Chapter 50
“Okay, okay! Equal partners. Most of the time. But you have to accept it’s my nature to be in charge.”
“I can live with that if you can accept it’s my nature to push boundaries and argue.”
“It’s going to be a bumpy fifty or sixty years, isn’t it?”
“Are you up for it?”
“Count on it”
Grant took possession of his omega’s lips again.
After a long, lovely minute, Rafe broke the kiss. “One more question.”
“You’re killing me here.” Faced with Rafe’s frown, Grant capitulated. “Fine. Ask your question.”
“Why are we rolling around on rocks in a parking lot when there’s a cabin waiting?”
“Now that’s a worthwhile question.” Grant scrambled to his feet and pulled Rafe up with him. “Next stop: a cozy cabin for two. Shouldn’t take more than an hour to get there.” Grant tried to steer them toward the SUV, but Rafe held out a hand to stop him.
“You said you’d provide for me, right?”
“Whatever you need, sweetheart. What will it be? Protection, a home, knowing how proud I am of having such a clever omega? Name it.”
“Cheeseburger. No, two cheeseburgers. And fries. I haven’t eaten in two days, and I’m about to gobble down this whole box of candy.”
Grant laughed. “Of course. Now, enough questions. Come!”
“Woof!”
“Huh?”
“Should I come because my alpha commands me?”
“No, because your alpha needs you, like air, like water, like the other half of his soul.”
That sounded just about perfect. “Now, as to which one of us is going to drive, I think—” The rest of the sentence disappeared into an oofas Grant tossed Rafe over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry and marched to the front of the SUV. Without any hint of exertion, the alpha pivoted so Rafe was facing the security camera, patted him on the butt, and commanded, “Wave goodbye to Janet—I’m sure she’s watching.”
Rafe considered arguing. But the jolt of arousal at being man-handled was damned exciting. Not that he’d ever admit it to Grant. So Rafe waved. And grinned. And hoped she’d read his gratitude, his confidence, and his joy.
When Grant deposited him in the front passenger seat, clicked the seatbelt across him, and claimed a possessive kiss, Rafe savored the sweet certainty of being right where he belonged. He watched his alpha retrieve the boxes of supplies, the candy, the keys, and the phone from Rafe’s car.
Next stop, cheeseburgers. Or tacos. Maybe pizza? He chuckled. Perhaps he’d let his alpha decide. After all, they’d probably both enjoy that. 28
Standing in front of the open bedroom window, Rafe stripped off the damp towel and tossed it in the direction of the clothes hamper. He sighed in delight as the cool air caressed his moist, heated skin. Withdrawing from suppressants and going into heat was an uncomfortable bungee cord jump of raging fevers and teeth-chattering chills. But at last he was ready. After days of nausea, forcing him to stop his food intake, his body demanded to be mated.
His mind was ready as well. The air temperature had nothing to do with the shivers coursing through him—the idea he could be conceiving a child that day was enough to turn his knees to jelly. But he and Grant had agreed. A pregnancy was their only safeguard once they resurfaced from their cabin hideaway. And the fact it would be the result of the best sex either of them had ever had was a bonus incentive.
Not that their lovemaking hadn’t been sizzling so far. Because, holy shit, it’d been unbelievable, even though they’d saved actual intercourse for now. Using nothing but hands and mouths had nearly done in Rafe, melting him into a puddle of sated decadence, somehow still craving more.
Grant had wanted to give him time to change his mind. Ha! Never going to happen. Grant was everything an alpha was supposed to be. Everything a man was supposed to be—caring, protective, and honest. Rafe was more than ready to seal their bond for life.
They hadn’t talked about love yet, but Rafe was there—starry-eyed devotion without reservation. And he was sure his feelings were returned in full. All that remained was to finalize their joining. Having Grant knot him and being locked together, body in body, for as long as it took scared him. But it was what Rafe ached for. Imagining Grant taking him, Rafe squeezed his buttocks together, and felt the lubrication fill his crack despite his recent shower.
Footsteps approached behind him and the now familiar tingling heightened as his alpha drew near. Would the strange almost psychic awareness fade once they became old lovers, set in their ways? He hoped not. Leaning back, he relaxed as strong arms encircled him.