Page 38

Chapter 38

Ava

That certainly was an experience.

I can’t deny that I’m feeling a little worked up myself. Nobody likes it when some snobs are telling them that they’re not good enough. My parents might not have been the best but the things that I want to criticize about them have nothing to do with their family history or the jobs they worked.

To see such snobbery and condescension up close… it sure was something.

But as much as I’m offended at how I was just treated, I’m even more offended at how those two people just treated their son. Garrett’s amazing and he’s a responsible, mature man who can make his own choices in life.

To ignore all of his agency and accomplishments and act like he’s a child… it burns something in the pit of my stomach.

Whatever I’m feeling, though, is nothing compared to Garrett himself.

His scent is a riot of emotions that shift the tones of it, making my nose go crazy. Even if I couldn’t smell it on him, I can tell from his tone and how he’s holding himself that he’s on the edge. His breathing is hard and deep, and when I put my hand on his chest, I can feel his thundering heart.

I look over at Dante, seeking confirmation. I want to pull Garrett away to somewhere private so that I can give him the comfort and support that he needs, but I don’t know if that’s really a good idea or not.

After all, we are still in public. I don’t know how many people have noticed what just happened. Ethan, Caleb, and Dante did a good job of creating a shield of human bodies to keep people from seeing our conflict directly. But people might have noticed.

I don’t want to make this worse by adding to the gossip.

But Dante nods subtly, giving me the go-ahead. I just about collapse in relief.

I take Garrett’s hand and pull him away from the main gallery. There are a couple of hallways that I noticed earlier, leading off into smaller gallery rooms, or to bathrooms, or storage and the back offices.

I pick one of the hallways and head toward it. There’s a velvet rope at the end of the hallway cordoning off another room, but we easily duck under it. This room is smaller and bare, but with little studs in the walls for paintings and plaques. This must be another gallery that sometimes is used, but not for tonight.

There room is irregularly shaped, and there’s a small alcove at one end that I lead Garret toward. Once I’m sure we’re out of sight of anyone passing by, I gently press him against the wall so I can get a good look at him. Someone could still possibly come along, but it’s private enough I think we’ll be okay, and can talk uninterrupted.

“Garrett.” I slide my hands up his chest to his shoulders, squeezing. “Talk to me. Are you okay?”

He shakes his head. “I should be asking you that. You’re the one that they kept insulting. Fucking hell, little one. I know they’re assholes, but I didn’t expect…” He shakes his head again. “I’m sorry for how they treated you.”

“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t make them behave that way. You did nothing wrong.”

It’s funny, but this is basically what the Alphas said to me about Marcus. I understand their point of view now. It seems silly to me for Garrett to blame himself for the actions of others. Those people might have been his parents, but it’s clear that their actions are their own.

There’s nothing he really could’ve done to stop them. And, I realize, there’s nothing I could do to stop Marcus from being terrible. It’s what he wants to do, so he’s going to do it.

Even though that weight now feels lifted from my shoulders, Garrett doesn’t look very convinced about his own.

“I should’ve been prepared for them to be here,” he tells me. “They’re the kind of people who love these things. They like to think of themselves as sophisticated.”

“You can’t read their minds.”

“Maybe not but I know my parents.” He sighs. “I should know they wouldn’t really give up on bringing me back into the fold and all that bullshit. I’m their eldest son, that means something to them.”

I’ve never heard Garrett sound so tired and defeated. That’s not the Garrett I know.

“Hey.” I take his face in my hands. “It doesn’t matter what they said to me. Okay? And it doesn’t matter that you’re their son. You had no control over them. They’re going to do whatever shitty thing they want to do. You can’t predict everything and you can’t live your life paranoid about them.”

Garrett smiles, a tiny, small thing, but I’ll take it. “Sounds familiar.”

“I know, right?” I tease him. “Look. I don’t care what they think, okay? Yes, I’m… I’m still getting used to this whole Omega thing. But why would I care about the opinion of some assholes like that? It’s not like I’m ever going to see them again.”

“You won’t,” Garrett growls. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“I think you just did,” I point out. “And that’s what I’m trying to tell you. You were wonderful back there. You took care of me and protected me the way I would always hope my Alpha would. But I need to make sure you’re okay.”

I point back and forth between us. “This is a two-way street, remember? It’s not just you taking care of me. I’m your Omega. But you’re my Alpha. I want to take care of you too.”

Garrett nods. I’m not sure how convinced he is, though. He still looks upset.

“You know I don’t judge you for them, right?” I ask quietly. “I only care about you and my pack. I care what you think, and what Ethan, and Caleb, and Dante think. What we have? What exists between us? That’s just for us. For nobody else.”

Garrett nods. I can feel myself blush as I say my next words. “And what we have is so much better than anything I ever expected. You’re one of the best and most honorable men I know.”

“I…”

“I mean it. Very few people would give up their family wealth. They might disagree with their family but they would still stick around because of the money. You got rid of it. You left it behind so you could live on your own terms. I admire you for that, Garrett. I really do.”

I kiss him gently on the jaw. “You’re my perfect Alpha.”

Garrett groans softly and pulls me close, burying his face in my hair. I wrap my arms around him tightly, inhaling his scent.

The feel of his body so close to mine and the rush of his intoxicating Alpha scent have a gush of wetness dampening my panties. I can feel it when it happens, and I squeeze my thighs together as the fabric becomes immediately soaked.

Garrett stiffens.

I know he was already affected by our embrace, the same way I was, but when he drags in a long breath through his nose, I’m certain he can smell my arousal.

It’s the best and the worst thing in the world that these men are so deeply attuned to me , I think as my pulse quickens.

“Fuck, you smell so good, little one,” he growls softly, nuzzling his nose deeper into my hair.

He inhales, and the feel of him scenting me actually makes my knees wobble.

“What do I smell like?” I whisper, unable to help myself.

It’s probably not a good idea to feed the fire burning between us, not when we’re in a public space only barely hidden from view of the other guests. But I can’t really bring myself to care about that right now. The thick bulge of Garrett’s cock is pressing against my stomach, and it’s stealing my focus, narrowing my attention down to just the two of us, as if the rest of the world has ceased to exist.

“What do you smell like?” Garrett’s rough chuckle teases my ear. He drags in another breath, a purr rumbling in his chest as he exhales. “You smell like strawberries. Vanilla. Lilac.” He inhales again. “You smell like reckless desire.” His arms band tighter around me, molding my body to his. “But most of all, you smell like mine .”

His voice drops into a register I’ve never heard before as he says the last word, and I whimper softly as my legs wobble again, threatening to give out entirely.

“I’m yours, huh?” I whisper, my heart pounding in my chest as I work a hand down between us to slide my palm over his clothed cock. “Prove it.”

He stiffens, hissing through his teeth, and more slick floods my panties. I haven’t been this turned on since my heat ended, and the arousal I feel right now is almost strong enough to rival that.

It’s not just hormones, not just the potent, all-consuming attraction I feel for this Alpha. My desire for him has gone far beyond the physical by this point. I crave him on all levels, drawn to every part of him—and this newest revelation about who this gruff, stoic Alpha is at heart only makes me crave him more.

“How do you want me to prove it?” Garrett lifts his head from my hair, gazing down at me with blazing dark eyes. “What should I do to you to prove how much you’re mine, little one?”

The words bite me hover on the tip of my tongue, making my stomach flutter. But even though I’m tempted to say them, I know this wouldn’t be the right place for that. If— when —I bond with these Alphas, I want to do it properly.

And hidden away in an alcove at an art gallery opening definitely doesn’t fit that description.

But there are still plenty of other things we can get up to back here.

“Fuck me,” I whisper, the butterflies in my stomach flapping even harder. “Right here. Let me feel your cock, Alpha. Prove that it’s mine.”

He groans, his features tightening with strain. “Fucking hell, Ava. When you say things like that, you make it impossible not to fuck you.”

I grin, squeezing his cock. “Good. That’s the idea.”

“Do you really think you can stay quiet?” he asks, arching a dark brow. “We might be hidden from view, but if you scream, everyone in the gallery will hear you. Can you be a good girl and keep your voice down if I give you what you need?”

“Yes.”

My answer comes way too quickly, and the corners of Garrett’s lips twitch. It’s not a full smirk, but it’s clear he knows I’m bullshitting him right now.

I’ll definitely do my best to stay quiet… but promising him that I’ll be able pull it off is a stretch. I know what it’s like to be fucked by this man, and there’s an equally good chance that I’ll shatter some precious piece of art with my screams as there is that I’ll be able to muffle my noises.

But I still don’t really care.

So I hold Garrett’s gaze as I do the one thing that I’m sure will push him the rest of the way. The thing I know will eviscerate the last of his self-constraint. Slipping my hand down his pants, I palm his bare cock, skin to skin. My fingers wrap around the velvety warmth of his shaft, and I let out a soft, satisfied noise.

Garrett growls. He grips my chin in one hand, holding my gaze and refusing to let me look away as he walks me backward a few steps until my back hits the wall behind me.

“Panties off,” he commands.

My heart skips a beat in my chest, and I use my free hand to reach under the skirt of my dress and hook the waistband of my panties. I shimmy them down over my hips, and they slide down my legs to pool at my feet.

Garrett lets me stroke his cock two more times before he steps back, and my hand slides out from his pants as he crouches down to retrieve my panties.

They’re gripped in his large fist as he straightens, the small scrap of fabric looking even tinier in his hand, and when he brings them up to his face and inhales just like he did when his face was buried in my hair, I almost come on the spot. The wall at my back is the only thing keeping me upright as my clit throbs needily and my entire body shivers with anticipation.

I think for a second that Garrett is going to pocket my panties, but as he drags them away from his face, his gaze finds mine again.

“Open your mouth,” he says quietly.

My eyes flare wide as I realize what he’s getting at, and my pussy clenches so hard that I can feel my inner thighs getting wet.

I drop my jaw, my eyes locked on his as liquid heat burns through my veins. Garrett trails his knuckles along the line of my jaw, then grips it loosely and stuffs my panties into my mouth. The crotch is soaked through, and the distinctive flavor of my arousal hits my tongue, making me moan around the fabric.

“You like the way you taste, little one?” Garrett’s dark eyes glint. “Now you see why all of us are so addicted to you. I’ve never sampled anything better. I could drown in your slick and die a happy man.”

I whimper, unable to respond with words because of the makeshift gag in my mouth.

But Garrett doesn’t seem to need to hear me beg. He tilts my chin up a little, scanning my face. “You good?”

I nod emphatically, turned on and desperate. This time, a rare smile breaks out across his face, and he releases my chin, his hands going for the button and fly of his pants. He works them open, groaning under his breath as he frees his cock. It’s swollen and flushed, precum gleaming at the tip, his length so hard that it looks almost painful.

“Wrap your arms around my neck,” he instructs, and as I comply, he slides his hands over my hips, gathering the fabric of my dress to get it out of the way. Then he lifts me up, bracing me against the wall. My legs instinctively go around his waist, and with my skirt pulled up, there’s nothing between us to stop his cock from sliding against my slick folds.

I make a little noise in my throat, and Garrett’s nostrils flare as he shifts his hips a bit, lining himself up.

The slow press of his cock as he fills me up is the most delicious kind of torture I’ve ever experienced. I know he’s probably trying to go slow so that he can maintain some level of control, but every inch that he slides inside only makes me desperate for the next inch.

More. More. More .

It’s my body’s mantra when it comes to these Alphas, and I can’t stop myself from digging my heels into Garrett’s ass, urging him to take things deeper, harder .

The sounds of the party are a bit distant and muffled from where we are, but I can still hear them, and the reminder that we’re in public, that anyone could take a wrong turn and stumble upon us at any moment, only makes me want this more.

When Garrett is finally buried all the way to the root, I squeeze my walls around him, trying to drive him as crazy as I feel.

He bites out a curse, his grip on my thighs tightening. Then, holding me in place against the wall, he draws out almost as slowly as he worked his way in. When just the tip of him is still inside me, I start to seriously consider spitting out the gag so I can beg him to stop teasing me—but before I have to resort to that, Garrett drives his hips forward, impaling me in a heavy, hard thrust that pins me between him and the wall.

My entire body stiffens, stars shooting through me as I claw at his neck and shoulders. “Mmmph! Mmhhhh…”

He chuckles, his lips finding my ear. “Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that, little one. Did you say, ‘I fucking love your cock, Garrett’? Because it feels like maybe you do.”

I moan around the gag again, my heart thundering in anticipation as he draws out slowly and then slams back in. He keeps up the pace like that, slow withdrawals followed by thrusts that rock me to my core, and my eyes roll up in their sockets. The little alcove we’re in seems to go fuzzy around me, my entire world narrowed down to Garrett’s harsh breaths and the feel of his strong body holding me up, claiming me, owning me.

“Such a good Omega,” he purrs. “So perfect and tight for me. I wish everyone here could see me fuck you. I wish they could see how beautifully you take my cock. The way you soak me with your slick, the way you clench me so tight. There’s not a piece of art here that’s more stunning than you are, little one.”

He drops his head to suck on the delicate skin of my throat as he finishes speaking, and the sensation makes goosebumps break out all over me. His teeth scrape against the side of my neck, and my breath hitches. It’s not a bite, but it’s close enough that it makes my pulse race.

“I want you to come on my cock,” he whispers. “With the taste of your sweet arousal on your tongue. I know you’re close. I can feel the way your body is pulling me in. You want me to knot you right here, don’t you? To lock our bodies together so that even if we got caught, I couldn’t stop fucking you. Is that what you want?”

His words, and the overwhelming thrusts of his thick cock, are driving me out of my mind. I nod, my thighs cramping from how tight they’re clenching around him.

He’s right. As filthy and reckless as it is, I want his knot. Right here. Right now.

He picks up speed, no longer sliding out slowly, as if he can’t hold back anymore. Our bodies slap together, and even with my panties wadded up in my mouth, I know we’re no longer being as quiet as we meant to. The sounds of our harsh breaths and the rhythmic clapping sound aren’t exactly subtle.

But then Garrett hits the perfect spot inside me, and any worries about getting caught fly out of my mind as I fall apart. My brain nearly melts out of my ears as blinding white light flashes across my vision, a burst of pleasure detonating inside me.

A scream rises up my throat, held back only by the fabric of my panties. Garrett grunts harshly, and I can feel the knot inflating at the base of his cock. It feels thicker than ever as he forces it inside me, locking us together as he swells and pulses, filling me with his cum.

My head tips back against the wall, my eyelids fluttering closed as I go limp in the aftermath, barely keeping my legs wrapped around his waist. I feel spent and worn out in the best way, and it sure as hell beats the sick, nervous feeling in my stomach as I talked to Garrett’s parents earlier.

“Oh, I agree completely.” The sound of someone’s voice rises over the distant hum of the crowd. “Some of the pieces on display tonight are truly breathtaking. It’s a triumph, certainly.”

My head snaps up, my eyes going wide.

Fuck .

Garrett tenses up too, his dark brown eyes locked with mine as another person responds to the first speaker. They seem to be coming closer, and it occurs to me that they might be walking right toward us.

A rush of nerves floods me, along with a deviant, audacious spike of heat at the idea that we might be discovered like this.

Hmm. Do I have an exhibitionist side that I never knew about?

My pussy clamps tight around Garrett’s knot, making him grunt softly, and he flashes me a warning look. I nod, although I can’t stop my walls from fluttering around him a little.

The two of us hold our breath, still locked together, as the two patrons continue talking nearby. Their footsteps draw a bit closer, and I bite down harder on the damp fabric of my panties…

But then they change direction, heading away as the sounds of their voices grow more faint.

For a quiet, sustained moment, Garrett and I just stare at each other, waiting to make sure they’re really gone.

Then, at the same time, both of us burst into laughter.

He reaches up to gently pull the panties from my mouth, and a few last chuckles spill out, but I quickly muffle them. He leans forward to kiss my lips, his chest still shaking with amusement as he brushes my hair back from my face.

“That was close,” he murmurs, grinning against my mouth.

“Yeah, it was.” I kiss him again. “But worth it, though.”

“Oh, that was never a question.” The hand still on my ass gives a little squeeze. “With you, it’s always worth it.”