George listened to every word. He didn’t nod or make noises to prove it, simply looked me in the eye and stayed silent while I talked.
“How is he in school? You said he had some issues.”
I chewed on noodles while I thought about how to explain it to George. I didn’t want Parker to sound all bad, but as his father, he deserved to know the truth. “He’s a handful. He backtalks teachers and is disrespectful to other students. He used to have straight As but in the last two years, they’ve turned to Cs and Ds. He got lazy and belligerent. I can’t pinpoint a single thing that changed, he just lost that...innocence...that little boy sweetness, and it turned to vinegar almost overnight.”
I sighed. This was not the conversation I had in mind for the night.
“Maybe now that you will be home more, things will improve, plus, he’ll have an alpha around. I hope I can be of some help. I might suck at being a father.”
I reached across the island and took his hand. “You won’t. I know you won’t. He needs you in his life and...so do I. I knew it all along, but when I saw you, that hole in my heart got a little smaller and every time I’m with you, it shrinks more.”
He stood and reached down for his belt. I felt my eyes widen. “What are you doing?”
He chuckled. “You can’t say sweet things like that and not expect me to reciprocate. I’m not good with words, but I’m about to show you how much I care for you and have missed you. Into the bedroom—now and get rid of those pants.”
Chapter Ten
George
I waved Bennett toward the bedroom, my heart thudding hard enough to make it past my ribcage as I watched him go. Slow breaths, focus on not coming in four seconds. Or worse, before I even got my pants off. I’d left the bedside light burning in the hope he would be there tonight, and by its glow I watched my omega undress. He looked good. Amazing, in fact, for having carried a child, but as I’d already kinda figured out, filled in since we were last together but in all the good ways.
He faced away from me, bent over pulling off his socks, his rounded butt silhouetted in the light. Firm, sweet...and definitely he worked out because nobody looked that good who didn’t. Unless he was a genie or something. I moved in and grabbed his hips, yanking him back to me and grinding against his ass. Even through the layers of pants and undershorts, my cock was on point and so ready to get to him.
I wanted to open my zipper and plunge into that waiting body, feel the tight heat surround my dick, but we’d pretty well done the wham bam thank you, sir ten years ago. And while it had been awesome, and very memorable, this time was about more than that. Not a one-night stand. This was about forging a connection. We’d already made a child.
So I set him away from me and undressed, while he finished up as well then I took his hand and led him to my bed, pressed him down, and watched him slide to the middle of the mattress. “How do you want me, alpha?”
I sat beside him and gathered him in my arms. “I want you close to me, in my embrace and in my home.” Strong words, but already true.
He grinned up at me. “Don’t you think my home is a better choice for a growing family? We’re going to get awfully crowded in a one-bedroom apartment before long.”
I bent for a kiss, savoring the sweetness of his lips before lifting my head. “Yeah, I don’t suppose the way to our son’s heart is by making him give up his comfortable space in exchange for a sofa in the living room.”
“You haven’t seen his ‘comfortable space’ yet. Apparently, the neat child who picked up every toy left, too.”
“No stressing, okay?” I took his lips again, in a deeper kiss this time. “We have years to raise Parker. He’s safe with Chuck, probably playing video games and eating snacks. Tonight is about us.”
“Us,” he agreed. “That sounds very good.”
“Mmm, yes, it does.” I cupped his chin and tilted his face up to mine. “And as to how I want us to make love, this second first time…”
After a long, breathless moment, he arched a brow. “Yes?”
“Face-to-face so I can see your eyes when I fill you with my cum.”
He shook his head and caressed my cheek with his knuckles. “Such a filthy mouth. Remember you can’t use any words around Parker you don’t want him repeating.”
“I work with kids all day.”
“Yes, but…”
“But that has taught me two things. One, never curse in front of them.”
He nodded. “Right. But what’s the second?”
“They know more of them than either one of us, but will shout it to the heavens if we ever use one.” I dropped kisses along his jaw. “Not that I know this from personal experience, of course.”
“Right.” He linked his arms around my neck. “But here, I want to hear them all.”
“Let’s start with the biggest one, and work our way down.” I pressed my lips to his collarbone and moved downward, tasting his skin as I went, inhaling his scent of clean male. I nipped at each nipple, enjoying his yelps of pain/pleasure and nuzzled his navel. His cock jutted there, just below that spot. I’d never forgotten his size...longer and straighter than most, not that I had seen all that many in real life, but there were of course photographic images online that...anyway! I’d been single a long time. Sue me for looking at a little porn.
My omega outshone most of those guys anyway, and as I gripped his shaft and closed my lips over the tip, he rocked his hips, encouraging me to take him deeper. I did, but only intending to for long enough to use my other hand to make sure he was slick and ready for me. But his groans and bucking hips encouraged me to take it further. To suck and lap and scrape my teeth along his shaft. I took him into my throat, allowing him to go as deep as he wanted and with a shuddering gasp, he emptied his cum into my sucking mouth. I swallowed every drop and rose, swiping the back of my hand across my mouth.
He lay with his eyes closed.
“Open them, omega. I want to see your reaction in those beautiful eyes when I drive my cock into that ass.”
He obeyed, but his gaze was soft, lids drooping. “I’ve missed you.”
“Ditto, omega.” I pushed his legs up, bent at the knee, toward his chest, and positioned myself at the place I’d dreamed of for a decade then worked the head in. Despite all the slick, I was almost as long as him, but broader in the head, and his groan this time came from way down inside. But I slowly withdrew and pushed forward again. And again and again, until I impaled him. Then I paused. Letting him adjust and me regain a little control. “Hold still for me.” If he so much as twitched, I’d be spurting like a teenager experiencing his first time.
After a long moment, I moved, slowly then faster, clutching his knees and driving all the way in, taking possession of what I should never have let get away. Making him mine.
Even so, my balls tightened far too soon and I roared his name as I spilled inside him, emptying my cum into my omega.
I held him for an hour before we had to get up and get him home. Then I had to leave. Because our son did not yet know I was his dad. But he would soon, I vowed it. The sex was amazing, extraordinary, and the best I’d ever had. Even better than our first time together.
But we were also a family and I wanted it all. Holidays and birthdays and sick days and beach days and maybe skiing. Whatever it meant, I wanted it. Now.
Chapter Eleven
Bennett
The next morning, Parker had questions. Was I dating George? Was he my mate? Those were the tamest of the questions. He’d learned quite a lot about the birds and the bees from his New York friends. Most of which I didn’t know myself. Kids these days.
“Parker, please. I’m exhausted. How about you and I make some waffles together and get the rest of this stuff unpacked?”
He shrugged but went to the pantry and pulled out a huge bottle of syrup I had purchased at a big box store along the trip. I never let us run out of pancake mix or syrup. The boy ate too much of both.
I fired up the
waffle maker while thinking over the events of the night before. I was still deliciously sore in all the right places and caught myself doing little happy dances here and there while I stirred the batter.
“What are you doing?” Parker asked.
“Nothing. Can you get the oil spray and the butter?”
He nodded and grabbed both from their spots. “That guy is going to be at the center, right?”
My stomach dropped at his saying “that guy.” He wasn’t just some guy, and I felt like minute by minute George was losing precious moments with our son.
And even though it had been less than twelve hours since I’d seen George, I missed him already. I was missing precious moments with my mate.
We both needed him here. I had to do something.
We ate waffles at the kitchen table while I wallowed in all the things that could go wrong. But when I thought of George, I realized all the things that could go right as well.
It was time.
“Parker, why don’t you go upstairs and unpack boxes. I’m going to work on some things down here.”
And by working on some things, I meant calling George to see if he could come over. The feeling was too much—overwhelming, in fact.
I picked up my phone and called him right away. I didn’t know what caused the influx of needing to tell him immediately, but it wouldn’t be denied.
“Hello,” he answered all sexy and sleepy.
“George, are you busy today?” I couldn’t help the emergent tone in my voice.
“I am for a few hours. Are you okay? Is Parker okay?” Good alpha, asking about his son.
“We are fine, but I feel like sooner is better to tell him. I know I said let’s take it slow, but after last night…”
He growled over the phone. “You were amazing last night. It took everything in me to let you leave.”
My stomach swirled. His nonsense about not having the right words was ludicrous. He had all the words I needed to hear.
“It took everything in me to leave. I can’t stop thinking about you. And it may be selfish but I want to tell Parker today. I want us all to be together.”
I turned around to make sure I didn’t have extra ears listening to me.
“I can come over after lunch. Please don’t tell him anything until I get there.”
We said our lengthy goodbyes and as I hung up, I knew I had to keep myself busy or else I’d go crazy waiting.
I downed two cups of coffee and went through the house unboxing and stacking all the empty ones by the front door. I forced myself to go from room to room until everything except Parker’s room was done and all the holiday decorations were in the attic. Clicking my phone on, I realized it was almost noon. George said something about taking his lunch at eleven thirty so he would be here soon.
My stomach instantly went sour.
What if Parker bucked against the knowledge that George was his father? Rebelled?
The truth wouldn’t change even if he behaved badly, and I hated keeping secrets.
Deciding to wipe down the insides of the cabinets before I went shopping again, I went downstairs only to be half scared to death by a knock at the door.
“Hey,” I said, acting like a goof on my first date.
“Hey, you. I brought lunch. Hope you didn’t eat yet.” George came in with two large brown paper bags and put them on the kitchen counter. The smells of onion, cilantro, and meat filled the room.
Before I knew it, George had me pressed against the cabinets and kissed all the nervousness right out of me.
Yes, this was the right thing to do.
“Behave, alpha. There’s a kid upstairs,” I teased and then trailed my hand across his groin.
“I can’t. You smell so delicious and now that I’ve had you again, well, once is never enough.”
My need throbbed in my pants, but now wasn’t the time.
“Let me go get Parker. We can eat and then talk.”
George’s face lit up with joy. His two dimples sank in, and he pecked me once more before letting me go.
I knocked on the door. “Parker, we have company.”
I went inside and nothing had been done—nothing. “Come on, kid. Lunch. Have you done anything?” My son shrugged and pointed to a bookshelf with three books on it. Two hours of work, and he’d put three books on a shelf. At this rate, he’d be unpacked by his high school graduation. “Downstairs now. George brought us food.”
The mention of either George or food perked him up, and he bounded down the stairs.
Please gods, let George be the reason and let this all go smoothly.
Chapter Twelve
George
I’d been on my way to the center when Bennett called, and it took every ounce of discipline not to turn my car around and point it in the direction of my omega and our son. But images of the faces of all the kids who needed me kept me on track. After a busy Saturday, I had mountains of paperwork to take care of, and this close to deadlines, I couldn’t let it get ahead of me.
Although my heart was pounding its way free with excitement at connecting with my son, with letting him know who I was, and letting the chips fall where they may. I could easily work all day, but I’d found myself saying only a few hours when Bennett asked because I was honest enough with myself to know I’d never make it until evening, no matter how hard I tried.
Especially once I realized why he wanted to know. I had to put the feelings of loss behind. The missed years. The first day of school, first step, words...his birth. There was no recapturing any of those things, so instead of dwelling on the negatives, I should be thanking all that was holy for the gift of a son. And an omega willing to increase our family as well.
Truth be told, there were a lot of positives about a nine-year-old son. A baby couldn’t play video games with me, something I looked forward to doing...maybe today if he didn’t hate me once he knew the truth. We could visit theme parks and go on most of the rides together. Did he like roller coasters like I did? No diapers, no sleepless nights...at least until he started dating. Or if he was sick. Something that had almost certainly happened in the past. No child made it through without some illnesses.
I was being presented with a smart, healthy child.
“Hey, George, you okay?”
I blinked, snapped back into the present. While lost in thought I’d autopiloted to the center, parked in what I vaguely remembered as an empty lot, gotten out of the car, and sleepwalked into my office. And sat down. Edison stood in front of my desk, a frown crinkling his forehead. How long had he been there?
“I’m sorry, I’ve been woolgathering. What brings you in here, today?”
“If you weren’t lost in daydreams, you’d know. I found a new grant opportunity online last night, but the deadline is Wednesday. If our proposal is accepted, it could get us a hundred laptops and funds for better internet. As well as a few of the other things on our wish list.”
My heart sank. A grant in that period of time? No way could I get it done. Most proposals took much longer to craft, but as he shoved a printout in front of my nose, I almost drooled. “This is right up our alley!” It had the potential of giving us a whole computer lab and a full-time employee to run it. “I have all these financial aid forms to go over this morning.”
“Do you mind staying this afternoon to get started? I’ll help with anything I can.”
This afternoon. “I don’t know if I can…”
One of Edison’s brows arched. “Okay. First, I come in here to find you staring at your desk like it’s a movie screen with a very interesting feature playing. Now...I heard a rumor from a couple of our teen volunteers that you were making ‘goo-goo eyes’ at a new dad.” He plopped down in the chair across from me. “You know how those kids are, always trying to make something out of nothing. But now...I’m wondering. The day you even consider not working through the night on a big grant proposal? Something’s up.”
“Goo-goo eyes? Do they even use words like th
at?” I attempted to deflect, although I knew my partner in crime would get it all out of me eventually. I just wasn’t sure I was ready to tell him everything yet. Not before telling Parker.
“Oh whatever. It’s what they meant.” He leaned toward me, resting his elbows on the desk and grinning that maddening grin. “So tell me about this dad. Single? Divorced? Hot?”
“I’ll work through the night. I just have plans this afternoon.”
“With the dad. Great! But I still want details.”
“Can I just say, we have history? Yes, he’s single, yes, he’s hot.”
“History?” Now the grin faded. Edison was good with the kids at the center in part because he was intuitive enough to almost read their minds. “What are you not telling me? And why?”
Suddenly the need to unburden myself overwhelmed me. Edison was more than my boss. He was my best friend. And he’d confided some very private parts of his life to me when he and Liam were first making a love connection.
I sucked in a breath so deep my lungs swelled to fill my chest then let out the words on a whoosh. “As in we spent one night together ten years ago resulting in a ten-year-old son I didn’t know a thing about until the other day.”
Very little rattled Edison, but when I finished, he reeled back in his seat as if pinned there by a gale-force wind. And he said nothing. But his eyes were wide enough to show the white all the way around.
And...from the tension...I started to laugh. He made a funny picture, but it was more about the tension release. Edison continued to stare. I continued to roar out laughter until it turned to gut-busting chuckles, and the tears rolled down my cheeks.
The Alpha's Ginger-Kissed Omega: An M/M Non-Shifter Mpreg Romance (Alpha Kissed Book 5) Page 4