by Esme Beal
“Are you all right?”
He turned to me and a smile slowly formed on his face.
“I’m fine,” he said.
“The tuxedo is just as uncomfortable on me as it is on you.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
Listening to him chuckle brought me a sense of relief I wasn’t expecting.
Dark-haired. Some scruff on his chin. Face a bit blemished. I tried to search for whatever made him out as someone from the Southern Block to Jon. I didn’t find anything but I didn’t care.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“You’re sorry? For what?”
“This whole evening. Spending time by my side. You’ve been everything I could ask for. Believe me, I don’t enjoy speaking to everybody and neglecting you.”
“You don’t have to apologize for that. That’s business. I understood before I came here. It… It means a lot to me that you even invited me.”
“Then you’re not upset with me?”
“Ashton… I could never be upset with you.”
“I see… Forgive me, Noah. But you’ll have to humor me again.”
“What is it?”
“If you’re not upset that I’ve been busy all evening, why do you seem so distant?”
“I…”
He looked away from me and stared back into the distance. Now it became obvious that something was on his mind. I didn’t have to push him though. I knew that he would tell me eventually.
“…It’s a long story,” he sighed.
“I have the rest of the evening. I can’t imagine anything more enjoyable than spending it with you.”
“I… I don’t imagine you’ll enjoy hearing this.”
“Oh?”
I raised an eyebrow. My curiosity grew with every passing second.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Not here. When we’re alone. There’s something I need to tell you. Something I need to ask you.”
“We have the rest of the night together. Perhaps before the evening grows too old, maybe we can share a dance.”
Something was on Noah’s mind but not enough to stop him from smiling.
“That sounds nice,” he said.
I offered my hand to him and he took it. I led him back into the ballroom and onto the floor where several other couples were gathered.
Noah pressed his chest against mine and wrapped his hands around my neck. I held him close and led him softly to the beat of the music.
Whatever was on his mind would come out later tonight. For now, I could just enjoy this moment with him.
Chapter 13
NOAH
I tugged at my bowtie and collapsed in a seat next to the window. Despite how dark it was inside of Ashton’s spacious penthouse suite, the city was still bright outside. I looked out onto the lights and my thoughts started to wander once again.
The sound of glass filled my ears. I turned and saw a small glass of wine on the table appear next to me.
“You look like you could use another drink,” Ashton said with a smile.
“That sounds nice,” I sighed. “But I don’t think it’ll help.”
“It won’t hurt.”
“Good point…”
I took the white wine and swallowed it down. Some of the champagne from earlier in the evening was still rushing through my veins. I felt a carelessness that came with a drinking a bit but my thoughts were still my own.
It’s time…
I’d let it distract me this whole evening. It wouldn’t be fair to keep it from Ashton any longer.
“So…”
Ashton took a seat next to me and peered out the window.
“…What is it you wanted to tell me?”
“I hope I didn’t ruin your evening.”
“Ruin my evening? Noah, you’re one of the few things in the evening that kept it from being ruined. No, you didn’t ruin my evening. You saw how busy I was talking to everybody. Those banquets are nothing more than another attempt by the board to appease the shareholders. I’d have nothing to do with them if it were up to me.”
“I watched you the entire night… The way you talked to everybody. The way you listened. Not a single one of them had an ounce of disdain for you. They all loved you.”
“That’s a pretty strong word. I wouldn’t go that far…”
“They all admired you in one way or another. Everybody had something to say and you lent them your ear.”
“And now I’m lending it to you.”
“Another person for you to listen to.”
“Noah… You’re not just another person to me. You’re the first person I’ll listen to and the last. Stop stalling already. Tell me what’s on your mind…”
I shifted my gaze down toward the ground. Ashton’s eyes were on me. I could feel them. But he was still smiling softly at me.
This man…
It was hard to believe he was real. I needed him to keep being the dream that I thought he was.
“Do you remember Charlie?” I said. “The man I work with at the restaurant.”
“The 18-year-old you mentioned. What about him?”
“Do you remember what I said about him? About how he was going to the Queen’s Pit to gamble?”
I looked up at Ashton and he gave me a nod. His eyes were full of the understanding I needed to see.
“It happened,” I said. “Charlie got in over his head. He borrowed some money from Queen and—”
“And now the shark is looking to make sure he pays his debts.”
“Queen wasn’t subtle when she said what would happen if Charlie didn’t pay up.”
“How long did she give him?”
“A few days. Not like it matters. A few years and Charlie wouldn’t be able to pay off that debt.”
“I see…”
Ashton leaned back in his seat and took a sip of his own glass of wine.
“How much is it?” he asked.
“Fifty-thousand.”
He put his glass down. I was waiting for him to say something. But he didn’t speak. Ashton just smiled softly at me.
“What?” I said. “What is it?”
“Why?” he said.
“Why what?”
“Why are you so ashamed of asking me to do this for you?”
I scoffed and shook my head.
“I was just at a banquet where I watched dozens of people ask you to give them the time of day,” I said. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for you. It’s probably not even just tonight. Every day you have to deal with people coming up to you and asking you for something.”
I wasn’t sure how Ashton would respond. But he just kept smiling.
“Noah… You’re amazing.”
“W-what?” I said. “What are you—”
“You’re my Omega. I would do anything for you. Paying off a small debt is nothing for someone like me. Yet you’re still ashamed of asking me.”
“It’s my fault that Charlie was in his situation in the first place. I should’ve stopped him. I should’ve been there to make sure it didn’t happen.”
My emotions started getting the best of me. Noah got up from his seat and wrapped his arms around me. I stood up and pressed my chest into his arms, enjoying the feeling of his embrace. Despite anything that could’ve been happening, I’d never felt as warm and secure as I did now.
“It’s not your fault,” he whispered. “You did everything you could.”
“I should’ve done more.”
“You couldn’t have done more. You can’t blame yourself for the actions of another. Charlie’s old enough to make his own decisions, despite the best intentions of others.”
“I’m sorry, Ashton. I… I’m sorry to have to ask you to do this—”
“Stop this now.”
He pulled away from me and stared into my eyes.
“You’re my Omega. I will never let any harm come to you. This small debt is nothing to me.”
“I…”
“If anything, I’m more concerned that you would keep something so trivial from me. There’s nothing for you to be ashamed of, Noah. I will always care about you. You are my Omega.”
“Ashton…”
“You are my Omega. Do you hear me?”
“Yes,” I said with a nod.
Ashton was so adamant about it that I couldn’t refuse him even if I wanted to.
“You’re safe with me,” he said. “You’ll always be safe by my side.”
He cradled me in his arms again. I pressed my head against his chest. All of the weight on my shoulders lifted away. Ashton solved the situation with Charlie so easily and he did it without hesitating.
I’m dreaming…
I had every reason to believe that none of this was happening but Ashton’s strong frame pressing against me felt too real.
I slowly peeked my head up and stared at him.
“I’m yours,” I said. “Whatever you ask of me, I’ll do it.”
“I only ask you to be mine, Noah.”
“Then I’m yours. I’ll do anything you want me to. Anything…”
He leaned forward and put his mouth on mine. His tongue roamed around between my lips and found mine. He took me with his deep kiss and I accepted it. I wanted it more than he did. I was already willing to do anything for him and now I was ready to do more.
“Anything,” I whispered against his cheek. “Anything you want.”
I slowly trailed kisses along his neck and lowered myself to my knees. All of the stress and anxiety I had was gone, replaced by a fervor to please the Alpha standing before me.
I dropped down and started racing to take his belt off. I couldn’t zip him down fast enough. His cock already thick, Ashton groaned when I rushed my lips on him.
My mouth sealed around his shaft. I sucked and swallowed, wanting to consume his dick whole. Ashton grunted with pleasure every time I lowered my mouth down on him. I stopped myself from gagging on his thick length. I wanted him to enjoy the feeling of my throat on him.
From the sounds he was making, Ashton was definitely enjoying himself. He ran his hands over the back of my head and made a mess of my hair. His grunts were so masculine, spurring me to work even harder.
His cock trembled between my teeth to the point that I felt he was about to burst. I swallowed him enough to have trouble breathing. Spit dripping down my chin. Tears leaking down my eyes. All of the choking wasn’t enough to stop me from helping him reach his end.
But Ashton wouldn’t have me so easily.
I gasped when he suddenly gripped my hair and pulled me off of him. I didn’t have a chance to catch my breath as he put his lips on mine.
“I want you,” he whispered.
“Take me… Take me now…”
He effortlessly picked me back up to my feet and turned me around. I worked to get my belt off and zip myself down. As soon as he heard it, Ashton grabbed my pants and underwear and with one swift motion, pulled them down to my knees.
A cool rush of the air in the penthouse brushed against my slick opening. Ashton put a hand on my back and bent me over the table. I spread my legs as much as I could and presented myself to him. My ass was so wet, a trickle of lubrication leaking out of me. I knew I was ready.
“Let me take you,” Ashton said.
“Take me… Take me… Hngh!”
A loud, obnoxious groan escaped from my lips when he plunged his thick shaft into my asshole. He was so massive that it filled me up completely. He stretched my walls out and rubbed against them. His cock throbbed and made my whole body vibrate.
Ashton held himself inside of me for a moment. His hands gripped my waist to make sure to keep me in place. I gripped the edges of the table to make sure that I didn’t fall over.
He didn’t waste another second. He didn’t bang me slowly. He didn’t ease himself into me. No, he gave it to me. He fucked me hard and fast like a man who wanted nothing more.
“Oh… Fuck…”
I cried out helplessly as he banged me over the table. Hard, forceful thrusts made our bodies collide. My ass clapped against his hilt. The sound of him ravaging me echoed through his entire suite.
“You’re mine,” he grunted in rhythm with his hard thrusts. “You’re mine…”
“I’m yours, Alpha. Take me.”
“I… I’m gonna come inside of you.”
“Do it… Give me your seed. I want… I want to feel you inside of me…”
I shut my eyes tight and gritted my teeth. Over and over, Ashton pounded me to the point that all I could feel was the pure pleasure of him thrusting in and out of me.
He groaned louder and louder. His grip was so tight on my waist that I couldn’t break free even if I wanted to. I took the pounding, desperately whimpering for the end that I knew he was near.
“Noah… Noah, I’m gonna…”
“Do it! Fucking… come… inside of me…”
“I’m coming… Now!”
A thick, masculine roar came out of him as he exploded.
“Oh, God…”
My body shuddered when the first thick splash of his cum filled me up. Another throb of his seed pulsed in me. I tightened myself around his cock, milking him for every wonderful drop.
I kept my grip tight on the edges of the table. The ecstasy of having an Alpha like Ashton come inside of me was like nothing else. I wanted him to keep coming like the moment would never end.
But even Ashton was a man who had limits. His body started to relax. His grip on me loosened. He leaned up against me, his cock still planted firmly in my ass and kissed me on the cheek.
I laughed softly, enjoying the feeling of his hard body on top of me.
I laid bent over on the table. My hands hurt from squeezing the table so hard. I was sweating through my tuxedo. He came so much that some of it started to leak out of me.
Despite the mess we’d made of each other, I couldn’t have felt better than I did.
From the moment I met him, Ashton had never failed to disappoint me. Tonight was no different.
“I’ll settle Charlie’s debt with Queen,” he whispered.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. This is something I want to do. What kind of Alpha would I be if I didn’t do something like this for my Omega?”
Hearing Ashton say it filled my heart with a joy I’d never felt before. It was the kind of excitement I could only dream of. I sighed and responded with the only words I could.
“I am your Omega.”
Chapter 14
ASHTON
Underground in a small pocket of the Northside, there was a place where the richest people in Snow Falls liked to flaunt their wealth. An illegal underground casino where everybody was above the law.
There were rumors of the Queen’s Pit and they weren’t exactly secret. The police never cared too much because they had bigger problems to deal with. And if they did come sniffing around, there was enough money to convince them to look the other way.
I wasn’t anxious about heading there. I turned down every invitation I was given. But knowing that Noah was in any kind of trouble, my decision couldn’t have been easier.
“You ever been to this place before?” Noah asked.
“I’ve never been here before. I hope that I’ll never have to be here again.”
“You and me both.”
There was a bit of reservation on Noah’s face even though he smiled softly at me. The young Omega with him, Charlie, had been quiet the entire journey to our destination.
We arrived at a nondescript building in the center of the Northside. A couple of security guards in suits stood at the lone entrance.
“I’m here to see Queen,” I said.
“And who are you?” one of the guards said.
“Tell her that Ashton Webb wants to speak with her. The Ashton Webb.”
The two security guards looked me up and down before turning to one another.
“We got someone here for Queen,�
� one man said as he got onto his walkie-talkie. “It’s Webb.”
“Right this way,” the other guard said to me.
He pushed the door open and held it for me. There was nothing more than a long, narrow hallway. I walked with the escort of the two guards, Noah and Charlie accompanying me the same. I kept an eye on my two Omega companions. They were still cautious even though I knew there was nothing for them to worry about.
I put a hand on Charlie’s shoulder to calm him.
“This situation will be resolved in moments,” I said. “I assure you everything will be fine.”
He gave me a nod but his concern hadn’t gone away.
A short trip down the hallway led to an elevator. The security guards kept an eye on me the entire time. We began our descent and I could already feel it. The music vibrated through the walls. It only grew louder and louder until we got closer.
The elevator doors opened and the scene that accompanied the music stood before me.
The lights were bright on the ceiling. The music blared. The men and women laughed and mingled with one another just as loud as the music. But they weren’t ordinary men and women. Fancy dresses. Expensive suits. Cigars and champagne and caviar. Along with the blackjack, roulette, craps and other assorted ways to throw away money, it was the perfect place to indulge in someone’s vices.
“Welcome to the Queen’s Pit,” I sighed.
“This way,” the guard directed me with his index finger.
I gave Charlie and Noah a nod to make sure that they remained confident.
We walked together with our escort through the crowd. I’d only taken a few steps when I heard some of the murmuring around me.
“Is that Ashton Webb?”
“What’s he doing here?”
“He’s finally decided to show up and throw some of that cash around.”
I ignored the chatter and kept walking through the underground casino until we came to a set of glass doors where more security was waiting.
“Ashton Webb,” one guard said. “He’s here to see Queen.”
The other guards looked me over once again before opening the glass doors for me. I stepped into the next room and it was noticeably darker than the rest of the casino. Along with the dim lights, there was a fragrance in the air that was almost nauseating. The other people in the room didn’t seem to mind it. It appeared to be some lounge where some folks got away to drink and enjoy private conversations with one another. The bar off to the side indicated as much.