Page 32 of Follow Your Instincts (Fairview City Omegaverse)

Maggie

T he next time I woke up, the sun had fully risen, and Ben was gone. I checked my phone and saw he’d sent me a text.

I have a couple of client appointments today but you looked like such an angel I couldn’t wake you, it read, along with a hideous picture of me with my mouth wide open, clearly deep asleep and drooling.

I hate you and I will get revenge , I sent back.

As I was brushing my teeth, my phone chimed.

Would it help if I said you’re still the most beautiful woman in the world, even when you’re snoring like a freight train?

I do NOT snore. And I’m suing you for libel.

It’s my word against yours, sweetheart.

I contemplated a good comeback, typed and deleted several options, but finally settled on: Enjoy work darling, and a photo of me flipping off the camera, topless.

I was dressed and heading out the door when I got his reply: You are in so much trouble when I get home.

I was smiling down at my phone, which is why I didn’t notice Lucas standing right in front of the door until I hit his chest.

“Fu- oh hi!” I said. “You scared me! ”

“I was just about to knock,” Lucas said, smiling down at me. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah, really well, I can’t believe how late it is,” I said.

Lucas’s smile grew wider. “I thought you’d been up for a while. I seem to remember hearing some very interesting sounds at about 5:30 this morning…”

“Oh god,” I groaned.

“Yeah, something like that,” Lucas said.

“You’re all bullies,” I said, but it was hard to stay embarrassed around Lucas’ calming scent.

“I was coming to see if you needed help changing your bandages. Your hands look good,” he said, holding my hands gently to examine my palms.

“Well, since I completely forgot I needed to do that, I could probably use some help,” I said.

I’d pulled on a pair of Ben's sweatpants that I’d liberated from his bedroom since the bandage was too bulky to fit under any of my leggings.

And when I realized how much I liked smelling like him, I grabbed another of his t-shirts and tied the front into a knot.

I’d think about the implications of this behavior later.

“I have all the stuff they provided,” he said, shaking a small container. “Want to come to my room? I have the nicest bathroom up here.”

I blushed a little at the thought of going into his room, but nodded. “Lead the way!”

“Come on in,” he said. His room was on the other side of Ben’s and slightly larger. It was very neat, as opposed to the chaos of Ben’s room, but cozy. There were photos of his family on the walls, and his scent had completely permeated every inch.

“Are these your parents?” I asked, stopping in front of a photo of a Black woman with Lucas’ eyes and cheekbones, flanked by two men who were clearly her Alphas.

“Yeah, they took that photo for their 40th anniversary,” Lucas said fondly.

“My mother, Althea, and my dads, Fitz and Lance.” Lance had long, graying dreadlocks, and Fitz was sporting a spectacular handlebar mustache.

They all looked warm, and the looks of love in Lance and Fitz’s eyes made my heart ache.

What would it have been like to be raised by parents who cared for one another deeply?

“They look wonderful,” I said, softly, suddenly a bit choked up.

“Aw, come here,” Lucas said, and wrapped me in his arms while I started to cry quietly. “What’s wrong, sugar?”

“I never used to cry before this Omega bullshit,” I said, sniffing. “And now I’m crying because your parents look like really nice people.”

“Well, they are very nice. And I can’t wait for you to meet them because they will absolutely adore you,” he said, his breath tickling my ear.

That just made me cry harder, and Lucas guided us until we were sitting on the bed, me still sobbing into his shirt. He rubbed my back and murmured quiet words of comfort. After a few minutes, I calmed down.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I sighed. I did not want to talk about it, but if I didn’t stop bursting into random tears, these poor men might just give up on me.

“Just… this whole pack thing… I’m not used to having a family.

Like, yeah, Kira is the best sister ever, but she’s all I have.

And even she has her own life and friends and…

it’s not the same as when we were growing up and only had each other.

But now, there are four wonderful people that I’m coming to really care about and it scares the shit out of me,” I said, twisting my fingers together.

Lucas pulled my fingers apart, then tugged my chin up to look at him. “It’s okay to be freaked out. I think we’re a little freaked out, too, at how quickly you’ve come to mean so much to us. Because you do, Maggie. You mean a lot to me,” he said, and brushed his thumb across my cheek.

My heartbeat kicked up a bit. This was it. Lucas was finally going to kiss me. I leaned forward in anticipation, my eyes drifting closed. But nothing happened.

I snapped my eyes back open and Lucas was still right there, but he looked embarrassed. And not like he was about to kiss me.

“I think we should probably talk about something,” he said awkwardly.

“Oh god, you’re not into me, I’m so sorry,” I blurted, trying to scoot away from him. “I thought you just wanted to take things slow, but if you don’t think of me that way, that’s fine, I can-”

“No, no, Maggie, just give me a second. Please?” His eyes were pleading.

I nodded. Now my heart was pounding in a bad way. He looked down at our hands.

“I’m definitely into you, but it’s a little complicated. I’m ace. Asexual.” He glanced at me quickly, then looked away again. “I care about you so much, and I didn’t want to ruin things. But now I might have ruined things anyway by not bringing it up.”

“Oh,” I said, my heart rate slowing down.

“And I understand if that isn’t enough for you, it’s been a dealbreaker for basically everyone in the past. I know I should’ve told you sooner… I’m sorry, sugar.” Lucas looked miserable, and my heart twinged.

“You haven’t ruined anything, I’m just processing,” I said. “And what do you mean it’s been a dealbreaker?”

“The one Omega I felt comfortable enough to talk about it with stopped the courting process immediately,” Lucas said sadly. “Which doesn’t excuse me not telling you sooner, I just… you’re so wonderful and I didn’t want to be the reason things didn’t work out yet again.”

“What is wrong with these Omegas?!” I said, thinking about the ones who rejected Ben because of his sexuality, too. “Also, I’m not upset. But… do the guys know?”

Lucas shook his head. “I haven’t told them. So they’re probably blaming themselves for things not working out in the past with other Omegas when it’s actually my fault.”

I wanted to ask why he hadn’t said anything, but I could guess the answer. Being an ace Alpha was probably not an easy thing to navigate.

“First of all, I have no issue with you being asexual,” I said firmly. “It might explain why my hormones are more chill around you, actually. And secondly, I’m really glad it didn’t work out with those other dumb Omegas because they didn’t deserve you. You’re incredible.”

Lucas finally met my eye again. He looked incredulous.

“Seriously,” I said earnestly, grabbing his hand. “I don’t need to have sex with you to appreciate how wonderful you are.”

“I don’t deserve you ,” he said. “I feel like I lied to you.”

“I mean, a heads up before I tried to kiss you would’ve been nice for my ego…” I said, smiling ruefully.

“Could I make it up to you with a kiss now?” he asked.

“Is that what you want?”

“I’ve wanted to kiss you from the moment I saw you, sugar. I just didn’t want to set any unrealistic expectations,” he said softly.

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. Lucas brushed my cheek with his thumb again, then tucked my hair behind my ear, tracing his finger along the outside until I shivered. “So can I kiss you, Maggie?”

“Yes,” I breathed. Lucas slid his fingers into the hair at the nape of my neck and pulled me close. His scent surrounded me, a calming cocoon, and then his lips were on mine. Soft and hesitant at first, but more confident when I wrapped my arms around him.

Even as the kiss deepened further and Lucas pulled me into his lap, my hormones didn’t kick into overdrive. It was like being a teenager again, when making out was the best thing ever. The kiss wasn’t leading us anywhere, it was a destination all by itself.

Lucas broke our kiss to trail his lips along the side of my neck, taking deep inhales of my scent. “Incredible,” he murmured.

“Mmmm,” I hummed drowsily. I was so relaxed, I felt like I’d been drugged or something. I burrowed my face into the crook of his neck and we just sat, entwined and content, for a long time.

“I do want to clarify… Sex isn’t off the table for me. But this right here,” he stroked softly up my spine. “This is what I want, 24/7. I want to take care of you, sugar. Cooking for you, holding you, protecting you… I’ve got you.”

I sighed contentedly, and my inner Omega was doing a happy dance. “That sounds perfect.”

“Good. Now let’s change your bandage, which is what we were supposed to be doing before you completely distracted me,” Lucas said, pulling back to give me a disapproving look.

“Boooo,” I said.

“If you’re a good patient, I’ll cook you some breakfast,” he said, tugging gently on my hair.

“Ughhh, fine,” I said, smiling. “I guess you can feed me.”

After changing the bandage on my leg to a much less bulky version, Lucas and I wandered downstairs.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

“Soren and Ben are at work,” he said. “And Lachlan is closed up in his office as usual. What would you like for breakfast?”

“I’d be fine with just one of those delicious mochas?” I asked, smirking at him. “Pretty please?”

Lucas laughed and went to start the fancy coffee machine. “Ben has taught you well.”