Page 10 of Tending Our Omega (Saved by the Alpha Pack #1)

James

I had to see her again. Heath and Seth told me it was too soon, but I’d never been an alpha who kept things cool. I was direct, my heart always on display, but for her? It was cracked wide open. The only way to build intimacy was to be transparent. Clear as glass.

Especially with an omega like ours. Romi was slow to trust, but who could blame her?

Not me.

Still, I had to show her I was there for her in whatever capacity that meant.

And tonight, it meant sitting in a booth alone while she worked.

Greatest show of my life.

She didn’t wear anything overtly revealing, but she was all the degrees and shades of sexy just being herself.

Her jeans were made for those curves. Wide, grabbable hips.

A firm, round ass. Tits that were perfect handfuls.

Plus, she was damned gorgeous. Her hair was pulled up into a messy bun tonight.

Tendrils of flyaway hairs got in her face once in a while, and she blew them away or fanned at them like they were pests.

Fascinating.

“You have to order something, or it’s just creepy.” She came over and sat next to me in the booth. Her thigh brushed mine, making me instantly hard. I took the cue and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Tell me what’s delicious here?” I whispered in her ear.

Her perfume wafted up toward me and if she wasn’t on the job, she’d be on the nearest flat surface and underneath me in seconds. Plus, I was a gentleman. For now.

Her scent was all vanilla and spice and cheesecake tonight. Entirely too tempting.

“You’ve had the burgers and fries,” she said, turning to look at me. Our lips were mere inches apart.

So I did what any warm-blooded shifter would do. Or at least a gentlemanly one. “Can I kiss you?”

“I’m at work,” her words said, but her blush told me otherwise.

“Later, then.”

“How long are you planning on staying?”

I shrugged. “Long enough to spend some time with you. You closing tonight?”

“Yes, but, James…”

I purred at the way she said my name. I would bet anything she was flooded with slick. She was right, though. This wasn’t the time. “But James nothing. I’m staying and helping you close. How about the…” I eyed the menu. “The nachos and the jalapeno poppers. Dr Pepper float, too.”

“All of that?” She smiled at me.

“I’m a growing boy.” I sighed. My body was a sore spot for me. “Maybe I shouldn’t. I could stand to lose a few pounds.”

“What?” she exclaimed. “Don’t say that.”

I shrugged. “It’s true.”

“No, it’s not. I… Let’s talk about this later.”

At least she was finally on the later train. “Deal.”

For the rest of the night, I stood guard over my female. I didn’t mind the flirting and the looks she got because as much as my gaze was glued on her, hers was glued to me.

Until I saw something I couldn’t look away from.

While she was serving beer to a table of rowdy males, human males, one of them took the liberty of reaching out and touching what was mine.

Without considering the consequences or even caring, I got up from the booth. Romi moved aside and crossed her arms over her chest as though me getting up to kick this guy’s balls into his throat was something she expected all along.

Maybe she did.

I didn’t speak. The slimeball already knew what he’d done. “She’s just a waitress, man,” he said as his legs dangled in the air. His friends didn’t get up or try to help him. No honor among thieves or assholes.

“She’s not just a waitress. She’s mine. Even if she wasn’t, you don’t put your hands on women unless you have permission.”

“Fine. Fine. I won’t do it again.”

“Did he pay?” I asked my mate who had a smirk on her face and, if I wasn’t wrong, a look of pure pride.

“He did, but he didn’t tip. They never tip.” Romi raised her eyebrows. There was no fear in her. She knew I’d take care of this asshole. If that didn’t pump my ego, nothing ever would.

“Then they don’t belong in here.”

I brought the man outside and, of course, he didn’t take my removal nicely. He punched and spit.

Who spits in a fight?

One punch to the jaw, and he was out. His friends were brought out and collected him, stuffed him into a beat-up truck, and sped down the road.

“My hero,” Romi said from behind me.

“Always, if I can be. Isn’t it closing time yet?”

Redness returned with a vengeance to her cheeks. “Fifteen minutes.”

“Good.”

Everyone else left after the fight and, soon, the staff did as well. Romi escorted me out the front door and locked it behind her. “They’re all gone. What should we do now?” The lilt in her voice drove me to utter madness.

“Let’s clean up and then I have an idea. What is the job you hate most?”

She giggled and wrapped her arms around herself. “I really, really hate mopping. Some of the things you see…” She shuddered. This sweet, strong omega. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and bring her home where there was a nest and she and Maddox would be taken care of.

We went to work separately but always together, somehow. Every time I turned to look at her, she was already looking at me and vice versa. By the time we were done, the tension could be cut with a knife.

“I should get home to Maddox,” she said in a hushed tone.

“Can I have a few minutes, omega? Just a few, and then you can get home to your pup. I promise.”

With lips pursed, she weighed her decision. “No more than that.”

“Thank you, sweetness.” I walked over to the jukebox and put on a song. A slow one. Absolutely on purpose. “May I have this dance?”

A soft whimper fell from her lips. “I don’t think so. I’ve never…”

“You’ve never danced with anyone? Your alpha?”

She shook her head. “Not really the romantic type.”

“Let me show you, female. I won’t bite.”

Blush in full force, she closed the distance between us. I opened my arms and, while some people were awkward as they fell into a dance, we were not. We fit together like a puzzle. Like two magnets, submitting to their attraction.

“Just follow my lead, Romi.” She did, and we took a few steps. “You feel so good in my arms.”

My omega sank deeper and deeper into my hold until her head rested on my chest. I knew she could hear me purr, but I didn’t care. With her here, so close to me, I couldn’t have been happier. “It’s been so long since someone held me,” she whispered.

“I don’t ever want to let you go. You deserve all the hugs and affection. All the time. Our wolves need affection.”

She nodded. “I try to hug Mad all the time. He loves it. Eats it up.”

“As he should. Touch is so important to shifters and packs and pups. He’s a cutie. I can’t believe anyone would treat him badly.”

She reached around my torso and wrapped me up in a tight hug. “Thank you for saying that. He needs more cheerleaders and support. He always has me but he deserves a team.”

I pulled her back and hooked my finger under her chin. “Romi, look at me.”

When my omega turned her beautiful eyes up to me, they were filled with unshed tears. “I’m listening, alpha.”

Goddess, she called me alpha. My wolf howled, nearly deafening me through our connection.

“You deserve a team and a pack to take care of you, too. You’ve done such a fantastic job raising Maddox and working and building a life, but you don’t have to do it alone anymore.”

“I’m trying, James. You three surprised me, and I wasn’t ready. I didn’t know I could still have a pack. It’s hard to let go. I’ve been holding on so hard.”

“When you’re ready to let go, we’ll be there to help. That’s all we want. To love and help you.”

We danced for the rest of the song, but even when it ended, she didn’t let go.

Our omega was in need of so many things she’d denied herself because of her circumstances. We intended to not only see her embrace the omega inside her but to love that part of herself.