Page 27 of Coveted

Alana

Her heart pounded so hard she almost couldn’t hear over the sound of it in her ears. She’d been on the brink of giving in and leaving right then, until she reminded herself she was supposed to be making a fresh start and not allowing anyone to push her around. She was already compromising by saying she was willing to leave tomorrow, and he could accept that or not.

Suri reached out to pat her knee, offering support as Alana held Vax’s gaze. His chin dipped, face serious, though the corner of his lips twitched. The weight of his stare grew, and sweat broke out along her spine, her insides trembling as she waited for his response. The knowledge that he’d chosen her for her training and notherhad already knocked her off-balance, and she was struggling to ground herself again.

“I can wait until tomorrow. We can breakfast together on the ship.”

She’d barely gotten a breath in before her stomach flopped, the dark promise in his tone making her shiver. This alpha was nothing like she’d expected him to be, and neither was her body’s response to him.

“How about we all have breakfast here together, then you can depart after. That way she’s not rushed from her bed and left hungry.”

Suri’s voice cut through the thickness growing between her and Vax, snapping Alana out of whatever spell he’d put her under. Sucking in a breath as if she’d been underwater, she noticed the way his dark eye narrowed and his jaw clenched before she turned to give Suri a thankful smile.

“It’ll give me the chance to say a proper goodbye as well, if that’s okay?”

Vax had hidden his irritation by the time she looked back at him, a thin smile stretching his lips.

“Of course.”

Some of the tension melted from her. It was natural for an alpha to push, to expect his will to be followed, but it was encouraging that he’d been willing to accept her refusal. It could be because Suri was there, but Alana wanted to believe it was because he wouldn’t try to control her the way her father had. She was willing to submit and let him lead in most cases, but she needed her independence too.

Suri helped soften the mood by asking what breakfast foods they enjoyed, and Alana found Vax to be fairly simple in his preferences. Like most alphas, he needed plenty of protein, and all he cared about was having a source of it, and carbs. Alana was a bit more health conscious, asking to also have fruit and make the carbs wholegrain. It was hard not to be aware of proper nutritional needs when she’d grown up on a planet that focused on agriculture.

They chatted a bit more until Suri announced it was time for the evening meal. Alana’s stomach rumbled at the reminder, and she was looking forward to having something that didn’t come from a replicator. The food may have been nutritious and look like normal, but nothing she’d ordered on it had taste quite right.

“You’re welcome to join us, but visiting hours end right after,” Suri said as she stood, looking at Vax.

Alana was surprised by a surge of jealousy when he turned to look at the other omega, and she hesitated in her seat.

Those dark eyes moved back to her, soothing the sudden urge to jump between him and Suri. He was still a stranger, and an alpha, but being in the same room with him had calmed any anxiety she’d felt. She believed Suri’s assessment that he was a good man under the rough exterior.

“I’d love to spend more time with Alana, but I have an important call coming shortly.”

He looked down at the time on his tablet, grimacing before pushing to his feet.

“I’ve actually already missed one.”

Standing, Alana offered a smile. She wanted to continue basking in his decadent scent and getting to know him better, but she understood that he had responsibilities. It wasn’t a surprise that he couldn’t spend unlimited time with her.

“I understand. I’ll see you in the morning?”

Long strides brought her alpha around the table before she could move, his hand reaching out to take hers. Like when they’d met, his head dipped to her knuckles, dampness between her legs making her squirm before she even felt the tease of his tongue on her flesh. His eyes never left hers, boring into her as he lingered with his lips on her skin, the warm firmness and the hot slide of his tongue between her fingers stealing her breath and making her core flutter.

“Absolutely.”

The words were a hair above a purr, and goosebumps broke out along her arms. Shivering, she couldn’t find her voice as she pulled her hand away, holding it to her chest with the other as he straightened.

“Ladies.”

He dipped his head to Suri before reaching over to gather his tablet from the table. With a quick grin at Alana, he turned and opened the door, striding through as she watched the muscles play in his back.

She must have stood there staring for too long. Suri’s elbow bumped hers, and when she jerked her head to the other woman, orange eyes danced with mischief.

“Sooo?”

Eyebrows bouncing suggestively, Suri chuckled when Alana’s mouth opened and closed with no words coming out. Taking her arm, she pulled Alana out into the hall, heading the opposite direction Vax had gone.

“As pushy as he is, that still seemed to go well. And it looks like there’s some interest on both sides.”

---