Page 92 of Claiming Their Omega

As the clock stops, I spring to my feet, cheering and clapping so hard that my palms sting.

After that, there’s another event that Hendrix isn’t in, some kind of fancy dance that you guide the horse through, and a few younger riders who do the kid’s version of events.

Then it’s Hendrix’s second event, the one I’m nervous about: the bronco riding.

I hope that the previous event gave him confidence, because I can’t stop my pulse racing through me, thrumming like a hive of bees, as I watch rider after rider fall. Nobody’s badly hurt, although I’m sure they’re all bruised, but I end up clutching at Jesse’s arm while I watch.

He doesn’t complain, just watches me with a fond smile as I hold onto him.

Then I see Hendrix’s familiar silhouette, and I inhale sharply. I can hardly breathe.

I think that his previous run gave him more confidence, and I feel it wash over me. I take a deep breath and try to feel confident as well. I want him—I need him—to be okay.

Hendrix gets onto the bronco, and the gate is lifted—they’re off.

I gasp as the bronco bucks and leaps and does his damn best to unseat Hendrix. Hendrix’s body shifts with the animal, one hand up as per the rules, his body moving fluidly. Honestly, it’s kind of sexy, in a way I didn’t expect. The way that his body moves reminds me of how our bodies move together whenever he fucks me, the power and strength and skill that he has in his body.

For a few seconds, it feels like I’m watching something sexy, something raw and powerful, something that’s almost art.

Then Hendrix is bucked off and he falls, tucking and rolling, getting to his feet and scrambling well out of the way of the horse while the handlers rush in.

I exhale in relief and finally remove my hand from Jesse’s arm. Jesse chuckles. “I think you left some marks.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s cute.”

I clap along with the crowd and settle down. “He did well.”

“I think he has the second-best time, unless someone else beats him.”

I feel bad, hoping that every other rider after Hendrix falls. But I want him to do well. I want him to get that confidence back.

There are other events afterward, and we don’t get to see Hendrix while the organizers figure out who did well in what so they can do the little ceremony at the end. I feel like I’m going to go crazy by the end. The Alphas find it amusing, teasing me about how I’ve got more nerves than the riders probably do at this point. Maybe it’s true, but you can’t blame me. They at least get to exhaust themselves riding, I just have to sit here.

Finally, they announce the positions for the events.

“In third place for barrels, Hendrix…”

My screaming drowns out the rest.

He gets second place in the bucking bronco, with the second-best time, only three seconds behind the first-place rider. That’s amazing! I’m screaming so loudly I’m sure that everyone in the crowd and all the riders too, know who I am. They’re probably rolling their eyes and hoping that crazy woman calms down, but I don’t care. I’m proud of him!

I hurry down through the stands as the crowd disperses. I see Hendrix making his way in our general direction and I yell for him. “Hendrix!”

I sprint and jump, not even thinking about it, just knowing that he’ll catch me. And sure enough, he does, chuckling.

Hendrix holds me tightly. “I could hear you screaming from the stands.”

“I wanted you to hear me.” I have my arms around his neck and I kiss his cheek. “I’m so proud of you. Of course I was going to scream!”

Hendrix sets me down. “Well, you’re going to be doing a lot more screaming this evening, darlin’.”

I shiver. “Oh?”

Hendrix noses at my hair, his lips at my ear. “A whole different kind of screaming. I’m sure I’ll need everyone’s help in making it happen.”

I whimper, heat spreading through me at the idea of all four of them having me again. “Yes, please,” I whisper.

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