Page 87 of Choosing Their Omega

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. That must’ve been hard.”

“It is what it is. It was kind of a good thing, in a way. I’m not saying it was good to be poor, but the neighborhood was really rough and my mom worried about me, so I ended up playing hockey. Local pickup games, stuff like that. It was a way to keep me out of trouble, and when I was on the ice, I didn’t have to think about our struggles. Everything else faded away.”

“I know what you mean. It wasn’t fun, losing my job and being homeless. I’m not saying I’m glad it happened, but it’s what led me to find you guys. And I’m so, so grateful to have you.”

Lawson smiles, taking my hand and squeezing it. “Yeah. I knew you’d get it.”

I finish eating. “So you just decided to do a hockey career?”

“Well, there was pressure to get a job, start helping support my family. It happened to a lot of the kids I skated with. But I knew that if I pushed myself, I could make a career out of this making more money than anyone else. So I poured everything into being the best around.”

“Good for you. And you did make it.”

“I sure did.” He grins. “Almost didn’t make it, though.”

“What? I’ve seen you play. I’m not an expert, but you’re amazing. People would’ve been stupid not to give you a chance.”

“Oh, it wasn’t my skating. It was my habit of getting into fights. Even in junior hockey. I’ve almost wound up in some pretty big trouble a few times.” He squeezes my hand. “But my pack keeps me grounded. You keep me grounded.”

“I’m glad.” I kiss his cheek. “That’s all I ever want to do.”

“And you know we only ever want to be there for you too. Your car should be finished getting fixed up soon.”

“I’m glad. I’m going to need it to go looking for a job.”

Lawson frowns. “What would you need a job for? If you want one of course you can have one, we’re not going to keep you trapped in the house, but if it’s about money, we can take care of you. It’s our job as Alphas. You don’t have to support yourself anymore.”

“No, I know, but I have a lot of medical debt from my grandmother’s illness. I need to pay that off.” I glance over and see my shelves full of books.

Lawson follows my line of sight and grins. “I remember lugging those up the stairs. You have quite the collection.”

“Well, hockey was your escape. Romance novels were mine. I would read them to my grandmother.”

“I can see that. The characters always end up with the people who make them happy, it’s a happy ending, problems are resolved…”

“Exactly.” I shift a little, that heat still strong and present within my body. “Also… I did like the… steamy parts.”

Lawson’s eyes gleam and he stands up, walking over to the books. He pulls a few out and flips through them. He whistles low, his eyes still scanning the pages.

“Damn, Lily. These books are way hotter than I thought they would be. I mean, I knew that spicy romance was a thing, but I didn’t realize it got quite this hot.”

I grin, unable to help myself. “I started with the tamer stuff at first. But as I started to get more into reading, I realized I liked the steamier stuff better. It needs to have a good story too, but I like my spice level hot.”

“Fuck yeah, you do.” Lawson lowers the book, palming the back of my head with his free hand and kissing me so ravenously that I can tell he’s turned on—either by what he just read, or by my admission that I like it.

When we break apart, he has a devious glint in his eyes, and his tongue flicks out over his lower lip as he raises the book again, flipping through it.

“So what kinds of scenes are your favorites?” he asks. “Which ones really get you going?”

I flush at the question, but even as a blush paints my cheeks, my lower body feels like it’s on fire, my core throbbing with arousal.

“Um, I read a scene once where the guy chased her through the woods and then fucked her when he caught her,” I whisper. “It was all consensual. She wanted it, and he knew that. But the idea of it, of being pursued like that, then held down and fucked until I can’t even move… I don’t know why, but something about the primal nature of it just turns me on. I like the idea of someone needing me so much that they can’t help but throw me down and fuck me in the dirt.”

“Fuck.” Lawson’s voice is strained, and when I glance at him, he’s not looking at the book anymore. He’s looking at me, raw desire written on every line of his face. “You’re such a dirty girl. I love it. I should’ve known you’d have more kinks than a garden hose. It’s always the innocent-looking ones who’ve got a secret freaky side.”

That makes me laugh, and although he chuckles too, the heat doesn’t leave his expression. He arches one brow as he prompts, “What else? What else do you like?”

I’m aware that the other Alphas have woken up around us. They haven’t even moved, but I can sense a change in the atmosphere of the room, the air growing thick with tension as they all listen in on my conversation with Lawson.

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