Page 8 of An Omega for Christmas

Uncomfortable emotions assaulted him again and mixed with the alluring scent of the omega before him, they made for a dangerous combination that threatened to overwhelm him. He acknowledged that he was already thinking of Matthew as his mate, even though he hadn't claimed him yet, and despite Matthew being uneasy with the idea of commitment, Grey had already made up his mind to claim Matthew the first chance he got. He bit down on a curse as he fought against the desire to default to his baser instincts and claim the omega right there so that Matthew would never be put in a position of danger again. Grey blew out a breath and told himself to calm down. Matthew needed someone to care for him, not for him to go all Alpha on him and claim him whether he wanted Grey or not.

Grey turned away, trying to catch his breath. He already knew he was lost where Matthew was concerned but he had to try to stay in control. He was an Alpha for God's sake, but he felt like he was being turned inside out by the sight of Matthew standing trembling in his hallway. The scent of the omega was smothering his senses until he could barely think straight. Matthew groaned softly and Grey saw him look cautiously at him from underneath his messy dark hair. Grey's heart ached just looking at him.Feelings of love and lust nearly floored Grey and he had to work hard to contain his wolf as it struggled to get out, desperate to comfort its mate.

"We need to get you warm and dry before you freeze to death." Grey's voice sounded rough to his own ears and he cleared his throat. "What were you doing, wandering around here in this weather?"

Matthew's hazel eyes slowly dipped down to take in Grey's bare feet and soaking jeans, before sliding back up to Grey's muscular, broad, bare chest. His eyes widened and he looked away, pressing his pale pink lips together, a visible shudder running through his body. "I..." Matthew's eyelashes fluttered and he looked up coyly at Grey. "You said you wanted me. I wanted to see how much you meant it."

"And you thought nearly killing yourself from hypothermia would be a good way of doing that?" Grey asked, his voice a little ragged.

"I just needed to see you." Matthew bit his bottom lip before running it through his teeth. He reached forward and brushed his fingers over one of Grey's nipples. "Don't you want to see me?"

Grey's breath hitched in his throat. "Of course I do." He sucked in an unsteady breath as Matthew twisted one of his nipples between his fingers. "You should take a shower and get into some dry clothes, I-"

Matthew shook his head tightly and Grey blew out a breath of frustration. He could sense that Matthew was in heat but he was wary of making the wrong move. Matthew was insecure and hedidn't want to do anything that would hurt the omega, and that included responding to Matthew's heat in the way he wanted to, by ripping the omega's clothes off and fucking him senseless, claiming his mate in every way possible, right there in the hall.

"Do you want a drink? I can make tea or..." Grey's voice trailed off. He removed Matthew's hand from his chest and stepped away, walking through the living room into the kitchen area. He watched as Matthew hesitated before following him into the warm kitchen. Matthew snapped his gaze up to Grey's face, his hazel eyes clashing with Gray's golden ones and tension simmered between them before Grey turned to the stove. He fiddled with the kettle, not wanting to do anything that was going to spook Matthew, despite the fact that his wolf was practically tearing him apart inside to do everything he could to care for the omega.

"The shower's through there," Grey indicated the corridor off the kitchen, "there's towels and my robe on the back of the door. Why don't you take a shower whilst I change into some dry clothes and then I'll make you some tea?"

Matthew chewed on his pouty bottom lip and Grey felt heat spark and burn low in his belly, his cock throbbing in response.

"Don't you want me?" Matthew asked, rubbing his thumb along his bottom lip and fixing Grey with a lustful look.

"You know I do," Grey growled, "but I also don't want you to pass out in my kitchen because you decided to take a moonlit stroll in the snow. Get in the damn shower!"

"Fine." Matthew's voice sounded dull and defeated, but he walked out of the kitchen and Grey heard the bathroom doorslam and the lock slide home. Grey quickly ran up to his bedroom and changed into a dry pair of jeans and threw on a shirt. When he returned to the kitchen, he heard the shower running and finally allowed himself to breathe. He rubbed his face with his big hands, trying to figure out what the hell was going on and what he was going to do. He knew what he wanted to do, but he told his wolf to calm the hell down, because despite the fact that Matthew was in heat, he also knew that Matthew had expressed doubts about being his mate and Grey was only too aware that if he knotted in Matthew tonight it would be next to impossible to stop himself claiming the omega as his mate. He had no idea if Matthew felt the same way about him and he didn't want to do anything that would hurt him, especially whilst he was in heat.

A noise behind him startled Grey and he stifled a nervous laugh. It wasn't often that someone could sneak up behind an Alpha but Matthew had managed it when Grey had been lost in thought. He turned round and his heart nearly stopped in his chest. Matthew was stood there, all shiny and clean from the shower, draped in his robe that was at least three sizes too big for him, his dark hair tamed by the water, slicked back to reveal his stunning bone structure and beautiful eyes. Matthew's hands tugged at the robe and Grey fought the urge to go over and pull the younger man into a protective embrace because he looked so vulnerable, not to mention downright delicious.

"Feel better?"

Matthew nodded. "Thanks." He looked away from Grey, a blush burning his pale cheeks. "Sorry about before, I..." Matthew's voice trailed off and he shrugged his shoulder.

"You're in heat." Grey set a cup of tea down in front of Matthew and he looked at it as though it were the most fascinating thing he had ever seen.

"I don't usually feel like this with it. It came on suddenly and it seems more intense. I... I feel out of control."

"It's because our scents are compatible." Grey shook his head. "It's the same for me. I've never felt as strongly attracted to someone as I feel toward you." Grey turned away and picked up the kettle again, pouring water into his own cup when Matthew didn't respond. "The weather's pretty rough. It's probably settled in for the night. Not a great night to be hanging around in the woods."

"Who are you? My dad?" Matthew's voice held a surly note even though it quivered a little and Grey could see that the omega was shivering again.

"I'm just wondering why you didn't let me know you wanted to come over. I could have picked you up." Grey sipped his tea, leaning against the counter.

Matthew glared at him before lowering his gaze to the floor, his shoulders slumping. "How was I supposed to let you know? It's not like you left me your phone number when you snuck out in the middle of the night."

Grey let what Matthew had just said sink in and he silently cursed at his own stupidity. "Drink some tea and sit by the fire. You need to warm up." Grey pointed to the old leather chair by the fireside.

"Are you always so bossy?"

"I'm an Alpha, so I guess I am." Grey smiled but Matthew just looked dully at him and Grey had to force back the frustrated sigh that almost escaped him. Grey rubbed a large hand over his jaw as he tried to think of something, anything, to say to put Matthew at ease. "I was going to phone you tonight. I was stuck in a meeting all morning and then I've been shopping for Christmas presents all afternoon. I don't know which was worse to be honest."

Silence greeted him and Grey was forced to try again.

"Are you hungry?" Grey asked, resorting to perfect host mode even though it was unnatural as hell to him. Food was always a good place to start, though, he reasoned. Matthew shook his head, clutching the mug of tea and keeping his gaze on the fire, the flames casting a golden glow on his pale skin.

Grey was hungry in more ways than one, but he knew that he could only satisfy one hunger at a time and so he turned to his refrigerator, pulling out a steak. It was probably rude to eat whilst he had a guest, but his stomach was filled with gnawing pains that he tried to convince himself were all down to hunger, and he needed to do something to distract himself because the presence of Matthew in his cabin was making him distinctly horny. The omega's sweet, cloying scent was everywhere, pervading every corner of the room. Grey's stomach lurched again and he felt sweat trickle down his spine as his cock throbbed in need.

Trying to focus, he pulled out a pan and slapped the huge steak in it, turning on the stove, and hearing the satisfying sizzle of the meat as it started to cook. The delicious aroma of the frying steak mingled with Matthew's sublime scent making Grey's mouth water even more.