Page 20 of Lavender and Lightning

Her breathing is ragged, but she clings to me as I shush and soothe, rocking her gently as I pet her hair and whisper praise. She stops after a moment, swallowing hard before looking up at me.

“Thank you. I… yeah. I needed that,” she says, dropping her eyes.

I lift her chin with a finger before slanting my lips over hers. “Always, my love.”

Something settles in my chest as we stay locked together in the quiet, just listening to each other’s breathing. Lydia smells of flowers and sex, and I wish I could bottle this scent to take with me everywhere.

My purr seems to go on forever, shaking every corner of my body. Her pleasure is my manna from heaven, and I’m addicted. I lean forward, taking her with me until she’s on her back. I kiss and suck on her neck as I slide my reawakened cock back into her, relishing the dig of her heels into my lower back as she tries to keep me close.

“I need—Rhett, please, more. I need more,” Lydia begs, scratching at my back and lifting her hips to meet my thrusts.

I smirk to myself, unable to help it. Seeing my omega undone and needy for release makes that primal part of my mind turn to mush. And I can’t deny her anything. I lean back, taking her hips in my hands in a careful grip, hard enough so she’ll enjoy it, but mindful of her injuries. Sweat beads on my back as I fuck her into the counter, the slap of our hips meeting growing louder and more frantic. Her eyes are closed tight, her whole body tense as she hovers right on the edge.

“Come for me. Now,” I snarl, adjusting my angle ever so slightly.

Like the good girl she is, it only takes two more thrusts before she’s screaming my name and her pussy clenches down on me hard enough that each withdraw is a fight. She shakes as I continue to push her to new heights, circling her clit with my thumb until she’s there again, and I can’t hold back anymore. Her back bows off the counter for a moment before she collapses, panting hard, and eyes hazy with pleasure, stare unfocused at the ceiling. My lower back tingles and I groan, driving as deep as I can without knotting to spill inside.

My legs shake with the force of my orgasm, and I relax over her, resting my head on her stomach while I catch my breath. She hums, the sound dropping from her throat into her chest for a moment to become a true omega purr before she loses it.

“Have you had supper yet?” I ask into the silence.

Lydia chuckles. “No, but you’ve sure worked up my appetite.”

I smile and laugh lightly, tilting my head to look at her face, grinning wickedly. I lean forward, returning her to her back as I slip a hand between us and slide two fingers into her core. I can feel my release among her slick, and my cock starts to twitch back to life. As I stand and withdraw my hand, I bring my fingers to my lips, moaning at the combined honey, vanilla, and whiskey flavor of us as I lick my hand clean.

I pull out my phone and slide it along the counter toward her before dragging one of the stools around so I can sit in front of her still parted thighs. “Order us something nice from the kitchen. I want to have my dessert before dinner.”

nine

Lydia

“Themoversjustfinishedup and are heading out,” I say, holding my phone to my ear with my good shoulder as I direct the crew of betas where they should put the last of the boxes.

“Okay. Lock all the doors when they leave,” Rhett tells me on the other side of the line.

I roll my eyes, but bite back my sarcastic retort. We’ve finally gotten to a good place, and I don’t want to risk it with a poorly timed snarky comment. I turned in my keys earlier today, along with the check written out in Alexandra’s elegant script. My landlord wasn’t outwardly sad to see me go, but the booth attendant, Gerald, certainly was. He gave me a big hug when I turned in my parking pass, and I promised him his usual plate of Christmas cookies.

“I’m sorry again that I had to run out. Lucas is getting off soon and he’ll be home to keep you company,” Rhett says.

“It’s okay. I had to entertain myself without roommates or company for four years. A few hours aren’t going to kill me.” I chuckle.

Rhett doesn’t respond, but I can picture the way he purses his lips as he tries to hold back. I know he’s worried about my safety, especially since the investigation into the stalker has stalled out. But I feel safe in the pack house, tucked away in the corner of the development, surrounded by open space, behind a fence with a security guard at the only entrance.

“Okay. If anything happens, please call me,” Rhett replies.

“Will do. I love you,” I say fondly.

“Love you too, little one. Be good.”

“Yes, sir.”

Rhett’s purr makes me giggle as we end the call. The movers bring in the last round of boxes, and I wave as they head back to the truck and drive away. I close the lower patio doors and twist the lock, shoulders relaxing as I let out a long exhale. I turn to the pile of boxes in the lounge, chewing on my lower lip. It’s smaller than I thought it’d be, but without my furniture, I guess there wasn’t much for me to move after all. Everything is labeled meticulously, which makes sorting through to find my bedding easier.

I drag everything into my room and spend a few minutes ripping the boxes open and dumping the contents onto the floor. I crinkle my nose as I realize everything has a stale, too-clean scent. They washed and covered all my sheets and blankets in scent-blockers. All the comforting scents I’d accumulated in my nest are gone.

I sit down on the floor among the fabric, running my fingers along the emerald green blanket that was Rhett’s first gift to me. His first courting gift, if I was being honest with myself. After seeing how much I loved it, he’d gone out and purchased several more of the same blanket in different colors, but this one is my favorite. It’s the one he found when visiting his family and bought simply because he wanted to. I’m suddenly aware of how hard my heart is beating in my chest, my head a disorganized swirl of thought fragments as I look around at the pile under me.

A vibration in my pocket pulls me out of my thoughts, and I roll my eyes. It’s probably Rhett again, and I’m mentally prepping for talking him down from coming home despite telling him multiple times that I’ll be okay. Instead, my brother Jason’s name and face pop up on my screen.

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