Home > Rath (The Omega Collective #2)(5)

Rath (The Omega Collective #2)(5)
Author: Mina Carter

“Affirmative.” He hated the default voice that came with these systems. It was sexless and empty. He wanted it to be female. Soft and welcoming. Like hers.

“You can just do that? Say a thing and it gets done?” A hint of wonder was in her tone.

“I can. And once we are home at Zabor T’ah, you will have access to these systems, too. You will have every comfort imaginable.”

Savannah tensed. “This isn’t your home?”

“No. This is a... safe place. That’s all.”

It was where he met with his brother to receive reports on the human rebels. A’rett managed to pass as a human beta and sent along what information he could.

Pushing upright, he offered her his hand, ignoring the blood sheathing his wrist. It had stopped bleeding now, his physiology more robust than a Terran’s, and the wound would seal over soon.

“Do not make me chase you, little one,” he warned when she hesitated. “You already have one victory. Do not try for another.”

Her gaze flicked to his outstretched hand, and he saw the moment she made her decision. Slowly she reached up and slid her slender fingers into his hand, the brush of her skin against his the softest touch he’d ever felt. Folding her hand in a strong grip, he pulled her upright with little effort. She was too light, even for her delicate frame. She would eat after she’d bathed.

Pulling her up against him, he savored the little sound of surprise as he reached into a pocket with his free hand to give her a scrap of fabric.

Her lips almost curved into a confused smile. “Do I want to know why you have a blindfold?”

“I had thought that fabric would be softer than rope if I needed to restrain you.”

“You were going to...” she trailed off, her eyes on the bit of fabric still dangling from his fingers.

“If necessary, yes.” He lowered his head slightly. “But it will also act as a blindfold. If you place it on me now, I will take you to the bathing chamber.”

Her confusion deepened. “But you won’t be able to see the way if I do that.”

“I don’t need my eyes to navigate this place. I am a warrior.” He was one of the best in Lord Tane’s service. He could hold his ground stripped of all his senses. It was part of his training.

Very gently she took the blindfold and placed it over his eyes. Her touch was light and unsure, but he remained still, supporting her with one arm as she reached up to tie the blindfold in place. When it was done, she made a small noise of surprise.

“You let me do that.”

“I said I would. I am a male of honor. And now, I will have payment.”

She froze, and he would have given anything to be able to see her expression at the moment. Instead, he let his imagination fill in the look of wariness on her pretty face. And maybe, now that he couldn’t see her, perhaps interest? He wanted there to be interest. It would make their life together much easier if she found him appealing as a male. And why shouldn’t she? He was her alpha. She should desire him above all others. It was encoded in her very being.

Then she moved, leaning forward, and he felt the whisper of her breath against his lips. Every muscle in his body tensed, waiting for that moment when her lips touched his and she kissed him. She would not want to stop at one—omegas never did—not once they had tasted their alphas.

There. The softest brush, like that of a butterfly’s wing, gone before he could truly register it. A growl bubbled up from the center of his chest, and he wanted to howl in frustration. His hand tightened on her waist and she stiffened.

“You said just a kiss. That was a kiss.”

“Just,” he bit out.

“The price you asked for was paid in full.”

He caught a hint of laughter in her voice. It was enough to ease his frustration. If it made her happy to make him wait, he could wait a little longer.

“Arms around my neck, little one. Your bath awaits.” He would see to her needs and then it would be time she saw to his.

 

 

3

 

 

He was right. He didn’t need to see to navigate his home. Savannah’s eyes widened as he scooped her up and carried her into the bathroom as though he could see perfectly. But he couldn’t. She lifted her hand to wave it in front of his eyes and he didn’t so much as flinch.

“If you’re making Terran offensive gestures at me,” he rumbled in a low voice. “I should warn you that insulting your alpha is not wise.”

“I wasn’t.” She lowered her hand. Why wasn’t she? She wasn’t angry or terrified, and she should be both. She was anxious, yes, and irritated with his attitude. But that’s it. Here she was, in an alpha’s lair, in his arms. His very strong arms, cradling her against a massive chest of sculpted muscle...

She pressed her hand to the hard planes of his chest, letting her fingers trace over the fabric of his simple, loose-fitted shirt. The contact felt good, and every breath she took drew more of his scent into her lungs.

She shook her head hard. “What’s wrong with me? Did you drug me again?”

He had to have drugged her with something to take away her fear and make her more compliant. Otherwise, she’d be freaking out and fighting him with everything she had.

His head moved slightly, as though he could actually see her face and was looking at her expression. His lips curved a little. “No, little shar’ai. I have not drugged you. Although if you need more painkillers let me know.”

She huffed. “And what price will I have to pay for those?”

“What would you offer me?”

She winced inwardly. Her mother was always warning her not to speak without thinking first. “You’d want payment to keep me free of pain? Is that how this works? You hurt me and then make me do things to stop the pain?”

He came to a sudden halt just inside a bathing room unlike anything she’d ever seen before. She wanted to look around, but the tension crackling off Rath drew all her attention.

“I am your alpha. I will always take care of you. You may have food, water, and medicine without any payment.” His jaw hardened. “But do not push me, little one, or I might consider charging a price for other things... like clothes. I can keep you safe and comfortable while naked.”

She clamped her jaw shut in case she said something else he could take as a challenge and use it as an excuse to strip her of her clothes. But he is alpha, the little voice in the back of her head whispered. He doesn’t need an excuse.

“Thank you,” she said eventually. “For the medicine and caring for me.”

He stayed utterly still for long moments, the tension still radiating from him and her heart rate began to climb as anxiety set in.

“I am your alpha. It is my duty and my honor to care for you.” His voice was still hard, but some of the edges had softened now. “This will be more pleasant for you if you stop fighting your nature. Nothing is wrong with you. You are an omega, reacting to her alpha. Your body knows the truth. You are mine.”

He took two more steps and then set her down in the exact center of the room. It was large. Too large for a human bathroom. He must have knocked out a wall to make it this big. The walls gleamed like they were made of tile, but there was no grout and it looked the same all the way up to the ceiling. She recognized the purpose of everything there—a sink, an open shower, a toilet, and a tub big enough she could swim in, full of steaming, fragrant water.

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