Page 19 of Omega's Breed

“I was too nervous to hold much down,” he admitted shyly.

“Yeah, I figured.” The beta—his mate, he realized with a bit of a jolt—settled cross-legged beside him. “How do you feel?”

Will felt his cheeks heat up. “Fine.” He didn’t mention how his channel suddenly slicked in reaction to the question.

Instead, he shoveled a forkful of food in his mouth and chewed with his gaze downward. He was never comfortable looking a more powerful shifter in the eye, had been taught not to. At the moment, however, he felt even more uncomfortable. The way he’d acted when Finn had mounted him. Shameful, yet the beta hadn’t minded. He’d even made a point of arousing him first. No one had ever bothered to do that before. It made him hope that they’d do it again soon. He’d never expected to actually want to be fucked.

Because his thoughts and needs were both new and discomforting, he busied himself with eating. Finn stayed by his side, watching him and offering up the glass of milk when Will’s hands were full with the plate and fork. It didn’t take long for him to scrape his dish clean. Then came the cake, an unheard of treat. He hadn’t had a chance to really appreciate it before. This time, he savored every morsel.

“Hmm,” he moaned as he licked the last of the frosting off the tines. “That was wonderful. Thank you.”

Taking everything from Will’s grasp, Finn put them aside. Then he did an extraordinary thing—he leaned over and gave Will a sweet peck on the lips. It left them tingling when he stopped, and Will leaned forward to catch another one. With a soft chuckle, Finn obliged, this time deepening the kiss and sweeping Will’s mouth with his tongue. Will moaned and pressed in even closer. Then, he felt Finn grasp his braid, wrap it around his massive hand and tug Will’s head to one side.

Even knowing that his mate only sought to kiss him more passionately, Will couldn’t hold the panic back. Memories of being held and yanked by his hair swamped him, and he started to struggle against the hold. His wolf whined and shook, remembering how this kind of touch usually ended—with pain and tears.

Finn let go immediately and pulled away before taking Will’s hot face in his palms. “Easy, baby. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Will sniffled and worked to get himself back under control. He knew fighting his mate’s use of his body was wrong, expected to be punished for his actions, yet couldn’t help it. The feel of a hand running down his braid made him stiffen again. This time, he held himself in check and waited for whatever was coming with as much courage as he could muster. His chest quivered with fast, shallow breaths.

“Tell me about your hair.” Finn’s order, issued in a low, hushed tone, wasn’t to be ignored.

Will sniffed back his tears. “I’m sorry, sir. I’m overly sensitive to it being pulled. It won’t happen again.”

Finn dragged the braid over Will’s shoulder. Strands of hair stuck out all over, the effect of having been laid on at the beginning of the mating and after. It always got messy while he slept and redoing it every morning had become a long-standing ritual. Except Finn was sliding the tie off, then running his fingers through the twist to undo the hair.

“Have you always worn it so long?” As he asked the question, the beta continued to unbraid the strands. The process didn’t hurt. It was kind of soothing, actually.

Will relaxed a fraction. “No, sir. I, um, started growing it out about ten years ago, when I went to live with the alpha. Magnus,” he clarified because he had a new alpha now and needed to remember that fact.

“It’s beautiful.” His mate kept up the study of Will’s hair, treating it like something special. “I don’t remember seeing any of the other males wearing theirs long at your old pack.”

Will swallowed hard. “None of those were omegas. Magnus said that male omegas were like females and should grow out their hair to be pretty.”

Finn’s hands stilled. Then dropping the strands, he cupped his cheek instead and turned it more in Finn’s direction. “You are lovely no matter what, but if Magnus was implying that you’re female and not male, he was way out of line. Male omegas are an unusual gift of nature to be sure, yet still masculine in all the ways that count. Never doubt yourself on that score.”

The beta pressed a chaste kiss against Will’s lips. “And I would never use your braid to control you or bring you pain.”

Will’s eyelashes fluttered uncontrollably as he tried to look his mate in those too-knowing eyes. “I know.” He meant what he said. It was simply that years of brutal treatment couldn’t be erased in a single night of kindness.

Finn repeated the kiss on Will’s forehead. “Good. You can cut it, you know, if you want.”

That assurance brought a smile to Will’s lips. “Thanks, but Annie loves playing with it.”

Finn returned the look. “You’re a good father, Will. And, knowing how much you must miss being with her, let’s get some sleep.”

The dishes were shunted aside even more, before Finn shucked off his jeans and shut off the light. He settled them both back on the pallet, pulling Will into his warm, strong embrace. Even in the darkened room, Will could see the beta’s cock rise. He dared to move his hand over to clasp it in his tentative fingers.

Finn took in a sharp breath. “What are you doing, sweetheart?”

Snuggling against the hard body next to him, Will voiced his desire. “I was hoping maybe this meant you wanted to mount me again.”

Finn snorted. “I’m always going to want to mount you, Will. I just don’t want you to feel pressure. Once your heat starts, there will be non-stop fucking with knotting. That’s going to wear you out and make you sore. I don’t want to overtax you now.”

“Oh.” His mate’s consideration pleased him. And frustrated him. The talk coupled with the hot, hard length in his hand coaxed his own erection. His cock pressed against Finn’s side.

The beta chuckled. “On the other hand, I can tell you’re not quite ready to sleep.”

The sound of his mate’s deep voice, the dual hard-ons, and the flash of heat from both their bodies caused his channel to slick. His hole clenched hard, causing a whine to pass his lips. The strength of his need surprised him, as did the way his little wolf dared to sit up and utter a howl.

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