“I don’t think you did,” Riley murmured.
“He is. Not that it makes Max any less my son. He’s mine and I would die for him, but no, Dakota wasn’t his carrier.”
“Did you know anything about,” Riley stopped like he wasn’t sure how to finish.
“Max’s birth parents, you mean?” Grayson prompted.
“Yea,” Riley nodded.
“Honestly, I know what was in the file,” Grayson admitted, “I should have probably gone looking, but I didn’t want to know. That makes me sound like a coward doesn’t it.”
Riley shook his head emphatically. His gaze met Grayson’s, “Never. I guess I wouldn’t want to know either.”
“I know the family medical history, of course, well, what was provided. I know Max’s carrier was just a kid himself and gave him up because he was too young to keep him, and the alpha that got him pregnant was much older and disappeared. Sad story really. An older alpha preying on an impressionable omega, but I now have Max, so whoever he is, he gets a thank you, as long as he stays far away,” Grayson said.
Riley froze for a second, and then relaxed in his arms. Grayson guessed it was the topic of someone trying to take Max away and added, “I know you love Max. Don’t worry, he’s not going anywhere. Not if I have a say, and trust me, I have a lot of say.”
He hugged Riley tighter to his body and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.
15
Riley
Riley felt like a fraud asking about Dakota as Max’s carrier when he knew the answer.
And he hated himself even more for the glee he felt when Grayson had said he was more of a father to Max than Dakota ever was.
Riley had wanted to blurt, “that’s because I am his father. Me. Me and you.” But Riley could already tell how important truth was to Grayson, so the words had frozen in his throat.
Add to the fact that Grayson had just pointed out how much power he wielded if Max’s alpha birth parent ever showed up, so Riley figured it was not the time to say, “hey look at me here, I’m his carrier, his omega dad.”
If Gray was talking about what he could do to an alpha, Riley didn’t want to see what he could do to an omega, especially one he felt betrayed by.
Yea, it was best he waited. He would wait till they were on more solid ground, then bring it up.
Riley’s panicked thoughts were interrupted by Grayson, “So, tell me about you, the stuff that the interview skipped.”
Riley felt the panic return. What on earth was he supposed to say, “What do you want to know?”
“Well, any siblings? What about your parents?” Grayson asked.
Riley shifted on Grayson’s lap. He should have seen that question coming, but what could he say about his papa and dad, “My parents are still together. High school sweethearts. Waited till dad graduated from college to get mated. Only child.”
“Do I get to meet them? Maybe I need to get their blessing?” Gray asked, his voice teasing.
Ha. That would be an introduction for the ages, especially because Riley had a feeling his parents knew who Grayson was, and he wasn’t sure how they would react to the choice Riley had made.
“Soon,” Riley said.
Grayson nipped his shoulder lightly, “Am I going to be your dirty little secret? Don’t you think your parents will approve of me? I’ve been told I can be very charming,” the alpha cajoled.
A small smile played on Riley’s face, “I bet you can,” Riley said, and was surprised to hear himself flirting with Grayson.
Grayson’s face lit up in a smile, and all Riley could think was, Grayson’s eyes shining and the smile that curved his lips were very, very indecent things. Riley looked away again, shyly. Oh my, he was in trouble. It may have been a long time–four years– since Riley had done anything remotely sexual, unless you counted the night with Grayson, but Riley still recognized the signs of arousal.
And apparently so did Grayson. Grayson put his nose to Riley’s armpit, and breathed in, “Hmmm, you smell fucking delicious,” the alpha moaned, his voice deepening with arousal. “I bet you taste just as good as I remember.”
Riley whimpered, Grayson’s pheromones overwhelming him. Grayson leaned in for a kiss, and Riley met his lips—this time without hesitation.
They were nowhere near done talking, but they had both taken tentative steps, that had Riley feeling less like he was wading into open water with no boat in sight.
"You sure?” Grayson paused before their lips met to ask, and just the fact that an alpha—no, not an alpha—the fact that Grayson stopped to ask, sealed Riley’s decision. Not that he had any doubts. He was drawn to Grayson in a way that he couldn’t explain, let alone fight. And now, he didn’t have to.
Although Riley knew there were no certainties, Grayson had made it clear he didn’t just want a hole to fuck. He wanted… Riley paused. Actually, he hadn’t said what he wanted.
“Okay, I didn’t think you would need time to answer that, but the frown on your face says you have a question,” Grayson said, leaning a little like he wanted to get a better look at Riley’s face.
Riley bit his lips, unsure of what to say. He didn’t want to sound like… he wasn’t sure what it would sound like, if he was being honest.
“I can see your mind going a mile a minute,” Grayson said, his finger tapping lightly on Riley’s forehead, “I thought we had the talking down. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Are we…?” Riley stopped. Fuck, he didn’t want to sound insecure. They were barely an hour into whatever this was and he was asking for reassurance.
Grayson tapped Riley’s lips and he realized he’d started biting at them again.
“Are we what?” Grayson prompted.
“Are we together now? Or is it like seeing where it goes… or… I don’t know,” Riley shrugged his shoulders helplessly.
Grayson stared at Riley intently for a moment, “I think I’m too old to be seeing where this goes. I’m not unsure of where I want it to go.”
“Oh, okay,” Riley replied.
“Ask me what I mean. Ask me what I want.” Grayson urged.
“What do you want?” Riley whispered.
“You. Us. This,” Grayson stated simply.
“Ohh,” Riley whispered, “Ohh.”
“Yes. I know what I want. How I want this to end. Or not end, as the case may be. The question is what do you want?” Grayson stated.
Riley blood fizzed. He was so excited. He didn’t even bother answering the question, his lips crashed onto Grayson’s. His tongue swiping across them as he tasted the alpha again. Grayson opened for him and Riley dipped inside, exploring him, loving the taste of him. He couldn’t help the groan that escaped as the taste on Grayson hit him. Riley also noticed that Grayson was letting him take the lead.
Then the kissing suddenly stopped, making Riley moan in displeasure.
“Patience, little one,” Grayson purred, “Just to be clear, I’m taking that as a yes, and just letting you know, the next time I kiss you, I won't be stopping at just a kiss.”
Riley’s whole body tingled at the promise in Grayson’s voice, and Riley whimpered, fuck, he was getting slick at the promise in his alpha’s voice, his scent, his taste.
Grayson captured Riley lips in a searing kiss, that Riley felt all the way to his toes. Never in his life had Riley felt like assuming the breeding position as he did now. Face down, ass up, filled by an alpha. His alpha. This alpha. Grayson.
16
Grayson
Riley instigating a kiss between them had Grayson’s heart beating faster and his cock taking notice. Sex with Dakota had always seemed like a seduction routine. It was never easy, or spontaneous, or just plain fun.
Dakota always had to be seduced.
Except when the omega was in heat, then he would jump Grayson until he was sated, then blow cold until they went through the same routine of seducing him back into bed. It had been exhausting.
Grayson was happy to see that Ril
ey, not only seemed to welcome his touch, but was also excited by it. It was also the reason Riley initiating the kiss meant a lot to Grayson.
He had no problem reassuring the omega if that was what was needed until he was secure in the fact that Grayson wasn’t a man who made any decisions lightly.
Grayson hated to admit it, especially because it probably made him look like a horny alpha, who had hired Riley for all the wrong reasons, but he had been drawn the omega’s quiet determination. It had been written all over him when he’d come into the interview.
Although, Gray felt like his gut had been right when Riley had met Max—and since.
He also knew himself well enough to know that he would never have pursued anything with Riley if he hadn’t been certain of what he wanted the outcome to be. He would never disrupt Max’s life for a couple of nights of sex.
No, Grayson felt it in his bones. Riley was the missing piece. The piece to the family he had always wanted.
Grayson deepened the kiss, taking over, leading, and Riley surrendered to him. It brought his cock to life when Riley met it and returned his passion.
Grayson parted his lips, and Riley obeyed and allowed his body to be led. Grayson’s tongue slipped into Riley’s mouth and met the tip of the omega’s. Riley moaned, and Grayson swallowed it in their kiss, his arousal growing at the scent of Riley’s.
Grayson loved how Riley went up in flames from a simple kiss. Grayson broke the kiss to look at the omega’s flushed face and kiss-bruised lips, and was rewarded with a whimper from Riley.
“Perfect,” Grayson said as he ran a hand from Riley’s shoulder up to his cheek. The omega’s eyes closed, like he was soaking in every moment of Grayson’s touch. Grayson saw the gooseflesh appear on Riley’s skin as he shivered, and leaned into the touch, “So perfect.”
Fuck, Riley was scrambling Grayson’s senses. The way the omega responded to him was like a shot of pure alcohol to his blood. His alpha senses screamed, mine, claim.
Never had Grayson felt so primitive in his needs as he did at this moment. All his primal senses were on full alert, to fuck, to rut, to claim.
When Grayson took Riley’s lips in another searing kiss, there was no more gentleness. What connected them now was the insane pull driving them, and the weeks of passion that had been building.
Tonight, it wouldn’t be ignored. Grayson’s hands roamed Riley’s sides until they returned to his hips. He wanted the omega naked beneath him, and if the sounds Riley was making, and the crazy pheromones he was giving up, were any indication. He was would be on board with that plan.
“Daddy,” said a little voice from the doorway. “What are you doing?”
Grayson groaned. “Fuck,” he murmured under his breath.
Riley was still too dazed to dazed to say a word, so it was up to Grayson to answer. It was his job to explain to Max anyway.
Grayson decided to go for honesty, since he had no plans of hiding Riley like a dirty little secret, “I’m kissing Riley,” he said. Grayson’s voice sounded as if he was having a little trouble getting his breath. Which he was.
His reply seemed to register with Riley, because Riley gave a little squeak of protest and tried to pull away. Grayson’s arms tightened around him, keeping him in place.
“Oh,” Max said considering, looking for all the world like a grown up. Grayson would have laughed at the thoughtful look on his son’s face. Max looked like he was seriously weighing what he’d been told by his father.
“Why?” Max asked.
“Because, I like him and I like kissing him,” Grayson told his son honestly, wanting to lay the foundation for what he knew was going to be a regular occurrence.
“Okay,” Riley chimed. Grayson would bet it was to stop him from saying any more. He tried getting out of Grayson’s lap again to move towards Max, but Grayson held firm.
“Please,” Riley whispered for him alone.
“This isn’t over, far from it,” Grayson whispered. He nipped Riley’s neck, and the omega whimpered.
“Please, later, I promise. I have to attend to Max,” Riley pleaded, but Gray could see the arousal still lingering in his eyes.
“No more running,” Grayson said, tightening his arm around Riley, “Say it.”
“No more running,” Riley whispered.
Grayson nodded and loosened his arm around the omega, enough for him to stand, even though it pained him.
Riley stood and Grayson saw the omega take a deep breath, before moving towards Max.
“How was your nap, big guy?” Riley asked, as he took a hold of Max’s hand and led him out of the room.
Grayson waited till they were out of earshot, before pulling out his phone. He pressed four on his speed dial, and called Nickolas. When he heard his friend's voice come on, “What was that you were saying about taking Max for a few days?”
Nickolas let out a triumphant laugh, “I knew you had it in you. Didn’t waste any time I see. When were you thinking?”
Grayson lifted his left hand with his watch on it, “How about eight o’clock.”
“Done,” Nickolas replied immediately.
17
Riley
Riley couldn’t believe this was his life right now. He knew what was about to happen and he was so ready for it. For the first time since he had walked into Grayson’s home, his sole focus wasn’t on Max. Riley was ashamed to admit that a flash of something close to impatience had appeared at interruption from his son. Although it had been quickly followed by guilt.
Riley reminded himself that the reason he was there in the first place was Max, until a voice in his head told him, not anymore. If he was going to seriously pursue this chemistry, and the relationship with Grayson, if Riley was taking the alpha at his word, that they would be more than a roll in the sack, until he got tired of Riley, then both Max and Grayson would be his purpose. Equally.
His alpha, and his child.
Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, hell, even twenty-one-year-old, present-day Riley could have never seen this coming.
Riley hummed, as he put some peanut butter on celery for Max’s afternoon snack. He couldn’t help thinking back to one of the days he’d been watching Max from afar. Thinking about this, this moment right now, just being able to take care of his son. Doing something as mundane as preparing a snack for Max while he sat at the table coloring and waiting.
It had seemed so impossibly out of reach.
Then somehow, not only did he get to be there for Max, but his faith in alphas, that had been so badly damaged by James, was being restored, slowly but surely. Maybe he was being overly optimistic and naïve, but he trusted Grayson.
But can he trust you?
Riley flinched at the reminder of the giant secret he was keeping. Nope, he wasn’t going there. Not now.
Max was chomping on his celery topped with peanut butter, and occupying himself with the coloring book which Riley had started leaving in the kitchen.
Riley had learned pretty quick that Max would eat almost anything with peanut butter on it. Like he did. He was also munching on some celery, although he was dipping his straight into the peanut butter jar, when Grayson walked into the kitchen joining them.
“One of my best friends, Nickolas, Nic, is coming to take Max for the next couple of nights,” Grayson said as he came to stand right behind Riley, trapping him between the island and Grayson’s body.
Riley made the move to turn, and Grayson stepped back so he could, but closed the space between them almost immediately.
“Why?” Riley queried, confused, looking up to meet Grayson’s gaze.
“Because, if I am not mistaken, your heat is going to be in full force very soon,” Grayson said. His eyes flashing with hunger.
“I haven’t had my heat since…” Riley paused, and realized he wasn’t sure how to even complete that sentence, but he was surprised Grayson thought he was going into heat. Heat? Me?
He didn’t think so. He hadn’t had one since Max
was born. He’d expected it after he’d had the baby, but it had been nowhere to be seen, even after the customary three month break.
When Riley had spoken to the omega fertility expert, the man had suggested that the trauma of birth, plus the stress and depression that followed, had halted his heats.
Riley hadn’t cared then. What omega would? Heat free without the blockers was a gift horse no omega would return.
Riley had never bothered to ask whether no heats meant he couldn’t have another baby, but the question plagued him now.
Now that there was a chance with Grayson, Riley was glad to see his heat making a comeback, and he hoped with it, the ability for him to have another child, because Riley could tell from everything the alpha had said, that the time would come when he would want more babies.
The idea of carrying Grayson’s child had Riley’s heart beating faster with excitement. He couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to be pregnant, and have an alpha’s support, and not have to hide that he was.
Yes, Riley would love to have another baby. This time for Grayson, although he guessed, technically he had already had one for the alpha. He just didn’t know it yet.
Now that he knew what to look for, it explained his heightened arousal, and the feverishness he’d been feeling. Since Riley hadn’t been through a heat in so long, he had forgotten the warning signs, and had honestly chalked his arousal up to closer proximity to Grayson, and the things the alpha did to him.
Although Riley would bet that being around Grayson was what had triggered Riley’s heat again.
But, Riley wasn’t sure what that meant. He knew that in some cases, some old worlders believed that an omega who had not had his heat, and was past a certain age, could have their heat triggered, or in Riley’s case, re-triggered again by their Fated.
But Riley didn’t believe in all that old world crap. It was probably because he was in the same space as Grayson, living with him. Riley hadn’t spent this much time around an alpha in a long time, if ever. Not an alpha he wasn’t related to by blood.
Undercover Omega: Billionaire Alphas Book 2 Page 8
