Page 36 of As The Shifter World Turns

36

HE HAD ME AT TACOS!

Micah

I’ll message you every hour.

At least that’s what Archer promised me as I sobbed in his arms. I hadn’t meant to get so emotional and in hindsight it was beyond irrational. But there I was crying. And I wasn’t even the pregnant one.

And it wasn’t like Archer was going to Bermuda for a vacation. He was going home to be with his dad who’d just had surgery. Both parents needed support and they wanted their son. At least that was the gist of the information he’d been given. Something told me they wouldn’t have called him unless it was more serious than fetch me a glass of water .

“You look a mess.” Ryder wasn’t wrong. I did.

“I was just thinking about how I fell apart when Archer left.” I glanced at my phone—again—in case there was a message I didn’t hear come in—as it was sitting in my hand. “It was a little over the top.”

“I walked in on the aftermath, remember?” I hadn’t. That day had been a blur. “It’s just because of the baby,” he shrugged.

“But I’m not the one pregnant,” I reminded him. “I did the impregnating.”

“And you’re his mate. That bond—it sometimes messes with the whole thing. Remember how bonding helped Archer?”

He was right. It did. I’d not really spent a lot of time around pregnant people and never one pregnant with a unicorn baby. Why hadn’t I thought of that?

And really, it was a great thing. If I could take any of the side effects of pregnancy away from him, that was an amazing gift. I just wish I hadn’t sent him on his way with me being such a hot mess.

“He hasn’t called in two hours.” I set my phone down on the coffee table. “Every hour he said, which was hyperbole, but still… I worry.” I set my hands on my mating mark. “We’re going to the roof.”

I went into the kitchen and grabbed my Jiffy Pop. “Come on. Let’s go.”

Ryder didn’t even pretend to argue over it.

“I’ll get your phone.” For a split second I thought about having him leave it on the table. Like maybe that would be better for it not to be with me. But also, if I left it here, my mind would be too.

“Thanks.”

We went up to the roof. It was a nice evening, cool and clear.

“I’ve never had that before,” Ryder said as he watched me turn on the gas. “I used to want it as a kid because of the commercials, but my dad said it was too much money for too little food. I think he just didn’t like it because he would buy us fancy ice cream all day long. Ice cream he loved.”

Archer had been fascinated with the Jiffy Pop and there had been a couple of weeks when we had one every night. That was probably why I wanted it now.

“It’s yummy. Do you think he’s okay?” I shut the lid of the grill, allowing it to overheat.

“He’s fine. If he wasn’t, he’d have called. He’s probably taking a nap or cooking a late supper. If he wasn’t fine, you’d know.” I wanted to believe Ryder’s words so badly.

I picked up my phone and started the video recording and handed it to Ryder. “Film me?”

He responded with a nod.

“I was just thinking about you, mate. It’s a beautiful night so I decided to make popcorn. Ryder has never had it cooked like this before so it’s going to be a treat.” I opened the lid of the grill and set the tin on it. “I thought you’d like to see.”

I had Ryder record the entire process, all five minutes of it. I noted every single step like one of those YouTube videos. It had to be the most pathetic video ever made. And still I sent it with an I love you and a Hope you and your dads are well because he needed even more pestering from me. Le sigh

Thing was, I could see how irrational it all was as I was doing it… I just couldn’t stop myself.

Neil

I stared at my phone. Martin had asked me out again—to a restaurant .

Toby has a sleepover. Want to go to the new taco place?

I wanted to spend time with him. That wasn’t the issue. It was the whole going thing. But how many times could I circumvent our dates here and make it not weird or uncomfortable.

We’d had a nice time when I made him dinner. Nice enough that I thought we might move onto dessert of the sexy kind afterward and maybe we would have if his sitter hadn’t called to say he wasn't feeling well.

Since then? We’d had nightly talks about everything via video chat and texts, a couple of walks with Patch and Toby, and hanging out with the gang on the roof. Not once had he complained about the staying close to home thing. He also didn’t seem upset by our slow pace in the bedroom department.

And really, in a way, going slow was good. We were getting to know each other gradually. It wasn’t like he could just jump into things, not with having a son.

But also—I was a freaking walking hard on. I wanted him so badly I could taste it.

My clients loved it, of course. But that brought an entirely new level to the whole thing. I liked Martin. I was with Martin. I was a one man’s man. And yet, I’d had other men see my cock, my cock that was hard as a rock for Martin.

By now, he knew exactly what I did for a living. I’d spelled it out. He said he understood. But part of me, the insecure part of me wondered how that could possibly be. It was the same shitty section of my brain that reminded me I was fluffy and not fit and not worthy of the money I earned. Gah, my brain was a fun place sometimes.

I’d love that. I typed as quickly as I could and hit send before I could change my mind. It was just dinner, and tacos were magical. They would make everything okay… probably. Gods I hoped so. I was really starting to like this guy.

He messaged back almost immediately letting me know he’d pick me up at six, giving me over an hour to get ready, but not too much time to second guess myself.

I wanted to wear one of my sexy manties. Martin had given me all the signals that they were his thing but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. The only pairs I had, I’d worn for other men and women on camera in exchange for money, and I didn’t want anything to be part of our dating that could cheapen it. Instead, I ordered four new pairs for a future date. Build it and they will come and all of that.

A twirl in the mirror had me feeling confident about the way my jeans hugged my ass.

A rap on the door a few minutes later announced his arrival and as I swung open the door, he held up a huge brown bag and the scent of tacos wafted through the air.

“I come bearing food.” He handed me the bag and kissed my cheek .

“I thought we were going to dinner.” I wasn’t upset. To the contrary, I was over the moon excited, but also confused.

“We can. Forget I brought it. I just thought… you don’t love going out and when I looked the restaurant up online, the photos showed lines outside the door… I should’ve asked.” I grabbed the bag from him, set it on the counter and just as he shut the door, I threw myself at him.

Like in those movies from the eighties when the couple decides they’re in love and they just overcame the odds. The omega climbs the alpha like a tree and they kiss, the kiss that says everything as the people in the airport or the courtyard or whatever cheer them on. Yeah, that’s what I did. Only I didn’t stop at the kissing. No, I was yanking at his clothes. I needed to get him naked and inside me stat.

Martin had a little more patience and as our kiss broke so I could catch my breath, he asked, “You like tacos? I’ll be sure to remember that.” He nibbled on my chin, working his way up to my ear.

“I like the way you see me.” It was the best way I had to explain it. “And pairing that with this hard on I’ve had for weeks, this seemed like a good way to tell you.”

“You’ve had a hard on for me?” Another nibble and I unashamedly ground against him.

“Let me show you. Take me to bed, alpha.”

He started walking in the direction of my bedroom. “I’ve been so hard too, only I make myself come thinking about you. Do you think of me when you touch yourself?”

Gods yes, I loved his dirty talk and I couldn't even form words, instead moaning into his neck.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He set me on my bed. “Condom?”

“Of course.” Did he think I was unsafe?

“Where are they or do I need to go and buy some?” Not at all the question I heard, but then again all my blood was in my lower brain.

“Oh.” I bounded off the bed and to my dresser. I had to dig around and was glad I found the unopened box, tossing them his way. “Maybe make sure they aren’t expired.”

I had myself naked in the time it took for him to find the stupid code. “Good for another six months.”

He threw one on the bed.

“Wow!” He looked at me and raked his eyes up and down my body. I had not an ounce of self consciousness, not with the way he was practically drooling. “I knew you were hot, but… I can’t wait to be inside of you.”

“Let’s get you naked.” I worked on his pants while he discarded his shirt.

He was huge. The guys had teased about that but this was too good to share. He was freaking magnificent.

“You are… I don’t know if I want that in my mouth or my ass.” Or both.

“I need my lips on yours.” Problem solved. I threw myself back at him and kissed him with everything I had. Our mouths danced together and our bodies landed on the bed, me on the bottom. We were going fast… so fast, but there was no choice. I needed him… needed his weight on me. I felt safe, completely safe for the first time in I couldn’t even remember how long.

Our bodies writhed as we kissed, grinding together, and our hands explored each other’s bodies.

“I need you, alpha. Please get inside me, I’m so slick for you.” I didn’t even care how pathetically needy that sounded. I’d do anything to feel his cock sliding inside of me. He rolled off of me and grabbed a condom. I pushed myself onto my hands and knees. We could make slow sweet love another time. I needed him hard and fast.

The rip of the foil echoed through the air. There was officially no sexier sound than that. “Is this how you want me, omega?” Not Neil or sexy omega. All raw and animal-like. All shifter.

“Yes, alpha. Please. Fuck me until I can’t remember my name.”

He lined himself up with my entrance. “You’re so hot.” He pushed in slowly. I was having none of that, pushing back on him until he was fully sheathed. “Let me know when you're ready for me to give you what you’re begging for.”

“Now. Please. Pound into me, hold my hips so hard it’ll leave marks. I want to feel you were here in the morning.” When he’d be gone and I’d be back to reality.

I didn’t need to ask again. He grabbed my hips and began to slide in and out of me, there was a gentleness to his roughness and it was hard not to come instantly. I didn’t want it to be over too soon, but my body had other ideas, my balls already tightening up, ready to explode. It felt too good.

“I’m sorry I can’t hold…” My cum shot out on the bed, his hand not even touching my cock, and I cried out his name.

He increased his speed, following shortly thereafter, his knot filling me.

We collapsed on our sides, a sweaty pile of flesh.

“That didn’t suck,” I teased.

“That very much didn’t.” He kissed my shoulder. “But you know what does suck?”

“Me if you give me a chance.”

He chuckled, his rich laughter enveloping me like a hug. “I was going to say soggy tacos. I can go get more after my knot loosens.”

Could he be any sweeter?

“Or we could take a shower and go there… together.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I want to. With you, I think it’ll be okay.”