Page 66 of Drown My Sorrow

I kiss her shoulder. “You don’t need their money. We have enough to look after you.”

“I know that. But I don’t want to have to be a-”

“Say that fucking word, Omega, and I will spank that ass of yours,” I growl.

She stiffens, and I wonder if I’ve gone too far, but then her perfume intensifies, and I realise she actually might like it.

“You don’t want our money because we help you too much already?” I feel the words out as I speak them.

“Yes! And how am I supposed to pay you back?”

“We don’t want anything back from you,” I say, which is a blatant lie.

We fall silent, both hearing the unspoken lie in the air.

“Why me?”

“I don’t know why you’re our scent match, but I know why I love you. It’s all the things. It’s the way your nose scrunches when you’re holding back a laugh. And the way you sway when you’re doing the dishes. I love your awful cooking and obsession with rocks. You are kind and sweet and intelligent, and you aren’t afraid of us.”

“I can’t-”

“I don’t care.”

“But-”

“No, Aspyn!” I snap with bite and sit up. “I don’t care. I wouldn’t care if you were an alien with tentacles. Stop trying to turn us into everyone else. It’s tedious.”

I flop back down again and throw my arm over my eyes.

She sniffs.

Oh, no. Fuck.

She goes to move, but I grab her top and jerk her back on the bed, rolling until she’s trapped under me.

Her golden eyes glint in the low light as her tears turn her eyes into those damn precious stones of hers.

“I said you thinking we are screwing with you is tedious. I did not and would not say you are tedious.”

“I don’t mean to be like this-”

“Aspyn, did you hear anything I just said?” I ask in exasperation. “I’m telling you I love you, rocks and all, and you’re worried about one word.”

She blinks up at me. “You can’t love me.”

“Oh, can’t I?” I snort out a laugh, unable to believe this omega.

“No.”

I snort. “Why not?”

“Because everyone who loves me suffers and goes away.”

I catch my breath, my heart aching for her, and lean down, letting my body cover hers.

“I’ve loved you for years, and I’m not going anywhere. None of us are.”

She reaches up, and one arm goes around my neck. I allow her to drag me down until her face is buried in my neck.

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