Page 5 of Omega Dragon Manny (Shifters For Hire #3)

BEAU

Chicken breasts sizzled in the pan while I boiled the package of three-cheese tortellini. A jarred red sauce simmered as I danced around Clark’s kitchen as if I owned the place. I couldn’t remember ever feeling so eager to please anywhere, much less at work.

Cooking was something I enjoyed doing, but when I was expected to do it for work, it wasn’t as much fun.

It was a chore that brought out my anxiety and insecurities.

But as I chopped basil leaves and pulled some frozen garlic knots from the oven, I was almost giddy.

Clark didn’t expect this of me. It was my way of giving back.

Providing for my new alpha, I mean, the alpha I was working for, brought me a sense of joy that didn’t quite make sense. At least, not the kind of sense I was ready to acknowledge.

Maybe it was knowing that he wasn’t going to look down his nose at the jarred sauce or tell me he wanted red meat tonight and I should’ve run a menu by him. Clark appreciated everything.

Clark was making monster noises at his three tiny babies and pulling the most adorable giggles from them while I worked.

Since his nap and, uh, self-care, the man looked ten years younger.

It was amazing what a good orgasm could do to soothe your soul.

That and knowing he was no longer alone.

I had his back and would do whatever I could to make things easier for him.

At first I was unsure how to deal with overhearing his alone fun time.

If I pretended I hadn’t heard it, he’d always be wondering.

If I stated full out that I did know his hand had been wandering, he might feel uncomfortable and kick me out.

So instead, I tried to take his lead. I failed, teasing him for being too much fun.

But it had all worked out. We had some red ears and some diverted eyes, but putting it out there added a level of comfort.

I peeked in on them when I heard him singing the alphabet song. I couldn’t help it. Clark had only been a parent for a week, but he was figuring out how to be tender and silly. Not all alpha, all the time.

From what he said, he didn’t even know this cousin really, and he definitely hadn’t agreed to be the de facto parent if something happened to him. From what he’d figured out, the three were wolf pups and the omega got pregnant by a wolf who then found his true mate and abandoned them. Alphahole.

Clark wouldn’t let them experience that kind of abandonment again. He wasn't that kind of guy. He could find his true mate tomorrow and the kids would be a package deal. Full. Stop.

My dragon growled at the thought of him having someone else.

Possessive much?

He then growled with the need to get closer to the man.

My dragon was being a pain in the ass.

Just as things got quiet in the family room, the food was done.

After draining the pasta, I gave it a toss with the sauce and then plated up generous servings next to side salads.

Nothing fancy, but it smelled good. “Dinner’s ready.

” I kept my voice low and was glad I did because when I peeked around the kitchen archway, Clark was putting a sleeping Betsy between her equally unconscious brothers on the blanket.

Clark was huge and built like a linebacker.

All broad shoulders and those alpha forearms that looked strong enough to carry a car, but when he cradled those tiny babies in his arms, he was so gentle that my middle practically fluttered.

He may not have expected to be a dad, but he was damn good at it.

There was nothing sexier than a big, tough alpha who kissed the heads of his babies before looking up at me and smiling.

Damn, that did something to me.

I could feel myself grinning like an idiot, and when Clark caught me looking, his cheeks pinked as if he got caught doing something he shouldn’t. But he was doing exactly what he needed to be doing. For himself and those babies. And maybe for me too. “Hungry?”

“Starving.” His gaze was heavy as he walked toward me as if looking right into my soul. As he got within a few inches of me, he inhaled deeply. “Smells delicious.”

“Just pasta.” I bit my lip and swallowed, feeling the weight of his attention like a blanket covering every inch of me.

His head cocked, and he opened his mouth as if he were going to say something else but then thought better of it. “My favorite.”

We sat down to eat, and I had to force down a few bites because I was so distracted by the hungry alpha across from me.

For the first time in my life, a perfect future seemed within reach.

I could imagine raising these three babies in this house with Clark…

and maybe even adding one or two more to the brood.

Clark obviously prioritized his new family and was committed to being a good father. Maybe if I played my cards right, he could see me as more than just the manny. Maybe he could see me as his dragon omega too.

When I first got hired as a manny, I was taught that we needed to know our place. We weren’t friends or family, no matter how much our families might make us feel like we were or in some cases full-out stated it. They told us that forgetting this would only lead to heartache.

And maybe it would, but right now I saw my place being underneath Clark, naked and slick. No amount of logic was going to change my mind, and if that led to heartache, then so be it. Because ignoring these feelings would be so much worse. I had to at least try. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t.