“I really think football is a bad idea since I just ate enough to feed a small town.” Covering my mouth, I let out a small burp.
“Oh, first we have to put away all the food and get the dishwasher loaded, the pans soaking...by the time we’re done with that we should be ready to scrimmage. Plus...it’s the only way to build an appetite for all the pies.”
“Don’t say pie,” I moaned, and both the kids giggled.
Damon handed me a stack of plates. “By the time we finish cleanup and play for an hour or so, you’ll be hungry again.”
I was torn. I didn’t mind helping out, but I’d had another plan in mind after that. Six hours between now and my piano gig wasn’t nearly enough alone time to get to know Kipling, something I hoped he’d agree to.
“That sounds great.” My omega was grinning up a storm, without a single qualm about ruining the plans he didn’t have any way of knowing about. “I haven’t played football in years. I hope you kids will take it easy on me.”
The good-natured banter continued while we got everything done and then headed outside to their big front lawn. Edison, who hadn’t been feeling well—and who Patrick had whispered might be pregnant—sat on the bench on the porch and cheered on Liam’s team, consisting of Patrick, Anderson, and Kipling. Damon, Robbie, Suzi—Patrick’s dental assistant—and I faced off against them in a game destined for the annals of Thanksgiving history. A deep-blue autumn sky overhead showcased the few puffy clouds and golden sunshine, and the breeze sent leaves chasing across the grass.
Lots of laughter and teasing accompanied our roughhousing, but for me the high point was when I tackled Kipling. Cheers and protests arose, probably since we were playing touch. And he’d rolled over so we were lying on the cold ground face-to-face, staring at each other. The sounds of the others faded away until all I could hear was our breathing, and all I could feel was the man whose long, muscular body pressed to mine. I told myself the panting was from exercise.
“Okay, fellas, that’s enough football,” Edison called from the porch. He held up a pie cutter. “I laid out dessert. Come in before someone gets hurt.”
The moment shattered, we climbed to our feet and followed the others inside where the table was once again laden with pies and a pumpkin-spice cake roll and a plate of cocoa-dusted truffles from Sugar, Liam’s amazing candy shop. Edison disappeared into the living room, pale again, but the rest of us ate far more than I’d have believed possible and as soon as we finished, Robbie and Anderson disappeared to play video games, and Patrick and Damon gave each other amused grins and stood. “Hal, I have leftovers for you in the kitchen. Maybe you’ll share them with our new friend.”
Damon disappeared and returned with two big bags. “Here you go. Thanks for coming, guys.” He shoved them into our arms and stepped back next to his alpha. “Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.”
Patrick slipped an arm around him and tucked him close to his side. “I can’t think what that would be, omega mine.”
Their love filled the room, and for once I didn’t feel jealous. My cheeks, however, did flush. “Really, we just met…”
Liam paused on his way into the living room. “Yeah, I remember when we just met. Get going. It won’t hurt our feelings. Nice seeing you again, Hal. And, Kipling, I think Anderson enjoyed spending time with you out of the office.”
Kipling nodded. “Sometimes that can be a big help, for the kids to know I’m an ordinary person, just someone who’s good at listening. He’s a special boy.”
Liam beamed. “We think so. Well, I’d better get my family home.”
And five minutes later we were standing on the porch by ourselves, and the easy comradery of the afternoon faded into silence. I’d had fun, and I thought he had, too, and there was certainly heat between us, but would he want to continue our date...was it a date?
I waved him toward the car, glancing at my phone. Three hours until I had to be at work. “So, nice afternoon, right?”
Kipling’s teeth were white against his tanned cheeks. Did he use tanning beds, or how did he get that golden color? “It was great. I didn’t want to admit that I was dreading spending the day alone. My family is far away, and the friends I usually spend holidays with are on a cruise. You saved me.”
My alpha side puffed out my chest in pride. That’s right. I saved my omega. “Anytime.”
He waited while I fished out the fob and clicked the doors open. “Are you playing tonight?”
“Yes, all weekend in fact. Are you going to come by?” Say yes!
“I thought I would, if you don’t mind.” He slid into the seat and I handed him the bags and closed the door then scooted around the front of my sports car and climbed into the passenger side.
“Better than that, if you don’t have anything to do this afternoon, maybe we can go to my house and kill a little time, then you can come to the lounge with me?” I gestured to the bags that filled my car with the scents of Thanksgiving. “We won’t starve.”
He wrinkled his nose and my stomach flipped. Every move the man made had a visceral effect on me. “I usually am very careful with what I eat, but everything was so delicious, and it’s a holiday, right? I don’t break training often.”
“I think it’s a law to eat yourself into a coma on Thanksgiving. Or at least a moral imperative.”
His grin rewarded me for my sentiment. Although he hadn’t actually answered my question, I steered down the hill, heading for my place. I didn’t live far.
But something he’d said had caught my attention. “I wasn’t aware counselors had to keep in training. I guess you get some wild kids?”
He chuckled. “No. I participate in some competitions. Swimming, biking...running. Obstacle courses. Stuff like that.”
I eyed him with even more appreciation. “Do you mean like the ninja shows on TV?”
“Oh, do you watch them? I made it to the finals last year, but I didn’t win.”
Holy shit. Yeah, I watched it. It was my guilty pleasure. “I saw you.” And that meant I’d seen him in shorts and a tank and oh God. Talk about a perfect body.
He bounced in his seat. “You did? I’m embarrassed. I almost made it to the end before my fingers slipped and —”
“On the ninth obstacle. The spinning fountain. Nobody finished, right?” I pulled into the parking structure and turned off the engine.
“No, but I was point three seconds behind the winner. Sucked.”
“Are you competing this year?”
“Sure. Did you want to come watch me work out sometime? I could teach you a few tricks.”
I grimaced. “I don’t want to embarrass myself. And after that meal, I feel like I won’t even fit on the piano bench.”
But his gaze held nothing but admiration. “Tonight, will you sing a song specially for me?”
Chapter Four
Kipling
Having any kind of intimate conversation was nearly impossible in the Moonlight Lounge with my very own celebrity. He sat so close to me at the bar that our knees and thighs kept touching, yet I could barely hear a word he said, and that was in between people constantly approaching him.
One man even slipped a piece of paper into his hands. Hal smiled at the guy, not the smile I knew, but very much the lounge smile, and after said man walked away, took the paper out of his pocket, crumpled it up, and missed the garbage can behind the bar. Still, the gesture impressed me.
“Not interested in anyone but you,” he said, winking at me and squeezing my thigh. A flush of heat rushed through my chest. After getting back to his place, we’d gorged on pumpkin pie and some kind of mousse. I’d have to run double the next morning, but it was so worth it.
Except Hal hadn’t made a move to kiss me and every cell in me wanted him to.
He was sweet and funny and caring. I shivered once, while we were at his house, and before I knew it, he’d wrapped a blanket over my lap while he sang away.
Still
, I longed to taste him.
“My turn,” he whispered into my ear as the singer ended his session and received all the applause. I nodded and intended to stay at the bar and watch him from afar like I had countless times, until he grabbed my hand. “Come sit with me, omega.” Hal ticked his head toward the piano, and my entire face heated. I didn’t like the attention, but if my alpha wanted me to sit by him, I couldn’t resist if I wanted to.
The crowd split in the middle as we made our way to the piano, and Hal sat, patting the seat next to him. A few gasps and some hollers from the crowd made me want to run, but my alpha, rock steady, held onto my thigh as though he knew what I was feeling. He played a long set, while everyone made requests and filled his tip jar.
Then he began to play “Faithfully” on the keys. The Journey song was my favorite, but even more so seeing Hal gracefully move his fingers along the black-and-white keys almost like a ballet dance.
The alpha was so talented. It blew me away.
Watching and listening to my man sing did things to me, down-in-my-pants things and, I hated to admit it, made me sleepy. I tried like hell to cover my yawn, but at some point, there was more yawning than breathing. I’d eaten so much, and carb crash was setting in.
The next song ended and I saw him lean into the mic. “Everyone, thank you and good night.”
He wrapped his arm around my waist and with his mouth on my ear said, “Let’s get you home.”
I wanted to stay, wanted to hear Hal sing to me, pretending every song was just for me, forever, but my body and my still-stuffed tummy had other ideas.
Plus, there is no day off for professions like mine. I had an eight a.m. appointment.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t you.”
“What?” he asked, laughing.
“I’m exhausted, and I ate too many good things, and your voice relaxes me. That’s all.”
He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer, kissing the top of my head in the sweetest manner. “I never thought that for a second, Kip. It’s been a long day.”
I didn’t remember getting to the car or even buckling my seat belt. I did recall something about him asking for my address.
But what I really remember is the way he woke me up. Tiny kisses being placed along my face, neck, and even my ears brought me out of sleep.
“I save the lips for when you were awake.”
“I’ve been waiting all day.” I could see my house in front of us. We were parked in the driveway.
“Let’s get you home.” He chuckled and came around to help me from the car, gentleman to the core.
We walked to my front stoop and under the bright white light of my porch, he stared at my lips. “I’ve never been so nervous about kissing someone before, Kipling. But you’re not just another date, are you?”
Gods, I hoped not.
“You’re not just another date to me. You picked me up at a supermarket like steak.”
Maybe it was the lack of sleep or the anxiety of the moment, but we both cracked up at my supermarket reference, even though it was true.
“I can’t wait anymore, Kipling.” Before I could say anything else, his lips were on mine. He tasted like cranberries as expected, since Cosmos were his drink of choice toward the end. I wasted no time in wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer so that our hips bumped against each other.
I opened my mouth, inviting him in, and my bold alpha took advantage, tangling his tongue with mine. I moaned and threaded my fingers in his hair.
“Come inside,” I murmured, breaking free from his mouth.
“Oh, I want to, omega. I so want to be inside you, but I think you’re tired. When I take you, I want you to be wide awake. But soon, Kipling.”
I nodded, understanding but not really agreeing.
“When can I see you again?”
He laughed and nipped at my neck. “How about tomorrow night? Not singing, no big feasts, just you and me and dinner?”
“That sounds fantastic.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“Perfect,” I said and leaned in to kiss him quickly before fumbling with my keys and letting myself inside. I heard him tell me to sleep well, and I peeked through the window as he drove away.
I’d tucked myself into bed when I heard my phone ding beside me.
Stole your phone and called myself while you were asleep. I had an amazing night. See you tomorrow.
All of the sudden twenty-four hours seemed like a lifetime.
Chapter Five
Hal
It took some doing, but I managed to find someone to cover me for Saturday night at the Moonlight Lounge. An old buddy who’d had a date cancel on him and who was willing to pick up the sets for what I’d earn plus a cool hundred. I didn’t say he was my best friend. But I had my priorities in order and a date with an omega who already meant more to me than money or applause.
I also had managed to get reservations at a casual fine dining restaurant by calling in a favor. The maître d' had five kids who came to Dr. Chen’s dental office on a regular basis, and I had gotten him a group discount of sorts. We’d have a table by the fireplace behind a privacy screen for our evening.
I knocked on Kipling’s door and he hollered, “Come on in. I’ll be just a minute or two more.” I complied and made myself comfortable on the brown leather sofa. A dozen or so magazines were fanned out across the coffee table. A quick perusal showed them to be mostly psychological journals and workout mags. He was serious about everything he did, my omega, it seemed. Even his living room reflected his lifestyle with free weights in one corner and a desk in another. His home was not large but the furnishings were good quality, and either he or someone kept it all tidy. “My training ran late, and I just got out of the shower. Almost ready.”
A moment later he emerged from a doorway wearing jeans, a brown sweater that unless I missed my guess was cashmere, and low brown boots. His blond hair was still damp when he approached to greet me, hand extended. I drew a deep breath of his shampoo, woodsy cologne, and his own scent that reminded me of a day in the sunshine at the beach.
Despite my best intentions, I took his hand and tugged him into a hug that became an embrace that became a long, sensual kiss. When we stepped back, we were both panting a little.
“And hello to you, too,” I said. “If I’d known you wanted to get in my pants, I wouldn’t have made a reservation at Brenda’s.”
When his eyes lit up, I knew I’d chosen the right place for our evening. “How did you get reservations? You must have made them months ago.” Then his face fell. “Did your other date fall through?”
I took a step toward the door. “No, I only planned to take you, and as for getting in at the last minute, I have my ways. Impressed?”
“Hells yes,” he said. “I’ve been dying to go there, but I hate making reservations months in advance because inevitably something comes up and I end up canceling.” His sigh seemed to come from all the way from his toes. “You must know people.”
I held in the laugh his comment caused. “Oh, I do. Big, big people. Waiters of all kinds.” I guided him by the elbow to my car and settled him in the passenger seat. “Don’t hate me because I’m famous.”
“Well you are, you know,” he said as soon as I’d come around and gotten in the driver’s side. “You are probably just used to it, but to the people in the Moonlight, you’re a rock star. The only one they know, and they all love to guess who you’re dating and what you do when you’re not there.
I pulled out of the parking place and joined the Saturday night traffic. The night was cool and crisp with a light breeze pushing around the few clouds that hung in the sky. “Well, as you know from yesterday, I run the office for Patrick, Dr. Chen. I was, until last night, dating nobody, and was that it for questions? Or did I miss one?”
“Well not one of theirs, but is it okay if I ask one from me?”
The r
estaurant had only been a few minutes’ drive, benefit of living in a small town, so I was parked when I turned to him and nodded. “Yes, ask away. I’m an open book.”
“I don’t date a lot, between ninja training and counseling, I stay pretty busy, and I’m just not someone who likes to run from guy to guy. What I want to know is...oh gods, how can I ask this?” His cheeks flushed, and he buried his face in his hands. “Never mind. I have to be crazy to even think it.”
I reached over and peeled his fingers away from his face then linked my hands with his. “Just tell me. What’s the matter?”
“You’re so calm, and I’m the one who is supposed to be the counselor.” But Kipling sat up straight and faced me. “Okay, here goes. I’ve been trying to get my courage up to talk to you for a while. I don’t know if you noticed me at the Moonlight Lounge once or twice?”
“Or maybe even a few more times.” It was at least a dozen, maybe two dozen, but I didn’t want to make him any more embarrassed than he was. “And yes, I noticed you. I wondered why you didn’t come over and say hello. Everyone else does.”
“I think that’s it. Everyone does, but even then, even before we talked, I had this odd feeling that we were, that is, we might…”
I waited but he didn’t go on, so I helped him. “That we might have something special between us if we did meet?”
He nodded. “That’s dumb, isn’t it? I mean, you were the center of attention, singing with that insanely beautiful voice that makes all the guys want to jump in bed with you, and I was over there at the bar imagining you might like me. A little.”
My jaw dropped. How could it not. “Kipling, you are not only smart and funny and a man who helps kids for a living, but have you seen you? Gotten a glimpse of your hair, face, or body? What man in that lounge didn’t notice you?”
“That means a lot coming from you, but I think you’re mostly trying to make me feel good.” He was murmuring, staring into his lap, but I cupped his chin and brought his face up so he’d meet my gaze.
The Alpha's Cranberry-Kissed Omega Page 2