Page 16 of Operation: CuddleDom (The Port Haven Omegaverse #9)
MACKENZIE TWILL
I stood with my hands on my hips, staring at the sad little mall kiosk crammed between a pretzel stand and one of those places that bedazzled phone cases. The vendor had spread out a pathetic collection of sketchy MLM beauty products across a wooden cart.
“Absolutely not.” I shook my head. “Twist is not a mall kiosk brand.”
Justice raised an eyebrow. “No?”
“Aria is completely off base if she thinks I’m going to sell my products like this.” I gestured at the disaster in front of us. “Look at this setup. It screams ‘knockoff moisturizer that’ll give you a rash.’”
Before I could continue my rant, Justice scooped me up in his arms like I weighed nothing. His mouth was on mine before I could protest, his hands roaming over my back and waist. Not obscene, but definitely possessive. Definitely obvious to anyone within a fifty-foot radius.
When he finally let me breathe, I gasped against his lips. “Justice. Everyone is watching.”
He pulled back just enough to smirk at me. “Is the next phase of your little plan to turn me into a raging exhibitionist?”
My stomach dropped. “You know about the plan?”
“Ren told me about it last night.” His smile turned wicked. “Operation CuddleDom? Really, Mackenzie?”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “I—”
“Theo was right. You should not be in charge of naming things.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “That’s not where your brilliance lies.”
He set me down, but kept his arms around me as we continued through the mall. And not just around me, all over me. In my hair, around my waist, at the back of my neck. I was still trying to process that he knew about our little conspiracy.
“Can I get your opinion on something?” His voice carried that nervous edge that only appeared when he was asking for something important.
He guided me into a jewelry store, positioning me in front of the glass display case. His arms wrapped around me from behind, his cheek resting on my temple as he tapped the glass.
“I was thinking of getting these for Theo. Two of them. What do you think?”
I looked down at what he was pointing to. They were understated, expensive but simple and two of them? With one on each wrist, the white gold bracelets would look suspiciously like elegant cuffs.
I turned in his arms and kissed him. “Theo will love them.”
We walked back through the mall to the parking garage, the shopping bag swinging from his fingers and his hand at the back of my neck. Two omegas passed us, whispering to each other, giving Justice hungry looks. They knew who he was.
I chewed on my lip, thinking. Operation Cuddledom hadn’t been just about Justice. He wasn’t the only one with walls. I shivered as his fingers absently stroked my neck as we walked.
I stopped suddenly. Justice didn’t stumble, like he was so finely attuned to me he knew my movements before I did.
He looked down at me with that concerned wrinkle on his forehead.
I pushed him, I pushed my alpha back against the glass of a shop window and pulled him down to my mouth.
I kissed him hard, all tongue. He slid his hand into my hair, tightening his grip.
I broke the kiss. We both panted.
“I love when your hand is on my neck. It’s like you’re showing off my bite mark. You’re showing me off like I belong to you. It makes me feel special… and, well, horny.”
A slow feral smile spread across his lips. “You’re mine, and I want everyone to know it.” I pressed my body into him just to feel if he was hard.
“You said I could ask for anything.” I felt my own wall crumble to dust between us.
“I would set the world on fire just for you to toast marshmallows.”
I didn’t hesitate now. No lip biting. No strategizing with Theo.
“During my next heat, I want to be covered in cum. Everywhere. All over me. I want my pack all over me. In me. So full of all of you. Dripping out of me. I want you dripping out of me, Alpha.” The words were clumsy, like they tripped out of my brain in a messy rush.
“Fuck.” He said it in that same tone he used when Ren had him on the edge, just before he lost control. He wrapped his long fingers around my neck, pushing into my bite marks.
“My little cum slut.” He whispered it, his lips just brushing mine.
His aura poured into me. I felt his lust, his desire, his ownership. I let it wash over me, like an orgasm. Maybe it was, coming where I stood in the middle of the mall for my alpha.
He pressed his lips to me, all gentle heat, like I was precious and special. And completely his.
“Do I have to buy you new panties?”
“They’re absolutely ruined.” I smiled wide.
He blew out a breath and let go of my neck.
Delicately, he smoothed out my bangs, tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, like he was putting the finishing touches on a work of art.
We stayed like that for a long few minutes.
I was sure people were gawking as they passed by. Nothing mattered but Justice.
“Oh!” I said brightly, remembering the other errand I wanted to do today. I reached into his back pocket and fished out his wallet. I dug through the bill section and the little pockets.
“Okay, well, who knew a girl stealing your wallet could be such a turn on. Maybe I have a money kink.” Justice laughed.
“Ah! Here it is!” I pulled out his Perc reward card. “You only need two more stamps. Let’s get coffee on the way home.” I closed his wallet but immediately flipped it back open and took out a hundred-dollar bill. “But I want to pay this time and leave a big tip.”
He beamed at me as I slid his wallet back into his pocket. He turned me with a hand on the back of my neck and pointed me toward the exit.
“You want to stop for coffee rather than going home to fuck,” he chuckled, like I was ridiculous and he loved it.
“I… well, I kind of like it when you make me wait.”
“Fuck, we’re taking the scenic route then.”