It was her needs that punched into my gut. She needed tending to, and there was no fucking way I could hand her over to anyone else. I’d go on a fucking rampage. I had to accept what was happening to me and that I wouldn’t willingly let her go. I could do this. I could be there for her. I could help her through her change and give her what she craved.
If she chose me. I needed her to choose me, because if she didn’t, someone would need to knock me the fuck out before I could let her go. In my mind, I was already forming a plan if she said no.
“Eyes on me, baby,” I said, cupping her chin, and drew her to face me.
As our eyes met, she twitched, hand going to the comforter over her tummy.
“You feeling needy, omega?” I asked. “You want me to take care of you?”
“I don’t understand,” she said.
“I think you do. I’m here. I’ll take care of you.”
Her small hand tightening into a fist on my T-shirt shredded the last of my control. I growled low but quickly shifted it to a purr, feeling like a fucking king when she softened in response. My hand slid around her throat, resting against the delicate column and feeling the pulse leap under my fingertips. Her pupils seemed to explode so wide, the last of the pretty blue disappeared. Another twitch, another whimper, and her eyes lowered to my lips.
“Please, Jace,” she said.
“Fuck,” I muttered before lowering my lips to hers.
She whimpered into my mouth before her tongue came out to play, tentatively at first, then becoming emboldened as it tangled with mine.
That fast, I was drowning. My purr dropped to a growl again, but I didn’t care that it would be driving her pussy to weep slick, nor did I worry about the potent effect it would have on her rampant, newly awakened emotions. Slanting my mouth over hers, I deepened the kiss, hand slipping under the comforter to cup the gentle swell of her tit. Even through the material, her nipple was hard as stone. I swallowed up her mumbled nonsense as I stroked it with my thumb, feeling it grow fat and engorged, begging for my lips. Pinching it between finger and thumb through the material, I squeezed hard.
It was like a shot of electricity went through her. Wrenching my mouth away, I cupped the back of her head, pressing her nose against my chest as I tugged roughly on her sensitive nipple. “Breathe deep, omega,” I rumbled against her temple. “That’s it, baby. I’m going to make you feel so fucking good. Going to work my fat cock in just how you need it and fill you all up. Then once you’re taking that like my good girl, I’m going to work my knot in as well.”
Fuck, I’d never given anyone my knot before, but now… My heart smashed in my chest, the beast inside clawing at me. He was coming out, and the only thing I could control was how soon. Mark, breed, claim.
Nails scored my throat, and she shifted, trying to climb me. Her other hand was at my belt buckle, tugging on it with an impatient sob. I gave her a little shake and a growl, and her attention was once more on my face.
I thought about letting her lead this. She was so deep down the hole already, I could spread her out on the low table and rut her and she wouldn’t give a fuck. I was right there with her, but there were other alphas here, and her scent was enough to send even the most stoic alpha bastard right over the edge.
“Tell me to take care of you,” I said. “Tell me to rut you, and I will give you everything you need.”
“Please,” she said without the slightest hesitation. “I need you, Jace.”
My reservations imploded. My omega, she needed me.
Was I taking advantage of her? No, but I was toeing it close to the line.
Was that going to stop me? Fuck no. She’d picked me and asked me to take care of her.
She’d been mine the moment she walked in the gate, I realised, wearing that prim little dress more suited to a job interview than a nightclub and a haughty expression like the entire zone was beneath her contempt. The thought of taming her, breaking down the ice queen inside her, and letting the greedy little girl out had drawn me to her, but now? Her designation shouldn’t matter, yet it changed everything.
Omegas needed alphas, but us? Looking at her, I realised I fucking needed her just as much. Whether it was for tonight only or… I didn’t let myself think too far down that road. I couldn’t, wouldn’t.
Gathering her up in my arms, comforter and all, I strode for the elevator. The beta standing beside it punched the button for my floor.
“Make sure her companions don’t get into any trouble and the alphas with them treat them right. Any trouble, get Ryder on it.”
He nodded. The elevator opened, and we rode up to my penthouse.
3
Sloane
This was wrong, so fucking wrong.
So why did it feel so right?
At least I thought that was what it was. I shook my head, trying to clear it, some weird little whine escaping my lips, and that wasn’t all.
I need you?
What the hell was that and where had that come from? I wondered about that, but my body had a ready answer. A wetness I’d never experienced soaked my dress, coating my thighs—something I’d only heard about in sex ed at school, in disgusted tones, with other beta women.
Slick.
My body was readying itself to take an alpha’s knot in the way only my kind could, just in case I needed further proof that I was an omega. I hissed as I staggered out of the elevator, Jace in no hurry to follow. There was no need now, not when he had me right where he wanted me. I dimly saw the open plan living space with a big screen TV, a couple of couches, and the darkened doorway of a bedroom. He smiled when I turned back to face him, a slow, feline thing.
That was what he seemed like, one of those big cats that paced back and forth in their cages in the zoo, but this one had been let out. No, he had never experienced bars that stopped him from what he was doing, made evident when those massive arms reached up, grabbing the top of the elevator door frame, and surely he knew what that did. Every muscle was on display, outlined by the mood lighting in the suite, making flesh the terrible power he carried. He snorted when he watched me freeze like prey before a predator, dropping his arms and prowling closer.
“What… Why am I here?” I asked, which was bloody stupid in hindsight.
“You know,” he replied, strolling on up. I could run, try to get away, get around him, but I didn’t.
Because he was right—I did know. I’d asked for this, begged for this. My feet were rooted to the floor and sliding outwards, slick was running down my thighs, my nipples felt like they were boring their way through my dress with every breath, and my cunt? Not a nice word, not a decorous word, but the only one for this moment. It flexed and clenched, sending little thrills of pleasure through my body, alerting me of what was to come.
Me.
My brain fought this idea and the absolute certainty in his eyes as he moved closer, his sheer bloody size becoming more and more apparent the nearer he got. He threw a shadow over me as he came to a stop, so tall, so broad, so powerful that even the lights couldn’t get to me, just him. His hand raised and he smiled as I watched its every move, but I didn’t run screaming, did I? When I was a teenager, us girls had talked about what we’d do if approached by an alpha, their brutal ways often discussed in the media, shackled men being led into the courthouse often shown on the news. We’d all assured each other we’d run, scream, call the police, fight him off with our beta ingenuity, but there was a little stun gun in my bag waiting there for me to use and I didn’t reach for it.