by Jayce Carter
Not Kane or Marshall, he’d not only accepted that but had come to be pleased by the thought. Some other alpha, though? His sweet, feisty little omega with some faceless alpha instead of him?
He clenched his hand into a fist at the thought, at what he might do to any alpha who touched her.
No. She won’t be mine, and that’s where it was heading anyway.
If he kept thinking about that, he’d ruin the moment, and he refused to do that. Nothing would take the night from him, especially when he had no future to expect. That night had to last him for a long time.
He tossed the lube onto the bed beside her, then stripped down. He didn’t want anything between them, not a scrap of clothing to keep him from each inch of her soft and giving skin.
Tiffany tensed as he crawled back onto the bed, the muscles in her thighs tightening. She didn’t twist to look at him, not even when he set his knees on the outside of her thighs. Her arms were folded, her chin rested on them, her long blonde hair bound and tossed over her shoulder to reveal her bare back.
If he could have picked a mate, any mate, he doubted he’d have picked a single thing she didn’t have. She was fun, wild, brave, and would never let him get an upper hand for long. He never had to worry about life getting boring, because she wouldn’t allow it. Each trait he’d have wished for in an ideal mate Tiffany had in spades, and yet it came in a package too young for him to trust.
She’d grow into herself and realize she wanted to explore, wanted to see what else there was out there. Hadn’t it happened before? Any alpha and omega living in such close quarters would give in to instinct and biology, but that didn’t mean they were meant for anything more.
Her ass fit into his hands perfectly, the muscles flinching as he kneaded them with his strong fingers. It wasn’t right, but a part of him thrilled at the idea he’d be her first. Not just with sex, but the first alpha to take her ass. Even when she’d moved on, when she’d ended up with anyone else, he’d always be her first.
He couldn’t have her forever, but at least she wouldn’t forget him. That was something, right?
He used the grip on her ass to spread her cheeks wide, enjoying that same subtle squirm she’d done before. He released one hand to pick up the lube, flipping the bottle open with a thumb before drizzling some onto her.
His cock hardened at the sight, at the way she clenched against the chill of the lube. He pressed his thumb to her ass, and, despite the tightness, the way she resisted, a steady push let him sink his thumb into her.
Her whine came out thin and needy, a sound that only made him want her more.
“Relax,” he growled out, not trying to soften his voice. She knew who he was by this point, knew his personality. No reason to pretend he was a soft person when he wasn’t. “You’ll enjoy it.”
“How can you be sure?”
He fucked her slowly with his thick thumb as he leaned in to press a kiss to her shoulder blade. “Because you’ve already enjoyed any time we’ve played with your ass.”
“A finger is a lot different from your dick.”
He laughed softly at her tone, at the sharp way she snapped out the words. Her attitude would never fail to amuse him. “You can take me, girl. Don’t forget, this was your idea.”
She huffed a disgruntled sound but didn’t argue. Her sound came out less sure when he pulled his thumb from her, when he added additional lube and stroked some over his cock. The last thing he would ever want was to hurt her.
He wrapped his hand around his cock and used his other to spread her, placing himself against her ass. “Do you want this?” He held himself still, giving her the chance to think about it.
A shudder ran through her small body, and it highlighted how well she fit against him, beneath him. Would she turn him down? Would she say no?
No, Tiffany was never a girl to give in to anything. She shifted her hips back to push against him. “I want this,” she said, voice strong.
Kieran groaned then rocked his weight forward. Her body fought him, tight and unyielding. Still, with the continual pressure, her body gave. He slid into the hot tightness of her ass, only a shallow inch at first before he stilled, allowing her the time to adjust to his width.
And that took more control than he’d known he had to hold still while her body clenched around him, while he knew he’d have her moaning before long. Even so, he didn’t move. He held her hips, his body poised above hers, his aching cock buried too shallowly in her snug body.
She breathed in deep lungfuls of air, her back arched, her toes digging into the blankets of the bed as if it gave her some sense of control. She twisted beneath him, the almost frantic little motions enough for him to slide another hair deeper.
“Easy,” he growled into her ear as he lowered himself closer to her back, remaining the same depth inside her. “Take a deep breath, Tiffany.”
Her name seemed to sink into her, and she followed the direction. She pulled in a single deep breath that shuddered from her, along with some of the tension. Her ass loosened around him, a surrender she couldn’t fake.
“There you are.” He retreated, then pressed forward again. She didn’t fight him, and her whines transformed into moans as he continued, as the pleasure outpaced the nerves. It had never been about pain, not for her. She’d only been afraid, unwilling to trust him to not hurt her.
Funny that now, after he’d hurt her in worse ways, she was giving in to this.
Perhaps that was it? She’d realized this wasn’t so risky a thing when he’d already done far more damage.
Kieran ignored the thought, unwilling to let it ruin anything. His body pressed against hers when he’d filled her entirely, when his cock was buried so deeply within her that only her panting moans could be heard.
He nuzzled her throat, drawing her scent into him, wanting it to brand onto him. She might be leaving, but he’d never lose the memory. No one could change their mind or take that from him.
“You’re so tight,” he whispered to her, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke. “I won’t last long, not with how you’re squeezing down around me.”
She lifted her hips off the bed, thrusting herself back toward him. Always the demanding omega, wasn’t she?
He gave her what she wanted, pulling back, sliding into her fully. He took her with sure and deep strokes, fucking her in a way she wouldn’t forget, in a way he sure as hell would never forget. Each time he withdrew, she pressed against him again.
“Stay,” he said, voice low, the request one he hadn’t thought about before asking.
“I can’t.”
A snarl broke through his lips as his balls tightened, as he neared his release from the snug grip of her tight ass around his dick. “Stay,” he said again, more demand in his voice. “Don’t leave tomorrow.”
A hollow whimper left her, and it had nothing to do with how he stretched her, with the way she’d be sore come tomorrow. “What are you offering me?”
“This?” His hips came forward on a rough thrust. “You’re happy with me, I know you are. I’d protect you, take care of you.”
“For a year?”
He opened his mouth to deny it, but the words stuck. He couldn’t lie to her, and no matter how much he did not want to see her walk away, he couldn’t commit to anything more than the contract. It was too risky.
She turned her face from him, the pillows pressing against her face to muffle her voice. “That’s what I thought.” Had any words been filled with more pain than those?
Kieran brushed his lips against the nape of her neck as he gave himself over to the sensations. Physical pleasure, that he understood, that was easy. He let the tension that filled him, the tightness of his balls, the need to fill her take over. He wrapped an arm beneath her, above her breasts, his hand grasping her shoulder to hold her still.
If only he could keep her still…
His hips pistoned, fucking her hard and deep until he couldn’t hold his release back. He came on a vicious
snarl against her neck, teeth bared. He filled her, his cum like some claim she would never wipe clean, a part of him she’d always carry. She could leave him, but that at least would remain.
By the time he came down, when his energy waned and he wanted nothing more than to pull her against his chest and bask in her scent and warmth, he pulled his softening cock from her tight ass.
Her whine was broken, and he reached down to touch her, to stroke her clit until she came undone for him.
A shove of her hand stopped him. He frowned as she rolled to her side, her back to him, and curled up as she had been when he’d entered.
“Tiffany—”
“If you care about me at all, don’t. Don’t explain, don’t apologize, don’t say another word.” Her voice cracked. “Just go, please?”
Kieran moved numbly to his feet, backing away from the bed, the omega he’d always seen as feisty and strong lying so broken there.
He’d done that? He’d been the one to tear her down?
The tears that left her, nearly silent as if she’d tried to hide them, took layers of his skin with them.
How could he have done that to her?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Marshall sipped his coffee, thick tension filling the cabin. The FBI agents would arrive shortly, and when they left, they’d take Tiffany with them.
His teeth itched to be bared at that thought of his omega being taken away from him. Even if she went willingly, it didn’t sit right. She belonged with him, with Kane and Kieran. She belonged in their bed, under their protection, in their arms.
She did not belong in witness protection, handed over to some alpha like a piece of property, and yet she had made her choice.
When he’d watched Kieran enter her room the night before, he’d hoped they’d work out their issues. The ghosts on the alpha’s face when he’d returned, however, said they hadn’t resolved anything.
A knock on the door had them all freezing.
“Fuck off,” Kane muttered without rising.
Ah, Kane’s personality was as sure a thing as the sunrise.
Kieran came from down the hallway to open the door when neither Marshall nor Kane seemed willing to move.
Three men walked in, and Kieran shook hands with one. “Thank you for coming, Daniel.”
“Any time. It sounds like the information your omega found is well worth the trouble.” He cast his gaze behind Kieran, as if to look for Tiffany. “Besides, from the tone of her voice, she could use some help.”
Kane’s growl echoed in the room, drawing the tension tighter. “She ain’t yours.”
While alphas couldn’t scent one another, they still tended to sense others. The stance of the two men screamed alphas, and it seemed Kane didn’t like the idea of them taking Tiffany.
Daniel lifted an eyebrow but didn’t respond with any aggression. His voice came out low, as if trying to be non-threatening. “I don’t want an omega. In fact, Kyle and I won’t even be taking her.” He nodded at the third man. “This is Agent Jake Morter, our liaison with witness protection.”
“Like fuck I’m letting him take her anywhere,” Kane said.
“Pretty sure that’s my choice.” Tiffany’s voice broke through the tension.
Marshall, Kieran and Kane turned their heads as if their eyes sought her out of instinct so deep they couldn’t resist the draw. Still, none spoke.
Tiffany had her bag slung over her shoulder and her gaze down. Marshall felt cheated. He missed her gaze and her smile and her eyes.
“Tiffany?” One of the men inclined his head but come no closer. “I’m Agent Kyle Hopkins. You spoke to my partner, Daniel, on the phone. You have the drive?”
She lifted the necklace still wrapped around her neck and pulled the cap off that hid the drive.
“Good. You’ll keep that until you sign the paperwork. Once you do, you’ll hand it over and go into witness protection. I’ve brought everything for Kieran to sign to turn your contract over, so you’ll be covered legally.”
She turned her gaze to the liaison, brow furrowed. “He’s not an alpha.”
Daniel nodded. “You’re right. Betas work best for jobs like this. It helps eliminate any issues with heats or bonding. You’ll remain in the care of betas until we find a suitable alpha for you to stay with.”
The liaison, Jake, took a step closer. “Hey, Tiffany. Trust me, you’ll be as safe as could be with me. We use single-man teams for transport to reduce anyone paying too close attention.”
She wrapped her fingers tightly around the shoulder strap of her backpack. “Can I have a minute?”
The three agents looked at each other, then nodded. They said they’d wait outside before exiting the cabin, leaving Tiffany and the three alphas alone inside.
Tiffany scraped her foot against the ground, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever seen a less happy person.
Kane broke the silence, as uncaring of social norms as ever. “Don’t fucking go. You don’t have to go with those assholes—you can stay. We’ll figure this shit out. Hell, I’ll kick Kieran’s ass until he stops acting like a moron if that’s what you want.”
The corners of Tiffany’s mouth tipped up. She lifted to her toes and planted a soft kiss on Kane’s unyielding lips. “Thanks, but I don’t think that’s going to help.”
“I’ll find you. You ain’t walking out that door and outta my life, doll.”
“Please, don’t. It’ll just make it harder.”
His lips pressed together, but he nodded.
Next, she turned to Marshall, offering the same gentle kiss. A selfish man, Marshall returned the kiss, needing a taste of her no matter how brief. When she pulled back, too soon for his liking, she set her forehead on his chest before letting out a slow sigh. She offered another press of her lips to his chest and moved away.
Lastly, she hesitated beside Kieran. He stared down at her, but she wouldn’t lift her head. How two people so clearly in love could behave as if looking at one another were hard, Marshall didn’t understand.
“I’m—”
“Don’t tell me you’re sorry.”
He nodded, face hard. “What do you want me to do?”
“Sign the paperwork. Make this easier on me, at least.”
He lifted his palm to the back of her neck, then pulled her closer. Instead of a kiss on the lips, he pressed his lips to the top of her head, his eyes shut tight. His chest rose as he inhaled, and his hand trembled as he held her close.
He didn’t have the look of a man who would let her go, and yet, he did. He released her and took a step backward. “I’ll sign the paperwork. If you need anything else, ever, no matter what it is…”
She wrapped her arms around herself, eyes glassy. “We both know I’m not going to do that. Take care of yourselves.”
With that, she walked out of the cabin, leaving the three alphas alone and lost.
* * * *
Kane couldn’t settle. He paced the long porch, rolling his shoulders as if that would shake loose the tension.
Watching the SUV holding his omega drive away had tested his control. He’d wanted to follow it, to chase it down and pull her out of the car. Instead, he’d let her go. He’d drawn his hands into fists and forced himself to stay still until the car drove out of sight.
“You’re bonded,” Daniel said.
Kane twisted to level a snarl at the other man. “Fuck off.”
Daniel leaned back and laughed, shaking his head. “You guys are screwed, aren’t you? If you’re bonded, there is no way she’s going to stay away.”
“You don’t know her well, then. If anyone is stubborn enough to ignore a bond, it’s her,” Marshall said.
“So, you’re willing to let her go?” Kyle asked.
Kieran answered, his gaze not on any of them but on the horizon. “We’re willing to do whatever is best for her. If she wants to go, then I’ll let her go.”
Kane wanted to argue it, but Kieran was right. If Tiffany needed space, if sh
e wanted to go, he’d let her go.
Well, he’d find her difficult ass and look out for her, but he wouldn’t let her know. He wouldn’t get in her way or fuck with her life. She deserved everything she wanted, and if he couldn’t give it to her, well hell, he’d stay away.
And it would kill him to do it.
“Should I ask who owns this cabin? The paper trail is more than a little questionable.” Daniel nodded toward the front door.
Kieran shook his head. “It is probably best to not ask.”
Daniel huffed. “You and your secrets. Tell me it’s nothing I need to worry about, at least. The last thing I need is to find out this place has bodies in the basement and coke under the porch. That might look bad on me.”
“I think you’ll be safe.” Kieran tapped his fingers against the armrest of the chair he sat in.
Tiffany had been gone for twenty minutes, and in that time, they’d updated the remaining two agents with as much of the story as they knew, hearing what they could share.
From how it sounded, Tiffany was lucky. The group had killed people for much less, and the information on the drive could do a lot of damage. While Kieran still couldn’t open most of it, what little he’d found said they’d have auction locations and potentially hunting grounds.
That was something, right? But, fuck, Kane couldn’t find any real happiness in criminals getting caught when it still felt like it was costing him his mate.
A ring had Daniel pulling his phone out, then answering. “Hello?” He rose and moved off the porch to take his call in privacy.
It left Kane staring at Marshall and Kieran and wondering what was left for them. What were they? Friends, he supposed, in a way. They’d found a sense of belonging between the three of them with Tiffany, but with her gone?
The thought of trying to replace her had his shoulders tightening. She wasn’t just anyone filling a spot. No other omega could slide into the dynamic and work out.