And any declaration of love for the omega had to be separate from wanting Joey in his life. How do I convince Rob he is paramount? Or am I fooling myself? He swallowed multiple times before sniffing Joey’s scalp and memorizing his scent. This is probably goodbye, little buddy. “I just remembered I have to be somewhere.” He handed the baby to his father and strode toward the front entrance.
“Please join us for breakfast, Noah. I’d… we’d… Joey would love it.”
“Thanks, but I’ll grab a bite later. Bye.” The alpha slammed the door behind him and jogged to the beach without a backward glance.
Three
Rob
Rob lay on a plastic float in the middle of the pool and trailed his fingers in the warm water. Joey and Annie were both asleep and judging by the silence in the resort, most of the hotel guests were as well. The only sound disturbing the quiet was the meandering ocean in its never-ending quest to conquer new territory.
He counted the seconds between each wave smacking against the sand and wondered in which direction the water was heading. I’m similar to the tide. One minute I’m euphoric, and the next, I’m terrified and pretending to be indifferent. And just like the ocean, he was caught in a never-ending cycle.
As the omega floated around the pool, he tried to make sense of his thoughts. Noah stirred up so many contrasting emotions. His abrasiveness at their first encounter had both thrilled and appalled the omega. Was it only last night? How is that possible? And yet in the twenty-four hours since they’d met, Rob couldn’t concentrate on anything except the alpha.
Envisioning Noah’s cheeky grin sent shivers up and down the omega’s spine. Picturing his muscular body and swaggering hips had Rob wiping sweat from his forehead and adjusting his board shorts.
But the physical attraction has to be secondary to other qualities. He counted off the alpha’s traits: a ridiculous sense of humor, a tendency to blurt out whatever he was thinking, an infectious laugh, an enticing scent, and an ability to stalk his prey. Is that what I am? His mark? Is this a game?
The omega flicked water on his face and nibbled his nails. A fundamental craving for companionship, safety and the urge to reproduce had driven alphas and omegas for centuries. His words at the bar came back to haunt him. What did I say? Mating was a feral instinct over which we have little control.
He’d said the first thing that had popped into his head as a pushback to the alpha’s opinion, whereas the years had wrought significant changes, and now there was an element of choice in the mating ritual. Is it nature’s cruel joke that my body and mind are reacting to an alpha who’ll be a good father and provider? It’s not enough.
He’d been gutless the previous night and pretended to be asleep when Noah spoke. He hated himself for being such a coward but he needed to process his reaction to the alpha’s announcement. Their playful antics in the pool were a prelude to something much more complicated, and faced with a fight-or-flight choice, the omega had retreated.
Noah’s devotion to his sister brought up another dilemma. Rob adored her, and they’d spent the day together, but keeping her in his life and Noah at a distance wasn’t possible. Why is this so hard?
Nat had made excuses for her brother’s absence as they explored the island and had dinner together. Though she didn’t say it, the omega sensed she would approve of their mating. He couldn’t allow his affection for her to blind him to her brother’s failings. Noah assumed I’d be so dazzled by him, I’d join his charade and to hell with the consequences.
But as the water lapped around him, something metallic banged against the wall and the omega’s thoughts drifted from Noah to the interruption. A grunt followed by a groan had him raise his head as motion sensor lights flicked on, and he squinted as red and pink rose petals drifted onto the patio and into the water.
There was another grunt followed by a squeal and a dark head of hair appeared over the wall.
“Hey!”
He came back. The omega sat up and the float swayed and threatened to dump him in the water. Be cool, Rob. He lay back and putting his hands behind his head, peeked at his visitor from the corner of one eye. “I was beginning to think it was Snort attempting a break out.”
“If he’d been out on the town and missed his curfew, wouldn’t that be a break in?”
“Nah, he’s grounded.”
The alpha balanced atop the bricks. He looks kind of cute with his hair all over the place and his cheeks pink from exertion—and maybe more sunburn.
Straddling the wall, Noah took off a backpack and removed a bottle of champagne and two glasses.
“Are you meeting someone? You pick the oddest places to hang out.”
“Yeah. I was hoping to make a good impression.”
“By breaking and entering? I should call security or charge you rent. This is the second night you’ve arrived unannounced.”
The alpha held up his phone. “You were annoyed at my ringing the doorbell last night, so I made a playlist.”
“And?”
Noah made a face. “It sounds a bit ridiculous now. I didn’t think it through.”
“Seems to be a pattern.”
“I was hoping the music would lure you onto the patio and then we could… you know… talk.”
A sliver of emotion stabbed at Rob’s heart, opening it to possibilities. But he dug his nails into his palms to stifle any excitement. “About what?”
“Last night I gave a little speech. Made a fool of myself admitting stuff but you fell asleep. I’ve spent the day ignoring everyone and trying to sort out things in my head.”
The omega wiped a clammy palm on his shorts. This is where I come clean.
“I…”
Rob held up his hand. “Stop. Don’t go any further.”
The alpha’s face paled apart from the small patch of sunburn, and he rubbed the back of his neck and fiddled with the phone.
I’ve hurt him. The omega teared up. That wasn’t my intention. “I wasn’t asleep.” His voice trailed off as he threaded his fingers through the water.
“Huh?” Noah clutched the bottle so hard, his knuckles were white, and Rob winced, expecting it to shatter.
“What’s that champagne ever done to you?”
“Oh, right.” The alpha released his grip. “Keep talking.”
“I can’t while you’re up there. You remind me of Humpty Dumpty, and I’m sure that champagne is going to have a great fall.”
The alpha sniggered. “And down will come Noah, bottle and all.”
“Throw the wine into the pool.”
Noah did as instructed, and Rob jumped off the float and retrieved it before it sunk. “Thanks.” He kissed the champagne. “I’ve got all I want. Bye.” He winked at Noah who narrowed his eyes and growled.
“Damn. You tricked me with your wily ways.” Leaving the wine glasses, and with the phone in one hand, Noah leapt onto the grass. He threw the device on a lounger and stalked toward the omega.
Rob shivered as he backed against the tiles still clutching the champagne. Now I’m being stalked. For real. Both fear and anticipation pulsed through his veins.
The alpha ripped off his T-shirt and diving into the shallow water, surfaced beside the omega. Goosebumps prickled over Rob’s skin as Noah’s intoxicating aroma curled around him.
“I need an explanation.”
“A-About what?”
“Last night.”
“Noah, stay away. I can’t think properly when you’re close to me.”
“Like this?” The alpha leaned toward Rob and blew in his ear.
The omega’s knees sagged, and his companion grabbed him before he disappeared under the water. The alpha’s other hand brushed over Rob’s hip as he took the bottle and put it by the side of the pool. A blistering heat shot through the omega, and he whimpered. Stop that! No, don’t! Do it again.
An uncomfortable silence followed while Rob collected his thoughts. “Why did you come back? After you stormed out this morning, I
didn’t expect to see you again.”
The alpha bobbed his head from side to side. “I wasn’t sure you would either. But I started this, and as alpha and a grown man…”
Rob harrumphed.
“… I had to confront the issue and either finish it or…”
The omega’s heart skipped not one, not two, but multiple beats. He begged it to restart as the thought of never seeing Noah again squeezed the air from his lungs.
“No!” No! Rob inspected the alpha’s firm, muscular body. We could avoid talking completely though that would put off the inevitable discussion. “I didn’t have the words last night, so I chickened out.”
“And now?” The alpha stood behind the omega, and his warm breath tickled the wet skin on Rob’s shoulders.
“I-I don’t have any answers.”
“So, where are we?”
“I’m not sure, but I don’t want you to leave.” Rob swung around and peered into Noah’s green eyes. “And I wasn’t just at the bar for some time alone, though that was part of it. I needed to find a connection with other adults as opposed to a baby with his spit up, dirty diapers and the most wonderful smiles that brighten every minute of my day.”
“You wanted to hook up with someone?” The alpha rubbed his furrowed brow.
“No. I needed companionship. And I found it.”
Noah frowned. “In me?”
“No, you idiot. Your sister.” He playfully pushed the alpha away, but as he placed his palm over Noah’s chest and admired the beads of water dribbling over his curves, a flush spread over the alpha’s neck and chest and his heart flip-flopped under the omega’s palm. As the seconds ticked by, the hammering sped up and mirrored Rob’s. Sweat and pool water dotted his forehead and part of him wanted to smack the alpha for causing so much turmoil.
But as the omega wrestled with his thoughts, Noah placed a hand over his. Rob gulped and refused to catch his companion’s eye.
“Rob.”
“Ummm.” That damned smirk. The omega inspected the palm fronds peeking over the edge of the villa roof.
Noah put his fingers under Rob’s chin. “Keep talking.”
“I went looking for a friend and found that in Nat but I discovered something else. The omega’s bottom lip trembled and his eyes filled with tears. “You posed a threat.”
There was a sharp intake of breath, and Noah stroked the omega’s damp hair. “Rob, it wasn’t my intention to scare you.”
“I wasn’t frightened of you, but what you represented. Change. There’s been enough of that in my life and Joey’s.”
“Would my presence be too disruptive for you and the baby? If you say yes, I’ll leave. I’ll be a shadow of my former self and I’ll be shattered, but I won’t destroy what you have with Joey.”
“Laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you?”
“Did it work?”
Rob snorted and slapped Noah’s arm “Last night you were so sassy and confident, and this morning you were uncertain, and I assumed you’d either dismissed your feelings or I’d been mistaken and you were just using me.”
“Never. I wouldn’t do that.”
“Come on, Noah. The whole Valentine proposal was an attempt at having me rescue you.”
“Initially, maybe. But my stupid proposal was just a way of intruding into your existence. I can’t deny my emotions were see-sawing in one direction and then the other, but I was getting mixed signals from you and I was teetering one way, and you’d say something, and I’d pull myself back from the brink.”
Rob chewed the skin around his thumb. “Instead of floundering, I should have trusted my gut and been honest with myself.”
The alpha nuzzled the omega’s ear and mumbled, “It’s a lesson for both of us.” Noah placed a hand on either side of Rob’s face. “You don’t have to do it all. I’m here to share the burden and if you stumble, I’ll carry all three of us.”
“You’re not doing this just to make my life easier, are you? I won’t be part of any pity mating.”
“You just made that up.” The alpha snickered. “There’s no such thing.”
Rob shrugged. “Answer me. I need to hear you say it.”
“This is about you and me. Joey is an added, adorable bonus.”
With his eyes concentrating on a vein pulsing in Noah’s neck, Rob kissed his companion’s bristly chin. “You need a shave.”
“That can be arranged.”
The omega traced over the hint of sunburn on the alpha’s cheeks. “That might peel.”
Noah grasped Rob’s hand and held it in a vice-like grip. “You’re stalling.”
The omega rested his head on Noah’s shoulder. “I trust you but it’s hard to let go of all the crap I’ve hoarded since the accident. There’s grief, fear at not being a good parent, loneliness at having no one to share my life, resistance to anyone who got too close, and exhaustion from juggling everything.”
“I can’t magically remove the stress from your life, Rob. That’s not how it works.”
“I get that.”
The alpha twisted his head. “Maybe you need a symbol… like using a punching bag to get rid of aggression… something to whack.”
“You?”
The alpha closed one eye. “Let’s make that Option B.” He jerked his head toward the champagne.
“But that’s so expensive and a great vintage.”
“You noticed.”
“Yep.”
“We can always buy more bubbly.” The alpha bounded out of the pool and dragged Rob after him. Holding the wine in both hands, he presented it to the omega.
“Okay. This might work.” Clasping the bottle’s slender neck, Rob strode toward a palm tree. Raising it over his head, his eyes flashed toward Noah and declared, “I honor myself tonight as I release the sadness from my past, hold the good times close, and stride toward my future, whatever that may be.”
He smashed the bottle against the trunk and sweet, frothy liquid sprayed over him as shards of glass shattered over the plants. Rob jumped back and wiped champagne from his face.
Noah swung him around. “A very good year.” He licked the droplets of sparkling wine from Rob’s cheeks.
The omega’s cock squirmed as his legs went numb, and he draped his arms around the alpha’s neck to steady himself.
Noah’s hot, moist breath billowed over Rob as the alpha panted, “Could we do this inside?”
“Joey’s asleep. You’ll need to be quiet.”
“You just smashed a bottle and he didn’t wake up. Besides, I’m not sure that’s possible. I’m going to make a lot of noise and hopefully you will too.”
“Doing what? Chatting?” The omega gulped as the truth smacked him in the face.
“Is that what it’s called these days?”
As Noah leaned over Rob, a trace of a coconut-like fragrance from his hair washed over the omega. The alpha brushed his lips over the delicate skin on the omega’s throat making Rob’s knees weak.
The omega’s vision blurred as he mumbled, “W-What are you doing?”
“What I should have done the night we met.”
The omega whispered, “Which was?”
Noah stood back, and Rob whimpered and blurted out, “Don’t stop.”
“I have no intention of stopping. Come on.” Tossing the omega, over his shoulder, the alpha headed inside.
Rob shrieked.
“Shush. Joey’s asleep, remember?”
“Flinging words back at me. Ass.”
Noah slapped the omega’s butt. “And a perfect one it is too. No more talking.” He strode into the main bedroom suite with its king size bed and gauzy curtains billowing in the breeze from the open doors. As he threw Rob on the bed, the dazed omega got on his elbows.
“What is this, Noah?” Rob pointed from the alpha to himself.
“Apart from fucking?”
The omega rolled his eyes. “No jokes. Not now.”
“I can’t give it a name because I’ve never experienc
ed it before. I want to be inside you…”
The omega caught his breath as his dick swelled and stiffened beneath the wet board shorts. Me too.
“But I also want to know you inside out. And not just tonight. For all the nights to come.”
Rob scrambled off the bed, and Noah lunged at him, their wet bodies smacking against one another as the pair toppled onto the mattress.
“Not sure about you,” the omega whispered, “But I have to wash off the pool water.”
The alpha’s green eyes darkened, and Rob shivered. It’s too late to pull away.
“Good idea.” The pair made eye contact as Noah rubbed his chest against the omega.
The tangy aroma filled Rob’s nostrils, and he gave it permission to tether his body and mind to the alpha’s.
Walking backward, the alpha curled his finger and beckoned Rob. “Your choice, omega. Follow me. Or not.” He turned on his heel and stalked through the sumptuous tiled bathroom with a tub and steam room. He raced through the open doors onto a pebbled path leading to a private outdoor shower. Lush, tropical foliage and stalks of thick bamboo created a private oasis.
Standing on rough-hewn tiles, the alpha dropped his shorts and kicked them onto green ferns nestled beside his feet. As Noah turned on the faucets and a torrent of steamy water hit his chest, Rob was unable to move as he was transfixed by the alpha’s huge dick saluting him. It’s waiting for me.
Fire ignited in his belly and flames licked over his chest, sending beads of sweat trickling over his shoulders and down his spine. An arrogant smirk on Noah’s face had the omega’s body tingling as his companion swiveled his hips and squeezed body wash onto his chest. He’s killing me. Fucker!
Noah’s soapy fingers brushed over his chiseled abs, moved lower to his narrow hips and onto his swollen length while the omega’s cock twitched beneath his wet shorts. When the alpha wrapped his fingers around his shaft and groaned, Rob’s legs trembled and his body swayed, but the alpha flung out a hand and righted him.
“I’ve got you. Always.”
And there it is. Inhaling the sweet, sickly fragrance of the flowers creeping over the bamboo combining with the lime-scented body wash and Noah’s heady aroma, and the last smidgeon of Rob’s resistance crumbled. He strode toward the alpha and into his arms.
The Omega's Sun-Kissed Valentine: An Alpha/Omega Mpreg Romance Page 4
