Page 30 of Small Town Shy Omega (Applewood Falls #1)

“You’re popular again, Layla. Back in your evil stepsister’s good graces.”

“I don’t know if that’s good or bad,” I sighed.

Blake tousled my hair, making me grin. “How about we head to Delilah’s for a big slice of pie?”

“Sounds good,” I said.

After Delilah’s we went back to my glass studio.

A pink band of sunlight crept in through my Main Street window, illuminating my hand-crafted wares. My vases glowed, and fairy sparks seemed to dance around my fruit bowls.

I inhaled deeply, soaking up the sights and scents of everything surrounding me. The homemade apple blossom candle I lit earlier blew fresh perfume through the air, and the music? Before locking up last night, we turned on a Thalia song, Hot Buttered Heartbreak.

“I’m glad we went,” Blake cooed, wrapping his arm around my waist.

I went to my cash, and I sorted out some bills. “Damn,” I muttered. “I really am making a lot from those lessons.”

Dreydon went over to me.

“Baby, you have everything it takes to be a strong, powerful businesswoman. I’m so proud of you, and I don’t say that lightly.”

A tender sensation danced in my chest, and I turned my eyes up. “You mean that, Dreydon?”

He smiled at me like an older bro staring at his pipsqueak sister.

“Yes, Layla,” Dreydon said softly. “You’re talented beyond believe, smart, and all jokes aside, you’ve got what it takes to shine.”

“Hey,” I said, pulling out some twenties. “The May blossom festival starts this weekend. Can I buy you boys a cherry blossom donut?”

“We should be buying you the donut,” Blake growled, rubbing my waist.

“It’s the least I could do.”

Saturday morning, I woke up hardly able to contain my excitement. “Blake,” I shouted, buzzing from head to toe.

Not just Blake, but all my Alphas rushed into my nest nook. “What is it, Layla?”

“The May blossom festival starts today!” Dreydon piled us all into my small sedan, and we bounced over the gravel road leading to town.

When we reached the festival grounds… I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Blossoms burst from cherry trees as far as the eye could see. Festival lights shone and sparkled, complementing the morning sun. Food vendors shouted Welcome to attendees, the smells of coffee and donuts swirling through the air.

A band of fiddlers played a spring song, and my heart filled with warmth.

A big banner reading Applewood Falls May Blossom Fest hung high above the ensemble, and people were already enjoying their cherry blossom lemonade.

I blinked back tears, sniffling as nostalgia and excitement overtook me.

“Blake,” I said, holding my Alpha’s hand. “When I was a little girl, my grandfather always took me to this festival.”

“Back before you presented?”

“Yes, well before,” I snorted.

Gretel was handing out samples of blueberry wine, and she put a cherry blossom on each little cup.

Bronwyn had clearly locked up her funeral parlor for the day, because the spunky green-haired Omega was taking photos of the cherry blossoms.

And Irene?

The fruit cup vendor was sitting under a tree, her fruit cups decorated with pretty blossoms.

Even the blue Applewood Falls Lake was brimming with cherry blossoms, quaint and small town-y and beautiful.

I left my Alphas… and feeling like a girl again, I twirled in the cherry blossoms.

I just… twirled and spun.

Pale pink sunlight trickled through the branches, splaying radiant pastels across my cheeks. My purple hair tumbled to my shoulders as bluebirds flew overhead, swooping and diving as their song twittered out.

I was so glad I’d come to the blossom fest today, and a pink petal drifted against my cheek.

“Come on,” I shouted to my Alphas, tears dotting my eyes. “It’s the blossom fest, guys. We have to dance!”

The day passed wonderfully, and we danced near the small band of lively musicians, walked through a snowstorm of flower petals, and Blake even cut us some peaches for a snack. I feel like a very happy creature, just an Omega in her natural habitat.

Dreydon sat me on his lap, and he fed me bites of a big donut brimming with blossom syrup.

“Mmmm,” I muttered as delicious filling poured out.

Dreydon rubbed my shoulder. “Is it good, little Omega?”

“Yesssss,” I growled greedily, taking the donut in both hands and biting into it. Chomp.

Blake looked on, trying not to snort.

“You remind me of a squirrel sometimes, Layla.”

“Try chipmunk,” I drawled.

We floated on the cherry blossom boat next. It was a raft whose base was an oversized cherry petal. Wind blew us around the lake, and a twirl of blossom flowed through my hair.

Honeybees circled us, interesting in the blossoms. We threw petals their way, and they clung to the petals, drifting to the lake with their mini parachutes.

“Beautiful,” Blake muttered, and I thought he was talking about the pretty bees. “Just beautiful.”

It hit me all at once he was repeating what he’d said when we first got together, and if I’d worried that he hadn’t me beautiful in a while, now I knew: he was sure thinking it.

Even if he didn't say it out loud, and even if I got fearful that my bonded Alpha didn't compliment me every second of the day, I just had to replay that Just beautiful in my mind and I’d know.

I’d know he was thinking of me… know he considered me his beautiful Omega.

On the blossom raft, I hugged Blake.

“Thank you for being in my life, Blake. Thank you for complimenting me… letting know I’m the most beautiful Omega in Applewood Falls.”

“Not only Applewood Falls, Layla,” Blake murmured. “All of the world.”

My pack led me to get a cherry blossom sundae next. I smiled, wishing my grandpa was here to see me.

“Poor Grandpa,” I snorted, cherry sauce on my face. “He loved his ice cream.”

“What was his favorite flavor?”

“Toward the end of his life, he preferred pecan pie,” I mused.

“I like brownie,” Dreydon drawled, rubbing his belly. “I like the Halo brand.”

“Halo Top?” I ticked my head his way.

“Oh yeah, Halo Top is the best… Sometimes I just eat a pint for dinner. 1,200 a day is plenty, sweetie.”

“You’re so girly sometimes, Dreydon.” A laugh escaped me.

I’d never enjoyed the blossom festival more than I did today. My Alphas protected me in every way, mainly by buying me treats. My belly was full, and my Omega was happy.

She purred, and I latched onto Blake’s shoulders. “Merrrrp,” I whispered, and Blake gave me a nuggie.

“Did your Omega like eating treats today, Layla?”

“Oh yes,” I replied, climbing on his side. “Very much.”

“You’re getting squirrelly,” he said to me, his tone warning. “Watch yourself.”

“Ohhhh, Blake.” I moaned as I hung from his body.

Dreydon pinched the bridge of his nose. “Chipmunky, Blake. She specified she was a… chipmunk.”

“Yes,” I said calmly, in no way was I giggling. “You get me, Dreydon. I’m clinging on you from now on.”

I moved to Dreydon, clinging to his back. “Carry me,” I whispered, and he just snickered and laughed.

“Get down,” he growled but I knew my Dreydon was only playing.

For the next hour Dreydon carried my on his shoulders. Like I was his little Omega, I whispered in my mind, blushing. Burying my nose in his neck I felt so safe. So safe and protected by Alphas.

They bought me treats. Blake dutifully held my parasol over my head.

By some blossoms, we posed for pack portraits.

“Pretty,” Josh hummed, looking at the picture that Gretel was kind enough to snap for us.

Dreydon patted my bum, his hand reaching behind me. “Little Layla,” he growled, voice deep and tender, “it’s time to come down now, sweetie. We have to get some lunch.”

“Lunch?” How disappointing.

“How does a corn dog sound? With fries?”

With fries? Oh well, that sounded lovely.

My Alphas led me to the food trucks. Josh got a gyro sandwich, I got a big basket of French fries, and Blake and Dreydon? They both got foot-long corndogs, and I snorted as they bit in.

“Look at you two go,” I murmured, trying not to snort. “Eat those corn dogs, boys.”

“Wanna bite of my corn dog, Drey?”

“Fuck no,” Dreydon snorted, shooing Blake’s corn dog away.

My Alphas were all mine, and they only wanted me.

After the blossom fest we went to Whimsical Wonders. They bought me a new pastel paperback. My heart broke and swelled. Because sometimes you feel so many emotions you feel both things. Happiness, and sads. At the same time.

I read my big paperback, and it was one by an author whose autograph I’d received at a signing years earlier. I felt so special reading her book. I’d met the author!

Dreydon tousled my hair, bringing me Rufus’s chicken. “You have a new friend, Omega. Clucker wants to say hi.”

I forgot Rufus had a pet chicken in his bookstore.

I pet the chicken, happily reading my book. “Lay me an egg,” I snorted.

Clucker didn't like me bossing him around so he hopped away, leaving me to my lonesome.

After we left Whimsical Wonders, Blake rubbed my cheek.

“Wanna make love when we get back, baby?”

“I’m not in my heat.”

“It’s up to you,” and Blake shrugged.

Not too pushy—not pushy at all, not even… like he wanted to make love to me, not in particular. Just… a question, a passing thought reaching his mind. Here on second, gone the next.

Just… a tossed-out question.

Blake looked away. Uninterested, paying no attention to me. Paying hardly any attention me, correction.

The answer was yes, I did want to make love.

Even though I wasn’t in my heat, I wanted my Alphas to make love to me.

Blake laid me down, and I moaned as he softly laid his body over mine. “Blake,” I whispered, fingertips cinching around his shoulders. Fates, he felt good. So fucking good, and he wasn’t at all intense, wasn’t at all scary, too much, too strong. Too… nothing.

He was just right, I thought, his hands cinching through my hair, tugging at my purple locks.

“Baby,” Blake muttered, lips ghosting over mine. “You’re so fucking perfect, Layla. Let me make love to you.”

Soft, sweet, and tender.

I wasn’t in my heat. My Alphas knew that, and they didn't care.

That meant there would be no slick, no intense rush of passion.

“Will I bore you?” I asked, not wanting to be unattractive. I wouldn’t be able to stand it if I was.

Dreydon shuffled out of his clothes, and Josh unbuckled his belt… both men came onto the bed, and Josh kissed my hand.

“You breathing is exciting, Layla,” Josh said honestly, staring into my eyes. “I could look at you just… being… forever.”

“Being?” I let out a laugh.

“Being you,” Josh shrugged, bringing my hand to his lips. “Being your perfect self.”

When Blake made love to me, I felt worshipped, cared, for and adored.

Each Alpha took his turn, and I laid there in that bed, emotion barreling over me.

I was like a sponge, I thought, a sponge that soaked up all their affection, love, warmth and protective care they had to give.

Josh bent down, and he sucked on my nipples. “Perfect,” he growled, and his hard dick stuck up, letting me know he was around.

Reaching out, I wrapped my fingers around it. “Let me suck on you, Josh,” I begged, milking his shaft. “Please.”

While Blake entered me, I sucked on Josh’s cock. I just… lost myself in the taste, texture, and truly I felt even better and more attractive than when I was in my heat.

I took Dreydon in my hand next, barely able to fit my fingers around it—and I sucked his next, then I pressed both my Alphas’ cocks together and kissed them.

“O-Oh,” I muttered, Blake breeding into me just right.

“Wanna make you pregnant, little Omega,” Blake whispered, and though I couldn’t get pregnant except during my heat and my Alphas knew that, I appreciated the thought.

I took Blake’s cock, and it was truly like velvet. He was so soft, caring and sensitive…

I milked both Dreydon and Josh’s shafts, liking that I pleased them. When I pressed the tips together, I let both come into my mouth.

“Fuck,” Josh hissed, “naughty girl.”

I stroked their girths, swirling my tongue over their crowns. “Like kings,” I whispered, and I meant this.

In this bed, I was a princess—I was a queen, and my kings did nothing but serve me. I was their object of desire, the one they desired to be with above all others.

“I love you.” My voice rang out, pure and true.

Blake came deep inside of me, passionately kissing me after Dreydon and Josh pulled their cocks away.

“I love you, Layla. You’re our girl…” Nipping at my lower lip, Blake kissed me so tenderly. “You’re perfect, perfect body, perfect soul.”

“Oh, Blake,” I cried out, and he bit my neck. Just… replayed our bond marking, and even though I was already bonded to him, even though I chose him and he chose me for a mate, I felt our connection strengthen.

He sucked on my neck, and Dreydon played with my hair the entire time. Josh went to my toes, and he rubbed them… while Blake gave me the upmost pleasure.

Treasured, protected, and adored.

In their eyes, I wasn’t just an Omega.

“Every Alpha has a spot in his heart to store treasure,” I sniffled, staring into heavyset blue eyes. “Am I in yours, Blake?”

Each of my Alphas responded yes.

“You’re in my heart, little Layla. You’re my treasured Omega, and I want to make you happy every day for the rest of my life.”

Safe. Protected. Loved. Adored.

In their eyes, I was everything.