Page 9

~Carter~

Something soft brushed my lips and woke me up. I opened my eyes and smiled up at Adrian. “Hey. What time is it?”

“Five in the morning. Just got home.”

He started to undress, but I caught his hand to stop him. I’d never had a thing for uniforms, but seeing him in his made me hard as stone within seconds. Or maybe it was just… him . Adrian smirked and left his shirt on but unbuttoned. He undid his pants, kicked off his shoes, and crawled onto the bed between my legs. Within seconds, my boxers were gone, and I moaned as two fingers pushed into my ass, slick easing the way.

“Adrian…”

“Fuck, you’re hot,” he murmured, leaning down to nip the claiming mark on my shoulder. I groaned and spread my legs more. “That’s it, baby. Ready for me?”

Without warning, he rolled us, putting me on top. It only took a shift of my hips, and then he was inside me. Hands on his chest, I rode him slow and easy, moaning with every stroke. He held onto my hips and guided me up and down, back and forth. Fuck, he felt amazing.

“Shift?”

I gasped when he did. Pitch black fur spread over his body, and the cock buried in my ass thickened to twice its original size. The burn, the stretch…

“Fuck,” I panted. “Adrian.”

He growled and thrust in hard, pinning me to him as he filled my ass. I was right behind him, moaning his name again when I shot. The knot made me groan and sent a rush of insane pleasure bolting through me. Adrian rolled us again and bit down onto the mark. Shouting, I clutched his huge biceps and shivered when the pain and the knot sent me barreling over the edge again.

Adrian nuzzled my neck, warm breath puffing on my skin. “So fucking perfect,” he whispered.

I would’ve argued and said no one is perfect, but I didn’t have the energy to say a word. I closed my eyes and draped my arms around his neck. A few minutes later, the knot shrank, and Adrian returned to his human form. Kisses drifted along my jaw and finally to my mouth.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, slipping a hand between us to rub my semen over my lower belly.

“Much better now. How was work?”

“Uneventful, for the most part.” He eased out and kissed me one more time before getting up. I watched him go to the bathroom, and then he returned with a damp cloth. He cleaned my stomach and between my legs before tossing the washcloth to the side. “I did meet a young man and had an interesting chat. Does the name Anthony Nolan ring a bell?”

I shook my head. “No, but I also left years ago. Why?” It took a moment for me to realize why he was asking. “Oh, my God. Did he get away? How? Is he okay?”

“He’s fine now,” Adrian said. “He was found by EMTs on the road. He had a miscarriage. He gave me more info on Ironcrest, though.”

“Oh, thank God. Where is he?”

“In a guest room, actually. He didn’t have anywhere else to go, so I brought him here.”

“Did you tell him about me?”

“Yes, but he didn’t recognize your name either. I’m willing to bet Ironcrest brought him in after you left.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me. What did your mom have to say?”

“She’s over the moon, to be honest. She’s always been uber-protective of omegas—mainly because of Chase. Tony crashed as soon as we got here, but I imagine he’ll be up in a few hours. I’d like you to meet him and maybe be with him when he meets everyone else.”

“Of course.”

Adrian dropped another kiss to my lips, and I chuckled. “What?”

“You’re the first person I ever kissed.”

He stared down at me. “Really?”

“Yeah. I refused to kiss johns. It just seemed… more intimate than I was willing to allow. Same for knotting.”

“You’re not complaining now, I noticed,” Adrian said with a sly grin.

“Not at all.” I reached up and ran my fingers through his short, dark blonde hair. “Thank you.”

“For?”

“For being in the right place at the right time. I hated that life, but I couldn’t see a way out of it.”

“You’re my mate,” Adrian said. He stroked his fingers over my cheek. “I’ll do anything for you, Carter.”

“How about feeding me then?”

He laughed. “Deal. Come on.”

When we got to the kitchen, I was surprised to see a young man sitting at the island, talking to Estell. The family’s matriarch smiled and motioned me over. Adrian kissed the top of my head and went to the fridge while I sat beside our newest addition.

“Carter, this is Tony Nolan,” Estell said. “Tony, this is Adrian’s mate, Carter Goodwin.”

Tony turned and held out a hand, which I shook. “Nice to meet you. You’re from Ironcrest, too?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I don’t recall you, but I left years ago. How are you doing?”

He shrugged and took a sip of Coke. “I’m better now. Still a bit achy, but it’s all…” He grimaced and motioned toward his belly. “Gone, I guess? They made sure before they discharged me.”

“Good thing, too,” Estell said. “If left, it would’ve led to infection—or worse. You’re safe now, though. That’s what matters.”

Tony smiled. “Thank you again, Officer… I mean, Adrian.”

Adrian chuckled and got things out to start cooking breakfast for all of us. “You’re quite welcome. Have you met my brothers yet?”

“Not yet,” Tony said.

As if on cue, Chase and Ian walked into the kitchen. Hayden and Colton were right behind them.

Estell grinned and clapped her hands together. “Now that all my boys are in one place, let’s do a run-down. Boys, this is Tony Nolan.” Then she proceeded to point out the others as she introduced them.

Tony shook each hand, though he seemed to pause when Colton stepped up to him to do the same. “Um… hi…”

Colton looked just as stunned and awestruck. He cleared his throat and smiled. “Hi there. I didn’t get the chance to see you in the hospital, but I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

I shot Adrian a curious look, but he and Estell already appeared to be of the same mind. Grinning, I twisted a little on the stool and watched as Tony struggled to pull his attention from the eldest Cross brother.

“So,” Adrian said with a smirk. “Anyone special in your life, Tony?”

Colton shot his brother a slight scowl. “Adrian.”

Tony’s gaze shifted from Adrian to Colton. “Not yet.”