Page 76 of Slick Handling

Mama Joy.

Wait, did she just say heat?

My eyes snap open and I see everyone looking at us. Clover is still asleep against me. Oblivious to everything as she uses me as her own stuffed animal.

I don’t remember the last time I’ve slept so well.

Griffin is bouncing from foot to foot. He’s like a toddler being left out of playtime. I know that he wants to crawl into the nest and curl up with the Omega between us. Not being invited into her nest first must be driving him crazy.

Can’t let wonder boy get all of her firsts.

Apollo looks happy. His arm slung around McKinley’s shoulders, staring at Clover and I together with a look of contentment on his face. He’s seemed stressed since we had formed the pack. Carrying a lot of responsibility for us so we could just focus on making it to the show with him.

He was the one that registered us as a pack, got us housing, made sure that he talked to Coach about future plans, and he was also playing his rookie season as a professional hockey player on top of it.

Seeing him finally looking like he has room to breathe is nice.

A soft humming sound makes me look away from everyone, back to Clover. She squirms her hips, bumping against mine. I know she can feel my erection. I know the exact moment it happens because her breath fans against my neck in a short gasp. Before she rocks against me again.

My hand grabs her hip, under the blanket to stop her. The way her lips purse in a pout feels like a kiss against my pulse.

If there wasn’t a crowd of people in here…

“Sleep well, little weed?” She looks positively grumpy as she glares up at Griffin.

Seems like she isn’t always all sunshine and smiles. I kind of like that she’s grumpy about being woken up with people in her room. It means she’s feeling more comfortable to show her emotions around us and less likely to bottle them up.

Her eyes snap from Griffin to Mama Joy.

I see the look on her face of fear. As if she is about to get in trouble for something. Her body stiffens for a second and she’s about to rush out an apology.

“I am so tired from traveling. I thought we could just do dinner here and maybe go out for dessert after. Is that okay with you, Clover? I know tomorrow you have your usual Omega study class, but I reached out and got approval for this week to teach you. If you like, this could also excuse you from university classes for the week so we have more time together.” Mama Joy rushes in to prevent her from feeling bad about her nap.

Apollo’s Mama is an actual angel.

Clover relaxes and nods her head.

“That would be great! I just need to change and then I can meet you downstairs, if that’s okay?” As if she needs to ask for her own space.

Everyone leaves us alone for a second and I’m thankful that Clover melts back into my arms, letting out another one of those sweet hums of contentment. A yawn follows and for a second I think she is going to fall back asleep.

If she did, I’d get up to lock everyone out and curl back up in the nest with her.

“Is it bad that I’m excited not to go to classes and it’s only my second week? Maybe. I don’t know. I do like Omega studies, but this week will be nice with Mama Joy. I’ll be able to ask questions and have answers in person. I always have a lot of questions. It’s a bad trait or at least that’s what Grammy used to say. I think Grammy told me a lot of things that weren’t true. It’s hard to unlearn the lies that you grow up on.”

I swirl a curl around my finger, my thumb stroking it as I shake my head at her and she sits up, taking her golden hair with her.

Wrapping her arms around her legs, she rests her head against her knees and lets out another yawn. I take the time to appreciate the way her eyes squeeze closed and how her nose scrunches up at the movement.

How did I think I was going to avoid falling for her?

It’s easier now that I told her about Terry. Not easier in the sense that she knows about my greatest failure, but it feels better knowing that there aren't any secrets now. That she knows what happened and why I haven’t treated her how an Alpha should.

It doesn’t absolve the guilt I feel, but McKinley is right about Clover. She’s perfect for our pack.

We just need to start being perfect for her.

Growing up there were a lot of stray cats in our neighborhood. My mother always told me to make sure that the trash was covered and never to leave out food for the strays or we’d never get rid of them.

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