Page 100 of Sweet Omega
Ludiin flinched, eyes wide. “What did you just say?”
Smooth, Tarymn,he chided himself, each step toward Ludiin more of a prowl than a walk, hunger leaking into his movements no matter how hard he tried to rein it in.
“I said you’re going to get bonded soon,” he said, his voice tight. “You don’t want to get bonded…to me.”
“I…” Ludiin’s eyes flicked up to him, confusion swimming in them.
Damn him. His sweet, gentle, frustrating, beautiful omega. The sight of that fragile hesitation snapped the last thread of Tarymn’s restraint. He closed the space between them and wrapped him into his arms.
Ludiin stiffened, tried to pull away, but Tarymn only tightened his hold, burying his face against his neck, inhaling him like a drowning man. “I’ve longed to hold you like this for so fucking long,” he murmured, voice hoarse. “Please…just let me have this.One second. That’s all.” His eyes fluttered shut, his entire body aching.
Ludiin went still in his arms, but Tarymn felt the tremors rattle through him. Fragile shudders that made his chest ache.
“What are you doing?”
Tarymn loosened his grip, pulled back just enough to lace his fingers with Ludiin’s. The omega’s gaze dropped to their joined hands as if he couldn’t believe it, couldn’t reconcile that Tarymn’s touch was real.
“Come,” Tarymn said gently, leading him toward the couch. But as his eyes landed on it, revulsion curled his lips as he thought of Ford sprawled on it half-naked like it belonged to him. Like he belonged there.
Mine,Tarymn thought savagely as he sat down, dragging Ludiin into his lap.
Ludiin’s head ducked instantly, hair falling forward like a curtain, hiding his flushed face. Tarymn’s chest swelled, a dangerous kind of giddiness flooding him just from having him this close.
“Why are you hiding from me?” he asked softly, threading his fingers into Ludiin’s hair and tugging his head back so he could see those wide, uncertain eyes.
Ludiin shivered against him, hands twitching as if he wanted to escape, but Tarymn caged him in with his arms.
“Stay,” he ordered, voice dropping to a growl.
The smallest moan slipped past Ludiin’s lips, breathless and unguarded. The sound speared through Tarymn’s chest, straight to his gut, and he nearly came undone.
Fucking hell, he’s killing me.
He brushed his lips against the corner of Ludiin’s mouth, unable to stop himself. Startled, Ludiin gasped, pressing a hand to Tarymn’s chest as if to push him back. “What are you doing?”
“Trying really fucking hard not to devour you,” Tarymn muttered roughly, arms tightening instinctively around the smaller body trembling against him.
“Why? It’s…” Ludiin’s voice cracked as he shook his head. “I don’t understand what’s happening right now.”
“I’m trying to tell you something,” Tarymn admitted, loosening his hold. His hands fell to his thighs, clenching, unclenching. He leaned back against the couch with a long, unsteady breath. “But I’m making a damn mess of it. I’m… scared.”
Ludiin blinked, almost incredulous. “You? Scared?”
“Yes,” Tarymn said. “I’ve been terrified since the day I realized you’re my true mate. I’ve been dreading this moment because I didn’t know how to tell you, you were mine… after I’d already said you weren’t.”
The silence thickened between them. Ludiin’s face crumpled, disbelief and betrayal flashing across it. “I’m what?”
“You’re my mate, Ludiin.”
Ludiin stumbled back, shaking his head violently, his breath stuttering. He tore himself off Tarymn’s lap, eyes burning with distrust. The very look Tarymn had dreaded.
Fuck.
Tarymn shot to his feet, reaching, desperate to pull him back, to keep him from slipping away. But Ludiin retreated another step, tears spilling unchecked down his cheeks.
Tarymn’s chest clenched until it hurt. “Shhh… it’s alright. Everything is going to be fine.”
“You lied to me?” Ludiin’s voice broke, laced with pain. His gaze pinned Tarymn, eyes glistening, hurt rolling off him in waves so strong it was almost suffocating. “I thought I was going crazy. I thought I was feeling something I shouldn’t. I fought it for years, tried to bury it, kill it. Yet… you knew.” His chestheaved as he stumbled back, as though even sharing the same air with Tarymn was unbearable.
