Page 31 of The Omega Verse

My heart thuds, swelling almost uncomfortably as I stare at him. “You mean you want to mate me?”

He tilts his head, his nostrils flaring. “I said I was all in. That means my bite, my heart, everything.” When I can’t find the words to respond, he pulls a face that looks almost resigned. “There are no secrets between us, Cass. You know who I am, what you’re getting. I’m not your best choice…”

“You’re everything,” I blurt out, and surprise flares in his eyes before his lips are on mine.

Like the kiss in the kitchen, it knocks me off-balance, but only because I can instantly taste the need in him. I’ve always thought Tom was so self-contained. He really is a rock, happy to weather things alone, while always putting other people first. He’s the kind of guy I dreamed about as an angry teenager, when every adult let me down and I was never able to lower my guard. He’s stubborn, overly cautious, and likes things a certain way, but that rigidity comes with benefits I’ve never had before. Like the unwavering support I can see shining in his eyes when we draw apart. “I’d love to be your mate, Tom.”

“Baby.” He crushes me to him, and then he’s kissing me all over. My blood sings, my skin tingling as I soak up his adoration. A part of me can’t believe this is happening, but something is also settling inside me. Like his need and mine are finally meeting in the middle, clicking together like it’s how we should have been all along.

I’m so busy marvelling at the sensation, I barely hear Silva and Kobi come into the room. But I scent the slick-soaked blankets in Silva’s arms and reluctantly pull away.

“What’s happening?” Silva asks as he crawls onto the bed next to us. “You look happy.”

“We’re mates,” I can barely say the words, my smile is so big. “Tom asked, and I said yes.”

Silva’s eyes flash, and I don’t understand what he’s feeling as they narrow suspiciously on Tom. “Oh, yeah? Congratulations, then. But is this really the best time to be making lifelong decisions?”

I gape at him. “Silva!”

“It’s okay,” Tom says, reaching out to grip Silva’s throat. I think he’s going to haul him closer, but he just squeezes his fingers until Silva has no choice but to look at him. “I’m not taking her away from you, alpha. This heat is as much yours as it’s mine. And I have no problem sharing her with you after it’s over, if that’s what she wants.”

I blink as Silva sags, his cheeks flushed. “Shit. Sorry about that. I really am happy for you, Cass.” He leans in to kiss me and Tom’s hand slides around to the back of his neck, a happy rumble coming from his chest.

“Right,” Silva says when he comes up for air, his eyes bright with excitement as they bounce between us. “Then we’re gonna see a mating bite? Awesome.” I giggle at the look that passes between Tom and Kobi, but Silva just shrugs. “Don’t get to see behind the alpha curtain very often.”

My toes tingle again, and I lean up to nuzzle Tom’s neck. I can feel him growing thick and hard between my legs, but he still glances Kobi’s way, like he’s checking in. “If you’ve changed your mind…”

“It’s all good, brother,” Kobi lowers himself to the chair in the corner of the room. “I’ll keep watch so you can focus on your girl.”

I’m guessing that’s quite a big deal for a pair of alphas who don’t know each other, but Tom’s throat just bobs, and then he’s focusing all his intensity my way. “Drop the blanket, baby. I told you I want to taste you all over.”

I flush, but I’m already drunk on his pheromones. Not to mention the promise of his bite. I have a last, brief moment to wonder how the hell I got here and then I’m stretching out on my back. Tom is looming over me again, but this time his eyes are caressing me like warm chocolate.

Tom. My best friend. My platonic best friend.

But I know it’s never really felt that way for me.

I’ve wanted him for as long as I’ve known him. And now he’s going to be mine.

He starts with soft kisses, barely tasting my lips before he’s drifting to my ear. He sucks the lobe, grazing his teeth along the rim, and then he’s nuzzling across my neck. He licks my pulse, the hollow of my throat, working his way down to the sweep of bones across my shoulder blades. He dips under my arms, nudging into my pits, licking the sensitive flesh before sliding down my ribs.

I throb, my hands cradling his face. I can feel his jaw working, the bristles on his chin and the softness of his lips. Every kiss and lick echoes through my tingling fingertips and straight into my heart.

And then he reaches my breasts, skimming over the creamy mounds to suck gently on my nipples. I writhe, pushing them up to his mouth, wanting him to take more. But he just licks the straining tips and then returns to my ribs, strumming his tongue over each ridge.

“Tom!”

“Every inch, Cass,” he purrs, sliding down to my hipbones. He nuzzles from one to the other, barely skimming the heat of my mound, and then his hands land on my thighs.

Thank-fucking-finally.

But he just smiles and says, “Flip over, baby.”

“Seriously?”

Silva sniggers but reaches over to slap my thigh. “Do what your alpha tells you, sugar. Or don’t you want him to kiss your sweet arse?”

When he puts it that way…