Page 10 of Let It Snow (Eden’s Omegaverse #7)

My fingers trail across the fabrics. The problem is…

I like everything. It’s designed to catch the eye: cashmere, satin, velvet, silk, or at least a good imitation of those fabrics, practically begging me to touch it.

I can already picture what I could build out of all this, surrounding myself, cocooning myself, creating a space that’s perfect.

A private zone of safety. A way to regulate my own emotions, to find comfort. Yes. I need this. Desperately.

Minutes pass as I wander the aisles, unable to choose.

This one’s beautiful. So is that one. I’m going crazy. The colors are attacking my senses. I squeeze my eyes shut, but when I open them again, I see Snow in the distance, leaning unfazed against the cart, watching me with narrowed eyes.

It’s almost like he’s reading my thoughts again, like he knows I’m overwhelmed. I can tell he’s considering something, and then…

He walks slowly toward a display: a deep violet set with cushions in purples, lilacs, and fuchsias.

What gets me is how he does it, so casually.

He pauses by a pillow, lifts his hand, and brushes the fabric with his fingertips.

Just a light touch, like it’s nothing. Like he’s not trying to suggest anything, just randomly testing the softness.

Then he drifts away again, gaze fixed somewhere down the aisle.

I move closer to the set he touched. Maybe I should do the opposite, just to prove a point. Why should an alpha have any say in nesting? Nesting is for omegas, period.

But… the truth is, I really like this set. Of all the ones I’ve seen, this one feels the most harmonious. The pillows shift in a gentle gradient, from deep plum, almost beet-colored, up through soft lilac, with all the shades in between.

I run my hands over them, confirming it with my body. They’re so comforting. The shawls that come with the set are patterned with gorgeous floral designs. Thin golden threads are woven through the fabric. I lift the edge to my eyes. The motif winds like a secret garden.

A quiet sigh escapes me. I can’t deny it: this resonates with me. Blood rushes to my cheeks as I realize Snow somehow pointed me toward the exact set that feels like mine.

How the hell did he know?

I glance at him carefully and catch him watching me. Our eyes meet, and it’s like a spark arcs between us. Heat flares through me, and Fate, to make things worse, I feel my disobedient cock acting up again. What the hell is wrong with me? It’s gotten way too defiant. Damn it.

I clutch the pillow tighter, my breath quickening, as there’s something undeniably erotic in this strange moment between us. The air feels charged, pulsing hot around us.

With my face burning, I scoop up the pillows and start piling them into the cart, trying to angle myself so he won’t see my erection. But then Snow closes the distance in three easy strides.

It’s insane, but my pulse races as I watch his hand glide over one of the cushions, and my mind betrays me, imagining it’s my skin he’s stroking.

I start stuffing more things into the cart, using it like a wall to hide behind.

And then it hits me with a shock, spoiling the excitement of the moment… I don’t even have any money!

What is my financial situation? Maybe I used to have a bank account, but I’d need a phone to access it. And I don’t even own one. I don’t have a card either. What the hell am I supposed to do?

I freeze, stiff and panicked, staring at Snow. My lips start to tremble.

His pale-violet eyes study my face. He knows! Incredible.

Can he really read my mind?

"It’s fine, Summer," he says, calm as ever, "Let me buy it for you. As a gift."

Heat floods my cheeks even harder. Because in our society, there’s only one situation where an alpha buys nesting supplies for an omega…

It’s always a declaration of interest.

And not the casual kind. Casual would be complimenting my nest. Buying materials?

That’s another level entirely. There’s no neutral ground where this is acceptable.

No omega would ever accept it, no alpha would ever suggest it.

Normally he’d say something like, "I’ll lend you the money. " That would be appropriate.

But no. He’s buying it for me. Buying! A gift. He makes sure to emphasize it.

I stare at him like a deer in the headlights, while he doesn’t break eye contact with me.

And then it hits me. It’s not for show. The attraction I feel is reciprocated.

Snow is also genuinely interested in me.

I swallow hard, though I wish I could say something, maybe protest… or maybe not protest at all. Perhaps just thank him and accept the gift? But my nerves choke my throat, making it impossible to get out anything more. Then… Fate!

My body answers for me.

From my chest escapes a sound that’s wildly inappropriate, one usually sent by alphas toward omegas, or at least they’re the ones who usually start it. It’s what they call an ‘Appreciation’.

The second I realize this insanity, I cut it off with a fake cough.

But it’s too late now, it has echoed in the air like a sensual vibration…

Snow’s face shows barely contained amusement. He probably wants to laugh, but he doesn’t, maybe to spare me the humiliation.

It’s official, I’m acting insane. My emotions are completely out of control. It could put ideas into his head, I need to get a grip. How many times have I told myself this already?

And then, as if to soften my embarrassment, Snow leans toward me just a little and says in that low, deep voice of his,

"You’re stunning, Summer. Do you know that?"

Okay, maybe someone else would find that random, but not me. On some level, I know exactly why he does it.

To… empower me.

To make me feel good about my messy self.

I’m still staring at him with wide eyes, probably looking nothing like ‘stunning’, hardly deserving such an elegant compliment.

Instead of answering, or even muttering thanks, or simply nodding, I just make an even bigger fool of myself. I grab a huge pile of pillows and dump them into the cart like some kind of wild maniac.

And the worst part? My hard-on keeps pressing uncomfortably against my underwear, and it’s just beyond comprehension.

Snow watches my frantic behavior with that faintly amused look, while I tug at the edge of a sash, shift from foot to foot, then let out a breath and grab the cart handle, pushing it toward the checkout.

My dear Fate, this is mortifying. Why did I even drag him into this supermarket? And worse, why did I accept his gift? Because in our society, that’s the same as accepting his interest. It’s practically a public signal that I’ve declared myself HIS omega.

And I’ve only met him what… five times? Gosh, I have to get my memory back, completely. I need to know who I really am, face my past, regain my confidence and the sense of identity I had before all this happened.

Because what if I throw myself recklessly into something with Snow, and later it turns out that before I was kidnapped, I had… a boyfriend?

What then? I’d drag two people into a mess. I need to keep every possible scenario in mind. I have to stay in control.

Thankfully, there’s no line at the registers.

When we pull up, a plump omega at the counter looks over the massive pile of pillows, then glances up at Snow as he swipes his card.

In the cashier’s eyes, I catch this odd amusement, and then he flashes Snow a broad smile. It only irritates me more. When his gaze flicks to me, I make sure my face stays cold and stony, like none of this touches me.

We wheel the cart outside together. Snow opens the trunk of his Jaguar, and we unload the mountain of pillows into it.

As I start stuffing more and more pillows there, something at the bottom of the trunk catches my eye.

It’s Snow’s light violet hoodie, lying there tossed carelessly.

I glance at Snow, busy taking the carts back to their spot by the supermarket wall.

Quick as lightning, I pull a pillowcase off one of the pillows, stuff the hoodie inside, and zip it up.

I leave this one without a case tucked in with the rest, ignoring its glaring white color that doesn’t match anything else.

Why did I do it? Don't ask. Just don't.

Finally, it’s all packed in, and we both slide into the front seats.

The ride back is completely silent. I halfheartedly try to cling to my resolve: to be cautious around Snow, to avoid throwing myself into any kind of flirtation. But in a way, it’s already too late. I accepted his gift, didn’t I?

When we pull up to the Nolans’ house, I realize there’s a problem. How am I supposed to haul all this upstairs without possibly waking everyone inside?

For a moment I painfully bite my lip, and then I glance at Snow, who sits like nothing is going on, his head tilted, the whole aura casual, his eyes shifting over my face and even flickering to my lips?

What? Is it possible he’s considering kissing me?

After all, he bought me a gift and I accepted it. And it was I who emitted 'Appreciation'!

But the sheer idea of a kiss makes me even more skittish, so I jump in my seat and open the car door, basically running away, feeling like a reluctant teenager on his first date.

But while I struggle with my shyness, one problem remains unresolved. The nesting set!

How should I…

Wait a second… It just dawns on me, damn it, I’m a sorcerer. A hylomancer! Why didn’t I think of that sooner?

Without waiting for Snow, I pop open the trunk, and fix my eyes on the pillows, as if to pin them down mercilessly. Or pull.

My power… it’s so shallowly under the surface, I can sense it, like a strong current barely held in place. All I have to do is basically let it work!

I feel the stream of energy rising inside me. Old reflexes awaken, instinctive, like muscle memory.

And then the pillows slowly start to lift into the air.

Snow steps out too, leaning against the car, watching it all with his mildly humorous look again.

"Brilliant," he says, and… winks.