I acted a little irrationally, too. Perhaps they wouldn’t be opposed to me joining them in the shower this time.

When I knock and crack the door open, it’s to see Hayden with their forearms braced against the wall under the shower head, water cascading down their head and back. Their hair is plastered to their face, mouth open and shoulders drooped. They turn their head the slightest bit to look at me, as though they can’t muster up the energy to do more than that.

“I shouldn’t have walked out like that,” I say, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.

“It’s okay,” Hayden says. “I get why you’re mad. I would be too.”

“Can I join you?”

They turn to look at me fully this time, surprise flitting across their face. They swallow hard, throat bobbing as they straighten. “Yeah. Of course.”

I slip out of my sweaty clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor, then pull open the shower door to join them.

“I was mad, yes,” I murmur, leaning against the opposite wall from them and letting the chill tile ground me further. “But I think more than that, I was hurt. It felt like a rejection. When you didn’t tell me.”

“I’m so sorry, Jay.” Hayden reaches for me, shaking their head. “I never meant—That’s not⁠—”

“I know. I know that now.” I let them curl their hand around the back of my neck, pulling me away from the wall and into their body. I might be wider and stronger, but they’re just as tall and have the typical alpha musculature.

“You’re involved with every step forward, from here on out. It’s me and you, always.” Hayden rests their forehead against mine, and I breathe in their familiar Palo Santo scent. It helps calm me, and I nod, matching their hold by sliding my opposite hand around their shoulder and into their hair.

“Thank you for telling me about them,” I say, fisting my hand in their hair. “But I think you have some apologizing to do.”

I look deep into their brown eyes, letting them see the fire in my own. Their smirk is slow, lighting up my insides as it stretches, and their cock hardens between us.

“Is that so?” They purr the words, and I hold my breath, wondering if they’ll let me take charge this time. I’m a natural switch, but I don’t often get to dom with Hayden. They prefer not to switch, and only do so when they can sense I need it.

I nod, flexing my alpha aura. They could take it as a challenge, but they won’t. Hayden narrows their eyes for a brief moment, then nods and steps back.

“How can I make it up to you, alpha?” They fist their hands at their sides, then force themselves to relax. I grin, but decide not to push my luck this time.

“On your knees,” I growl, and Hayden looks me in the eye, then slowly lowers. Ensuring I know they’re complying because they want to, not because I ordered it. I roll my eyes, and they smirk.

Then they’re kneeling in front of me, water pounding at their back. Gorgeous golden bronze skin on display and dark eyes peering up at me through darker lashes. Fucking gorgeous.

“Open,” I say, placing my thumb into the divot on their chin. Their stubble is soft bristles under my finger.

They drop their mouth open and stick out their tongue, then their fingers trail up my legs. They trace my many freckles without looking, having memorized them years ago. One hand dips around to grab my ass, while the other swirls up over my hip and then past my ribs to graze over my nipple.

I lick my lips and fist my cock, giving the base a firm squeeze.

“My shirt is on the counter,” Hayden murmurs, and my eyes narrow. I didn’t say they could speak, so what— “If you want her scent.”

Oh, fuck.

My cock jumps, and I have to look away from their smug grin. “Fucker,” I grumble. But I slide the door open and snag their tee, then bring it up to my nose. “Ho-ly mother.” I groan, and I don’t realize I’ve closed my eyes until they pop open when Hayden sucks my cock between their lips and takes me all the way to their throat.