Harper’s [POV]
Beau looks genuinely offended, and I frown. “Yes,” I insist. “Because what if Michael comes here looking for me?”
“Do you think we are the type of people to kick someone out for that reason?” He tilts his head, shocked. “What the hell kind of monsters do you think we are, Harper?”
I shake my head. “It’s not about that. Don’t you guys have other things to worry about?”
But he doesn’t follow. “Like what?”
I huff. “I mean…you know…” I motion with my hands awkwardly. “You guys have families, right? Places you go home to?”
He’s still not catching on, and it’s adorable even if it’s frustrating. “James and Grey are my families.”
I make a face, but he only smiles gently.
I’m going to have to ask him this.
“Don’t you have…an Omega?” My face flushes as I blur out the question.
I feel like a teenager, asking if my crush has a girlfriend.
Please say you don’t please say you don’t.
“Oh. Oh.” Then he blushes, his cheeks turning pink. “No. I don’t. Um, we don’t.”
Relief swells in my chest, even though it shouldn’t matter.
You’re a Beta! Stop it!
But I’m slightly giddy like I’ve exhaled a breath I’ve been holding for a long time.
They don’t have a mate.
“I just don’t want to intrude on your personal lives.”
Honestly, I enjoy their company. Even with James, before he ruined the moment with his creepiness. When I’m around them, my body buzzes with warm energy, and since spending time in the garden, I feel safe, even if it’s only temporary.
“Of course not, beautiful.” Beau’s voice is soft, and my heartbeat quickens at his words. “I love having you here.”
Until Saturday.
“Thank you,” I say genuinely. “You’ve been nothing but kind to me since this morning.”
Has it only been a day since I’ve been here?
It seems longer.
“It’s easy to be kind to you, Harper.” He flashes me a smile, his dimples on display.
I shift my sitting position on the bed, moving my legs, and try not to appear shocked as the damp fabric nestles against my inner thighs.
I’m wet.
Embarrassingly, horrifyingly wet. My cunt throbs as tingles race through my body and I do my best to remain still.
Beau’s nostrils flare.
Can he smell me?
But before I can react, he stands up and stretches, lifting his arms over his head. A flash of chiseled stomach peeks out from underneath his sweatshirt.
I do my best to remain still. I don’t even breathe, refusing to enjoy his earthy scent.
The smile never leaves his face to ask he walks over to me and then kneels to my eye level.
My heart stops.
We’ve never been this close before. I see the flecks of gold in his warm eyes as he takes my hand, bringing it to his lips slowly.
It shouldn’t be hot. It’s a chaste kiss, something gentle and sweet against the top of my hand, but it makes my breath hitch all the same.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” he murmurs, his thumb caressing my palm. “We won’t let anything happen to you, baby, okay?”
Baby.
My head swims.
There’s an earnestness behind his eyes, along with smoldering desire.
There’s an attraction between us, and if he just leaned a little closer and cupped my face in his hands…
But then he stands and presses a kiss to my head, releasing my hand. It falls awkwardly at my side, and I slowly let out a breath.
“Good night, Harper,” he says, and the spell is broken as he leaves my room, followed by Wilson. The mustached cat turns back to me, giving me a smallmeowbefore trotting along at Beau’s side.
I sit on the bed, stunned.
The ache in my body doesn’t go away.
Grey’s angry scent is still in the air, the rich notes of dark chocolate and bourbon mixing with Beau’s earthiness.
The damp spot in my underwear has grown.
I keep the lamp on and the curtain open, my gaze falling to the lit stone path of the garden.
I should question why it’s only been a day, but I’m gritting my teeth, doing my best to fight the unexplained arousal. And why it’s growing by the minute, my nipples rock hard underneath my bra.
But fuck it.
I take the damn thing off, tossing it to the floor, clad only in my shirt and leggings.
But as I expose my nipples to the cool air, my cunt throbs, my clit begging for attention.
What the hell is happening?
As I crawl into bed, flipping off the light, I tell myself I can ignore it.
Now is not the time to be fantasizing about unattainable Alphas.
I need to plan what to do after I stay here.
But images flash through my mind, and I squeeze my thighs together under the blankets, desperate to relieve the ache.
Beau’s face fills my thoughts, and I bite my lip to suppress a groan.
He would go down on me.
I just know he would.
I imagine him spending hours between my legs, his dimples showing as he licks a stripe up my body.
STOP!
But my body is feverish, sweat sticking to my forehead as I allow the fantasies to play out in my mind.
Grey watches as Beau eats me out, his low voice ordering me to come to James, his eyes wild as I ride him, my nails scratching his chest, him growling as I.
My hand is underneath my leggings, circling my clit, my hips bucking in time with my movements.
I can’t remember ever being this turned on before.
My cunttoo tight to take a knot, James holding my hips down as he inflates inside me, stuffing me until I scream.
I gasp, doing my best to stay quiet as my wetness coats my fingers. My other hand finds my nipple, pulling gently, as the fantasies continue.
James and Greyshoving their cocks in my mouth, saliva dripping down my face as I try to take both.
My body arches and I do my best to orgasm quietly, little whimpers escaping my mouth as my pussy clenches on nothing. Liquid spills from my cunt and soaks the sheets underneath me.
It’s messy. It’s cathartic.
But I’m going to need a towel to clean it up.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I’ve been here a day, and I’m already falling over the edge for men I’ve just met.
Alphas, no less.
Alphas, who despite how strange and flirty they may be, will eventually have an Omega.
I’m playing with fire.
But as I catch my breath, lying on my side, my body relaxing after the flood of serotonin, there’s a shuffling from behind the door.
I freeze.
A piece of paper is shoved underneath, and I stare wide-eyed at it, holding my breath.
Someone heard me.
Pulling my leggings on, I slowly kick the covers off and flip on the light, doing my best not to panic.
I pick the paper off the floor and gasp.
“Oh my God,” I breathe in disbelief, cradling the paper in my hands. “Oh, my God.”
It’s.
It’s a simple sketch, but James caught my image perfectly. I’m marveling at the lilacs, a soft smile on my face.
I look peaceful. Relaxed.
Happy.
So, that’s what he was drawing in the gazebo.
I’m still unsettled by our conversation from earlier, but this feels like an apology of sorts.
My chest tightens at the gesture, and tears prick in my eyes.
He’s incredibly talented, and I’m shocked that he would want to draw me.
He barely knows you.
I need to be careful around all three of them.
They’re already tearing at my heart and making me ache for things that I’ll never have.
Placing the drawing on the nightstand, I head into the bathroom to wash up for the night, my heart beating rapidly in my chest.