Page 32 of Building My Pack

"So, what are we going to name him?" she asks, her voice quivering slightly, showing I wasn't the only one affected.

I have to clear my throat before replying, "Whatever you want to. I'm not sure how to tell the sex of these things, so it can be Bob or Barbara. Take your pick."

She laughs, carefully taking him from me and walking inside. For once in my life, I'm grateful for my corny sense of humor. Especially if it'll keep making her laugh like that.

Over the next several hours we get the small fish tank set up and follow all the instructions getting him inside. He even gets named as we have the debate over whether or not it's tasteful to make homemade sushi with him sitting on the table behind the couch in clear view of the kitchen.

"Do you think Wasabi might be lonely?" she asks as we lounge on the couch, after a dinner of homemade tacos, sipping on the last of our margaritas.

I stop gawking at her long enough to glance over my shoulder where she's staring at the goldfish in his new home. "I'm pretty sure he'll be alright, but we can always get him a friend if you feel like you can handle the pressure of two pets."

She snorts softly and turns her body toward me, tucking her feet underneath her. "Tell me something I don't know about you."

Sucking in a deep breath and puffing it back out, I playfully admit, "I'm a Leo who likes traveling, music, long walks on the beach, and fishing. Sorry, Wasabi."

Her head tilts back with her laugh and I'm hit with that feeling again. It just feels like I'm where I'm supposed to be for once. Like all of my travels and searching have led me here to this moment. There's a low rumble of thunder way off in the distance a few minutes before rain starts pounding the roof above us.

Bryce sets her drink on the coffee table in front of us before reaching out a hand to me. "I think I just added one more thing to my list."

With no hesitation I slide mine into hers and allow her to pull me to my feet. I barely have time to set my drink down before I'm being gently tugged toward the back patio. I think my brain catches up as soon as the door swings open and the smell of rain washes over us. She spins and walks backward, giving me just enough time to change my mind if I want to. Why would I want to? I absolutely love the way she's flourishing under her newly found freedom, and if that means following her into pouring down rain and getting soaked to the bone then so be it.

Which is exactly what happens the moment our feet touch the porch. We're both drenched within seconds, but does that stop her? Not a chance. Letting go of my hand, she holds both hers out palms up toward the sky and spins slowly in a circle.

"I can't tell you the last time I danced or played in the rain," she confesses. "I used to do it all the time. Now I just love lying in bed and listening to it these days."

All of that red hair that curls up her back lies. Once it’s wet, it hangs down to the top of those enticing hips that are swaying to the orchestra the rain creates hitting the surfaces around us. Her full lips are turned up at the corner as she enjoys herself, and I’m caught not wanting to look away from them.

I'm having as much fun watching her as she's having letting the droplets collect within her palms, but after another couple minutes, I know I don't have a choice. I'm one of those all or nothing kind of guys, and I was already barely hanging on by a thread. When she opens her eyes to, I'm sure, see if I've left her out here or am maybe silently judging, I close the distance between us until our chests are flush against each other and I can feel every breath she takes. Sinking both hands into her hair, I use it to angle her head back just right so that I can slant my lips across hers. What I'd felt before was a pebble to a boulder compared to the rush that flows through my veins now. Especially as her lips part and I get my first taste of her. It's bananas and omega and absolute Kit ambrosia. I want to cover her with my scent until we're so mixed that it'd be impossible to tell us apart. I want to be inside of her and most importantly, I don't ever want to stop kissing her.

Bryce

I knew it was a childish idea to want to dance in the rain, but as soon as the idea popped into my head I figured why not. Today has been magnificently perfect beyond all I thought possible. From not only inviting Kit to stay, but having him accept, to him going out of his way to make me feel cared for. I'm back on another one of those emotional roller coasters.

Being gifted a fish had sent me over the edge and that's just sad. He'd remembered one of the things I'd mentioned and gone out of his way to make it happen. Then I almost screwed the whole ‘no strings attached’ thing right up when I'd let emotions get the best of me and came within seconds of kissing him. He'd even been lowering his head to follow through with it. One of the hardest things I've had to do was detaching myself and putting space between us, but I had for his sake. I'd promised him a place to live for as long as he needed without any kind of commitment and just about broke it within a few hours.

The rain pours around us, and I love the way it sounds. Nothing can compare to the way it feels as it hits my body and glides down exposed skin and eventually starts to seep through my clothes. At least, I think nothing can compare. Then I peek through my eyelids to find Kit watching me with a hungry expression right before he steps into me and grips the back of my hair in his fists. Gentle with just enough force, he angles my chin up, and I have a split second to celebrate that I'm finally going to get that kiss before his lips are pressing against mine.

Kissing him is so unlike the ones I've shared with alphas recently. Where theirs set me on fire instantly, Kit's gives me the opportunity to feel the coals slowly start to heat up. By the time it gets there, though, I wouldn't be surprised to open my eyes and find steam rolling off us in waves. He tastes like I just sucked in a breath of fresh air, and I can't help winding my arms around his waist, slipping them underneath his soaked shirt to feel the wet skin of his back.

Our tongues continue their dance, and he groans low in the back of his throat. Slowly backing me up to the banister, he waits until I can't go any further to drop his grip on my hair only to move it to my hips. If there was anything on my body I'd be more self conscious than anything about, it'd be my hips and thighs, but with the attention they've been getting lately, first from Santiago and now Kit, I'm beginning to think that having a little extra thickness isn't always a bad thing.

Taking a risk for a step that I'm not sure either of us are ready for, I slide the hem of his shirt all the way up to his chest where we pause for a second as though we're asking each other for permission, because I can feel it as much as the rain sliding down my skin that there's going to be no coming back. He reaches back and grabs the corners of it and pulls it over his head before letting it fall with a wet plop to the deck. The rain dripping out of his hair catches me as it whips around when he takes the shirt off, but I honestly couldn't care any less even if I wasn't already soaked. I'm too distracted by the hard planes of muscles that run from his shoulders down to that deep v that disappears beneath his jeans. My hands take on a mind of their own as I trace the lines before bringing my lips to join the party.

His breath catches as his head tilts toward the sky when I lick the fresh water from his chest. Watching for a reaction, I suck one of his nipples into my mouth, biting down on it gently before giving it a lick, too. Whatever I'd hoped for is amplified by ten as his hips drive into me and his face drops to divert my attention back there. Our lips lock in a more ferocious battle before I feel his hands at the bottom of my sweatshirt and he's pulling it over my head. I'd actually worn one of my sexy bras today and right at this moment, I'm regretting the decision. It's just one more thing standing in the way of fully feeling his skin against mine. As though he's reading my mind, Kit reaches back to undo the clasp and I let the offensive material drop to the deck with the rest of our clothes.

I don't know what it is about the men in my life lately, but every single one of them have a way of making me feel more beautiful than I have about myself in a long time. The way Kit looks at me through hooded lids now forces every doubt I've ever had to the deepest of pits. Taking his hands in mine, I bring them to my breasts and don't let go until I'm sure that he won't. Then working my fingers slowly up his arms until I'm on his shoulders, I clasp the back of his neck and bring his mouth back down. There's something about being semi-naked in the middle of a rainstorm while the water invades every space between the two of us that seems to be turning me on even more. I love the feel of it against my skin and the way it slides between our conjoined lips every so often. I want Kit so bad that the ache between my thighs has become borderline painful. The thought of making the long trek upstairs almost makes me whine in protest.

Remembering the small nest-type area in the corner of the deck has me brightening considerably. One of my only fights for something I'd wanted had been the rounded seating area that's got a thick pillowed bottom and smothered with outdoor pillows. I'd had a small awning built over it to keep everything safe from sun and rain and then added some soft drapes that can be left hanging or tied back if we were entertaining. At least that's what I'd argued when I'd been accused of acting too much like an omega with wanting it. The whole space was perfect for entertaining outside when we didn't have a pool. Of course, I can count on one finger the amount of times it’s ever been used and by used, I mean me cuddled up on it reading. Out of habit, I'll come out once a week and shake everything out and wipe it down. All of it comes in handy right this second.

Sliding from between Kit and the rail, I don't grab him, providing him with the opportunity to stop us where we are by not following me over to it. Should've known there wouldn't be any hesitation. He's on my heels in an instant, wrapping his arms around me and cupping my breasts from behind. There has got to be something in the guy handbook that tells them how to make a woman melt into a puddle at their feet, because I swear this is one way of doing it.

We walk the last couple steps to the space I'm from here on out, rightfully, calling my outside nest, before pulling apart the drapes closest and stepping down into it. "Watch your step."

He follows me inside without question where we work into a frenzy trying to remove the rest of our clothes. As we crash down to the padded pillowtop and he settles between my thighs, I don't care that we're soaking everything in here, nor that the rain starts coming down heavier above us. The only thing I can think about is how much I love the weight of his body settling down on mine and the feel of my tight, budded nipples dragging against all of that hard muscle of his chest.

Then he slips himself through my folds and coherent thought is a long-lost concept. As he slowly eases himself inside of me, I can't help but grip his shoulders and reclaim his lips. He makes that groaning sound in the back of his throat again and starts to move. I'd like to say that we took our time and enjoyed the moment to its fullest, but I don't know that I can. We're both so caught up in the desperation for each other that I'm begging him for more even as he's giving it to me. The sound of our wet bodies is almost more overpowering than the sound of the rain pounding the awning.

Sitting practically on his heels, he lifts one of my legs until the back of my knee is supported by his shoulder. The position awakens new places that have me seeing spots as I clench my eyes shut. Not wanting to miss a second, I open them just as fast. I admire the way his wet hair clings to his body and sends droplets on a journey down the planes of muscles.

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