Omega (Alpha & Omega #1)

{Chapter Seventy}

I woke up with fingers running gently through my hair. There was a body on either side of me in the comfortable bed, and I knew we were home. The people on either side of me were my mates, and I'd made it home without even noticing we'd left. Last I remembered was the start of an orgasm, then pain, and then nothing.

I forced my eyes open and looked to my left, where Keon laid. His eyes raised and met with mine, and a small smile lit his face.

"Hey, beautiful," he murmured.

Cayson slid his hand over my abdomen and nuzzled his face in my neck.

Keon's fingers continued to run through my hair. "They really did put you to sleep, didn't they?"

I fidgeted, suddenly feeling like I'd done something wrong. They knew what Seth and Teo had to do to put me to sleep, but that didn't mean anything. I should have figured I'd feel some sort of regret, but I never knew it'd be so bad.

My chest ached and I felt like I shouldn't be touched by them so gently and kindly.

"I don't need to have the ability to read minds to know what you're thinking," Cayson said. "It's fine. They didn't touch you. There was nothing else that could be done, Phoenix. We aren't angry, or disappointed. Teo and Seth took good care of you, and we're appreciative of it."

He looked me in the eye as he spoke, making sure every word sunk in. He truly wasn't angry with me, and by the looks of it, neither was Keon.

I turned and curled into Cayson, and they moved with me. Keon slid behind me and rested his forehead against the back of my neck, and Cayson stroked my hair.

They were too good for me. On top of them being alphas, they were too kind. While I was used to the fact that they were alphas, I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to the way they treated me. They were gentle when others weren't. They were there for me when others never even looked my way. They listened to me and my problems, even when they had their own.

My heart rate quickened, and by the slight movement from the brothers, they'd noticed. Cayson grabbed my chin and lifted my head. The moment his eyes met mine, his lips curled.

"Why are you blushing, Phoenix," he teased.

Him pointing it out only made my body warm just that much more, and the small curl of his lips grew.

Keon lifted his head and looked down at me, and his grin matched his brother's to a tee.

"Stop smiling," I groaned and buried my face in the pillow.

Their smiles always threw me off guard. Even that first day, it disarmed me. Now? Now it made my heart race and something stupid happen with my stomach.

I loved them, I knew. I'd figured that out a while ago. I loved being with them. Loved feeling their warmth and basking in their pheromones. Loved the looks they gave me - especially the ones where they don't think I see. Because those are more real. More genuine.

"I need a shower," I said after I lifted my head.

Cayson's eyebrows rose. "Can you stand?"

My body felt weak, as it usually did after my heat. But it wasn't as bad as the first time, where I couldn't even remain awake. But maybe the reason I didn't feel too terrible was because of something Seth and Teo did when they put me to sleep.

I shrugged. "Guess that means you'll have to join me."

The shock on Cayson's face matched Keon's almost perfectly, and I almost laughed. Maybe they thought I'd never invite them anywhere with me when we had to be naked. Did they honestly think I'd make them make the first moves each time?

They didn't even bother with pleasantries or asking to see if I was sure it's what I wanted. Keon just grabbed me and carried me to the bathroom with Cayson close on his heels.

They wasted no time in taking off their clothes, then my clothes. The water was hot by the time we stepped into the shower, and it made me shiver the moment it touched my cold skin.

I stepped back until my back hit Keon's chest, and then reached out and pulled Cayson towards me until their bodies pressed against mine.

"You're greedy today," Cayson mused, a small smirk on his face.

His black hair glistened because of the water, and droplets trickled off of his long eyelashes. He bent at the waist and licked a droplet off of my cheek. A chuckle escaped his lips when my face reddened.

Keon kissed the top of my head as his hand slid to my hip, and then up to my waist.

I was so much more aware of them. The bond from being true mates was completed the moment we finished the mating process. It wasn't that anymore, and I couldn't blame it on that if I tried. It had never been the bond. Sure that's what I originally thought it was, because how could I fall in love with a couple of alphas?

I rested my head back against Keon's hard chest and closed my eyes, allowing the water to fall against my face.

My heart began pounding the more I thought about it.

I lowered my head, keeping my eyes closed.

"I love you," I whispered.

Silence. I heard nothing but the sound of water hitting skin and the tub.

I opened my eyes slightly and noticed Cayson wasn't even breathing. He didn't move.

Keon was the same. I couldn't feel the rise and fall of his chest against my back, and the hand on my waist seemed to tense.

I raised my head, opening my mouth to tell them I was joking, or tell them something to cover up the silence. But Cayson's mouth crashed over mine, cutting off any words I could have spoken.

Keon, ever the impatient one, waited only a few milliseconds after Cayson was done before he turned me and kissed me. Hard.

A low groan escaped between his lips as he opened his mouth and slid his tongue against mine. The sound had me gripping Cayson's hand, to which he slowly brought up and nipped at the sensitive skin of my wrist.

"Say it again," Keon whispered, sounding almost pained.

Being told to tell them made my entire body feel like it was engulfed in flames. My mind went blank and my mouth just hung slightly open in embarrassment.

They both chuckled, and the sound made me cover my ever reddening face with my hands.

"We love you too," they murmured, right as their mouths descended on me again.

°°°°°

A/N: A couple of you guys commented on the last chapter about Cayson learning "stuff" from Teo. No, they've never done the deed (although I'm sure a couple of you would love that mental image 😂). Let's just say there's a reason for his "Basement laboratory/room" and he's talked about it before with Cayson. And Cayson tried it out, and liked it. Because Cayson is sadistic when it comes to lovin'.

Also, fuuun fact. This book only has about 1-3 chapters left and I'll have it all tied up (like how Cayson likes Phoenix [see what I did there?]), and Omega will be finished. Then I can start on some bonus chapters, then I'll start working on Alpha. So even when you think it's done... It isn't! 😂

Stay tuned, friends. Have a great week!