No Reservations Read online

  Olivia nodded. “Afternoon, Yemeen.”

  He chuckled. “Afternoon, Olivia.”

  She cuddled against Argus, and he headed inside with his hands under Olivia’s butt. She was carried into the house, and he said something that lit her eyes. Looking at her with Argus, it was strange to consider that she didn’t trust her pride to take care of her. He hadn’t read the file that she had provided to him yet, but he got the feeling it would be important.

  The courier roared up on the cycle, and he chuckled. “Excellent time, Lexa. Thank you.” She inclined her glossy helmet and handed him the garment bags, shoving the delivery record at him for him to sign.

  “Thanks, Yemeen.”

  Olivia shot out of the house and stared at the bike Lexa was on. “Oh, that’s amazing.”

  Lexa’s helmet turned toward Olivia, and she chuckled. “You ride?”

  “Motorbikes mainly. A proper motorcycle lately, but this is something else.”

  Yemeen was stunned. “Olivia, I don’t think the others would approve.”

  Olivia snorted.

  “Do you want to come for a short jaunt?”

  Olivia scrambled toward her. Lexa reached around and got a helmet. “Here you go, little omega. Don’t want to mess up that face.”

  Olivia grimaced. “Yeah, let’s keep it pristine as my head bounces down the freeway.”

  Lexa laughed and turned forward. Olivia wrapped her arms around the other woman, and Lexa roared off with the scent of roses in the air.

  * * * *

  Olivia held onto the woman and watched the landscape blur around them as they smoothly accelerated onto the highway. This was freedom.

  “We have communication if you feel chatty.”

  “Thanks. I’m Olivia.”

  “Yup, the omega that Yemeen is courting. I never saw him for the group-living type, but if you are the focal point, I get it.” There was a pause. “Oh, I’m Lexa.”

  “You work for Yemeen?”

  “Sometimes. I pick up whatever jobs I can. Deliveries for his design studio are like my fifteenth side hustle, but I get to drive all day, so it isn’t too bad.”

  “Wow. You live on your own?”

  “With my daughter. She’s in school most days, and after-school programs aren’t cheap.”

  “How old is she?”

  Lexa changed lanes smoothly. “Nearly seven. Just when things start getting fun.”

  “So, you work for her?”

  “I do. She’s still six. Seven is a couple of weeks away. I want to throw her a party, but the other moms don’t really like me. So, we are taking the few friends that can play with her and heading to the theme park. That’s going to be pricey.”

  Olivia asked, “How much does it cost?”

  “About a hundred and fifty bucks per person, then double that for food.”

  She gasped. “Just for the day?”

  “Yup. Add in parking and an emergency fund for proper footwear... but if it makes her smile, all worth it.”

  “How old were you when you had her?”

  “I got her when she was two, and I was eighteen. She was my sister’s. The rest of my family died in an accident, so I have legally adopted her since.”

  Olivia started to cry. It was just so sad.

  “Okay, you are getting mopey. I am taking you back to your guys.”

  Olivia blushed. “You know about that?”

  “I also do deliveries for Dexter’s jewellery store and run blueprints for Ambrose’s company. They are really gossipy when their favourite subject comes up, and guess who that is?” Lexa chuckled.

  “Uh-huh. So, you are twenty-three?”

  “Nearly. Yeah. Why?”

  “You feel like you are a thousand years old. And you smell like English roses.”

  Lexa’s grip on the controls wobbled, and she said, “Sorry. Uh, sometimes I do. Old fashioned, I know.”

  “No, it is nice. It is really bright with a citrus kiss that makes the floral less strong.”

  “Um, thank you for the analysis. I will try to avoid you next time. Don’t want to choke your nostrils.”

  “They don’t know, do they?”

  They were turning down the drive to Ford’s house. “Know what?”

  Olivia smiled and squeezed Lexa. “That you are an omega. No one knows.”

  “Oh, the Omega Centre knows. They never let me forget it.”

  “They are great, aren’t they?”

  “Agree to disagree.” Lexa’s throaty chuckle sounded like the clattering of ice. “They have their use, and they overstep it frequently.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “They want omegas hooked up to as many wealthy alphas as possible to keep donations and registry fees coming in. I know they need to support the organization, but they choose what is a benefit and what is a burden.”

  Olivia frowned and wanted to ask more questions, but the bike came to a smooth halt, and Lexa said, “It was nice to meet you, Olivia.”

  “Can I talk to you again, Lexa?” She took off the helmet and dismounted the bike.

  Lexa took the helmet and stowed it. “Sure. If Yemeen is around, I run about twenty-five percent of his deliveries. It is likely you will see me again.”

  Olivia made a face and blurted out, “Can I see what you look like?”

  Lexa heaved a sigh and pulled off her helmet. A thick rope of pale gold hair tumbled out from under the concealment. She had a face like an angel, but there was something strange as she bent forward.

  “You don’t have an alpha.” Olivia was sorting this out. “You are open, like Ford.”

  “Not quite, but I don’t have an alpha.”

  Olivia couldn’t help herself. “But you did.”

  Lexa froze and touched the back of her neck. “But I did, and then, someone ripped the marks off before they were set and shattered our bond. I don’t recommend it.” The cold laugh happened again.

  Lexa coiled her hair up and put the helmet back on. “You will see me around. Don’t worry. Bitterness isn’t catching.”

  “But wait. Your perfume...”

  “Not a subject I want to discuss. I have another pickup. Have a nice day, Olivia.”

  Lexa roared off, and Olly was stuck staring after one of the most complicated women she had ever seen.

  Argus walked out to her and stroked her arms. “Have a nice ride?”

  “She’s an excellent rider.” She said absently. “How do you get rid of an hours’ old bond mark?”

  She looked at his startled face and patted his arm. “It is just a general question. I like my bonds. All of them. Don’t worry. I just need to know how it would be done.”

  He sighed. “This is not a discussion I ever considered having.”

  “I want to know.” She grimaced. “I will look it up on the internet if you don’t tell me.”

  He shuddered. “Right. To the living room. I want this in bright lighting. No shadows.”

  Yemeen looked up from his discussion with Ford, and he followed them into the living room.

  Argus cuddled her on his lap, and he said, “Well, the first bond is usually around the neck, as you know.”

  “Right. So, how would it get shredded and scarred.”

  Yemeen sat nearby and nodded. “Ah, you saw Lexa’s scarring. She hasn’t told me about it, but she wouldn’t. I am an alpha. She is just aggressive with alphas. Just a damaged little beta.”

  Olivia frowned. “That doesn’t explain why someone would scar it. Was it her alpha that did it?”

  Argus rubbed the back of his neck. “It was probably the alpha’s family. In the early stages, it is easy to break the bond. Brutal for the receiver of the link but still easy. You just go as deep as the bite and shred it. Take all of the combined genes and venom and tear them out of the flesh. The upper families used to have silver fangs designed for this purpose, to keep any unseemly alliances from occurring. No family wants a beta when an omega might manifest nearby.”

  Olivia blinked. “What if the woman was an omega?”

  “Then the scarring would never have happened. No one would reject such a gift.”

  So, whoever did that didn’t know Lexa was an omega. Bastard.

  “How would someone recover from that?”

  “Well, if they were an omega, they would go to the Omega Centre. If not, a hospital probably with counselling and victim’s services.”

  Olivia scowled. “You said she was a beta.”

  Yemeen nodded. “Yes. She occasionally has the scent of an omega around her, but I am guessing she has a young woman in her family who is coming into her designation.”

  Olivia bit her lip. “Uh-huh.”

  Ford looked at her from a nearby settee. “Olivia? Why all these questions?”

  “No reason. I just had never seen anything that brutal before.” She wrinkled her nose. “Even the stitches that I had were done while I was unconscious. I felt the effect, not the event. She seems like such a nice woman.”

  Yemeen chuckled. “She’s an efficient bitch. She can grab samples, deliver them all around town, and get the right one to the right client without opening the bags.”

  Olivia’s eyes went wide. “Don’t call her a bitch. Ever.”

  He blinked. “Okkayyy.”

  She grumbled. “It is a word I don’t like. It is bad enough going into heat without your alpha satisfied with fucking a canine.”

  Argus hugged her. “Only pussy for me.”

  She punched him.

  “Ow. Farm girls hit hard.”

  “Yeah, and I know how to castrate things. Keep that in mind.” She smiled brightly.

  Argus grinned and cuddled her. “I love country girls. They keep you on your toes.”

  “I like how unafraid you are.”

  He chuckled. “I know you would start with Ambrose, so I would have time to run.”

  She snickered. “Probably. I should make a chart for the fridge to determine whose testicles are in danger.”

  Ford looked alarmed. “We are sweet, right, Olly?”

  She smiled. “We are sweet, Ford. Now, where can I finish my date?”

  Ford smiled slyly. “The nest?”

  Yemeen smiled slowly. “Right here?”

  She looked at the couch. “I don’t want to wreck Ford’s furniture.”

  Ford grinned. “Go ahead.”

  “Um, no. As much as I am glad that you are a fan of watching me in action, I think the nest is about as close as I will come to let you watch... today.” She winked.

  Argus snickered. “Do I get a vote?”

  She grinned. “I suppose you do.” She nuzzled his neck with her lips and tongue. “Where would you care to continue the date?” She purred.

  He whispered in her ear, “Where is the nest?”

  She laughed brightly and hauled him past Ford, caressing her friend’s lips as she passed. He nipped her fingers, and she gave a throaty chuckle as she hauled her mate up to the second floor to Ford’s nest, which he was kind enough to share with her.

  Argus looked at the space, and he raised his brows. “It is cozier than my mind painted it.”

  She pushed him to a seated position on the platform, and she chuckled. “So, not actually being familiar with date etiquette, what happens now?”

  “Well, if we were teens, there would be a lot of giggling and groping while I try to get into your pants.” He quirked his lips. “But, as we are mature adults, the same?”

  She chuckled and sat primly. “Why, Mr. Argus... my chaperones seem to have left us all alone.”

  He kissed his mark and tongued it. She groaned as her sex fluttered at the contact. She looked at him, dark hair and glass green eyes. He met her gaze as he licked the mark again.

  She shivered. “Thanks for my first date.”

  He grinned. “You are very, very welcome. I thought I remembered hearing that you were a good shot.”

  She batted her lashes at him. “You flatter me, sir.”

  He snorted. “It isn’t flattery. You won some award, didn’t you?”

  “Three junior championships for sharpshooting before I turned fourteen. Always stay on my team if you can.”

  He nodded. “I am always on your side.”

  She sighed happily and crawled into his embrace. “I know. It has been my anchor point when I feel untethered. You are in the heart of me.”

  Argus paused and then kissed her, his tongue writhing with hers as he pulled at her clothing. She fought to get to his skin, and he fought to get to hers. When they were pressed against each other, he checked her readiness with three fingers thrusting into her. She arched back and moaned sharply. He moved his hand and slid into her, pounding into her as she wrapped her arms and legs around him and held on for dear life.

  She gave him every whimper, every moan, and when she came close to cumming, every desperate omega whine to drive him on. He pried her hands off to pin them over her head, and she undulated against him, rolling her hips and clenching when she could. It was like trying to clutch a pipe with a greased glove.

  He went faster, harder, her body wound tighter, and then, she came with a scream, and he thrust deep, setting the knot and locking them together. Olly panted to regain her composure, but his slow and thorough kisses did not let her calm down.

  She whimpered and met his tongue with hers. She smelled their combination of hot peaches with pine trees and icy wind. She knew that there were a few scents her nose wasn’t picking up, and it had something to do with why alphas watched her and smiled.

  Olly clenched on him, and he grunted, his cock flexing and more cum spilling into her. She checked and tried to guess the time until his knot released.

  He lifted his head from hers. “Are you doing math?”

  She chuckled. “I am trying to guess how long until you come loose so we can try it again.”

  Argus pressed his forehead to hers. “Every time is better than the previous one.”

  “Every time is different. I thought it would be more repetition.” She chuckled and stroked his back, arching into him. “Every time, I feel a little closer to you, more tangled up in you.”

  He brushed a kiss to her lips. “So, you are now understanding why Yemeen wants inside our little circle.”

  “Dude, if that is your pet name for my vag, we are going to have a talk.”

  He stared at her for a moment and then howled with laughter.

  She smiled at the delighted amusement in his expression and kissed him when he brought his mouth to hers again. She was rubbing her thigh against his hip when the knot shrank, and they were able to separate.

  He groaned as he withdrew and the mix of fluids emerged in a rush.

  Olivia blinked. “I don’t know if that will ever not be disconcerting.”

  He ran his fingers through the mix of their fluids, and he chuckled. “If you asked me six months ago that I thought I would be with my mate in a strange omega’s nest, I would have called you insane.”

  “Ford just likes me because I don’t hiss and growl at him like a normal omega would. I don’t consider him competition for my alphas, and he has been very kind to me. He’s helping me be more me with every day.”

  “You seem stronger.”

  “I am no longer just depending on others for my foundation. I am slowly building it brick by brick.” She smiled and stroked his hair. “I will let Yemeen court me. I think it will be fun to see him and Dexter circle each other.”

  Argus chuckled. “Naughty girl. Have you corrected anyone’s assumptions about Ambrose?”

  “That he likes to top for women and bottom for men? Nope. Folks just assume that Dexter is on the receiving end, so to speak.” She wrinkled her nose. “They can imagine what they like. Dexter can correct them or Ambrose. None of my business.”

  Argus chuckled. “You are circumspect. I like that about you.”

  “Thanks. When is Dexter’s rut going to kick in?”

  “Any day now. Can you handle it?”

  “Maybe. Can Ambrose help?”

  He chuckled. “Maybe. You will have to ask them.”

  She sighed. “Is this the end of the date?”

  He rolled to his back. “I always wanted to get caught with a gorgeous woman on top of me.”

  She paused. “If you have the number of one, I can call her.”

  “Funny. Climb up here and ride me, kitten.”

  “Work, work, work.” She straddled him, and he slid in easily. Olly braced her hands on his chest and rolled her hips against him in an increasingly frenzied manner. She heard the door to the nest open and kept rocking on him, whining as he slid his fingers along where they joined until he was circling her clit.

  Yemeen threaded a hand in her hair and kissed her as she was riding Argus. Her tongue tangled with his eagerly as her body got closer and closer to release. Argus cupped one breast, and Yemeen cupped the other with a loud purr.

  She felt Argus pinch her clit, and she screamed, her hips snapping down to capture him. Yemeen took her soft whimpers and stroked her breast, belly, back, and all her marks. She gasped against his mouth and slowly went limp in their grips.

  Olivia continued the slow, eating kiss with Yemeen, slowly touching his neck, chest and working her hand down his torso.

  He caught her hand and held it. “Not yet. I haven’t earned it, Olivia.”

  She huffed, and Argus was looking at him with smug approval. He was rubbing a hand on her belly. He smiled and said, “She gets very generous after and during sex. Even worse when she is knotted.”

  Yemeen chuckled. “So, I should remember to lock the door?”

  Argus sighed. “Yeah, or avoid calling us with the marks. Right now, Ambrose is leaning down with his head against his desk, and Dexter is sitting at his design table growling. I was... not careful.”

  She snickered, and Yemeen looked down at her, her hair still in his fist.

  “You think it is funny that your mates are uncomfortable?”

  She gave him a frank look. “Considering the positions they put me in, yeah, I think it is hilarious. They chose where to put the marks with care and deliberation, but they only thought they would be contact-activated. I can share whenever I like.”

  Yemeen looked to Argus. “What?”

  “She can open her links without warning. If you don’t want that, she can lock you out.”