Page 5 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

“Thank you, Tala.”

Our fingers brushed as he took it from me, and a shiver shot down my spine. His gaze caught mine, and the air between us grew thick with tension.

Was this the mate bond? Was that why resisting him felt impossible? It wasn’t just attraction, it was something deeper, something I couldn’t fight, no matter how much I wanted to.

His midnight black hair clung damply to his face, the rain having flattened its usual soft waves. Droplets clung to his jawline, rolling down to disappear into the neckline of his equally damp shirt.

Realizing I’d been staring, I pulled my hand back abruptly. I cleared my throat awkwardly, rubbing my temples as I looked anywhere but at him. “I, uh…you can take your time,” I said, my voice uneven. “My place is cramped, but I can look away while you dry off.”

“I don’t want you to look away.”

I let out a nervous chuckle. “I think it’s best if I do.”

Without glancing at his face, I turned my back to him. A small chuckle came from him, and then the sound of fabric rustling filled the silence as he pulled his shirt off. My thoughts raced. What would he look like with his shirt off? I shouldn’t be thinking of him this way, yet I found myself doing so.

Out of the corner of my eye, in the mirror’s reflection, I caught sight of him. He was rubbing the towel through his hair, his damp muscles shifting with the motion. His chest was broad and scarred, glistening faintly in the low light that emphasized every sharp, defined line.

I stared longer than I meant to. Too long. When I finally tore my eyes away, I realized he was staring back at me through the mirror, catching me in the act.

Heat rushed to my face as I looked away quickly, mortified.

Damian didn’t seem to mind, though. If anything, he was amused, judging from the laugh that followed.

Shaking off thoughts of him from my head, I shut my eyes tight, determined to keep them closed until he was finished. But then I felt a warm, firm hand on my shoulder. My eyes fluttered open, and I found him standing right behind me. I could feel the heat of his body. An inch closer, and our bodies would be touching.

No, no. I couldn’t afford to be this close to this man. Not here.

I attempted to back away from him, but his hand slid down to my arm, holding me gently in place.

“Why do you resist me?” His voice was soft as his eyes searched mine.

“Damian,” I started, my voice trembling, “you know it’s an unwritten rule for an Omega to speak to an Alpha without permission.”

“You have my permission now,” he said, his tone firm. “Tell me, Tala, why do you resist me?”

I hesitated, letting out a shaky sigh. “Because…if I let myself fall for you, if I accept this bond completely, I feel like I’d only get hurt in the end.”

His expression softened, his hand still on my arm as he considered my words. Silence lingered between us before he finally spoke.

“Do you want to know what I feel?”

I shook my head, unsure if I wanted to hear the answer.

“I feel this pull towards you,” he said softly, his gaze pinning me in place. “It’s not just the bond, it’s you, Tala. The way you carry yourself, the fire in your eyes, even when you’re trying so hard to hide it. I…I’ve never wanted anyone this much.”

When Damian cupped my cheeks and tilted my face up, I didn’t stop him. I couldn’t. Instead, I leaned into him, letting him kiss me. No, I didn’t just let him kiss me. I kissed him back.

What started as a slow, tender kiss quickly transformed into a dance of passion that transcended coordination. His hands moved from my cheeks to my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us. The raw sexual chemistry between us was electric, burning any doubts I’d held on to. He moved from my lips to trail soft,deliberate kisses along my temple, down to my neck. My breath hitched as he found the zipper of my dress, and without hesitation, he eased it down slowly, letting the dress pool at my feet.

Damian took a couple of steps, his dark eyes roaming over my body as he devoured my nudity. His gaze lingered on the skin just beneath my left breast, tracing the crescent-shaped mark I’d had since birth, before flicking back to my eyes.

“What’s that?” he asked, his voice rough and thick with desire.

“A birthmark,” I said, a little sheepishly.

I felt shy and vulnerable under his gaze, but the shyness faded when he began undressing, removing his pants in one fluid motion.

He closed the distance between us again, capturing my lips in a deep, urgent kiss. His arms wrapped around me as he lifted me effortlessly, carrying me to the bed. Gently, he laid me down, careful not to press the weight of his body against mine.

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