Page 103 of Sweet Omega
But Ludiin didn’t stop. His fingers glided higher along the curve of Tarymn’s arm. Deliberate. Defiant.
A low growl rumbled from the Tarymn's chest before he snapped and hauled Ludiin flush against him. The sudden strength of his embrace stole Ludiin’s breath.
“Fuck,” Tarymn muttered, burying his face into the curve of Ludiin’s neck. His words came out broken, almost desperate. “I missed having you this close.”
He lifted Ludiin off the floor as though he weighed nothing, carrying him with ease to the bed. He sat, holding Ludiin on his lap like something he’d been starved of. His voice softened, almost pleading. “I miss hearing your voice too.”
“You’re the one who didn’t claim me when you found out I was your mate,” Ludiin hissed back, his tone laced with hurt. His hand balled into a fist, and he punched Tarymn’s chest.
Tarymn caught his hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. The simple brush of lips made Ludiin’s stomach flutter violently, an ache blooming deep inside hole. “Would you have… accepted me?” Tarymn asked. “Even though you hated how I made you feel? Would you have stopped drinking that damn tea?”
“For you… yes.” The words slipped from Ludiin’s mouth before he could stop them. His voice cracked as tears welled, blurring his vision. They spilled over, warm trails streaking down his cheeks, and once they started, they didn’t stop.
“Shit… I’m sorry, baby.” Tarymn’s arms tightened around him as he murmured low, soothing words against his skin. Ludiin buried his face into Tarymn’s shoulder and sobbed out every shard of hurt, confusion, and longing until his body trembled with exhaustion.
When he finally tried to pull away, Tarymn held him fast, refusing to let go. “Shhh… just sleep,” he whispered against Ludiin’s temple. “Everything will be better in the morning.”
“I can’t sleep here,” Ludiin mumbled weakly, though his body betrayed him, already sinking deeper into Tarymn’s warmth.
“Why not?” Tarymn asked. “You’re mine.”
The words sank into Ludiin, melting him from the inside out. They struck something deep, something that had always belonged to Tarymn no matter how hard he’d tried to deny it. He liked the way it felt.
With a shuddering breath, Ludiin settled against Tarymn’s chest, letting the steady rhythm of the alpha’s heartbeat carry him away. Sleep claimed him before he could think twice.
***
Tarymn
Tarymn reached out blindly, his hand dragging across rumpled sheets as the haze of sleep slowly lifted. Ludiin’s scent clung to the sheets, curling around him like invisible fingers, making his head spin and his body stir with aching need. Desire surged through him, hot and insistent, shocking in its intensity.
“Fuck, I need you,” Tarymn moaned sleepily as he reached for Ludiin. His brow furrowed when his searching hand met only cool sheets. His eyes blinked open, then narrowed as he took in the empty space beside him.
Ludiin was gone.
He scrubbed a hand down his face, jaw tightening. Last night he’d thought…
“Fuck,” Tarymn spat, flinging the covers aside with frustration and stomped toward the washroom, disappointment burning in his chest.
Last night, Tarymn had truly believed Ludiin had accepted him. That the fragile wall between them had finally crumbled, letting him in when the omega came to him of his own will. He’d dared to hope it meant something. That maybe Ludiin wouldn’t make him wait.
Patience, he told himself as he went through his morning routine, though it tasted bitter in his mouth. He hated the thought of leaving, of going to work when all he wanted was to spend the day with Ludiin. But clearly, Ludiin still needed time to breathe, to get used to the fact that he was his mate.
And if Tarymn was being honest, maybe he needed the distance too. Because if he stayed too close, he knew he’d break, drop to his knees, and beg Ludiin or worse claim him before he got used to everything. He was already hanging by a thread, and it had only been a single fucking day since he confessed everything. Another day felt impossible.
“You can do it. You can wait,” Tarymn muttered under his breath, forcing his feet to carry him out of his room. His steps slowed as he reached the hallway, his gaze already drifting toward the narrow stairs that led up to Ludiin. The pull was relentless, his chest tight with the urge to see him, touch him. He clenched his jaw and forced himself to walk away. He had to leave.
“Damn it,” he groaned, every muscle screaming as he dragged himself out of the house and into the waiting pod.
“Good morning, Master,” Pitra greeted, bowing slightly as he approached.
Tarymn grunted in reply, sliding inside and sinking into the seat. The pod drifted in silence for a few minutes before Pitra glanced at him.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yes,” Tarymn forced out. He wasn’t ready to talk about Ludiin. Hell, he didn’t even know how to explain the storm inside him. All he knew was that waiting was fucking tearing him apart.
He prayed Ludiin wouldn’t make him wait too long. But the more he prayed, the more it seemed the omega was determinedto test his patience. Three days later, Tarymn was crawling out of his skin. And fucking Ford was still there.
