Page 89 of The Omega Exchange: Omnibus (The Exchange)

Chapter Five

Melody

The fact I’m searching statistics on the most likely sexual positions to conceive in isn’t something I let myself think too hard on.

I do a pretty stellar job of ignoring the thoughts and feelings that come when I think about ending this little excursion with more than I came with.

I want a family.

I’ve always dreamed of having kids. I’m fairly financially stable, and I know I’ve got more than enough love to give.

At what point do I stop waiting and take my future into my own hands?

I met an omega in North Carolina who specifically went to The Exchange intending to leave pregnant.

I don’t know that I’m quite that brave, but once I have a pack, I’d definitely like to negotiate keeping my no birth control clause.

I have a generic contract like all omegas who come to The Exchange, but there’s no guarantee any pack will accept it as it stands.

I know I’m not even thirty yet, but most omegas my age already have at least one or two children.

My phone falls to the nest beside me as I snuggle into the pillows even deeper.

A weird, whiney sob escapes as I wrap myself deeper in the fuzzy blanket. I hate being alone. It feels like I’ve been lonely for my whole damn life.

Ben and I never lived together. I shake my head. Thinking about it makes me feel even worse. I believed that he felt guilty about hurting his brother.

I let myself be strung along for so many years that it’s like I don’t know how to make sure my next relationship doesn’t fall into the same trap.

And I’m still thinking about Ben. It’s tough because he’s been so intertwined with me for my entire adult life.

“Melody?” Miller’s gravelly tone causes me to let out an embarrassing little squeak.

I burrow under the closest pillow.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I call out trying to keep my voice level. “Go away.” Ugh, that sounded rude even to my ears, but he can’t see me like this. “Please, go away.”

“It’s almost six. You haven’t left the room or called for anything to be delivered . . .” His booted feet stomp closer.

My stomach does a bizarre little flip-flop.

It’s really sweet that he came to check on me.

Except it’s literally his job, you idiot. He’s probably got some requirement that says he has to check in if it’s been so many hours.

I swipe at my eyes, praying there are no tears.

“I’m okay.” I toss the pillow aside, struggling to sit up.

“Is that right?” he asks, crossing his huge arms over his chest. “You seemed unwell in the elevator and that was hours ago.”

My hair falls in my face and I swipe at it, sniffling.

“You smell . . .” He sighs. “Stressed? Sad? I can’t tell exactly, but I don’t think sitting in here alone is helping.”

“I am kind of hungry,” I admit, pulling the blanket off.

“I’ll bet, considering you haven’t eaten all day. Come on, we’ll grab dinner.” Miller extends a hand.

“Are you, like, my omega-sitter? Do you coddle me until I find my pack?” I ask as his calloused fingers wrap around mine.

The giant alpha pulls a bit too strongly, causing me to careen into his broad chest with an oomph. His smell hits me square in the vagina. A shiver runs through my system, and I end up burying my face in his side in an attempt to catch more of his scent.

It’s nice, but not strong enough. I tip up on my toes until I’ve got my face pretty well wallowing in his armpit.

“You’re still too tall,” I grumble as my hands meet his shoulders.

He complies, bending lower, and I shove my nose in his throat. He smells so good, kind of like cranberries and lemon, but there are hints of something else.

It’s a masculine, fresh smell, and I love it.

“Is that what you need?” he asks, palming the back of my head. “You need to smell me? Are you unsettled, sweet girl?”

Sweet girl?

It’s so very close to good girl, which is a personal weakness.

A mortifying little gasp escapes my lips as I hug him. Apparently my impulses are firmly on board to embarrass the hell out of me because my arms wrap under his and then I’m pulling him even closer.

“Holy hell, you’re a really big guy,” I mumble against his collarbone. “And you smell delicious.”

I try to take a step back as my mind finally catches up with what I’m doing, but I get tangled in the blanket.

Miller grunts, making a grab for my hips, but he still has his shoes on.

I hit my ass on the nest mattress, and he lands on top of me a second later. He’s heavy, but I’m more shocked at the intense look on his face as he stares down at me.

“Are you okay?” he asks, hovering over me on his forearms. He smells so damn good—even his breath.

It fans over my face as he studies me, smelling like some type of spearmint gum.

His blue eyes meet mine as I squirm under his strong form.

If omegas could purr, I think I would be right now, that or I’d be doing something even more embarrassing like popping my ass up to present without even being asked. “Melody?”

“Um, yeah. I think I’m okay.” I wiggle under him as my face burns. “I’m so sorry.”

“No need to apologize,” he murmurs, nuzzling his cheek to mine.

The contact is something I’ve seen in movies and read about in books. It’s a way for alphas and omegas to comfort each other. It marks the skin with the other’s scent and, as a result, their pheromones.

My breath catches.

Was that instinctual or did he really mean to mark my cheek?

“Let’s get something to eat. Does that sound good?” He runs a hand over the top of my head. “I don’t like that you’ve been here for hours and you haven’t had anything.” He pushes himself up and again offers me a hand.

I bite my cheek to keep from blurting out something ridiculous, like asking him to have food delivered, so he can wallow around my nest with me.

My pulse picks up to a gallop.

I love the idea of the nest smelling like Miller.

It’s an unexpected reaction. I’ve never nested with anyone except Ben, but my impulses at least are fully on board with the possibility of other alphas.

Ben never wanted to snuggle up with me and cuddle in my nest. It took me too long to recognize the reality of our situation.

“Mel?” Miller asks, watching me carefully.

“Yeah, let’s do it.” I take his still extended hand and he pulls me up with ease.

It’s kind of crazy how petite I feel in comparison to his massive frame. He slides his hand around my ass and plants it on my hip, leading us out of the nest without another word, but his pheromones are thick.

The sound of both of our ragged breathing fills the air.

My face burns as he guides me toward the door, but the only thing that keeps me from melting into a puddle of embarrassment is the fact it’s clear his system is as affected by me as mine is by him.

I glance up at him out of the corner of my eye and try to decide what the hell I got myself into when I came to The Exchange.

“There are two restaurants inside the resort and several others on the island. The hotel restaurant is running on reduced hours right now because it’s the off season,” Miller says as we make our way down the stairs.

“This side has a buffet. You can eat free from either, but we ask that you don’t go over to the other side of the resort without an escort. ”

“Is that a normal thing? Have y’all had problems in the past? I’ve never had an escort or guard anywhere I’ve been in my entire life.”

Then again, I did grow up very low middle class.

“Are there not a lot of alphas where you’re from?” Miller frowns so deeply his forehead wrinkles.

“They’re all over.” I laugh. “I mean it’s cattle farm central where I live.”

“I’m glad you never had any issues, but it’s surprising.” He opens a glass door with the name of the resort in script font. “I guess maybe it’s overly cautious. No, I can’t say that. It’s just cautious enough.”

“Did you grow up around here?” I ask as Miller nods for me to head through the open door. I do, and as he follows me in, he immediately plants his hand on my hip.

If he is from this area then everything makes more sense.

This entire area of New England just screams wealth and privilege.

The food smells delicious, and it gives me a little pep in my step to get to the line as quickly as possible. I haven’t eaten since breakfast. Once I got into the room I was stuck in my feelings and didn’t want to leave.

I’m not sure I would have noticed the hunger pangs if Miller hadn’t forced the issue.

“I didn’t.” He pulls me closer to his side and I don’t fight the contact. “I’m actually from a small town in South Carolina.”

That explains the growly tone. It’s not exactly a southern accent. I think his voice is just naturally deep and gravelly.

“So you know all about how it goes when everyone knows everyone else’s business.” I scan the food options to distract myself from how easy it is to lean into his strong form.

I’ve always craved touch and physical affection, but over the years, I’ve learned how to get by with the bare minimum.

My eyes slide to the side, taking in Miller’s wide shoulders. With some guys it’s impossible to tell their designation until you catch a whiff of their scent, but it’s clear just from his size and the dominance that rolls off him in waves.

Miller is an alpha through and through.

“I know my dads never let my mom or sister go out without someone around to keep them safe,” Miller grumbles, glaring at a group of guys at one of the tables.

I guess he’s still stuck on me not going anywhere alone. I’m not going to fight the rules of The Exchange, but I do find his concern to be charming.

“Alphas out number omegas like seven or eight to one.” He shakes his head. “It’s not worth the risk.”

“My dads left when I was thirteen,” I say, pulling out of his grip to grab a tray. “They didn’t want anything to do with me or my mom. I’ve always looked after myself.”

“Shit,” he says, catching up to my side. “That’s disgusting. Leaving a partner is one thing, but a child is a completely different story.”

“My mom is impossible to deal with under the best of circumstances,” I reply before I can stop myself. There’s no reason I should stick up for them after all these years later, but I still do. “Two trays or will one do?”

“Exactly how hungry are you?” Miller asks, cracking a playful grin. “I mean I can fill one on my own, but I feel like that’s bad form on—”

I laugh, tilting my head so I can study his pink cheeks. “Were you going to say on the first date?”

“I just meant . . .” He doesn’t bother finishing as his head shakes.

It’s kind of adorable. It seems like maybe he’s a little nervous around me. I’m not sure, but it’s endearing as hell.

He sets the tray on the line and pulls me back to his side with no trouble, like I don’t weigh a hundred and seventy-five pounds without shoes on.

It reminds me a bit of the way the alphas at The Exchange in North Carolina acted with their omegas.

“I do love to eat,” I assure him, bumping my hip against his. He looks a little miserable, and it doesn’t sit well with my impulses. “But I think we can share one and come back for seconds if necessary.”

“Yeah, that’s true. Sorry, I need you here.” Miller gently moves me until I’m between him and the food bar. His warmth cocoons my back and my nipples tighten painfully.

It’s so unexpected that I gasp.

“Sorry,” he says again. “My impulses are demanding I keep you close and safe. I’m thinking your heat is coming up quick.”

I don’t know what to do with myself right now. His concern is kind of addictive.

I’m here to be matched because I want a future filled with a pack that looks at me like Everly’s pack looked at her in North Carolina.

Hell, I’d even settle for an alpha looking at me the way Viktor looked at Anastasia. Sure, half the time it seemed like he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to spank her or strangle her, but their chemistry was off the charts.

I’ll take that over cold indifference any day of the week.

It’s ridiculous to get my hopes up. If I start counting on his protection and affection and it turns out to be all part of his job?

Ohmigod, not only would that be mortifying. I think it might be more than my heart can handle right now.

It’s times like these that I loathe my upbringing.

I can’t tell if I’m majorly misreading the situation.

Maybe this is how respectable alphas act when they have an omega under their care. Crap, in all likelihood, I’m just a job to him, and I’m over here daydreaming about cuddling up to him in my nest.

Being an omega can be so damn frustrating at times.

“Do you have any allergies or foods you don’t like?” Miller asks. His warmth frames my back as his face appears over my right shoulder.

I swallow thickly, shaking my head. “No allergies, and I’m not picky. I don’t care for a lot of shellfish or seafood, but I’ll eat it if I need to.”

“I don’t eat a ton of seafood either, especially if it comes in a shell.

You’ll want to avoid the other restaurant.

It’s very New England.” He chuckles. “I feel like the smell permeates everything. I guess I’m easy to please.

I’ll take a steak and a loaded baked potato any day of the week over lobster. ”

“Me too,” I agree, smiling at him. My chest rises and falls quickly as I get another strong hit of his scent.

I could have looked really silly just now. I know seafood is popular up here, especially crab and lobster.

Miller’s hand falls to my waist as he guides us closer to the food. My hand shakes against the tray as I try to figure out if all alphas are this touchy feely or if maybe he’s as attracted to my scent as I am to his.