Grayson had never felt this sense of contentment before. He had hardly been celibate since Dakota, but he made sure to avoid omegas and strings in general. His lovers knew the score, but nothing had ever felt like the past few nights had with Riley. The connection, the heat… nothing compared.
And after almost four years of no knotting, well he had definitely missed it.
Grayson put together a tray for Riley. His chef must have turned up and restocked his fridge at some point, so he had a couple of options, but figured soup and a sandwich would work. Grayson got all the stuff he needed for a simple ham and cheese baguette. He had noticed that was Riley’s favorite bread.
Yes, I have been paying that close attention to my omega.
While he waited for the soup to heat up, Grayson pressed Nic’s speed dial. His best friend picked up after the second ring.
“Back to the land of the living, I see,” Nickolas teased. Grayson had expected nothing less.
He ignored Nic, “How’s my son?”
“Like you even have to ask,” Nic snorted, and he was right. Grayson could have left Max with Nic for a year and his son would be well taken care of. Of that, he had no doubt.
“I know. I know. But I’m sure Riley will want to call as soon as he’s coherent.”
“He already has you wrapped around his little finger, doesn’t he?” Nic guessed. Although, it wasn’t really a guess since he knew Grayson so well.
“Pleading the fifth on the grounds it could incriminate me,” Grayson replied, and he was sure Nic could hear the smile in his voice.
“Happiness sounds good on you brother,” Nickolas said, his tone serious for a second.
Grayson had no siblings, and Nic and the other guys were the closest things he had to brothers. Although he was closest to Nic, and it was Nic who knew just how bad Dakota’s partying and drug use had gotten. Grayson and Dakota’s parents had done their best to make sure none of it got out, but Nic knew. He was there.
“Thank you brother,” Grayson replied. He didn’t need to say what for, because Nickolas knew just what he meant.
“Jai just came in and said I should tell you he hoped you and Riley ended the heat cycle with a baby, because Max has decided he wants one,” Nickolas laughed, then added, “although from the looks of things, he’s not decided which of my twins he wants to keep.”
“If the Gods be willing,” Grayson said simply.
“If the Gods be willing,” Nickolas echoed.
“Do you want us to bring Max over, or will you come and get him? We could keep him another day if you prefer?” Nickolas tacked on, his voice suggestive.
“I’ll have to speak to Riley,” Grayson replied.
“Speak to me about what?” Grayson heard from behind him. He turned around and saw a freshly showered Riley at the entrance to the kitchen. Hovering like he was unsure of his welcome—and that just wouldn’t do.
“I’ll call you back,” Grayson said and hung up, not bothering to wait for Nic’s reply.
“Speak to me about what?” Riley repeated, his tone sounding more panicked than it had the first time.
24
Riley
Riley woke up alone for the first time since he went into heat. He could also tell the frantic need and almost painful desire to be bred of the heat had passed.
Wow.
So that was what it was like to ride out a heat with an alpha. Not that he’d had to ride out any, but he’d lived with other omegas, and had seen how difficult heats could be without an alpha.
Although, Riley also knew that he was lucky, because not every alpha would have treated him the way Grayson had. There were alphas that took advantage of an omega in heat, of their vulnerability and the heat induced inability to say no.
But Grayson had treated him with respect. Even though Riley hadn’t been completely ‘with it’ the whole time, the times in between, Grayson had worshipped every inch of his body, and Riley couldn’t wait to experience sex without the frantic need to mate.
He wanted to be completely present and aware the next time he and Grayson were together.
As much as Riley enjoyed conjuring the memory of Grayson’s hands on his body, he missed being in his alpha’s arms, so he quickly rushed through his shower and put on some sweats and a clean t-shirt.
Riley also stripped his bed and opened all the windows to air the room out. If Max was going to be home––Riley hoped it would be today as he missed his son––then his room couldn’t smell like a brothel. He wasn’t sure he was ready to have that conversation with Max. Although, Riley had to admit he liked the smell of his and Grayson’s scents mixed together.
He couldn’t help but imagine if that was what a child with both their DNAs would smell like, and he smiled at the thought.
Riley placed a hand on his very flat belly, “Are you in there little one? Is Max going to have a brother or sister?” Riley whispered.
He quickly got the sheets in the washer, and went in search of Grayson. Riley followed the sound of his alpha’s voice to the kitchen. Grayson had his back to the door, and Riley heard him say, “I’ll have to speak to Riley about it first.”
For some reason, irrationally Riley’s mind conjured the worst things Grayson could want to speak to him about, and he started panicking.
“Speak to me about what?” Riley blurted.
Grayson turned around at the sound of Riley’s voice, his lips curving in a wide smile, but somehow Riley’s brain didn’t process that as nothing being wrong.
What if now that his heat was over the alpha wanted him gone? What if this was the blow off?
Riley was really panicking. He didn’t even realize Grayson had moved and was now in front of him.
All Riley’s brain was screaming, was that the last time he’d had sex, the last time he’d had an alpha in his life, everything had gone off the rails.
What if it was about to happen again?
Riley came to at the sound of Grayson telling him to breathe. He was embarrassed. This was the second time he was having a panic attack in the presence of the alpha.
What must Grayson think of him?
“Sorry,” Riley mumbled.
“Hey, why are you sorry?” Grayson asked.
Riley realized that Grayson had picked him up and he must have folded his legs around the alpha, because they were at the mini dining table in the kitchen, and he was wrapped around Grayson like a spider monkey, even though they were seated.
“I bet you think I’m a mess,” Riley sighed.
“Trust me, I know what a mess looks like, you’re not even in the vicinity,” Grayson said, his hand rubbing circles on Riley’s back, soothing him like he would a child.
“I don’t know why I panicked,” Riley fibbed.
That was a lie, but Grayson didn’t know about James, and Riley wasn’t sure now was the time to go into it.
Grayson was silent for a moment. He leaned back and Riley did the same, even though he wanted to keep talking into Grayson’s chest.
Grayson looked at him considering, like he was debating if he should say what was on his mind. He must have decided to go for it.
“I know there’s something you’re not saying. I see the sadness in your eyes, when you think no one is watching, and I’ve been watching you... a lot,” Grayson said.
Riley was intrigued by the color that stained the alpha’s cheeks at the admission.
He smiled, “You’ve been watching me?”
“You’re worth watching,” Grayson replied.
He sighed, even though he wasn’t ready to tell Grayson everything. It was still too soon, their connection too fragile.
But Riley needed to at least share with his alpha, something, and hope that when Grayson found out the truth, he would forgive Riley for keeping it from him. He really hoped so.
“There was an alpha,” Riley admitted in a small voice.
Grayson didn’t say anything, but his arm around Riley tightened.
“I was very
young,” Riley shrugged, “He was older. Almost ten years older.”
“He was,” Grayson started to speak, but stopped. “Sorry, finish please. I can see you need to say this.”
Riley nodded, “I guess it’s the age old story,” Riley laughed, although there was no humor to it, “Nerd meets older guy. Older guy makes him feel special. Gives up first time to older guy. Thinks older guy loves him. Gets… I mean things get complicated, and older guy disappears… Like I said, age old story.”
Grayson was silent for a moment. He’d let Riley hide in his chest while telling the ‘story’, but he leaned back again and used his finger to lift Riley’s face to meet his.
“He hurt you,” Grayson said.
It wasn’t a question.
Riley tried looking away, but Grayson stopped him.
“I won’t. I know it’s easy to say those words, but I won’t hurt you, Riley.” Grayson held eye contact with Riley, until Riley nodded.
Grayson nodded too, “Good.”
He then placed a kiss on Riley’s lips. It was sweet. Riley kind of saw it as the romantic version of sealing it with a handshake, and that made him smile.
Deal. It was a deal he could keep.
But, he soon stopped smiling when he realized there was still something he had to tell Grayson that could hurt him.
Riley screwed up his courage, “I only told you one part of the story. I promise I’ll tell you the rest. Just promise you won’t hate me,” Riley begged.
Grayson laughed, “I could never hate you.”
Riley pushed out of the hug Grayson tried to give him when Riley had asked that the alpha shouldn’t hate him, but he resisted, “Promise me,” Riley pleaded, “Promise me, when the time comes, you’ll give me a chance to explain.”
Grayson must have heard the seriousness in Riley’s tone, or maybe he saw it in the omega’s eyes.
“You’re serious,” Grayson said, “You didn’t kill anyone did you?” he asked, half teasing.
“I didn’t kill anyone,” Riley said, “but I need you to promise me, when I finally have the balls to tell you everything, you won’t hate me. I couldn’t bear it if you did,” Riley whispered, burying his face back in Grayson’s chest.
“I promise,” Grayson said, “I can’t think of anything you could have done that would make me hate you.”
Riley prayed that was the truth, because he could freely admit he loved Grayson, and he wasn’t sure he could survive losing him.
But if you do, Riley, it’ll be all your own fault.
Riley cursed the day he had met James Bloomer—if that was even his real name.
“So, what did you want to speak to me about?” Riley asked, a little less worried that some kind of blow off was coming.
“Nic wanted to know if they should bring Max home today, but I think one more night away won’t hurt him,” Grayson said, “one more night. Me,” Grayson kissed Riley’s neck, “You,” he moved up to nibble Riley’s jaw, “alone in bed.” He finally took Riley’s lips in a distracting kiss.
Riley had his first time of non-heat sex with Grayson and it was perfect. It was hours before either of them came down in search of food, and when they did they had to toss out Grayson’s initial efforts.
25
Riley
Riley helped Max with his number blocks. He couldn’t help the proud smile that came on his face as Max recognized and named almost all the numbers.
"Good job!" Riley said, clapping.
Max looked up at Riley with those blue eyes that had captured his heart the first time he saw them in the hospital, and smiled at him. It was these moments that made the lie of omission to Grayson worth it, even though it was becoming harder, especially the closer Riley got to his alpha. Grayson was his alpha, but could Riley really call him that when there was this huge secret between them?
But how could he tell him now? It would ruin everything. No, he would wait till things settled. Riley had been saying the same thing almost daily for the past two weeks. He kept finding new excuses why it wasn’t quite the right time to tell Grayson and with every day that passed, he felt more and more guilty, but he somehow managed to add a new reason for why he should wait a little longer.
It was always along the lines of things were settling, or they were in a good place, so why rock the boat? Or, the moment just never felt quite right.
He had gotten very good at making excuses for himself, but that pesky little voice in his mind that constantly whispered, “Way to rationalize Riley…” wasn’t letting up. If Riley was being honest, it had actually gotten louder, but like right now, he blocked it out and focused on playing with Max.
“Snack time?” Max asked, his big eyes pleading.
“You can have some fruit.” Riley said. Max seemed to consider this before nodding.
“Apple and nut butter?” Max asked, hopefully.
“Apple and peanut butter it is,” Riley replied, and they both left the playroom and went to the kitchen.
When they got there, Max walked straight to his table and plopped himself in the chair.
“I’ll get your apple. How about you say your alphabets for me.”
Max nodded and started the alphabet song they’d been working on, he got most of them right and Riley corrected him on the ones he didn’t.
“Good job,” Riley said when they got to Z.
Riley grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, and went over to the pantry for the smooth peanut butter Max liked—never crunchy, always smooth. He quickly went back to the kitchen and thankfully, Max had stayed put.
Riley grabbed a plate, chopping board and knife, and moved back to the island.
Max was drawing something on the paper Riley kept on his table for that purpose, his tongue sticking out in concentration, making Riley smile.
Riley cut up the apple and put some peanut butter on each slice. He walked over and handed the first one to Max to start with.
“Say thank you,” Riley prompted.
“Thank you,” Max repeated.
“Good boy,” Riley said. He ruffled Max’s hair, before walking back to finish slicing apples and grabbing a cup of milk for Max.
He quickly got it all together and placed it in front of Max, before going back to put everything away.
Part of his mind was thinking back to the night before. It was like every other night the past week. He’d actually slept with Grayson.
Although they were still in Riley’s room, Grayson having decided to get the master room redone before they moved into it, but still, Riley had woken up with the alpha in his bed.
Every day that passed, he wondered if there was really a possibility of him having this alpha as the father of his child? Was there a possibility of him actually getting everything he wanted?
It still seemed unreal.
Riley’s wandering thoughts were interrupted by Max.
“Done. Now we play tea party,” Max said sounding triumphant, like eating all his snack was an achievement.
Riley knew he had no chance of ever being a strict par… erm, nanny––he had to remember to say nanny, before he slipped and called himself Max’s parent to Grayson or worse, to Max.
The little tyke already had Riley wrapped around his littlest finger, and Riley had a feeling that wasn’t going to change anytime soon.
“Yes sir,” Riley said, and did a mini-salute, making Max laugh.
That was when Grayson walked into the kitchen, “Here are my two favorite guys,” the alpha said. Grayson walked towards Max and picked him up, making the young boy squeal in delight.
“You’re home early,” Riley said, but caught himself when he realized that he was sounding like a husband or something, “I mean you’re home… not that I don’t want you home or anything… What I meant to say was you’re home… back… early…” Riley took a deep breath and sighed, giving up, “Hi.”
Grayson's eyes were lit up with laughter. Clearly he was enjoying the babbling coming from Riley, who figured he would.
He was the cause after all.
“Hello to you too,” Grayson said, his gaze trained on Riley. The laser focus and the look in his eyes were enough to have Riley squirm. Fuck, he finally understood the saying being undressed with his eyes.
Even after going through a heat and spending every night since with Grayson, the alpha still took Riley’s breath away, and could make him become a complete babbling idiot. And when Grayson got the look in his eyes that said he was either recalling a time they were in bed, or imagining them back in it, well, Riley couldn’t be held responsible if his body responded to his alpha.
Especially when he looked at Riley like he was the center of his world.
26
Grayson
Grayson was spending less time at work nowadays. In the past he usually came home in time to give Max a goodnight kiss and then went back to work in his home office, but now, more often than not, Grayson tried to make dinner with Max and Riley.
Grayson realized that dinner with his family was more important to him than anything that was happening at the office. He had never looked at his fortune as a reason to work less, but now he realized that if accumulating more meant time away from his family, it wasn’t worth it for him.
“I have two arms, and only one of my favorite people are in them,” Grayson said.
A blush stained Riley’s cheeks and he glanced at Max, then back at Grayson.
They hadn’t really explained things to Max, but they weren’t hiding it either. Grayson knew they couldn’t go on like that. It wasn’t that he’d been unsure of him and Riley. His decision not to tell Max had more to do with wanting to slowly let Max see him and Riley being more affectionate with each other.
Yet, he could understand Riley not wanting to go overboard. Although, Grayson had a feeling Nic had explained one or two things to his son, because Max was very focused on whether Riley would be giving him a baby brother now.
Undercover Omega: Billionaire Alphas Book 2 Page 11
