Omegas like certainty. I’d had that hammered into my head from a young age, in every depiction of them I’d seen or any class I’d been made to take. For most people, that looked like bossy alphas herding their omegas around, even if it just gave them something to rebel against, but I wasn’t sure if that was me. Right now, as the silence reigned in the room, as I looked the three of them over, I felt a sense of certainty I never had before. Did it come from licking Orion’s blood from my teeth? Did it come from the growls that came as a result of that, each one coming closer, claiming my mouth, one by one, to get their taste? Or did it come from Orion, standing there, studying me like I was some kind of alien creature, but also the most beautiful, most amazing thing at the same time.
“You’re in.” He barely breathed the words.
“I am.”
I could answer his question and all the others that had come up since his father blundered into our little world. I knew, in the same way they always had, just looking at each other and knowing where they stood. Knowing what they wanted and needed and that the other person would do their damnedest to make that happen. I knew I would do that for them and they, me.
And there were a few things on my list.
I moved in, holding my mate in a way I hadn’t been in the headspace to do with Rhys, wrapping my arms around Orion and feeling him do the same to me. He bent over, curling his body around me, cocooning me in him, and it was then that I could close my eyes. That bond, deep and sweet and true, beat like his heart did, buoying me up, but I couldn’t be satisfied with that for long. A little growl rose in my throat as I started to claw at his shirt, needing the feel of his skin under my fingers.
“What do you need?” Orion asked with gentle amusement. “Use your words, omega.”
My head jerked up, my eyes burning into his, theirs, which was fine because they were looking at me just as intently. The lines blurred, between my protective mates and my big scary alphas, and I liked that very much.
“You,” I said, not specifying who and not meaning to. This was dangerous, could easily push me into frenzy or even a heat, but nothing was going to stop me now. “I need you.”
“Sounds bloody brilliant to me,” Brendan said, undoing his buttons with pleasing rapidity, revealing that muscular chest inch by inch, hypnotising me, but not for long. I didn’t know where to look, my eyes flicking from one to the other as they discarded their shirts.
“But this shit works both ways,” Rhys said, shouldering closer. “We need you like you need us, my mate.”
His fingers slid under the strap of my dress, making sure I knew it was a physical thing, but as I stared up into his eyes, we knew this was more. We couldn’t hide behind lust anymore, pretend it was all just heat. As he pushed my straps off my shoulder, it wasn’t just to bare me to the others, but to strip away everything that stood between us, and he did, we did, until we were all standing there, naked, in more ways than one.
“Fuck, I can’t believe…” Orion’s hand went to the bite, his eyelids closing to half-mast for a moment. “You made me your mate. You chose me.”
“Why do I think you aren’t used to that, poor little rich boy?” I shook my head, wound my hands around his neck, and pressed his hard length against my thighs as I kissed him slowly, sweetly. “You’re mine, Orion, mine.”
“So what’re you gonna do with me, omega?” The slow purr was back in his voice, suggesting a million starlit scenarios, each more debauched than the next, but that would come later. I’d come into heat when this was done, I was pretty sure. When everything was resolved and safe, and then… I smiled into Orion’s chest, imagining just that. Releasing control, surrendering completely, but not yet. I pulled back and then turned him towards Rhys, tracing my finger over the tattoo on his back.
“You hurt us to try and save us, but that doesn’t change the fact you hurt us. Rhys, most of all. He was killing himself.” I watched my big alpha go still and shamefaced at that. “Obliterating that big beautiful body one punch at a time. Show him his mistake. Worship Rhys and make him feel how sorry you are for hurting him like that.”
They’d hoped it would all just be saucy fun, I could tell, a tentativeness in Orion’s steps telling me a story, but I was done with their smoke and mirrors bullshit.
“Fuck, you sure you aren’t an alpha?” Bren asked, sliding in behind me, holding me against his body. “You’ve got a mean streak.”
“Not so mean. Watch.”
So we did as Orion reached out tentatively for his mate, sure his hand was going to get knocked away, but it landed on Rhys’ chest OK. I thought both Bren and I held our breaths as Orion stepped closer, until Rhys lost patience. His hand snapped out, grabbing the other man by the nape and dragging him close, just holding him for a second, his breath coming in hoarse whistles.
“You fucking dickhead,” Rhys snarled, something I felt down in my toes. “I’m gonna kick your arse when this is done.” But he held him tight, pushing his nose into Orion’s hair and breathing him deep, his eyes falling closed. His hands ruffled through the strands, like he couldn’t get enough of the feel of it.
“You would’ve done the same,” Orion retorted, the sound muffled, but he clawed at his alpha too.
“Fucking oath I would, but it doesn’t change a thing.” Rhys’ hand slid down the spine of his mate, Orion arching into his caress, seeming to know what was coming. Rhys parted Orion’s buttocks, a long guttural moan escaping him as Rhys’ finger rubbed his arsehole. “So I’m gonna fuck it instead.”
Orion sounded like his soul was breaking as Rhys pushed his finger in, thrusting it in and out to the sound of Orion’s babbles.
“Fuck, I’ve need you, alpha, so much. Every bloody night, I went to bed aching for you, needing you.”
“Well, you’re about to get all you can fucking take. Get on the bed. I’ll try to take my time, but I can’t promise anything.”
I watched as Orion moved to obey, sitting on the edge, Rhys stepping closer, thrusting his cock in his face and Orion swallowing it down with a muffled moan.
“That’s it,” Rhys purred. “Good boy. You’re making me feel so damn good.”
“And you too, omega.”
Bren nipped at my ear, smiling when I turned to face him, his smile broadening as I raked my eyes up and down his body. He was big, tough, and fuck, I hated guns, but why had it been really hot seeing him tote one so casually?