Page 19 of The Omega Verse

“I figure we see how things go, but if it’s a full heat, we can stay on the bus or book into a hotel.”

“Quiet part of the coast, at least.”

Mm. Normally. But Jett said there’s a surf competition this week. Might struggle to find somewhere secluded…”

“I can get Hoover on it.”

I try to stay focused on their discussion, but the haze is filling my head and rippling across my skin. I’m lighting up everywhere Silva’s hands touch me, but it’s not enough. I want to crawl into his lap. But there’s no room with the table in the way, and a frustrated whine echoes in my throat.

“You want to go lie down?” Silva asks as I suck on his earlobe, my hand stroking the bulge in his sweats. “Then you can have me any way you want me.”

All sorts of delicious ideas fill my head, tumbling over each other. He chuckles at the way I stick to his side like glue as he slides out of the table. But there’s only heat in his eyes as he picks me up and my arms and legs wrap around him like a vine.

River and Kobi are still talking quietly, but they follow as Silva carries me towards the bedroom. They have to go single file because Kobi is so damn big, plus I’m starting to get the impression that River doesn’t like to be touched that much. As we pass the rows of bunk beds, one of the privacy curtains brushes my arm. It’s soft and smells fresh, like apples. “Did Steven use one of these?”

“We only got this bus for the tribute concert,” River tells me. He’s right behind us, and I can clearly see the wistful look in his eyes. “He was always talking about doing an epic, country-wide tour. But the band got to the point where flying was the only option.”

I nod, a little sad to think my brother never got to use this bus. I was hoping he’d have a locker or a cubicle onboard, something that had little bits of the life he left behind. Although, since it’s been three months, I guess anything like that would already be cleared out. Life moves on. I know that from bitter experience.

And world-famous musicians have more reason to keep going than most. They might be grieving, but The Sundowners invited Silva to be part of their tribute concert. Was it as simple as finding a drummer who knew their songs and could mimic my brother’s style? Or is there some connection between Steven and Silva that made him the best choice? I think of all those fans at the arena, and wonder what they thought of the show.

I wish I’d watched it now. I would love to have that memory of Silva behind his drums, playing my brother’s music for the whole world to hear. Because I have no illusions that after my heat breaks, we’ll all go our separate ways.

“Did you film the concert?” I ask River over Silva’s shoulder. “I’d like to watch it one day.”

“Of course.” He gives me one of his bittersweet smiles. “I’ll make sure you get a copy.”

I nod, feeling a little better that I’ll have something to remember them by. Along with the photos he promised, and the memories of this tour bus, of course. The good, the bad, and the awkward, since I can feel my inhibitions melting away as the bedroom comes into sight. Instead, excitement is igniting under my skin, bright and sharp and selfish in a way I can’t ever remember feeling.

The small room smells of us, of Silva and me, and as he turns sideways to survey the bed, I feel a hot, needy throb between my thighs. I’m wrapped around him, monkey-style, so there’s no way he can miss the way I’m squirming. But he just runs soothing hands down my sides as he gently places me on the bed. I scoot towards the headboard and he follows, propping himself up on an elbow.

I instantly roll into him, one hand clutching the creased denim of his shirt. “I don’t want this to be awkward,” I blurt out. “Should we have had a shot of something?”

“Nah, we just start slow,” Silva tells me, his free hand tracing patterns on the front of my hoodie. “We can pretend we never got out of bed. I woke up beside you, looked at your gorgeous face, and we took it from there.”

So easy. Like Silva himself. He’s made everything feel natural and normal, right from the moment he rescued me in the rain. He must have wondered about my story, but he never acted like I was anything other than I claimed to be. I don’t know if he’s just a trusting person, or if he has a hell of a bullshit radar, but right now I’m just glad he’s the one in this with me.

“I like the sound of that,” I murmur, stretching up to cover his lips with mine.

I expect us to fall back into the kiss we shared in the kitchen. But like Silva promised, he starts slowly, pressing my head into the pillow and gently exploring my mouth. I hold my breath, shocked by his sweetness. I can feel his erection against my thigh, but he’s kissing me like we’re on a first date. Doesn’t stop my body from going up in flames, but I force myself to hold still. I want to soak up every sensation, and memorise every moment. Although, the longer it goes on, the more my heart aches. Because what does it say that the sweetest kiss I’ve ever had is from a virtual stranger?

Kobi clears his throat from the door and I’m almost relieved to break away. Silva gives me a dazed look, like maybe the kiss caught him by surprise, too. He’s looking at me so sweetly, I force myself to pat his chest. It’s a bullshit move, but I don’t think I can take his kindness right now.

“What about you guys?” I ask Kobi and River. It’s an awkward question, but it’s not like there’s much room for bullshit on this bus.

“Are you okay with me hanging around?” Kobi asks. “I’m not gonna interfere. I’m just here for moral support.” When we nod, he rubs a hand over his beard. “We should agree a couple of ground rules, especially since this is your first heat. If you were in an omega facility, they’d have forms and tests and a bunch of procedures to follow. But it all boils down to knowing your limits and communicating them. You ever used a safeword?” I shake my head – boring love life, remember? - but he just says, “Best to use the traffic light system then.”

He explains it, and I shrug. “Green means go, basically.”

Silva gives a throaty chuckle and widens his pretty eyes at me. “Pretty much my default setting since we met.”

I smirk, but Kobi is all business. “Okay, but things can change as the heat intensifies. Cass might feel overwhelmed, and you’ll need to pull back, brother. Plus, there’s the issue of you being a beta.”

Silva stiffens, his smile slipping away. “Because I don’t have the right equipment, you mean?”

“No, man,” Kobi says with a pointed look at his sweatpants. “You look like you’re up to the challenge. And you won’t go into a rut, which is good for a first heat. But…”

When his gaze swings my way, I sit up a bit. “My equipment’s never been road tested?”

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