Page 9 of Alpha's Second Chance

He nodded, but didn’t let go of my hand. “I’m going to sleep. I suggest you do as well.”

So much for more heartfelt conversation. My mind knew him. We grew up together. We’d spent hours making out. We’d never gone all the way, because I hadn’t had my heat yet at that point, and being intimate before an omega’s heat was taboo for shifters. But we’d laid down together, night after night, bodies pressed close.

He smelled like juniper and fresh air, and male shifter. He smelled like home, and the life I thought I’d have, before I realized it was a cage.

I didn’t want that life, but in this moment, I wanted him. Today had been a real shitshow. Months of work, snatched from me during a closing argument. Years of hiding, blown apart the moment Owen saw me.

I scooted closer to him. I pressed my body against his, as I had so many times before. There was no way he could miss the swell of my breasts pushed against his back.

He went stiff. “I thought you wanted nothing to do with shifters.”

“It’s not that simple,” I said. I pressed my forehead against the back of his head. I knew Owen. My bear knew Owen. That was significant, even if I didn’t want to admit it until now.

He let go of my hand and turned over to face me. “You want simple?”

Now my breasts were against his chest. My nipples hardened. “Tonight, I would love simple,” I said.

He took my face in his hands. Heat burned through my body, down to my core. I’d never felt this way for anyone besides Owen. His lips brushed over mine as he kissed me. He started out with light kisses, then his mouth covered mine.

I surged against him. I pressed my thigh between his legs and we moved together, rocking against each other. His hands tangled in my hair, turning my head so he could scrape his teeth over my neck. I wanted him inside me. Now.

But first, I had a confession. “I have to tell you something.”

“I’m listening,” he said, voice low.

Just hearing his deep voice made me even wetter. But I couldn't get distracted. This shouldn’t be so difficult to admit. I wasn’t ashamed to have waited this long. It just wasn’t something I shared. “I’ve never done this before.”

“With a shifter?”

“With anyone.”

Owen sucked in a quick breath. “You’re a vir-”

I held a finger against his lips. “Do not say it. I feel like you have the right to know, if we’re going to sleep together, but don’t start treating me differently based on your old-fashioned beliefs.”

Owen seized my hand and pulled it away from his mouth, but he didn’t let go. “Me? Old-fashioned? Well, I never.”

“If the shoe fits,” I said.

He scooted closer. “Don’t forget that I know all your childhood secrets,” he mock whispered.

I laughed. That was true. Owen had watched me taste a mud pie, when one of our buddies said it was chocolate. He’d seen me bust my ass ice skating more times than I could count, and he’d seen me wet my pants in our shifter nursery school. “You forget.” I put my hand on his chest. “I know all of yours too.”

He chuckled. “Oh, right. I forgot about that.” His grin faded to a slight smile. “I’m glad you told me.” He brushed a stray piece of hair from my face. “Would you rather wait? Until we’re somewhere nicer?”

“That’s very romantic of you. But I’m a twenty-eight year old prosecutor that’s possibly being chased by a mob boss.” I pulled my hand from his and squeezed his shoulder. “I’ve decided I need to live in the moment, not wait on roses and champagne.”

“I’m glad to hear that, considering I don’t have any roses or champagne.”

“So show me what you do have,” I said. I tried to lower my voice, hoping I sounded sultry instead of sick.

He drew my hand back up to his mouth and nipped my fingers with his teeth. “I plan to,” he said. Feeling bold from lust, I pushed my finger into his mouth.

“Eve,” he rumbled. “If you’re not careful, I’m going to lose control.”

“Maybe I want you to.”

“You got it,” he said. Owen pushed me onto my back and kissed my cheek. He rolled over and lowered his body on top of mine, and the teasing mood evaporated.

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