Page 27 of Switch Heater

Mama: Dads are on their way home. Ready to go?

I respond and let her know I’ll meet her at the car and stand. That gets both men’s attention.

“Time for me to go. Family dinner tonight to celebrate me being back home, I guess.” I chuckle.

River looks almost disappointed, but he covers it up well before I can comment.

“Of course. Do you... Would it be okay if I got your number? I really enjoyed talking with you,” he asks, almost sheepishly.

I practically throw my phone at him, not a single ounce of hesitation. Like I’m going to turn down getting his number. Yeah, right.

“Yes!” I clear my throat awkwardly. “Aha, I mean, yes, totally. Let’s exchange numbers.”

Nico chuckles, but when I glance at him, his face is passive, and he’s looking anywhere but at me. River hands me my phone back after putting his number in and texting himself. In true omega fashion, River sweeps me up in his arms. We omegas love a good hug or cuddle. My face is pressed to the crook of his neck as he squeezes me, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I inhale deeply as discreetly as I can, wanting to carry his scent home with me to cherish. And to use as I absolutely flick the bean to thoughts of him. No shame.

When he sets me back down, I give him one last smile and wave before I walk away. Which is harder than it should be. I don’t want to leave him. I want to stay and spend more time with him. I want to curl up on the Ferris wheel with him under the stars and maybe, just maybe, kiss the pants off of him.

I sigh as I reach the car and slide in. I catch one last glimpse of him with Nico and another alpha that must have joined them after I left as we pass through all the other cars and drive away.

“Well? How’d it go?” Mom is practically giddy in her seat.

I smile as I lean my head against the window and look at the sky.

“I think I’m already gone for him, Mama. And I just met him.”

She can barely hold her grin in. At least she doesn’t think I’m weird for this insane attraction I feel towards River. I wonder if the dads will be as nonchalant about it.

Nine

Nico

It’s a feat to keep my eyes off of the cute little omega that is walking away. She’s... I don’t even know what to think. The woman’s scent is delicious, yes, but she’s also beautiful. And I was not prepared to have a reaction to her at all. Especially with River right in front of me. What the fuck is wrong with me?

An elbow to my ribs gets my attention, and I glance down at River. He’s doing his best to growl at me and look intimidating, but he’s just so fucking cute that all I really want to do is drag him to a quiet corner and see if he can keep quiet. I snort at the attempt.

“You could have been nicer, you know.” He huffs at me and turns away, crossing his arms.

My brow crinkles as I frown at his back. I don’t think I was rude. Was I? I guess I probably should have shaken the poor girl’s hand and introduced myself when she tried with me, but it took everything in me to hold myself back when I saw her. And when her perfume hit me after I’d asked River if he just wanted to be punished, it nearly knocked me off my feet.

Those aren’t normal reactions for an alpha that’s already bonded to their omega. How the fuck do I explain to River that the whole reason I wasn’t more welcoming to her is that I desperately wanted to throw her over my shoulder and carry her away like a caveman growling ‘mine’ at everyone who looked our way? I just don’t think that would go over well with him.

Sighing, I grip his arm and tug him to me, wrapping my arms around him and hugging him tightly. I place my chin on the top of his head and just breathe him in for a moment. His scent calms me in ways that nothing else can.

I love this man. So why was I panting after the curvy omega that smells like blackberry cheesecake?

“I wasn’t being rude, River.” I sigh.

“Could have fooled me, you big neanderthal.”

Pulling back, he glares up at me. I run my hand through my hair and rub the back of my neck. I don’t understand what’s happening right now. He’s annoyed I wasn’t friendly with the other omega? Shouldn’t he be upset or something? I mean, another omega perfumed because of me. Or... at least, I think it was because of me.

“She tried introducing herself and you just looked at her like she was an idiot or, or, or, I don’t fucking know! Damn it, Nico, she’s sweet as hell. You probably scared her to where I’ll never get her to come over to our house.”

He’s looking in the direction she went off to, ignoring me completely at this point. Get her to come over? Why the hell would he want her to come to our home?

“What’s going on?”

Oh, thank fuck. Knight. I look at him with pleading eyes to save me. I don’t know what the fuck I did. I thought I did what I was supposed to do.

---