Page 67 of Duke's Baby Deal
“Yeah, but you were out, living. I was just here, being a kid.”
“Sometimes I’m jealous of you, because you had so much freedom here and it was so safe. Bax doesn’t say much, but I think he wishes he’d grown up here too. He’s mentioned a few things that make me think Buffalo Gap wasn’t as safe as he pretends it was. You’re not a kid, Bram. You’re just toughened up differently than us.”
“How am I tough?”
Jason rolled onto his back and stared up at the sky. “You spent your life being treated like you weren’t omega, except for people slamming doors in your face. But I heard about your ACT score from Mac. How could they ignore that kind of potential?”
“Mom and Dad said that that was what omegas were for. Family. The glue that holds packs together.”
Jason snorted. “Yeah, I’m sticky all right, though it’s usually milk and baby drool.” He rolled over and stared at me. “I’m happy here. I never had a home, not one where I felt safe, until I came to Mercy Hills. You—you should go out and make a noise in the world. I think we need you, to blaze a trail for other omegas.”
“Me?”
“Yes. You. I think you’re part of Abel’s plan to show that omegas can contribute more than housekeeping and pups. If I were you, I’d take this chance and run with it. Make a lot of noise. Let the world know that you exist and that you’re worth more than your womb.” He looked over at Seb, who had fallen over and was making cranky noises. “You’re getting tired, munchkin. Probably time I took you home.” He patted me on the shoulder. “I’ll see you around. You want to come for supper tonight?”
“I’ll check with Duke and have him message you.”
“All right.” He got to his feet, slung his bag over his shoulder, and picked Seb up. “You can borrow the blanket if you want to stay. Just drop it off some time when you’re going by.”
“Yeah, I will. Thanks.” I watched as he walked over and coaxed Macy out of the sandbox, waving cheerily as they headed out.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
We stayed out and played for another half hour, then Jedrick started getting cranky, which usually meant that Isolde wasn’t far behind. I packed everything up, jammed Jason’s blanket into my bag and kind of held it in place with my arm, then picked the pups up and headed home. No one else had dropped by to chat except Elise, and I was grateful for it. The things Jason had said made me think hard about stuff, all sorts of stuff. What was going on now, events from long ago. I hadn’t realized it before, but now I got why the alphas stopped and paid attention when Jason spoke. He had a way of pointing out things that were obvious once you’d seen them, but that you’d never notice yourself. Was that from his life out in the human world, or was it True Omega?
And if it was True Omega, it also explained a lot about Bax.
Jedrick was out like a light when I got home, and Isolde wasn’t far behind him. Thank heavens Duke was home when we walked through the door.
“Let me get him,” he murmured as he gently plucked Jedrick from my arms. “Did you have a nice afternoon?”
“Yeah. We ran into Jason and the pups and just chatted and enjoyed the sunshine.” I followed him into our bedroom with Isolde and watched while he laid our little boy into the cradle. Something about him seemed different. The way he moved, the way he smelled… I wasn’t sure. It was like how I felt for him before Justin.
It was exactly like how I felt for him before Justin. Not as strong, but holy shit…
He turned around and met my eyes, and his widened. “Bram?”
“Let me put the baby to bed,” I said, and slipped past him. His scent curled into my nose as I passed and I felt a lurch low in my belly, in the exact same spot that it had always happened before. Isolde’s eyes closed as I laid her down, and I quickly grabbed my mate and we slithered out of the room as quiet as rabbits. The more I smelled him, the tighter my stomach got, and then I realized that my cock was starting to swell.
And a big fuck you to you, Justin! Except it won’t be you I’m fucking, so take that!
I turned as soon as the door closed behind us. “Get your clothes off.”
“What? Bram—”
“I mean it!” I grabbed for the waist of his jeans and undid the button. “Unless you don’t want to get lucky.”
“You’re serious? This is—”
I kissed him, because he wouldn’t fucking stop talking and I wanted him to shut up and get naked, then get on top of me.
He let the kiss run on, but when it stopped, he began to protest. “I’ve told you, I appreciate—”
“Damn it all, Duke! Look at me!” I stepped back, though it meant taking my hands out of his pants, which was awful, and it wasn’t made any better by the confused look on his face. “Oh, fine!” I shouted in exasperation and grabbed one of his hands to press it to my cock.
Holy fuck, that feels good.I started to rub myself against his hand, closing my eyes to really focus on the sensation, and almost forgot that I was supposed to be convincing Duke to tear of our clothes and ravish me. “Oh, man. This is the best.” I opened my eyes and saw Duke’s startled and suddenly hopeful expression. “Quick,” I told him. “Before the pups wake up!”
I didn’t have to tell him twice.
