My hand goes to my hair instinctively. I’m about to start twirling another strand, but Omega comes over to sit beside me on the sofa, takes my hand into his, and interlocks our fingers. His intense light brown eyes stare at me as he waits for a response.
“You’re right, and I will talk to her,” I say and mean it. “It’s time she respects me as a woman who lives her life the way she wants to. If I don’t get married and have children in the next year, that is fine. Life goes on, and it’s my life anyway.”
My confidence level rises with each proclamation of what I do or don’t have to do with my life. Stating them aloud makes them real. I don’t have to do what my mother wants, but I do have to do what makes me happy.
“Thank you, Omega!” Feeling released from an emotional prison, I leap into his lap and straddle him. “I don’t know what I would do without you. These last few days have taught me more about myself than I care to admit. The truth is, I have been lost since my dad died, and that’s because I didn’t realize how much of my happiness was tied to him.”
“Astalia, when I said I want to be here for you, I meant that. Being with you has made this holiday exciting, to say the least.”
I smile and lean in to press my forehead to his. “I’m just so glad we crossed each other’s path.”
He hugs me tightly, giving us a moment to just absorb the other’s essence. Then, he pats my backside and eases me off of him. Standing up, he claps his hands together. “Now, come on girl. Let’s make this place light up like Christmas!”
Omega laughs, and I giggle.
“Yes, sir.”
We spend the next three hours putting up the Christmas tree then putting away the items we bought from the store, and listening to Christmas carols. For me, being in Omega’s home, which he has slipped up more than once and called my home, feels right. He has made me comfortable. At this moment, I’m more attached to him than I have been to anyone since Dad.
After all of the decorations are on the tree, I watch Omega stand on a chair to place the star of David at the top. My heart swells when he plugs the tree in and it lights up with blinking white lights. Omega comes to stand beside me as I bask in the tree’s beauty, feeling as if I’m a young girl again.
“It’s beautiful,” I say.
“And I never would have done it without you.”
He wraps his arm around me, and we stand there looking at the Christmas magic we just created. Tomorrow, I rumble with my mother, but tonight is simply beautiful, even more so when Omega’s head dips and his lips skate over mine tenderly. I know how he wants this night to end and it’s not happening.
I disconnect the kiss, whispering against his lips, “Sweetheart, I want to make love too, but I’m a little sore and need some recuperating time. How about we play cards to finish out the night?”
He chuckles, eyes gleaming with a devious light. “How about I kiss it better instead?”
“Kiss it better?” If he’s talking about what I think he’s talking about, I’m definitely game.
“Kiss it better,” he repeats, backstepping away as if getting a head start on... something. “Last one to the bedroom is a grinch.”
He is closer to it than I am and getting closer by the second, the cheat.
I laugh. “You’re cheating, and it’s unnecessary because I’m the grinch by default since there’s no way I’m running anywhere with this soreness between my thighs.”
He extends one hand to me while still pedaling backwards. “Then, you better come to me so I can make it better, don’t you think?”
“Oh, I so think,” I answer then go to the man who will likely always try to make things better for me, and I can’t help but fall faster for him for that reason alone.
Chapter 12
Omega
Merry Christmas
December 25, 2019
10:38 a.m.
Slipping out of Astalia’s wetness is hard to do. But after making love to the most beautiful woman on earth for the third time this morning, I think I can release her long enough for us to get ready for this day. Man, I don’t want to let her go.
“Omega, we have to get dressed. My hair,” she moans beneath me. “It’s going to take me at least an hour to do it.”
Coils of thick hair are spread out over her head, giving her a Medusa-like look. To me, she’s breathtaking, but I understand better than anyone that presentation is everything, and she likes to spend time perfecting her hair into beautiful big curls. Reluctantly, I roll off of her and give her the space she needs. For now.
“Go ahead and get yourself dolled up for our families, Astalia. You look beautiful to me anyway.”
“Aw, thank you.” She leans down and drops a kiss on my lips. Her breasts touch my chest and instantly I’m aroused.
“Hurry up and get out of here,” I tell her before I feel the need to have her again.
“You don’t have to tell me a third time.” She scrambles from the bed in her nakedness and runs into the bathroom. The sight of her soft ass bouncing behind her sends a rush of blood from my heart traveling south.
“Hey, do you need any help washing your back?” I offer.
“No thanks,” she replies, and I hear the bathroom door lock behind her.
That makes me laugh. She really thinks that small barrier will stop me. If I want to get to her, I have better ways of convincing her to get back in bed.
The sound of her running water has me imagining the quickie we can have up against the shower wall. I get up and walk over to the bathroom door. “Are you sure, baby? I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do,” I press.
“I’m not taking the bait, Omega. We don’t have much time to get dressed.”
“Okay, be that way. I’ll go make us some coffee. We need it so we’ll have our energy for today.”
“Thanks, Omega.” Her thanks sounds almost like she’s shooing me away. I go for now, knowing she is right. We are on a schedule today, and as of right now, we’re running behind.
I head into the kitchen to make a fresh pot of coffee. In about an hour, she’ll be meeting my parents. My father doesn’t talk much unless it’s about sports, so we’re good there. But my mother is protective of me; she’s going to have a lot of questions. From what Astalia has told me, visiting my parents is going to be lightweight compared to spending time with her mother and brothers. I have mentally prepared myself for what the day will unfold.
My phone rings, and it’s my mother calling and chipperly reminding me lunch starts exactly at twelve noon. She’s head over heels excited about meeting Astalia. I have never, and I repeat, never brought a woman home for the holidays, so the simple act of Astalia walking through my parents’ door with me today is worth a celebration.
“Omega, Son. How are you doing?” Mom says when I answer the phone.
“Never better, Mom. Are you done cooking?” Visions of her juicy turkey and dressing come to mind. Add a side of her sweet potato souffle and I’m in heaven.
“Son, don’t you ever curse me like that. It’s 11 a.m. on Christmas Day. Of course, my dinner is ready to be served. All me and your father are waiting on are the man and woman of the hour and their guests,” she speaks of me and my sister and our dates.
“So, Alpharette isn’t there either?” I ask, glad I’m not the only one who’s not there early. I’m usually there stirring around in Mom’s pots by now, asking for a plate before twelve.
“No, she hasn’t made it. She and her new boyfriend are on the way. I just got off the phone with her. So, hurry up! Don’t make us have to wait for you, Omega.”
“Mom, you know I’m always on time for Christmas dinner.”
“That’s right, but you’re usually here by now. And I usually see you more over the holidays than I have this year. I know Ms. Astalia has you smitten, but I miss you,” Mom hints to what I told her about Astalia in our last conversation. As far as she knows, Astalia is someone I like a lot, and I want her to meet her.
“I miss you t
oo, Mom. I’ll be there as quick as I can.”
We end our call with our goodbyes.
Looking at the doorway, Astalia walks into the room wearing a big smile. “Thanks for the earrings.” She obviously has found the box I left for her in the bathroom with a set of diamond earrings that match the bracelet I gave her last night. She runs over and flings her arms around my neck. “They’re beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you. Merry Christmas, Astalia.”
“Merry Christmas, Omega.” She plants a kiss on my lips before she walks over to lean on the kitchen table.
My eyes roam over her body. She’s wearing a cheerfully red, knee-length sweater with shining gold stars all over it, red leggings, and black boots. And she looks absolutely gorgeous. I damn near growl at her when my eyes land on her thick thighs in those red pants. “You don’t know how tempted I am to cancel Christmas.”
She laughs. “We can’t do that. Everyone is expecting us.”
“Yeah, I know. I poured you a cup of coffee and fixed it with creamer the way you like it.”
“Thank you,” she says as she takes the coffee out of my hand. I walk into the living room and sit down on the sofa, and Astalia sits beside me.
We enjoy a cup of coffee, then I go to get dressed. I shower and shave, dressing in a pair of black slacks, black blazer trimmed in red, a red button up shirt, and black Greggo leather shoes. The pants, blazer and shirt are my Christmas gifts from Astalia, which makes it even more important that I wear them today.
As soon as we walk through my parents’ door, Mom grabs up Astalia and takes her into the kitchen. “Oh, my goodness, you are absolutely gorgeous! Come with me. Let’s go and get the table set up so these men can eat. You know Omega and his appetite.”
Astalia looks back at me, smiling. If she doesn’t know anything else about me, she definitely knows my appetite is ferocious. The only thing is I haven’t been craving much food lately. She has been my air, my water, and my nourishment for the past ten days.
I go into the living room where Dad is seated with Alpharette’s boyfriend. He’s a medium-built brother who looks a little uneasy about being here. This is his first time meeting the family, and Dad isn’t much of a talker to people he doesn’t know, so I speak up and introduce myself.
“Hi, I’m Omega, Alpharette’s brother.”
He stands to greet me, reaching his hand out for a shake. “Hey, man. I’m Amiri Knox.”
“Nice to meet you, man. How long have you and Alpharette been dating?”
“About three months,” he tells me.
“That’s good. She’s rough around the edges, but she has a good heart. Make sure you look out for my sister, and we’ll be good.” I impose my height and size over him as I stand in front of him. I want him to understand that he will feel me if he mistreats my sister.
“I understand that. I do plan to treat her right,” he says confidently.
“Good.” I give him a curt nod. “Hello, Dad. What game are you watching?”
“Hey, Son.” Dad stands and gives me a hug. “Nothing good. Watching these damn Lakers beat the Clippers. It’s like the Clippers aren’t even playing, it’s so sad.” He tries to look behind me. “Your mother said you were bringing your girlfriend. Where is she?”
“Ah, you know how Mom is. She grabbed her up and stole her from me as soon as we walked through the door.”
He shakes his head, grinning. “My wife. I should have known.”
“Come on in, guys! Dinner is ready,” Mom yells from the kitchen.
Entering the kitchen, Dad goes to the head of the table and Mom sits at the other end. Astalia is seated close to Mom and across from Alpharette. My and Amiri’s plates sit in front of the empty chairs. I take my seat beside Astalia.
Mom has cooked Christmas dinner with all of the traditional trimmings—turkey, ham, mac and cheese, collard greens, dressing, sweet potato soufflé, corn bread, you name it, and it was there.
Astalia looks as if she’s afraid to eat, so I spoon a scoop of Mom’s mac and cheese and reach it out to her. “You’re going to love Mom’s mac and cheese, taste this.”
When she eats a bite, Alpharette speaks, “Oh, my God. Omega, you’re spoon feeding her. You’re in love!” She looks genuinely shocked.
“So what if I am?” I reply. Watching for Astalia’s reaction, I hope she knows I would never deny the way I feel about her.
“I’m in love with him too,” she speaks up, and her tender smile is enough to make me want to cut this dinner short and get her back to my bed.
“Aw,” Mom says. “I think you’re good for my son.”
“She is, Mom. Astalia has been my holiday blessing. The time we have spent together is priceless.”
“Aw,” Mom says again, “You two are going to make me cry.”
Alpharette rolls her eyes at me. She has never been one to show her affections, which is the reason I don’t understand what’s going on with her and Amiri. He has been awfully quiet since dinner started an hour ago.
“So where do you work, Amiri?” Dad asks as if he’s thinking the same thing I am.
“I’m an operations director at Lexington Enterprises.”
“Oh, so you have a good job?” Mom interjects, then winks at Alpharette.
“Yes, he does have a good job, but I have one too,” Alpharette butts in. She is resistant to almost anything Mom says. While Dad was a military man who wanted both of his children to grow up to be strong and independent, Mom would love it if Alpharette follows in her footsteps as a homemaker. “I didn’t hear anyone drilling Astalia about her job. Why is it that my man is the only one getting drilled? Where do you work, Astalia?” she asks.
“I work in the sports management department at Clark University. I am a project manager.”
“A working woman, huh?” Alpharette glares at Mom and then back to Astalia. “I’m beginning to like you already.”
With that, Dad starts talking about the game with Amiri and me, and the mood lightens. Mom continues to gush over Astalia, while also commending Alpharette on anything from her Christmas sweater to her hair. At about three o’clock, everyone is sitting around in the living room talking. It’s time for Astalia and I to leave so we can make it to her mother’s house in Alabama by six p.m.
“So, did you like meeting my parents?” I ask once we are in the car.
“Your parents are lovely people, but your sister, she is something else—in a good way.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being you. They love you just the way you are, you know?” That statement is a reminder for her to stand up for herself once we make it to her mother’s house. I intend to keep my composure, but I do know one thing. I’m not here for anyone disrespecting my lady today.
Chapter 13
Astalia
Souls on Fire
December 25, 2019
6:16 p.m.
“What are you some kind of fashion model? Mom, Astalia don’ brought a pretty boy home,” James Jr. yells from the front door, and immediately, there is an atmosphere shift from when I met Omega’s family earlier. The shenanigans have officially began.
I look at Omega, and he’s not amused by James Jr.’s introduction. “No, I don’t model,” he says calmly.
“Come on in, pretty boy.” James Jr. reaches his hand out to shake Omega’s, who realizes his strength is being tested. Omega pulls him forward without budging, then gives him a look that asks “You good?”
James nods and smiles. “Oh, you a strong pretty boy, huh?”
“Move out of the way and let us in, James!” I order. He is too old to be acting this way, but it’s the same thing every time I see him.
“Hi, I’m her cousin, Jayne,” Jayne directs to Omega from the couch. Leaning around James Jr., my eyes widen upon seeing her. I can’t believe she is really here right on time like she said she would be.
“Hey, Jayne!” I squeal as I go over to give her a hug.
&nbs
p; When we break away from our hug, Jayne is fussing. “Yeah, you act like you can’t call anybody these last few weeks, but that’s okay.” She eyes Omega from his wavy, freshly lined hair to his black loafers, then smiles. “Do your thing, sis.” Apparently, that’s her way of giving approval.
“Hi, Jayne,” Omega interjects.
“Good to see you again. And you have my cousin glowing, so that gives you a major plus,” she replies, tongue in cheek.
“Is that Astalia out there?” Mom asks, approaching the living room.
“Yes, it’s me, Mom. How are you?” I inquire as she enters the room.
“Give me a hug, baby girl. I haven’t seen you in so long.” She hugs me and then takes two steps back. “Let me see what you have on. That’s cute, Astalia. You could have gotten your pants a little looser so they wouldn’t be tugging at your thighs like that, but it’s cute.”
Suppressing the urge to roll my eyes disrespectfully, my wide smile turns into a thin line across my lips. “Thanks, Mom.” I think.
When I look at Omega, he has fine wrinkles across his forehead. Mom opens her arms to hug him, and they embrace.
“I happen to think Astalia’s thighs look beautiful in her pants, and I wouldn’t change one thing about her legs,” he proclaims when he pulls away from Mom and stares into her eyes.
Mom seems shaken for a second before she waves him off. “Oh, I know my daughter is beautiful. I made her. It’s just that those pants—”
“Compliment her beauty perfectly,” Omega finishes for her. The man has throwing subtle hints down pat without bruising feelings, one more reason to love him.
I reach my hand out to grab his, intertwining my fingers in his. Omega is in full protection mode. Knowing him only a few weeks, I fully understand he came here today to challenge anyone who bothers me. He looks back at me briefly. In that moment, I assure him without speaking that I can handle my family.
A Classic Alpha for Christmas Page 9
