Page 27 of Waiting for Fate
“Ridley.” She moans my name long and loud, her eyes rolling back into her skull as she falls apart. Fuck, she’s a dream come true. So gorgeous she deserves to have myths written in her honor. Men would go to war to bask in her beauty.
But they’ll never have the chance because this omega is mine.
“Shit,” I whisper when the main door opens and an elderly couple shuffle inside with a small basket of laundry. I carefully step back, keeping my arms around Bea to steady her.
She blinks at me before turning to see new visitors walking in. A light blush tints her cheeks when she glances back at me. I’d worry she was second guessing what happened if I couldn’t see the satisfaction and heat in her eyes.
We hurry to swap everything to the dryer when the washing machine beeps. I chuckle when I catch Bea grumbling beneath her breath about walking around with drenched panties now. If pre-cum wasn’t coating the inside of my boxers, I would offer to trade her.
Reality sets in when my phone pings and I see an email from the DAU waiting for me. I grimace, turning my head to look at Bea. She senses my attention and smiles at me. Whatever she sees on my face has her joy falling away.
That just won’t do.
Fuck the DAU. They can’t keep me from my Fate Matched mate. As long as we don’t bond until I am no longer her bodyguard, it shouldn’t matter what happens between us.
“Sunshine,” I mutter as I pull her against me. Her chest presses against mine and she’s stiff in my arms. Leaning down, I press my nose to hers so I can stare directly into her eyes. I need her to see into the depths of my soul to understand how much I mean what I’m about to say. “I’ll never regret a moment spent with you. Getting to help you find release? That’s a Fates damned dream come true. You’re mine, Bea Powell. My omega, my Fate Matched mate.”
Air whistles from her lips as she blows out a breath, relief crossing her face at my admission. I hide a wince, hoping the next part won’t steal her happiness again.
“But I can’t claim you.” Her eyes flare with outrage, but I press my lips to her before she can speak. A quick peck to buy another second of silence. “Yet, sunshine. After this mission with the DAU is over, you can bet I’ll be sinking my teeth into this pretty throat.”
She shudders when I run my thumb across the soft skin, circling where I want to place my mark on her. When she nods, a smile slipping back on her face, I grin back at her. This tour can’t end soon enough.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SINCE I’VE GIVENmyself permission to court Bea, holding back is absolute hell. Staying busy with tour work helps, but only marginally. We’re currently headed to Nashville for the third show in a five-day stretch of back-to-back performances. The DAU listed this stop as one of the most likely to turn volatile, given the closest anti-designation group is only a two-hour drive south of the city.
Apparently, the men in Primordial Covenant also grew up around here. Which wasn’t a joyful experience for most of them. Hearing how strictly anti-pack this area is has my instincts surging to the front of my mind. I hope my omega is ready for me to be an overprotective alphahole for the next twenty-four hours.
Lex drives us into the city while I prop myself in the passenger seat. We’ve gone over potential escape routes and meeting spots if things were to get out of control. We’re as prepared as we can be. No matter how rowdy things get, we will protect both of the omegas in our care.
As we creep through the traffic headed downtown, I spot the first protesters. It’s only late morning and they’re already out on street corners, waving their signs and shouting bullshit when they see our convoy of buses. For a city with deep roots in the ever changing music scene, the people here sure seem to hide behind their traditionalist values.
“How far out of the city is the RV lot?” Lex asks, his tone terse with frustration.
“It’s a twenty-minute drive without traffic.”
He huffs. I can’t help but agree. If Nashville is already this packed with protesters, what will it look like when the concert starts at eight?
The vehicle carrying the band’s equipment veers to the right, heading to the venue. We continue straight through town to the outskirts of the city.
When we pull up to the park, I have to smother my sigh of relief when we’re directed to our spot. It wouldn’t have surprised me if the prominent anti-pack leaders in the city pressured the lot owner into canceling our reservation. Thankfully, they seem more inclined to cash the label’s check than turn us away.
A decent sized lake sits behind us, with a pebbled beach and picnic tables scattered around. If I wasn’t so tense from the potential problems we’ll face tonight, it would be thrilling to be somewhere this serene. Even with the city sounds in the distance, it feels like we’re on vacation sitting here.
“Brady has us in a car with him for the trip over to the venue,” Bea tells us as we step into the living area of their bus. “He wants us on the road and heading back into the city by 2:30.”
I glance at the clock on the microwave, noting it’s a little after noon now. We have an hour until Bea has to get dressed for the evening. Now would be the perfect time to sneak away with my omega for a bit.
While Lex and Omen are both preoccupied, I slip to where Bea sits on the couch and press my lips against the shell of her ear. “Explore with me?”
Her mouth curves into a bright grin, a brief splash of sunlight on this dreary day. “Okay.”
We wander around the RV park, her hand wrapped in mine as we check out the pavilions with outdoor fire pits, an in-ground pool with a splash pad for kids, and an outdoor game area where an older couple are neck deep in what seems to be a very intense shuffleboard competition.
With water surrounding both sides of the park, a decent breeze blows over us, helping to cool our skin from the summer sun beating down on us. We round a bend, headed back toward the entrance, and my eyes light up when I see the fenced-in area ahead. “Doggos!”
Bea cackles behind me as I drag her along, jogging the short distance to the dog park. A few tiny pups frolic inside, sniffing at each other and chasing the fallen sticks from a nearby tree.
