chapter
forty-seven
If I thought Zane was sexy before, I was nowhere near prepared for the sight of him in all his well-coiffed glory.
Now that he has all his belongings, I’ve realized the outrageously handsome version of Zane I’ve seen over the last couple of weeks was just the acoustic version.
With his glossy black hair raked into a perfect pompadour and his skin freshly washed, buffed, and moisturized, he might as well be a god. Especially when he wears the designer threads he’s so fond of.
Unlike Lucy, I’ve never been much for labels—but after just a day and a half, I’m realizing the couture loungewear is sexy in a way I never knew sweats and sweaters could be .
My most ostentatious alpha also has a way of somehow turning ordinary items into the sexiest accessories. Like the Clark-Kent-style glasses currently perched on the straight blade of his nose.
They’re for blocking blue light, he informed us when Gunnar teased him about them yesterday. And—sure enough, Zane wears them while he bends over his MacBook, frowning in puzzlement at whatever content he’s working on.
I hope it’s the reel he shot this morning. Wearing only a pair of tight red boxer briefs and an open flannel shirt he stole from Knox, Zane shot a whole series of campfire breakfast videos.
I was a perfuming mess just watching him from the back porch. Micah chuckled as he rocked me in one of our new chairs, snuggling his face into my neck and murmuring filth about “fucking me full” while his hands roamed inside my panties until I came.
I’ve definitely been needier today after finally sharing a bed with all of them last night. Lucy and Bridget are convinced I’ll go into heat early, since I’m now steeped in alpha pheromones while I sleep, but I’m keeping the faith. I’ve already derailed all their holiday plans—I really don’t want us to be stuck in my nest on Christmas Day.
The nest that finally exists !
Knox is currently down the hall in the Omega Suite, making sure the delivery and installation guys don’t do anything he doesn’t approve of. Or, as Micah chuckled, “Putting his scary Alpha to good use, for once.”
He and Gunnar left a couple hours ago to find us a proper Christmas tree. The two of them set off with saws and a big roll of twine, McKinley barking happily while he raced after them. It only took me half of a Hallmark Christmas movie to come looking for my fourth alpha, all-too happy to find him already shirtless and in the bed we’ve all been sharing.
He taps at his trackpad and I watch him work, my heart glowing steadily brighter with every passing second. Eventually, my perfume winds its way to him. His full, dusky lips twitch into a panty-melting grin before he even slides his eyes up from his screen.
When he sees me lingering in the doorway, biting my lip, he starts to purr, shoving his stuff aside to open his arms, “Come here, gorgeous.”
I’m surprised by the relief I feel as I scamper over and crawl into his arms. Zane hums, cradling me against the spicy skin of his bare chest. “They’ll all be gone soon, hmm? You’re safe here with me, shona .”
I don’t realize until he says something, but he’s right. I don’t like having the delivery men in the house, and I feel nervous. Zane’s purr revs louder, soothing the tightness behind my breasts.
“My pretty baby,” he adds, kissing my forehead. “I know we need to get your room sorted, but I hate that you’re stressed. How can I help?”
I don’t know, but the way he’s holding me is enough to let my eyes fall shut on a deep exhale. His chai scent deepens as he leans closer to my ear. “I could knot you. It might help your Omega feel safe if we’re connected.”
The uncertainty in his voice is so unlike him, I lean back and frown slightly. His beautiful smile turns sheepish. “You make me nervous. It’s nice, actually. My stomach flips and flutters every time I come on to you.”
I smile at my beautiful alpha, my heart melting. He’s been with his fair share of other people, but knowing I’m the only one he ever cared enough to get butterflies for is thrilling.
He senses the shift in my scent and purrs louder, his hands skimming my body with more intent. “Let me knot you,” he whispers, husky but without any of usual flirtatiousness. “Keep you safe all wrapped around me.”
I sink into his embrace immediately, marking his chest with my cheek. I love that his cock jerks in reply, answering my neediness with desire, just like he always has.
From the first moment, on that first day, Zane has chosen me. And all of the stuff that’s made me unlovable to other alphas in the past? Those are his favorite parts.
With one of his silky-smooth motions, he has me pinned underneath him in a languid roll of dark-tan muscle. His hot mouth latches onto my throat, skimming my pulse with flicks of his tongue as his hands make short work of my joggers.
Dang, he works fast . Before I know what’s hit me, we’re both down to our skivvies. When he sees my mouth drop in shock, he flashes his most beautiful grin. “I told you I was smooth, gorgeous.”
As if to prove his point, he kneels up to give me the full effect of his drool-worthy physique. My gaze traces every chiseled line and flexed muscle stretched over his six-foot frame. Cinnamon perfume rises off me in a rush when my focus snags on his ultra-tight crimson briefs and the erection prodding at them. Zane groans, his head falling forward.
“Fuck, baby,” he laughs, breathless, as he lowers himself onto his stomach and buries his face against the curve of my belly. “I guess it’s a good thing you like me. Because all my moves go out the window the second I scent you…”
He kisses the spot just below my navel. “And feel you…” His lips brush my hip bone. His tongue nudges my panties lower while he slants a look up to my face. “And look at you. Damn it.”
I flash a teasing smirk and shrug, knowing it will bounce my boobs for him. “You should just flip me over. Might improve your game— ooh !”
With another of his seamless moves, he flips me to my front, guiding my hips up until I balance on my elbows. Chai deliciousness warms the air as I glance back at the wicked grin spreading over his face.
“You know,” he husks, his palms gliding in from my hips to squeeze my backside. “I couldn’t help but notice that your list had double penetration on it… a couple of times. Along with some other very naughty ideas for this pretty ass.”
An unfortunate memory flickers into my mind. It’s my former alpha, William’s, face when we met at the matching center. I watched him scan my file, and when he got to the section about sexual preferences—specifically, butt stuff—his mouth twisted into a sour pucker.
After that, I never had the nerve to ask any of them about it. Although, Renee made sure to mention that they “had to” use a toy on me “there” during my heat to “get me to quiet down.”
Okay, so—maybe there were a few red flags.
Yikes .
Thinking about it now, with the way these men have treated me since I met them, it all feels even more shameful and devastating than before. How did I not see how horrible the Dunlaps were? Why did I think they wanted me?
Zane underscores the difference between those clowns and the alphas in this house when he immediately picks up on my hesitation. I tense slightly and his purr starts up.
His voice softens into something tender while his thumb carefully traces between my cheeks. “Do you like that, shona ? Is it something I could give you?”
I bite my lip, glad he can’t see me cringe at the headboard. “Um… only if—only if you do.”
“Mm,” he hums. “It would be damn-near impossible for you to find something I don’t want to do to you, gorgeous. But this isn’t about me. I’m asking you . Do you like playing back here?”
My chagrin doubles as I recall the wide variety of plugs and toys I left back in Florida. “Yeah,” I whisper. “I—I really do.”
He could make a sly comment or say something flirtatious, but instead, Zane stretches over me, planting his hands beside my elbows. His hard heat presses into my ass as he nuzzles my nape sweetly.
“Good girl, telling me what you like. You want me to do it now? We need to get you all ready for your heat, and I was thinking—this needs prep.”
Just like that day in the kitchen, I can tell he truly has thought about this. Sex might be effortless for him, but I’m not. He truly cares about me and puts consideration into every interaction we have.
It doesn’t surprise me at all—Zane only acts shallow to keep things light for his followers. It’s a persona. But I know his heart now. And it might even be as soft as mine.
His forehead rubs my shoulder before he drops a kiss there. “You know,” he murmurs, “If we had another one of these knot-heads handy, we could both fuck you at the same time.”
I moan before I can help myself, a rush of slick pouring out of my pussy. Dousing the muscled thigh Zane has wedged between mine.
His purr rolls into a growl, even as a smile brushes the top of my spine. “Dirty girl. You’re perfect for me, aren’t you?”