Page 65 of The Omega Project

“It was, but mum was pretty good at getting me through it.” He kisses my palm, then loops our hands together and keeps walking. The track to the house has disappeared in the gloom, and right now we could be the last two people on the planet, except for the fact that Creed has just had hot chocolate and pastries with his mum. “She still talks about them all the time, and we celebrate their birthdays and bonding anniversary.”

“Mmm.” It sounds nice, but it’s hard to picture, given that my mum never mated, and my father dropped his sperm and ran. “I guess it explains where you get your sweet side from.”

Maybe there’s a hint of envy in my voice, because he squeezes my hand tighter. “I was hoping you could meet her soon. I’d like you to know her before you take my bite.”

I digest that for a moment, then look at him curiously. “Is that why we’ve never found the right moment to finish it off? You want to get the parental stamp of approval?”

“No, I want her there at our bonding ceremony.” It’s his turn to stop, but instead of touching me, he drops to a knee in the damp sand. “This isn’t about finishing anything off, Soren. I want to give you something that proves how much I care about you.”

I stare down at him, dumbstruck. “An imprint of your mouth?”

“No. Well, yeah.” He narrows his eyes at my sass, then pulls something out of his pocket. “But before that, I was hoping you’d wear my ring.”

He opens his big palm and I’m staring at a gold ring, like you’d get at graduation. I take it carefully and study the insignia. “The Army Nursing College?”

“Both of my dads were military, but Kane was a caregiver through and through.” His face softens at some memory, and he brushes his thumb over my knuckles. “He gave it to my mum before he died, and since I didn’t think you’d want my dog tags…”

“No.” I can’t quite suppress a shudder at the idea of wearing those around my neck, but the ring feels warm and comforting in my palm. I slide it on my thumb, admiring the fit. “Just as well I have manly hands.”

“Your hands are the perfect shape and size.”

Another pinch of pleasure tightens in my groin at his approval and I drop to my knees. “Shall we test that theory?”

I’m reaching to open his pants, but he grabs my wrist. “I didn’t just get down here for that.” I arch a brow at him, but he pulls me towards his mouth. That spicy chocolate scent tingles on my tongue, and I push forward for more, but he just chuckles and breaks the kiss. “I want to bond you, Soren, but I want to do it the old-fashioned way.”

I pause, confused. “A bonding ceremony?”

“Yeah, here on the beach, if you don’t want anything too fancy.” He casts a glance out at the moonlit water. “Maybe not midnight, but I’d love to see you in a white suit with the moon glade at your back.”

I flush, but my usually snarky response fails me. “Could we… could we do it with Emily and Derek as well? Like a group bonding?”

“If you’re okay sharing the spotlight,” he smirks, pulling me in for another kiss, “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

The next morning, we get a call from Derek’s old flatmate, inviting us to the Switcheroo Club. I’m a little confused by the invitation until I remember that it’s Dr. Finchley’s book club. Clark assures us it’s a good excuse for some of the switches on the project to get together and swap stories, but I’m not sure about joining a support group.

“Dr. Finchley said they don’t get much reading done, but the high teas are always good,” Emily reminds me as she tames her curls into a sweeping up-do. She’s sitting at the dressing table in our pack bedroom, and I’ve been kissing off her makeup as fast as she can apply it. “It could be fun, especially since it’s at the casino. We could even stop at a roulette table and try our luck. What do you think?”

“I think I’ve already won the jackpot,” I tell her, brushing my lips over my bonding mark and making her shiver. “But I could do with some outdoor fun, I s’pose.”

Her amber eyes gleam in the mirror as she gives me a coy smile. “The amount of sand you and Creed tracked into bed last night, I think you’re getting your quota.”

I spin her around, planning to suck the sassy right off her pink lips, but I find myself blurting out, “He wants to bondus. Officially, I mean. With the whole white suit ceremony and doves, or whatever.”

“Doves?”

“Well, seagulls, probably, since he suggested we do it out there on the beach…” I bite my lip, watching her eyes grow misty. “I said I wanted it, if you and Derek did. And Lang and Finn, obviously, but I’m pretty sure the three of them cooked this up together.”

She bites her lip, studying my face. “What do you think? Is that something you’d like to do?”

“I’d like to see you in a pretty white dress,” I admit, then rub my finger over her throat. She swallows, her eyelashes fluttering, and I breathe in her sweet perfume. She’s a beta now, but either we’ve rubbed off on her a little, or the pack bonds are changing her scent. “And I’d love to see you with a full necklace of mating marks.”

Her eyes dilate, but she stops me before I can steal a kiss. “And how do you feel about it? We could keep the ceremony private, but once we registered, people would know we’re an official pack. I wouldn’t want to put you in any danger.”

“What’s the alternative? Hide away here for the rest of my life?” I look around the luxurious room, breathing in the scent of pack. “It would make a pretty comfy jail cell, but I think I’m ready to get out there and experience life again.” I can’t resist tugging on a tiny curl that has escaped her elegant hairstyle. “Assuming I don’t switch back into a heinous monster during my next heat.”

“Well, you’ll bemymonster,” she declares, rising on her toes to kiss my lips. “And that would still make me the luckiest mate in the world.”

Her confidence carries me all the way to the doors of the White Castle Casino. It’s right in the centre of the city, the only building on a peninsula of sculpted gardens and pedestrian trailsthat juts out into the river. Our driver drops us right at the door of the hotel area, and Creed slides out of the passenger seat, scowling at anyone who looks our way. I know he’s uptight about me being in public, but Clark assured us that we’d have plenty of privacy in the room they’ve booked. Maybe he’s just moody because the invite was only for switches and not their overprotective mates-to-be.

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