by Arden Blair
“That’s right,” Ryan declared triumphantly. “I’m all you need.”
Toby wasn’t sure if they were playing anymore. There was a profound truth in Ryan’s words. He felt it down to his soul.
This was all he needed. His alpha. The one who could make his body come alive. Give him what he’d never known. Make his body come alive.
“Get up,” Ryan said. “I can’t wait any longer. I’ve been surrounded by your scent for too long. I need to lose myself inside you.”
Toby drew in a shaky breath. He felt the same way, but he didn’t have the words to express what he needed. Not like Ryan did. All he could manage was, “Yes, my alpha.”
Fortunately, that was enough.
Ryan led him over to a table with leather straps for ankles and wrists. The alpha helped up onto the worn wooden surface, but didn’t bind him down. Toby wasn’t sure if it was because he didn’t want to push Toby too far too fast, or because they were both too impatient for any more games.
“Spread your legs wide,” Ryan said.
Toby did as he asked, and a moment later, he felt Ryan’s cock pressing against his opening. He closed his eyes, bit into his lip, and let his body take over.
Pleasure like no other spread through every fiber of Toby’s being as Ryan pushed forward. His cock slid in easily, the slick easing the entrance.
Toby gasped. He’d never felt so full, so right.
“Yes, my alpha,” he said as Ryan kept moving in and out, in and out, until finally his whole shaft was buried deep inside.
By that time, Toby could no longer think. He could only feel. He opened his legs wider. Ryan moved faster. The friction between them growing hotter with every passing second.
Ryan’s palm cupped his cock, stroking him with the same rhythm. Toby’s fingers curled into his hair, his shoulders, his back—anywhere where his hands could feel. But it wasn’t enough.
There was something more that his body wanted. Something more that it needed. Something so close.
A heartbeat later, pleasure brighter and more intense than anything Toby had ever felt before shook his body. His hole tightened around Ryan. Come sprayed from his cock. His body shook with the force of his orgasm.
But it still wasn’t enough. Toby moaned, hungry for more. Something he didn’t quite understand. Something he couldn’t name.
It all became clear a moment later when he felt Ryan’s cock surge inside him, his knot growing hard and fast, locking the two men together tight.
For the first time, Toby felt complete. Utterly satisfied. This went beyond simple pleasure. This was heaven. This was everything that was right in the world. Everything before had been black and white, but this was a rainbow of brilliant color.
And Toby had no idea how he would ever go back to the darkness again.
It felt like hours since Toby had been able to catch his breath. And who knew? Maybe it had been. With Ryan’s knot filling him up, he’d lost all track of time.
Who could blame him?
Roscoe.
Roscoe would blame him.
The realization hit Toby like a bolt of lightning—hard, fast, and utterly unpleasant.
His great-uncle had been adamant that he be home by ten, and never mind Toby’s grand declaration that he would do whatever the hell he damn well pleased, they both knew that wasn’t true.
Everyone in the Martin family knew that.
Toby was an unmarried omega, and there were rules about what he could and could not do. Especially in public.
Toby didn’t know what he’d do if anyone in Pup’s Creek told Roscoe that they’d left the restaurant early. Roscoe wouldn’t hesitate to call his parents and tell them everything. Then Toby’s life would really become a living hell.
Shit.
Toby rolled over just far enough to see a clock hanging on the far wall. The light was low, but he could just make out the hands through the shadows.
Five minutes to ten.
Double shit.
9
“You’re late.”
Toby cringed. He hadn’t been home a full second before Roscoe’s voice rang out from the living room. Hell, he didn’t even have both feet through the door yet. For a second, Toby thought about turning on his heel and heading right back out to Ryan’s car, but he quickly discarded the idea.
Running away wouldn’t solve anything. His problems would still be waiting for him no matter when he came back. Better to deal with them now and get it over with.
“By thirty-five minutes, Uncle,” Toby yelled back. “Besides, if you remember, I never agreed to your silly curfew.”
“Good for you.” Justin’s head popped out from the corner by the kitchen. “I hope you had a great time.”
Wait. Justin was here? At ten-thirty at night? What the hell was going on? Before Toby could ask out loud, Roscoe rolled into the hall, his eyes narrowed.
“I don’t care about the curfew,” he said. “Not really. Though I’m sure your parents do. I’m talking about something far more important. You’re late for a story.”
Toby’s brows pulled together. He still wasn’t getting it. “What story? What in the world are you talking about?”
“Levi Burke, one of the owners of The Wishing Mill Inn, had his baby tonight,” Justin clarified. “My dad and Roscoe want us to run down to the hospital and see what details we can find out for tomorrow’s paper.”
“Oh.” So an actual story. One for the newspaper. Even though the thought was exciting, Toby grimaced. “Can’t it wait until morning?”
He was exhausted from his time with Ryan. Not that he could tell anyone in this house that. Still, it wasn’t like a baby was breaking news. The pup would still be there in the morning, after Toby had enjoyed a good night’s sleep and a long, hot shower.
“Wait until morning?” Roscoe’s eyes went wide. He made it sound like it was the most ridiculous idea that he’d ever heard. “What kind of newspaperman are you?”
Toby let out a sigh. “I’m not. I never have been. Justin is the actual journalist, remember?”
“And that’s why we waited until you were home to send him,” Roscoe said with a nod. “So you could learn from him.”
Toby shook his head and leaned back against the still-open front door. He really didn’t want to do this, but he didn’t have much fight left in his body. Ryan had done a fine job screwing it out of him.
A quick blush heated Toby’s cheeks at the memory.
Damn it. He should be up in his bedroom right now, lying back on his soft pillows and basking in the afterglow of what had to be the greatest first time in omega history.
But instead it looked like he was about to spend the night trailing behind a friend as he harassed hospital staff about the details of a routine birth.
Justin shrugged and stepped out into the hall. He didn’t look any happier about the plan, but he’d obviously resigned himself to it.
“Come on,” he said, walking toward the door. “We’ll get some coffee on the way, and you can tell me all about your date.”
Toby pressed his lips together and gave a tight smile. That was the last thing he wanted to talk about.
Of course, he wasn’t sure he was going to have a choice.
Justin’s eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. His nostrils flared.
Oh, shit.
Toby had been in such a rush to get home from Ryan’s that he hadn’t showered or done anything to cover up his scent. He had to reek of sex. It was nothing short of a miracle that the whole house hadn’t smelled it yet. The fact that he was standing by the open door was probably the only thing saving him.
Justin flashed him an amused smile, then a conspiratorial wink. “And I do mean all about it.” The alpha grabbed Toby’s arm and whisked him out the door before the wind could change. “We’ll be back later.”
Toby couldn’t help but notice there were no shouts for Justin to be back by a certain time.
At least his friend was enough of a gentle-alpha to wai
t until they were safely in his car before he opened his mouth again.
“So, I take it the date went well,” Justin said, not bothering to cover up his laugh.
“A little too well,” Toby admitted with a blush. He really didn’t want to go into more details than that. What he and Ryan had shared had been amazing, but also intimate. It was between the two of them, and no one else.
“Yeah, well, unless I take you to my hotel room and let you shower off before we go to the hospital, everyone in town is going to know just how well.”
Toby looked down at his lap. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Justin asked with a smile. “Getting you out of Roscoe’s house before he noticed the eau de Homewood you’re wearing, or for lending you my bathroom?”
“For both,” Toby answered.
“My pleasure,” Justin said, and he looked like he actually meant it. “Sometimes people like us have to cover for each other.”
Toby quirked a brow. “People like us?”
“You know.” Justin shot him a pointed look. “Those of us who have to sneak around to get what they want.”
Oh.
Toby understood. He’d always had an idea that Justin wasn’t into omegas, but he’d never dreamed of asking about it. Personal preferences were just that—personal. Toby had always figured that if Justin wanted him to know, he’d talk about it.
But it sure explained a lot of things. Like why they made such good friends, but never had that spark that formed between most close alphas and omegas.
“So, you’ve done this before?” Toby asked.
Justin’s smile only widened. “Too many times to count. And let me tell you the key to getting away with it is taking that shower before you come home. That alpha scent is stubborn.”
Toby stared at Justin as he pulled out of Roscoe’s driveway. “Well, I guess that explains your resistance to our parents’ matchmaking plans. Does Bailey know?”
Justin let out a loud laugh. “Are you kidding me? When has my father ever been able to put two and two together?”
Never. At least not that Toby had ever seen.
“But what about Roscoe?” Bailey might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but Roscoe’s superpower was sniffing out secrets.
“Who knows?” Justin said with a shrug. “If he’s figured it out, he hasn’t said anything to me. And since he’s still trying to get us together, I can only guess that either doesn’t know, or doesn’t care.”
Neither answer sounded much like Roscoe.
Toby let out a long breath and stared out at the dark road passing by. “Are you seeing anyone right now?” he asked.
The alpha shook his head. “Nope. I’ve been single for a while now.”
“I know what that’s like,” Toby commiserated. “Maybe I could ask Ryan if he has a brother he could hook you up with.”
Justin laughed hard, but Toby wasn’t sure why. He didn’t mean it as a joke. After all, it only made sense that since they were both stuck in Pup’s Creek for a while, there was no reason they both couldn’t have a little fun.
“That’s sweet of you,” Justin said. “But the backwoods lumberjack isn’t really my type.”
“No?” Toby’s mind drifted back to Ryan’s sculpted muscles, all the brute strength running through his body. His taut skin. His callused hands. Damn. Was there such a thing as another type? “What do you like?”
“I’m more into the long, lean, sophisticated type.”
“A GQ model,” Toby said.
“Exactly. That or Rex Starkey will do just fine.”
“You’re kidding me, right?” Toby said. “You know he’s coming to town in a couple of weeks to start filming?”
“Oh, I am very aware,” Justin said with a sigh.
“You’re not going to do anything stupid when he comes, are you?” Toby didn’t even try to keep the suspicion out of his voice.
But Justin just kept smiling. “When have I ever done anything stupid?”
Never, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t start.
“I don’t know. Before tonight I never dove off the deep end,” Toby said.
Justin laughed again, and Toby felt himself beginning to relax. He liked this version of Justin, the one who let his guard down. “I’m just saying that I can’t be responsible if the sparks start flying. Who knows? Me and a movie star. Stranger things have happened.”
Toby shook his head. “No, they haven’t.”
“True, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream.”
Toby’s smile faltered. “Doesn’t it, though?”
“What do you mean?” Justin’s brows pulled together.
“I mean, what does it matter if I drool over a modern-day lumberjack or you daydream about a leading alpha? Our families won’t let us do anything about it. They’ve practically signed a contract saying we’ll end up together. They don’t give damn about what we want.”
Justin’s hand tightened on the steering wheel as reality crept into the car, ruining their buzz. A sad look crept into Justin’s eyes. His shoulders sagged. Toby knew that his friend wasn’t going to argue the point. How could he? He knew it was true. Probably a hell of a lot better than Toby did.
Justin let out a long sigh. “I guess the only thing we can do is live it up while we still can.”
10
I want to live it up while I still can.
Ryan glanced down at the text message on his phone. He didn’t need to check his contacts to see who sent it. There was only person he knew who talked that way.
Toby.
A smile crept over Ryan’s face at the thought. He’d had an amazing night last night. Better than he wanted to admit. So good that it had nearly killed him to drop the omega back at Roscoe’s. Toby should stayed with him.
Instead Ryan had spent the night dreaming about what should’ve been—hours with his arms wrapped tight around Toby’s, his body cradled close, his intoxicating scent blanketing him all night long.
And that wasn’t like Ryan. He’d never longed for an omega after he was gone. Never spent the night rolling around in his sheets craving the feel of him.
Damnit. He should have known this one was trouble. He’d been too fixated on the innocent omega. Too attracted to everything about him.
It was one thing when attraction was purely physical. Ryan knew how to control those feelings. He knew how to sate them, how to get his fill and walk away happy, but a single taste of Toby hadn’t been enough.
If anything, it had only whetted his appetite. He wanted more. More nights. More pleasure. He needed to coax more moans and whimpers from the omega’s lush lips. He wanted to hear Toby cry out his name again and again…until it finally was enough.
And apparently Toby felt the same way. Why else would the omega be texting him tempting words so early in the morning?
Well, early for everyone else. Not for him. He’d actually woken up later than usual today. Most mornings he was up before the sun, coffee made, and on his way into town to get any and all errands out of the way before the rest of Pup’s Creek woke up.
But not today.
Today his head was still groggy from a night of fitful sleep and his muscles were sore from exertion. Still, he couldn’t help but smile at the thought that Toby was feeling the same way. Something told him the omega wouldn’t be up at six o’clock in the morning otherwise.
Ryan pulled into his usual parking spot on the street right in front of the hardware store. Even though he was a good half an hour late, the street was as empty as ever.
Well, almost as empty.
On the bench right in front of his truck sat an old man. Another man in a wheelchair was at his side.
Roscoe and Bailey.
Ryan pressed his lips together tight at the sight of his new welcoming committee. The betas stared right back through his windshield.
For a moment Ryan wondered if they were here to defend Toby’s honor or some other outdated crap—after all, the omega had told him how old-fash
ioned his family was when it came to traditional roles—but if that were the case, Ryan didn’t think the two newspaper men would have come alone. They would have been waiting for him with a whole army of shotgun-carrying groomsmen.
Ryan pushed open the door of his truck and stepped down onto the pavement. “Gentlemen,” he said the moment he was out.
Roscoe’s gaze narrowed. For a second he looked just like Ryan’s senior year chemistry teacher. Mr.…oh, what the hell was his name? Ryan couldn’t remember. All he knew was that he hated that guy.
“Mr. Homewood, you’re late,” he said.
Ryan couldn’t help but smile. “I wasn’t aware I was on a schedule.”
“Greg inside says you come every day at six o’clock sharp. Right as he opens the door,” the old beta said. Ryan’s shoulders tightened. He got the feeling that the poor hardware store owner had been interrogated. “But it’s six-thirty now. So, you’re late.”
Ryan shrugged. What else could he do? He wasn’t about to explain himself to anyone, least of all a pair of nosey old coots.
“And you’re early,” Ryan said. “So, I guess that means we’re all off schedule today.”
“At least I have a legitimate reason,” Roscoe said.
Ryan crossed his arms and leaned back against the hood of his truck. This ought to be good. “Yeah, and what’s that?”
“To see you, of course,” he said with a sigh of exasperation.
“We want you to promise us you’ll stop seeing Toby,” Bailey said. His voice was firm.
Ryan quirked a brow, and did his best not to laugh. He was right. This was good. Damn good.
“Then I’m afraid you woke up early for nothing,” Ryan said. “That’s not going to happen.”
Blotches of red sprouted up on Bailey’s face. His mouth opened and closed but only little sputtering sounds of anger came out. Eventually, he pulled himself together enough to speak. “But you have to. Toby can’t go out with you. He’s going to marry my son. Our families have been planning the marriage since they were children.”
An arranged marriage? Holy shit. Toby had made it sound like there was just some family pressure. He guessed the omega hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d said that his family was old-fashioned. What he’d really meant was they were living in the Middle Ages.