Page 7 of Operation: CuddleDom (The Port Haven Omegaverse #9)

JUSTICE

Exhaustion and anticipation were frying my nerves. It had been a long week, but it was Friday. Two blissful days doing nothing. Glenn was under strict orders to reroute all my calls to other people. If Daisy was going to steal my CTO title, I could embrace the dreaded “delegation.”

My shoulders loosened the second I pushed the door open. I could pick out everyone’s individual scent, but together it smelled like home.

I dropped my bag by the door and put the lunch bag on the side table.

Today had been a protein heavy pasta salad with grilled shrimp.

I let the dumbass smile take over my face.

Theo knew I didn’t need to bring lunch. But the little ritual we were developing with a kiss at the door as he handed me the lunch bag was addictive.

The dining table was covered with boxes, bottles, packaging, and what looked like laboratory equipment.

It was like a mad scientist’s workshop had exploded across our apartment.

I picked up one of the mockups of the packaging.

The Twist logo spiraled around the tall skinny empty box, really driving the twist imagery home.

There was a stack of pre-folded proofs next to it with different finishes, glossy and matte.

One even had the logo embossed in gold. That was my least favorite.

“Oh, hey, you’re early.” Theo stepped out of the kitchen, hands full with plates and silverware. “You look like shit.”

“Thanks,” I muttered. Ren’s running joke that “CEO Justice” looked like shit compared to “Pack Lead Justice” was unfortunately sticking. It didn’t stop my smile from widening. “What is all this?”

“Mackenzie’s new formulations and packaging samples.” He gestured at the chaos with the stack of plates. “She’s testing different combinations for the winter line. She made something special for you.”

There was a little pot on top of a green sticky note with my name on it.

“Uh…” Theo stammered. “I know there’s a method to Mackenzie’s madness. I don’t want to disturb anything. They’ll be back soon with dinner.”

I looked from the plates he was holding to the table. We had to get her an office. I was in talks to buy the apartment beneath us, and turn the penthouse into a duplex, but that would take time.

“Executive decision. We can eat in the living room and watch the next episode of Pack Next Door. Why don’t you set the plates on the coffee table?”

“Yes, Sir.”

My heart literally jumped every time he said that. I picked up the little jar meant for me, twisted off the cap and sniffed. It had a faint nutty smell. “What is it?”

“Cuticle cream.”

I cringed inwardly and set it down.

“She wants you to test it before she finalizes the formula.” Theo said. “You promised to test the last batch too, but…”

“I forgot,” I admitted. I had left it next to my bathroom sink, figuring I’d just see it and use it.

I slumped on the couch where Ren usually sat, a bit dejected. The cosmetics line was important to Mackenzie. Using the cream was a small thing, and Pack Lead Justice was letting her down. I squeezed my eyes shut and tipped my back and sighed.

“You’re not good at taking care of yourself,” Theo stated plainly.

I snorted. That was an understatement. He crossed to the table and picked up the little pot, and then nodded to himself, like he had decided something.

He turned it over in his hands and screwed the cap off. He sank to his knees at my feet. I froze. The sight of him on his knees gave me heart palpitations.

He carefully picked up my right hand and dabbed cream on each of my nails.

My throat went dry as I watched him. The concentration on his face, the way his blond curls fell across his forehead, how his fingers moved with such precise care. My omega on his knees, taking care of me. He switched to the other hand.

I shifted uncomfortably, a war breaking out inside me. My dick throbbed, trapped behind my zipper, while my brain screamed that good alphas didn’t put their omegas on their knees.

“Theo,” I said, my voice rough.

“Sir.” He looked up then, his eyes dark with need.

That word. That fucking word that destroyed what little self-control I had. He knew exactly what he was doing, and the knowledge only made me harder.

I leaned forward, putting my hand at his neck to stroke my thumb along his bite mark. The one I’d given him that made him mine. I could feel him breathe harder, his pulse raced. Squeezing slightly, not enough to hurt, just to be felt, I pulled him up to me.

His lips parted for me. I could feel his need simmering, tightly held. He moaned when I pushed my tongue into him.

The door creaked. Mackenzie’s laughter spilled in. I held my breath, knowing Theo would stand and shift away. But he didn’t. He stayed exactly where I held him, on his knees at my feet. My face flushed with that hand in the cookie jar feeling.

“Thai iced tea!” Mackenzie held a drinks tray high.

Ren was right on her heels with take out bags in each hand.

Neither of them seemed to think it was out of place for Theo to be on his knees for me.

I swallowed, thinking a rebuke was coming.

Mackenzie just stepped over Theo’s legs to put the drinks on the table.

“We got way too much food. I just couldn’t decide,” she said, making grabby hands for the takeout bags.

I was still holding Theo by the neck, my thumb on his mark.

I searched his face and then his aura for what he was feeling.

He was calm, level, with a sense of challenge.

I kissed him quick and let go. But he didn’t move.

It was like he was waiting for permission.

I nodded toward the table. The twisted smile he gave me told me he knew the game that we were playing.

“We need to have a talk, Mr. Twill,” Ren said, depositing one of the bags into Theo’s hands.

I braced. “What kind of charm did you cast on the teenager working behind the counter at the Thai place? I placed the order under ‘Twill’ and she made me show ID before giving us the order. She was super pissed it wasn’t you. ”

I huffed out a disbelieving laugh. That was his concern and not the omega kneeling at my feet?

“I know you two get off on this age gap thing with me,” Mackenzie motioned between us with paper wrapped straw, “but she’s an actual child. And you two are old.”

“Ugh, wounded.” Ren coughed like it hurt. She tore off one end of the paper and puffed air into the straw to shoot it at him. He snatched it out of the air.

“It’s the pretty rich boy thing,” Theo said, opening a carton of rice.

Tugging on my pants, I scooted to the edge of the couch, trying to make room for aching cock.

“I sponsored her school’s robotics team,” I said defensively. “She graduated last year and I, well, made sure she got a full ride at Port Haven University.”

“Ah, buying her affection and loyalty.” Theo said.

“So, technically, a legal adult,” Ren noted.

“I propose a new pack rule,” Mackenzie bit off an end of a spring roll and talked around the food, “when we add new pack members, they all have to be older than me.”

I snapped my head to her. New pack members?

“Mmm, darling, you will always be the baby girl.” Ren bent over the table, pinched her chin, and pecked a kiss on her lips.

New pack members. No one else reacted to the comment. To cover the sudden nerves, I said, “Theo, go get beers for us.”

“Yes, Sir.” He said, loudly. Clearly. For everyone to hear.

I held my breath. Ren and Mackenzie didn’t seem to notice that my omega had just called me sir. Or they didn’t care?

Mackenzie smiled brightly at me. “Dumplings, satay or spring rolls?”

“All three?” There was questioning in my voice, and it wasn’t about the appetizers.

Ren flopped down next to me on the couch, rolling up his sleeves. He hooked a finger under my chin and kissed my cheek. “Good day at work?”

I nodded, feeling unsure. We’d been keeping the “yes sir” thing between us, under wraps. A part of me felt like they wouldn’t approve. Especially Ren, given our shared feelings about Mackenzie’s past and abusive alpha asshole ex.

Maybe they hadn’t noticed?

Theo was back. He put two beers on the table. “Ren. Sir.” He said, handing one to each of us in turn.

Well, that blew the “maybe they hadn’t noticed” theory out of the water. Theo sat in a fluid movement right between my legs. Mackenzie passed my plate to Theo, who handed it to me over his shoulder.

I took a nervous sip of the beer before setting it on the floor next to Theo.

They ate and chatted about the food and the new bar that was opening up next to the Thai place. I tried to follow the conversation, but my brain wouldn’t fully get in gear. Something had shifted in my little pack. I crunched into a spring roll, not actually tasting it.

Ren took my plate to pile it high with Pad Thai. Theo was still between my legs, his shoulder brushing my knee. I traced my fingers softly at the nape of his neck. He shivered and moaned, bending his head forward.

As dinner wrapped up, Ren and Mackenzie handled the clean up. Theo sighed and leaned his head against my knee. I patted the couch cushion next to me in invitation. “You could sit here, if you wanted.”

He bent his head back to look at me. “I’m right where I want to be.”

I threaded my fingers in his hair and bent forward to kiss him. The angle was awkward. I kept him there, pulling his hair until he moaned and squirmed.

“See?” Ren’s voice was sharp and made me jump, breaking our kiss. “We could have been fucking this whole time. But no. You wanted dinner.”

“I was hungry.” Mackenzie said with a little whine in her voice.

Ren crouched and grabbed Theo by the ankles, tugging him a few feet forward until he was forced on his back. Ren popped off each of Theo’s shoes and tossed them over his shoulder as Theo cursed and fumbled with his zipper.

I let out an ‘oof’ as Mackenzie dropped into my lap, straddling me. My dick had been hard this whole time. I moaned as she ground against me. She took my hand and put it between her legs, pulling aside her panties.

“I’ve been waiting all day for you to get home.” She moaned as I slid two fingers deep inside her.

“I’ll have to take half days on Fridays if this is what I have to come to.”