Page 32 of Feeling the Heat: Part One
This alpha is mine.
I shove down his pants and wrap a hand around his cock, jerking him hard and fast until he’s coming with a cry.
“Shit, River.” Ambrose pants against my neck as he comes down from the high of his release.
We linger in the aftermath of our orgasms for a few breathless moments, and a hoarse mix of a laugh and a groan bursts out of me when Jackson’s feelings reassert themselves in my mind. “God, what is he even doing? Surely it’s his turn for a break by now, right?”
Ambrose snorts. “You’d think.”
I grab a towel and clean us both off, gently tucking Ambrose back into his pants and pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you,” I murmur.
He smiles and cups my face. “You always say that like you think I’m not as eager to do things as you are.”
It’s true, but I can’t help it. Ambrose’s submission is a gift I’ll never take for granted. He’s allowed me to tap into my alpha in a way I’ve never been able to access before.
For most of my life, I thought there must’ve been a mistake with my designation. The only thing that concretely proved that I was an alpha was my knot. I’m not a dominant guy. Sure, I’m able to be firm and tough at work, but that’s more because I want to do a good job than any alpha posturing.
Outside of a professional capacity, I’m nervous and awkward. It was a miracle Jackson was my roommate freshman year of college, because he was the only reason I wasn’t a friendless, lonely mess.
Without either member of my pack, my life would be much bleaker. That thought helps cool some of my frustration with Jackson and his sorely lacking mental barrier.
I’m sure he’s not doing it on purpose. It’s my fault I can’t keep him out.
“I know, but I still appreciate it. And you.” I squeeze Ambrose’s hand. “So much.”
“Same.” I love how his smile makes the corners of his eyes crinkle, showing years of gentle kindness lightly etched into his skin. I know he’s not a fan of the signs of him getting closer to fifty, but I think it makes him even sexier.
“Why don’t you bring your laptop down here so you can finish up your work while I make us some dinner?” Ambrose suggests as we finish putting the last of the groceries away. “If you get too distracted again, I’m more than happy to help out again,” he adds with a wink.
“I hope Jackson takes a break soon. The omega he’s working with must be insatiable. I know he’s not supposed to give any details about the heats, but there’s no way I’m not asking questions once this whole thing is over.”
Ambrose’s smile falters. “Speaking of omegas… should we talk about what happened before or after dinner?”
It takes me a moment to remember what he’s talking about. Between the chaos at work and Jackson making me a horny mess, I’d almost forgotten about Ambrose’s unusual omega encounter.
“What would you prefer?” I open my bond to him as much as I can so he can feel that I’m not upset about what happened. Yeah, it’s not like him to get so worked up, but things happen. It’s not a big deal that he masturbated at work. What matters is that he’s being open about it.
He thinks for a moment. “I guess now.”
I nod, and Ambrose leans against the kitchen island. A spike of his worry hits me.
“I promise whatever it is, you can tell me,” I reassure him.
His jaw works for a moment, and he sighs. “I think she’s my scent match.”
My stomach lurches, and I barely keep my alpha’s possessive growl at bay. “What?”
Ambrose grimaces at my reaction. “I can’t come up with any other reason for reacting to her like I did. You know I’m not easily riled up by omegas, but this… it makes what I felt for the others we courted seem inconsequential and foolish.”
I bristle at the mention of the omegas we tried to add to our pack. The last one we courted almost destroyed our pack with her manipulation and subtle, insidious attempts to pit us against each other.
Ambrose was devastated when she left. He’d thought she was ours, and when the truth came to light, it almost broke him. We decided—unanimously—to stop looking for an omega. We didn’t want to risk being torn apart again.
But if this omega is his scent match… my stomach sinks even more.
I’m going to lose him.
The dark thought rushes over me before I can fight it off.
