Page 53 of Laurels and Liquor

“Soon, love. I promise I’ll be home soon. But you’ve got a busy day. So how about you both take a nice, relaxing shower and get yourselves ready, yeah?” Rhett suggests warmly.

I nod, but then remember he can’t see me and agree verbally. He makes us promise not to get up to any more shenanigans, and after we say our ‘I love yous,’ Lucas finally slides his softened cock out of me, then rolls over to cuddle me into his chest. I have to hold back the urge to sob, my heart aching even as my body sings with satisfaction. Not having Rhett here to hold me after moments like this doesn’t get any easier. Lucas understands in a way I’m not sure Mateo or Lex do, how hard it’s been to not have Rhett around. I know the only thing that’ll finally heal this hole in my chest is having Rhett’s arms around me again.

I want to wallow more, but my phone buzzes in my hand with a message from Caleb, letting me know he’s on his way to pick me up and take me to meet the Fitzgeralds. Well, I guess it’s time to figure out what Rhett’s surprise is.

I flush as I shift uncomfortably in the front seat of Caleb’s SUV, but it doesn’t make things any better. It turned out that Rhett’s surprise was a small, remote-control vibrator. He’d walked me through lubing it up and proper positioning, but I didn’t have time for him to explain any of the other features before I had to throw on some clothes and leave. I can feel it every time I move or walk or breathe, pressing against my clit and G-spot perfectly. My underwear keeps it in place, but it’s already a soaked mess. I’m glad I’d opted for a skirt today rather than jeans, or I’d be walking around looking like I wet myself.

My scent is strong enough for even me to notice it, which usually never happens. When you live constantly surrounded by your own perfume, you go nose blind to it pretty quickly. But there’s a heavy coating of honey and earthy rain filling the cabin and overpowering Caleb’s usual cedar and snickerdoodle scent.

“So I take it your heat is almost upon us?” Caleb questions awkwardly as we sit at a red light.

Flushing, I turn away from my bodyguard. Though, now that I think on it, with Darren still recovering and Seth dead, is he still on Lex’s payroll?

“I think so. I’m not nesting, but… yeah. Do you need…” I trail off, biting my lip.

I should have thought this through. Caleb is an alpha, even if he’s happily mated. Having the overwhelming scent of unbonded omega about to go into heat in his head can’t be comfortable.

“I’ve been speaking with Ms. St. Clair. With Sylvie being so close to her due date, and with your heat, we’ve made the call and terminated the contract with my employer. Today’s going to be my last day,” he says solemnly.

I frown and look at my lap, a sudden sadness filling my chest to bank the heat in my belly. Caleb may have only been my bodyguard at first, but he’s grown to be so much more than that. He feels more like an older brother, a friend and confidant, when I needed one the most. I’d like to imagine that, if circumstances had been different, Sam and I would have had the sort of relationship Caleb and I have now. And I’ve been learning so much about what it means to be an omega from Sylvie. But I don’t want it to be awkward when Caleb has to move on and is assigned another “baby,” as she calls them.

“They weren’t happy about losing someone with my sort of experience. But the offer Ms. St. Clair put on the table was too good to pass up. The benefits package alone—”

“Wait, what?” I sputter, whipping my head around to face him, blinking rapidly.

The smug bastard has the audacity to smirk as he watches the road, carefully executing the last turn into the Wickland House parking lot.

“Sorry, I thought she told you. I’m being brought on to take control of the security across all the St. Clair Foundation properties,” he says, winking at me.

I open and close my mouth a few times as I process that information. “Does that mean you’re not going to be my bodyguard anymore?” I ask, spitting out the first coherent sentence I can think of.

Caleb sighs and shakes his head as he pulls into a parking spot. “Unfortunately,voyin, it does mean I have to step away from that role. But I’ll still be watching over you, just not from your side.”

He looks over at me, his gunmetal gray eyes bright with emotion. Before I can stop myself, I unbuckle my seatbelt and throw myself across the center console, wrapping my arms around his neck in a tight embrace. He’s only stunned for a moment before he returns the hug just as fiercely. We linger for a long moment, and I let myself enjoy the feeling of being held like this. His bulk has always meant safety to me, and I’ve grown so used to him being there, I don’t remember how I lived without a constant companion.

“I’m going to miss you,” I whisper into his ear.

Caleb chuckles, and I sit back as his arms drop from around my ribs. He doesn’t let me go far, kissing my hairline and sending a rush of fondness through my chest.

“Oh, if you think you’re getting rid of me that easily, you’re sorely mistaken. Sylvie doesn’t go a day without asking after you. And you wouldn’t leave a pregnant omega out in the cold like that, would you?” he teases, pinching my cheek slightly.

I brush his hand away with a laugh, sitting back in my seat. Shoving his shoulder, he makes a show of acting wounded, just like a good big brother would do. I roll my eyes and am about to respond when I see Gabby and Wila exit the front doors of the hotel.

“Tell Sylvie I’ll be over tomorrow. If I can find a ride,” I say with a laugh, picking up my bag and turning to leave.

“None of that. Your days as Miss Daisy are over. It’s time for you to get behind the wheel again,voyin. I know you can do it,” Caleb chides.

I swallow a little bit, pushing down the momentary pulse of panic that rises at the mention of me driving again. But that’s a problem for future Lydia. I give Caleb a furtive smile before sliding out of the SUV and heading toward my best friend.

I’d been distracted in the car and had nearly forgotten about the toy inside of me. But walking makes me all too aware of it once again, and I have to swallow a moan. If Gabby notices anything weird in my expression, she doesn’t say anything. But there’s a sparkle in Wila’s chocolate eyes that I don’t like.

“Well, let’s get this show on the road. I’ve got a good feeling about this place,” she says, clapping her hands together and striding off toward Gabby’s beat-up old hatchback.

Gabby and I roll our eyes, having no choice but to follow her. After the customary shuffling of takeout wrappers, empty soda bottles, and other debris on the floor of the car, we’re off. Conversation is light as we maneuver through traffic, and I’m finally able to relax for a moment.

That is, until the vibrations start.

I jump nearly out of my skin as the first pulse zings through my clit and straight up my spine, and I disguise my yelp in a cough. The frequency of the buzzing is low, and so quiet that I can’t even hear it. The pulse of the toy rolls over my clit, getting stronger and backing off like waves crashing on the shore. I fight to keep it together, to not pant and moan and grind my hips into the seat for more friction. The vibrations grow more intense with each cycle, and my walls clench around the bulb of the toy inside of me. The edge is in sight, the tingling in my toes taking over as my orgasm nears. Closer and closer, just out of reach—

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