“They’re the reason for your insecurities,” Omega states matter-of-factly. “Their expectations of you have dampened your spirit. I see what’s inside, waiting to come out, but you’re holding back because you’re worried about what your family will think of you.”
“Hey, I’m not insecure,” I retort. “And my spirits are just fine.”
“Well, tell me this. As beautiful as you are, why did you feel the need to tell your mother you’re involved with a fictitious man? Why not just date someone and build a genuine relationship, then tell your family about him?”
“It’s not because I’m insecure. I know that I’m beautiful.”
“Thank God you know that because you definitely are beautiful, Astalia. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. Still, that doesn’t answer my question. Why not just tell the truth about your relationship status?”
“I love my mother so much. Since my father died, she has tied her happiness to mine. She pressures me to find someone to share my life with and to have children. She doesn’t want me to waste precious moments without a man. And, I want that, but the right one hasn’t come along.” I pause. I want to say, “before now,” but I refrain from trying to sound attached.
“Before now…” he says for me.
I smile. “Time will tell, Omega.”
“It will.”
“The men who usually approach me are college kids who’re younger than me and technically off limits. There are older men who are married or involved with someone. Oh, and men who I have absolutely nothing in common with approach me all the time. I’m not willing to settle for just anybody to say I have a man.”
“So, you have a type?” he flexes his chest. “And, you’ve been waiting for me to walk up to you and sweep you away. I’m here, baby. I came for you.”
I laugh. “Omega, all I want is to take you home for Christmas. We don’t have to do all of this back and forth about how you feel and how I feel. We just met. I need to go to my mother’s house, eat dinner, act like we’re in love and then leave.”
I get ready to stand to walk away from him. I need space from his nearness and all of the questions he’s asking. It’s too much, too fast. However, he pulls me back to him, but this time onto his lap. Before I can protest, he has me swooped up into a kiss that makes my heart skip a beat. My eyes are opened wide as I stare at his closed ones. I can’t believe this is happening.
Omega deepens the kiss, opening his mouth to let out a soul-stirring moan. The beautiful sound of his moans cancel my resistance. I stop fighting the losing battle, position myself to straddle him, and close my eyes and enjoy the taste of his heated mouth along with the feel of his erection pressing against my pussy. Wrapping my arms around his neck, my tongue duels with his, and my body moves against his, showing my desire. We’re both losers in this battle for passionate dominion over the other.
Taken down by lust, my body is on fire, and I long for his touch as his hands glide into the back of my jeans to palm my ass. He murmurs, tellin
g me how good I feel on top of him. It’s been too long… No scratch that. I have never had a man say my name like this, touch me like this, kiss me like this. I can actually see myself falling, but thankfully, I have one shred of resistance in me left.
“We have to stop this,” I say, pulling away reluctantly.
“I can’t?” he asks, pulling me back to him. “Not now that I’ve tasted you. Mmmm.” He slowly sucks my bottom lip into his mouth. “What makes you want to stop?”
“I don’t want to get hurt, and I can see in your eyes that you have hurt many feelings.” Due to the quivering in my voice, I’m almost unable to get the words out fully, but I do manage to tell him how I feel.
Reluctantly, he slides me gently onto the sofa, eases away from me, and stands up. Walking over to the fireplace, he rubs his hand over his wavy hair. “What can I do to make you believe I won’t hurt you, Astalia?”
“I’m really feeling you, feeling this, Omega. My body wants everything we were just about to do.”
“But?”
“I’m scared of this being a one night stand.”
Omega walks back over to me and cradles my face with both hands, gently, lovingly. “If there’s one thing in this world you don’t ever have to fear, it’s me breaking your heart, Astalia, and I can show you better than I can tell you.”
Before I can respond, he walks out of the living room into one of the back rooms. I figure he has left me alone for the night. I lean my head back on the sofa and let out a breath. When Omega walks back into the room, he’s wearing a shirt and his swollen erection has deflated. In his hand is a pack of cards. “Do you want to play a game?” he asks.
Once again, I’m unable to read him. Is this a trick question, or will this be an innocent game of spades? Not knowing the answer, I reply, “Sure… but don’t be mad when I send you home to your mama crying for getting beat down in cards.”
Omega throws his head back and chuckles hilariously like I hoped he would. The mood is light and breathable for a change, though his laugh is doing weird things to my insides that I can safely assume only his touch can sooth. Regretting stopping the making-out session that would’ve led to the bedroom if I hadn’t pulled back, I didn’t want to appear as if blowing hot and cold either. So with my hot and bothered meter in the red levels, I let him deal the cards and unleash his own brand of smack talk that lasts well into the night.
Chapter Eight
Omega
A Prince for Christmas