Page 11 of Perfectly Yours
And it hurts to think about it.
“You’re not ready for the words I would want to say to you, Ellie but the least I can do is answer your question. I trust you because the moment you saw he needed you, you embraced him. No reservations. No disgust. Just pure acceptance for my Omega. Not one person has ever done that, Ellie. Not one.”
That doesn’t make sense. “But he’s so sweet. Why-”
“They only want the picture-perfect version of Savin Astor. They want his brand, his voice, his input. They could care less about Savin, the Omega. But that’s who you embraced.” He kisses the side of my head again before depositing me beside Savin and heading for the bathroom.
My mouth parts at the sight of the dark ink twisting and turning along Macon’s back, an abstract picture of an eagle and a wolf wrapped up in an explosion of phrases that I can only imagine mean the world to him. I’m not sure how I missed it but he never had his back to me. I wonder where else he’s marked, what else I’ve missed.
I curl up against Savin, combing his hair from his face as he sports a sleepy smile. My fingers brush over his bond mark which is usually hidden by his long hair and I sigh, realizing how out of place I am. There’s a slight tremble running through his body as I throw an arm around his waist, nuzzling against the side of his face. “How are you feeling?”
His grin widens as his eyes fully close, his body deflating into the mass of pillows and sheets. “Like walking on cloud 9. Macon said something about a bath. Right?”
I laugh, leaning over him to kiss his bruised lips, Savin slipping a hand into my hair to keep me there. For several seconds, we sup from each other like lovers starved. When I pull away, there’s a blush to his cheeks as he looks up at me with half-lidded eyes. “Would you like a bath, Savin?”
“Fuck yes. I just need a minute. Can’t feel my legs.” He pauses and then sighs, pulling me into another kiss. “Ellie, you fucked me real good. That’s all.” His giggles soothe my words as I help him to his feet, Savin leaning against me when we start walking. I want to mention it, Savin humming to cut off any attempt at a question. It isn’t until we’re all situated in the bath, me in the middle once again that I find my voice.
“I can’t stay much longer,” I whisper. Savin nods, resting his head on my chest as Macon presses his lips to my temple. Neither one answers me and I know that it’s going to be nearly impossible to leave these two when it’s time. “Okay, but just a few minutes.”
Chapter nine
ELLIE
I wake up in a cocoon of warmth, disoriented but snuggled into a mattress that feels like heaven. My arms are wound around Savin, my nose against his shoulder, a subtle berries and cream scent surrounding me. It takes me a few moments to realize that I never left last night and I’m holding someone else’s Omega. I untangle myself from him, the Omega groaning as he finds himself alone.
I don’t even remember falling asleep or the bath, to be honest, which means that Macon put us both to bed. Sweet but unnecessary and my belly is doing all sorts of flip-flops at how caring this Alpha is. I swallow and look around, confused when Macon isn’t there.
My first thought is that he’s waiting to berate me the moment I step into the kitchen. I snatch a shirt off the floor, throwing it over my body before slipping into the living room. There’s no time to think about anything else other than grabbing my stuff and I ignore my heart pounding wildly in my chest, telling me to stay. However, the rational thing to do is leave. I don’t belong with them. I can’t.
“Ellie.”
I freeze, my hand inches from the front door knob, my dress barely on, my shoes in one hand and my phone in the other. My blood runs cold as I stay there, Macon’s presence appearing a few inches from me. He seems angry just like I thought he’d be. “Yes?”
“Sneaking out?”
I turn to find him leaning against the kitchen counter, his arms folded across his chest. Coffee brews beside him and I’m surprised I didn’t even notice. “No. Well, yes? It was a one-night thing. Besides, I shouldn’t be here. I should have returned last night.” I bite my tongue before I tell Macon that I might not even get paid for the party because he seems like the kind of Alpha that would write me a check in a heartbeat out of the kindness of his heart.
And as nice as the gesture would be, fuck handouts.
His brows raise in surprise, Macon tilting his head to the side. “I apologize if we—if I overstepped last night, Ellie. However, when you and Savin fell asleep, I didn’t want to wake you. It was wrong of me and I shouldn’t have chosen for you.”
I don’t know how to respond to that. An Alpha outright apologizing to a Beta? Even more so, a famous Alpha apologizing to one of the entertainment hired for a party. He’s too fucking sweet and I don’t know how to handle that. I’m more used to Carleen and her abrupt revelations and harsh scolding. This… “You should have!” I say accusingly, going against every emotion swirling through my body. I want to curl up in his arms and take away the hurt in his expression. Biology sucks ass.
“Why?”
“Seriously? This was just some fun but you let me sleep next to your Omega. This is weird.” With the extra time, I slip on my shoes, grunting as the straps give me trouble. When one of the straps slips, I tear off the heels and resign to hold them on my way out. I don’t care how inelegant I look at this moment. The sexual haze from last night is gone and now I have to face my reality. That I need to make it across town in this skimpy ass dress. A true walk of shame.
Macon steps forward, pausing when I narrow my eyes at him. Just as Savin doesn’t want to be coddled, I don’t want to be placated. I don’t want my voice silenced and fuck, I do not want to feel guilted into a choice. “Ellie, I need you to understand something. He’s not just my Omega. He’s also his own person. He can choose what he wants just like I can. We both wanted you here last night.”
My face scrunches up. Their relationship goes against everything I know about Alpha and Omega dynamics. The Omega is to be cherished and loved, but their decisions are almost always dictated by their Alpha. “That’s not-”
He cuts me off. “It works however we let it, Ellie.” Macon closes the distance between us, the air supercharged as he reaches up to pull my unruly curls back. His fingers feel like heaven in my hair as he delicately pulls it back into a bun, pulling a band from his wrist to keep it there. At my confusion, he merely kisses my forehead. “Savin’s always in need of one and I thought you might appreciate it.”
It’s infuriating how easy it is to like this man. Any other one-night stand and I would have slipped out the front door at the first opportunity. “I have to go,” I whisper, needing to leave, needing to process this. I clutch my shoes against my chest.
Macon’s hands move to cup my cheeks and my eyes flutter closed as I’m once again surrounded by his scent. “As you keep saying, sweetheart. Do you want some coffee before you leave? Would you like me to call you a car?” I shake my head, not wanting him to have my address. This has to be the end. He hums, his lips grazing my forehead again. “Then hopefully our paths cross again at some point.”
I slip from his hold and finally find my escape, rushing down the stairs as I hurriedly order an Uber. My phone is nearly dead and the multitude of messages from Carleen worry me. Each one is just asking where I am and to call when I’m able. I hope nothing is wrong with our parents but I’m sure I would have missed calls at that point.