Omega Mine

Josie and Grayson were side by side, walking through the forest in the dead of night, so close that each step had their hands brushing together. A little zap of awareness went through her with each gentle touch, her body heating with desire as she remembered very fondly just what those hands felt like along her skin.

Reluctantly, she pushed her feelings back, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention to herself while they were on the move.

Jameson and David were ahead of them, leading the way toward Charleton, and Gemma was at the rear, the three of them forming an odd, makeshift circle of protection around her and Grayson. It was weird, but not unwelcome.

“How are you feeling?” Josie asked Grayson quietly.

“Fine,” Grayson replied darkly, eyes narrowed on the world around them. Each time a bush rustled, his head whipped toward the noise, a growl pouring from his throat. Sometimes it was just the wind, other times it was a woodland creature, like a stag or a bunny.

Grayson didn’t care about the size of the animals that neared them; he threatened anything and everything that came too close to her. It was as endearing as it was aggravating as he was constantly on edge, not that she blamed him. She was on edge too, and she was very familiar with the woods.

This is all new to him. Be patient, she chided herself. Hadn’t he told her just a few short days ago that he couldn’t even remember what the wind felt like on his skin? And now he was fully immersed in the world. And he couldn’t even enjoy his newfound freedom, or bask in something so simple as nature, because they were pretty confident they were being hunted.

He had to be overwhelmed.

Josie leaned into her mate, his scent filling her lungs and easing some of the tension in her shoulders. “I know this is a jarring change. I just want to make sure that you’re okay,” she whispered, not wanting to be overheard, though it was next to impossible to keep secrets around anyone in their group.

Grayson made a disgruntled noise in response, but his hand clenched into a tight fist.

She reached for him, her fingers curling around his closed hand. She caressed the old scars on his knuckles until slowly, his fist opened. Not giving him a moment, she intertwined her fingers with his, squeezing his hand affectionately.

Grayson’s brow furrowed in confusion and he looked down between them, staring at their joined hands.

“What are you doing?” he asked gruffly.

“Holding your hand.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to.” She shrugged, not knowing if she should laugh at his question or feel hollowed out that he couldn’t even grasp why she’d want this small connection between them. “It lets me feel more connected with you.”

His eyes lifted to hers as he studied her. “Like I feel when I hold you at night while you’re sleeping?”

Her face flushed, and her eyes softened. “Yes. Except now I’m awake, so I can enjoy it too.”

He huffed, looking away from her to observe their surroundings once more. But his fingers curled around her hand, keeping a firm hold on her. The small action made her heart beat hard, and butterflies took wing in her stomach, which was silly, really.

Josie knew Grayson on such a profound physical level that holding his hand shouldn’t have made her feel giddy, but it did. It was new, and exciting, and she felt like she was his in a much different way than sexually.

This felt almost more intimate than sex.

Just then, she felt a shift in her mind, catching a faint glimpse of Grayson’s emotions. Warmth and affection spread from him, filling her up until she was swimming in a sea of his thoughts, all of them revolving around her.

In an instant, his emotions left her, only a small echo remaining behind that whispered across her senses. She cast a quick glance to him, wondering if he’d noticed that their mate bond was growing stronger. He seemed completely oblivious.

“We’ll stop for a break,” Grayson called ahead, his words carrying a hard command even though he’d barely raised his voice. “I can hear a river and Josie and I need to bathe.”

Oh, thank fuck.

Although fresh clothes had been nice to wear, cleaning herself off with some blankets after days of sex hadn’t been quite the bath she’d been longing for.

“I could stop for a piss,” David agreed, shrugging his shoulders when Jameson sighed in irritation. “It’s probably best if we set up camp anyway. The moon’s already beginning to set.”

The Omega turned toward them. “We should really keep moving. We’ve only traveled for–”

“More than ten miles on foot,” Gemma cut in with a yawn. “We’ve spent almost all night walking through these woods with nothing but your flashlight as a light. My eyes ache from the strain and I’m starving.”

“We could catch a deer while they bathe,” David suggested, turning around to smile at Gemma. “It’s been a while since I’ve hunted for food, and I’m sure you’re a natural at it.”

Gemma smirked. “Probably better than you, you adorable little Beta.”

David’s mouth dropped open in shock. “I am over a foot taller than you!”

Snorting, Gemma dropped the bag she’d been hoarding her supplies in. She pulled out a bar of soap, handing it to Josie. “It’s nothing special, but I assume you’ll be happy with the bare minimum.”

Josie clutched the bar of soap hard, smiling gratefully when Gemma also pulled out a worn towel. Grayson took it quickly, nodding once before he began pulling Josie toward the sound of running water. She barely managed a hasty thank-you before he tugged her through the trees, the water growing louder the further they ventured through the bushes.

“Slow down, Grayson.”

He didn’t answer, not slowing his pace until they cleared the thicket, ending up at a riverbank.

Turning toward her, Grayson cupped her face, kissing her hard. Startled, she dropped her bar of soap, knees weakening as he pulled her flush against him. He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her until she was straddling his waist, kissing him back just as ardently.

All it took was one brush of his lips against hers and she was soaked, her body aching for his touch. She welcomed it, desire coiling within her. Without her mating heat, the need to submit to Grayson wasn’t as strong, so she fought him for dominance. Nipping his lower lip, teasing his tongue with hers and taking over their kiss until he was groaning into her mouth, his cock hard and demanding against her belly.

The sounds of their heavy breathing nearly drowned out the river, her pulse drumming in her ears as he cupped her ass, his other hand pulling her shirt off in one quick motion.

“I need you,” Grayson growled, his warm breath fanning her mouth. His mind opened to hers, the mating bond giving her a glimpse of just how much he wanted her. Craved her. Needed her.

It stole her breath, leaving her desperate to sate him. To please him in any way that she could.

Smiling softly, Josie kissed him again, submitting to her Alpha.

Nearly an hour later, Grayson and Josie stepped into the icy water to bathe. She hissed out a breath, body tensing as they waded in until the water reached her hips. She was a bit sore from their fervent lovemaking, her legs and pussy aching from his handling. Not that she’d minded. Hell, she’d loved it, especially when Grayson had pinned her against a tree and rutted inside her until she’d nearly blacked out from her orgasm–but the chill from the water wasn’t helping her sore body in the slightest.

“Cold?” Grayson pulled her into his arms, the warmth of his body helping to keep some of her shivers at bay until slowly, she relaxed. “Shouldn’t Omegas be naturally warm like us?”

Josie shook her head. “No, Alphas and Betas run hotter than us. But that’s okay,” she poked his chiseled stomach, ignoring his small grumble of protest until she began running the bar of soap over his chest. “I’ve got you to keep me warm.”

“Always,” he told her seriously, his voice dark with possession. He cupped the back of her head, fingers wrapping around her hair and tugging gently until she looked up at him. His eyes mirrored his voice, possession stamped into every feature of his face. “I’ll always protect you, Josie, even from the cold.”

He took the bar of soap from her, rubbing it in his hands until he’d developed a nice lather. Then he was washing her, his movements sensual but sweet, a perfect combination that had her nipples hardening under his palms as he cleaned her breasts.

“You’re tempting me again,” Grayson growled, leaning down and kissing her softly on the lips. He pinched her nipple and she gasped, her core tightening as desire flared to life. She arched into his touch, hoping he’d pinch her stiff peak again. With a chuckle, his soapy hands moved from her breasts to her stomach and then lower.

“That’s not nice,” she whimpered, biting her lower lip.

“I’m not a nice male,” Grayson answered.

“You’re nice to me. Sometimes,” she teased ruefully, and his eyes darkened with lust.

His hand dipped into the water and between her legs, cupping her pussy. “I love that I can feel my cum still spilling from your greedy little cunt and onto my fingers.” He pushed those fingers into her, kissing her chin and then her neck–right where his mating mark rested. Josie shivered, but this time it had nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with her mate. “When we’re settled, little mate, I’ll keep your belly and your pussy full of my cum.”

“That’s so dirty,” Josie moaned, clutching his shoulders when he licked her mating mark, pushing a third finger into her. He’d done that during her mating heat. Fed her his cum in between rounds of wrecking her pussy and feeding her cunt his knot. She’d loved it then, and the thought of him repeating that only made her burn hotter, need spiraling through her.

She squeezed her eyes shut as he pushed deeper, lips parting on a sharp cry of pleasure as he began fucking her lazily, curling his knuckles until he was hitting the sweetest spot inside her.

“Don’t pretend you won’t love every load I pump down your throat,” he murmured, his thumb finding her clit and teasing her. “I can smell how hot that makes you. I can feel your pretty pussy sucking my fingers in just by mentioning it.” He nipped her neck and she gasped, her hips rolling to take his fingers deeper.

“Grayson!”

“That’s it, baby girl, scream my name,” Grayson groaned, sucking on her mark until she thought she’d come undone from that alone.

“I should try to be quiet,” she argued pitifully, another moan pouring from her lips. She didn’t think she could be quiet even if she could help it–which was definitely an impossibility right now.

“No one’s around but you and me, Josie,” Grayson assured her, giving her a heated kiss that robbed her of her senses as his fingers worked faster, scissoring inside her. “Let me hear my sweet mate call for her Alpha.”

Josie dropped her head onto his shoulder, gasping for breath as he pumped into her relentlessly. Deep, heavy strokes of his fingers that she felt everywhere. Her toes curled and her knees buckled, but Grayson was there, lifting her leg to spread her open for him.

“Scream for me, Josie,” he commanded, right as her pussy fluttered from her orgasm.

Josie wailed his name, holding onto him tightly as stars exploded behind her eyes, her vision blurring as pleasure took hold of her. She didn’t even realize Grayson’s fingers had left her entrance until he stretched her leg over his hip, ramming his cock into her with one, powerful stroke.

From there, Grayson owned her body, taking her until she orgasmed again, gripping his shaft until he bellowed her name. He followed her into ecstasy, his knot swelling inside her as he came. It was intense, and immediately, her own exhaustion began to creep in.

Josie was so out of it that she could barely move for the remainder of their bath. As it was, she remained slumped against Grayson as he finished cleaning her and then himself. He didn’t seem to mind, holding her closely around the waist as he rinsed the soap from their bodies. Next, he carried her from the river, drying her off with the towel before dressing them both before plucking her up and into his arms.

The sun was just beginning to rise by the time they made their way back to camp. Josie drifted on and off in Grayson’s arms as he carried her, only the smell of cooking meat keeping her awake.

She was worn out, the toll of the last week finally settling over her.

“Don’t fall asleep yet, baby girl.” Grayson nuzzled the crown of her head with his chin. “Let me feed you, and then you can sleep all day.”

Josie shook her head. She couldn’t sleep that long. They’d all made plans to take turns keeping watch throughout the day while the others slept–

“You’ll rest and I’ll combine your shift with mine,” Grayson insisted as if he’d read her mind, his tone brooking no argument. “I’m used to little sleep, and I’d prefer you get as much as you can. Your body has been through a lot.”

“Well, I can thank you for that,” she joked with a yawn, her jaw cracking from the force of it. “You’ve officially worn me out. I’m exhausted,” she said, contentment evident in her voice.

“You better get plenty of sleep then, because I’ll never be finished with you, little mate.” He kissed her forehead. “I’ll never get enough of you,” he breathed against her temple, and her heart clenched.

She didn’t think she’d ever get enough of him either.