Page 4 of Loving My Omega (The Perfect Designation Trilogy #2)

Chapter

Four

M y eyes widened and I looked down at his chest. We hadn’t really talked much about actually mating. Yes, we were courting. That was the relationship step to head into marking and mating. It just was something we hadn’t talked about. The timeframe and everything that went with mating. My hesitation must have showed on my face because Marcus let out a small sigh before stepping back.

He grabbed the kettle and poured himself water into the instant coffee powder I had gotten at the market. “Sit with me. We need to talk.”

I sighed as well and grabbed my ginger tea. I followed him around the kitchen and he sat on one of my two stools I had thrifted when I first moved in. Sitting in the other one, I took a few slips as I watched him over the top of my mug.

“Originally, you said your plan was to move away from the city. Then, when you found out that you were pregnant, that moved the timeline up.”

Nodding, I placed the mug down on the counter but held it in my hands for the warmth. “Then, with what Dr. Cardiff said…”

“That she wouldn’t be able to help you? Because you’re high risk?”

This was always the conversation. We started off rehashing the details. Yes, I was underweight. Yes, I was high risk. Yes, she wouldn’t be able to treat me past the next appointment. Still, it never reached past that. I don’t think either of us wanted to talk about what we were planning. Because neither of us had planned to be together.

“Would you move with me?” I asked, instead of answering his questions.

We needed to get past this. We needed to secure a future because I couldn’t stay here. In this apartment or in this city. I’d need to work with Professor Davidson in regards to the upcoming winter quarter, but that didn’t have anything do with my living situation. Marcus and I needed to figure out if this thing was supposed extend past the next few weeks while I could hide.

“Move? You mean to the French Riviera?” There was some amusement in his voice, thinking that I wasn’t actually serious about moving there.

I leaned back in the seat to grab a folder that was pushed against the wall. Opening it, I pulled out a sheet of paper and slid it over to Marcus. He leaned forward, looking over the information. His head cocked to the side for a moment.

“It’s mine.”

His eyes widened and he looked up at me. “What?”

My lips pursed as I stared at the photo of the house. “Mike didn’t want to wait and lose the opportunity, even if I didn’t end up using it. It would be an investment either way.”

“This house…is yours. You purchases this? With what money?”

“Mike invests for me. I would put the money my parents gave me into an account, then whatever I made on the side, I’d put it in there too. At least what wasn’t going to bills. Mike uses it to his discretion to invest and trade. Honestly, I’ve lost track of what he does anymore. I just make sure I have enough if I need to make purchases.”

Marcus rubbed his mouth for a moment. “You had enough saved up to purchase an entire house in the French Riviera and you’re still working at the cafe?”

Groaning, I grabbed my mug. “The reason I had the money to invest in the first place is because of the dock job and the cafe. Please, I don’t want to argue about this.” I took a sip of my tea. “Marcus, I need to know what to do. I…I can’t stay here. I’m going to be found out. Here, at school, anywhere in this city. It’s not safe for me. It’s not safe for our pup. I don’t have anywhere I can go.”

“Then move in with me.”

My heart leapt into my throat. “Marcus…that’s…”

“It would keep you close to school. You would be close to Mike and Sabrina. I would still be able to work. At least the winter quarter. I’ll take off Spring with you. My family would be close to help you as well. Stay with me. Move in with me.”

I didn’t think he would just outright ask me to live with him. What I had been thinking just went out the window and I sat there, staring down at my tea. The strong scent of ginger was helping my stomach but not my nerves. It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about moving in with him, it just seemed like a final step.

Finally, I sighed and not looking up at him as I continued to stare at the mug in my lap. “When…or…I guess…did you…think of marking…?”

My cheeks were flushed and I looked up, he didn’t seem to be expecting my question. His cheeks also flushed red. I watched his mouth open twice before he rubbed his face under his glasses. He started to take off his glasses but he thought better of it. Probably considering that he’d already broken one crystal tonight.

“I wanted to wait until you were comfortable. I know you still aren’t completely sold on the idea.” I started to open my mouth to argue but he cut me off. “I know you have said that just agreeing to the courting was you agreeing but I can see it in your face. Sometimes you don’t know if I mean it when I say I want you. You say things like you have to feel like you belong next to me. I want my actions to show you that I am one hundred percent in this, Colt. For the long run, not the short.”

Rubbing the back of my neck, I sighed. “I just…I’m afraid you’re going to come to your senses…or you will meet your mate…”

His hand reached up and cupped my cheek. “Colton, look at me.” My head rose, mostly because he was forcing me to look up. “I did meet my mate. I met you. You are my mate, the only one I have ever wanted.”

“You know what I mean. Your fated mate. Then, I’ll just…be in the way. You’ll have a pup with me and at some point…”

“Colt, stop. This line of thinking, I know it’s your worst case scenario. I’m not like that though.”

I knew that. I knew Marcus wasn’t like that. My eyes squeezed shut as I tightened my hold on the mug. He had showed me and told me that he wasn’t like anyone I’d met. My heart, my soul, and my wolf longed to be connected to him. To be truly his and I didn’t ever think he was lying to me. It just was so hard after so many years. So many years of hearing that I wasn’t meant to have anything, of being in hiding knowing I would die the second I was found out.

“I know. I know you aren’t.”

The mug disappeared from my hands and my stool was moved closer to him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. My hands came up and I held him as well, taking in his scent of burnt birchwood.

“We have some time. At least a little. How about we continued like we are now, but as soon as you have your second doctors appointment, we have a serious conversation about you moving in with me. We don’t need to be marked for that to happen. It won’t be easy but if I order some new crystals, we will be okay at least for a few months.”

“Wait, but that’s…really soon…”

He chuckled. “I know. You also are showing a lot more and you are going to continue to get bigger. I don’t want this hanging in the air.” His hand rubbed my back. “If you feel like you need to, or something happens, this can be another option. But it will be for the both of us. I’m not going anywhere, Colton. I’m by your side through all of this.”

I nodded, nuzzling into his chest. “Yes, Alpha.”

Marcus let out a purr and I felt myself start to melt again. “You need…you can’t do that. I’m going to lose myself, Little Omega.”

“Fine.” I pried myself away from him. “You need better crystals.”

He laughed and nodded, sipping his coffee. “I’ll ask Selene. See if she can make me my own.”

“It took her months for her to get mine. But I mean, you can’t even catch a whiff of me.”

“It’s almost disconcerting. I could get a hit of your scent. Not just as a shifter but there was always an edge of cardamon. Not sure I can explain it but it was always just specific to you. Now, there it nearly nothing. Not unless I dip my nose into your neck.”

Getting off the stool, I pulled out one of my dark blue scarves. I had that one, another black one, and the one that Mrs. Truman had given me. That was was my favorite and by far the softest. Mrs. Truman’s mate was an Omega and she had it before she died. It was now one of my most treasured possessions.

“You can have this one. It should match a few of your suits. I’ve had this one since I was in high school. I brought it from one of the markets that the school put on. Normally, I didn’t get to go but I had been working as a coordinator that year with some of the Seniors.”

He took it from me and brushed his hand over it softly. “Thank you. This should help.”

“Give it back when my scent is gone and I’ll swap it out.”

Gently, Marcus folded it and set it on the counter. He sighed and frowned for a moment.

“What?” I asked, wondering why his mood dipped.

“You need to sleep. It’s already ten.”

Wrinkling my nose, I shook my head. “I’m fine. It’s early still…”

“We are back to class tomorrow. After a week off, it’s important to make sure you get enough sleep.”

I chuckled. “The only one who has be on campus is you. My first class starts at eleven. I was going to go to the grocery store at some point.”

“Did you want me to take you? I could after my class.”

“Marcus.” Blinking, I gave him my ‘too much Alpha’ look.

He chortled and leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Alright, alright. You win. You have the key though? To my office?”

I nodded. “I have the key to the office and the key that you somehow managed to make a copy of for the main building. That thing is like from the 1800’s.”

“It might be. It’s fine. Use it if you need it. Just in case. I don’t want you stuck, unable to go somewhere.”

Biting my bottom lip, I tried to stop the smirk. “You mean, stop me from going to Mike’s.”

His hand rubbed the back of neck while his other hand tapped the side of his mug. “I know he’s your best friend. I knew he looks out for you and you trust him.”

“Implicitly.”

Marcus let out a sigh. “I just don’t want you smelling like another shifter. I doubt that room has a second bedroom. I’ve been in a few of the fraternities. I don’t want you sleeping on the couch and I the thought of you sleeping in someone else’s bed...” His eyes glowed their golden color as I watched him try to take slow deep breaths.

Stepping up to him, I maneuvered myself between his legs. Somehow, even sitting, he was still taller than I was. Holding his face in my hands, I pulled his head down into a kiss. His lips now tasted like the coffee but it was worth it. His hands wrapped around me and pulled me close.

I never thought I would have this. I never thought I could be loved like this. In my mind, I thought I would have to be on the run forever. No one would be safe with me and I felt like it was just better to not get anyone involved. My heart and my wolf wanted love, but I couldn’t bare to have it all taken away. The cost for betrayal was too high.

Now, with Marcus, I finally felt like maybe I could have it all. He was safe. He was everything I wanted. Albeit a little too Alpha, but that was something we both were working on. Him dialing it back and me allowing him to take care of me more. At one point, we would find a good middle ground. For now, it was a give and take.

“Mike isn’t what I want, Marcus. It’s you. It’s my Alpha. Mike knows that and he is currently with Sabrina. He does have plans on asking to mark her.” He started to open his mouth but I put my finger on his lips. “But I understand it makes you uncomfortable. I won’t stay the night over there anymore. I can’t promise I won’t smell like him. We are best friends and I go over there between classes, or take an actual warm shower. But I’ll make sure if something does happen, I reach out to you or use the key to your office.”

Marcus smiled and brushed some of my hair behind my ear. “Thank you. I can agree to that compromise.”

Taking his hands, I pulled him off the stool and flopped back on my bed. He sighed and walked around to the edge, laying down on top of the covers as I snuggled in. Curling up next to him, I did my best to be as close to him as I could. His scent calmed me and it was even stronger since he had one less crystal. Marcus leaned over and flicked the lights off.

“I’m sorry about Thanksgiving. I wanted to go. I know you were looking forward to it.”

He turned his head and kissed my forehead. “It’s fine. You’ll meet them eventually. Your health comes first right now. You and our hatchling.”

Closing my eyes, I let his scent completely overwhelm my sense. “You smell nice.”

Chortling, Marcus put has hand on my leg, though irritatingly on top of the blankets. “Sleep, Little Omega.”

So much for trying to seduce him. The exhaustion that seemed never ending finally took over. I felt it dig deep under my eyes and my body got heavy. Soon, the only thing I was aware of was Marcus but even that slipped away as I fell asleep.