Page 57 of Omega's Refuge

I leaned in closer, and we kissed. The kiss was warm and affectionate, and my heart throbbed and ached alarmingly. I was feeling things for Rex—things that were strong and unsettling, especially since this was really just supposed to be a meaningless fling. It didn’t feel meaningless, which was unnerving.

He touched my cheek and his eyes were a darker blue. “You really get to me, Tanner.” His voice was husky.

“You get to me too,” I said softly, unable to lie.

He studied me for a moment, as if he wanted to say something more. But then he let go of me and turned back to the food. “I’d better get to cooking.”

“Yes, please. I’m starving now.”

“Me too.” He added the meat to the hot pan first, and the chunks of steak sizzled as they hit the cast iron skillet. Flames licked at the edges of the pan sending a smoky aroma into the crisp mountain air.

I waved the smoke away from my face, watching Rex work. At first, I’d thought my connection to Rex was simply sexual. But the emotional connection was also surprisingly strong. It reminded me of how I’d felt after Steve gave me his bite—I’d been consumed by the need to please him. The difference was, I didn’t have Rex’s bite, so why did I feel so driven to cater to him?

Maybe the high altitude really is messing with my head.

I needed to stop thinking so much. I was over analyzing every little thing Rex did and said, and every little thing he made me feel. I was wasting way too much energy on a relationship that had no future.

Rex stirred the meat every few minutes, allowing it time to brown. My mouth watered and my stomach growled as I waited for the meat to cook through. Once the meat seemed tender, Rexadded the veggies. After a few more minutes of stirring, he gave a thumbs up sign.

“It’s ready?” I asked eagerly.

“Yep.” He smiled at my enthusiasm, and scooped the fragrant mixture into enamel bowls.

I took my bowl and fork from him, inhaling the steaming food. “This smells amazing.”

“Just wait till you taste it.” He sounded confident, but not cocky.

We sat on large rocks near the fire and dug in. The first bite of the steak was smoky and tender, with a satisfying char. The sausage added a rich, savory depth, its juices blending perfectly with the sweetness of the grilled vegetables. Each flavor stood out yet melded together, creating a hearty, comforting bite that was both simple and delicious. I couldn’t really taste the cinnamon, but it definitely added an intangible kick to the meal.

“This is so good,” I said. “It’s simple yet perfect. Your mom was a genius cook.”

His smile was tinged with affection. “She was. All she needed were a few ingredients and she could always come up with something delicious. She didn’t even need a recipe.”

I nodded. “I’m the complete opposite. Even with a recipe, I’m not great at cooking.”

“Not everyone is good in the kitchen.”

“No, I know. But it’s embarrassing, seeing as most omegas are expected to run the home once they start having kids. When I settle down, I’llprobably have to hire a cook just so my family doesn’t starve.”

“Maybe your alpha could do the cooking?”

I laughed. “But the omega is supposed to take on the domestic role.”

Rex shrugged. “I don’t think alphas and omegas should have predetermined roles.”

“You don’t?” I was surprised because a lot of alphas weren’t nearly as enlightened.

“Nope.” He met my gaze, looking very serious. “That kind of thing has never made sense to me. I think couples should share the work. I don’t see why, if the omega is working, they should have to take on the role of housekeeper and nanny too.”

I raised my brows in surprise. “Seriously?”

“Sure. Is there some reason the alpha couldn’t cook dinner and give them a break sometimes? Making the omega do all the domestic stuff seems so unfair and antiquated, don’t you think?”

I gave a disbelieving laugh. “Well, yeah, of courseIthink that. But who cares what I think?”

“Me.”

I gave him a grateful smile. “You’re a rarity, Rex.”

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