Page 18 of Too Many Alphas
“Sure. He turns on at random, and I know how to push his buttons.”
Byron snorted. “Turns on at random?”
“Yeah. He has a faulty power supply, but I do remember to save things.”
Teyval chuckled. “I think we can get him repaired.”
“His issues created a good habit. I think I like him wonky.”
“If you change your mind, the offer stands.” Teyval kissed her temple.
Denith wandered over with a sly smirk. “There is a present on the way.”
Byron chuckled. “You are not supposed to announce it.”
“No. He’s right. I fucking hate surprises. I can feel them coming and get all nervous and anxious. Then when the surprise arrives, I lose my shit because it is never what my imagination crafted.”
Teyval hugged her. “So, you are a late developer.”
“Well, I think I probably kicked off as a teen, but I stomped it down and remained myself, and it worked pretty well for me. My parents got irritated when I started the growth spurt, so this worked out better for me.” She sighed. “I was average height with average looks, and that is how they liked me. Their boys excelled, and their girl was average.”
“They were happy with that?”
“They were delighted with that. It really made them stand out in church. My high marks in school were just a bonus to appearances.”
Denith asked, “Did you ever get secondary education?”
“Just some business bookkeeping courses after high school. I had to get to work if I wanted to live on my own, and I did.”
Byron asked, “How did you manage to get published?”
“Well, first, I posted my stuff on free sites and took all the criticism I could get, and when I got more accolades and less mentioning of typos, I was ready to self-publish. So, I did. I have gone to a small publisher now and then, but most of it is just for me. I grew my audience, and now, I can cover rent, food, and a bit for retirement.”
Byron chuckled. “We can help with that.”
“I don’t want money out of you.”
Denith said softly, “You don’t know what you want from us, but alphas attract money like honey attracts flies. It just comes easier to us.”
She squirmed against Teyval. “I know. I use it as a trope in my books. You guys do smell better at close range than I thought.”
He stroked her neck, and as his thumb caressed her pulse point, she smiled and looked up at Teyval. “Your scent is coming in nicely,” he murmured.
Denith filled in, “Our scent is stronger than the other Elite. It pours out of us because our mates are fewer and further between. It has to go farther.”
“Good thing for your people that all of the available Elite omegas are trapped in the city.”
The three men around her paused. “What?”
She looked around at them. “Well, it makes sense, right? The ladies who are Elite omegas are all here. It’s the only safe place on the freaking continent. Other countries might be safe, but the stronghold here are assholes. This is a spot made safe by the other omegas and kept safe by their efforts. I really hate those pasty bastards, so now that I am feeling better, I am in the urge to pick a fight.”
Teyval stroked her neck again. “We will back you up and make sure they won’t escape before you get your point across.”
“Yay!” She looked at him seriously. “Why are you taking my pulse?”
He smiled slowly. “Checking it when I do this.” He kissed her, and his hand wrapped her throat as it started slow, and then his tongue eased along her lips. She let him in and sucked in air through her nose as she tried to figure out what went where.
Teyval slowed the kiss and let her get used to it. Her frantic gasping for air slowed into even beats as his mouth dipped and released her lips.