While I had no idea what that meant, I knew the young omega had never brought anyone to the dorm since he’d moved in here. Barely went out aside from racer-related activities. While Ret was the complete opposite, they both could very well end up single for the rest of their lives.
Utahn slid off my lap and tugged at my hand. “Come help me pick out something to wear.”
I liked the sound of that, especially if it meant him being naked again.
We didn’t have time for more than a quick make-out session before Xac banged on the door to let us know they were all leaving. After rushing to dress, we met the rest of my team right as the hovercar showed up to take us to the mess hall. Though, with Utahn’s hand resting high on my thigh for most of dinner, I kept thinking we could have made better use of that time if we’d stayed at the dorm.
When we returned to change again before hitting the club, Utahn refused to let me in the room with him.
After a quick kiss, he shoved me, somehow managing to slide the door shut and lock me out of my own room from inside. “It’s a surprise,” he said from the other side of the metal slab. “Be patient. I’ll be done soon enough.”
While waiting for the chance to get my own change of clothes, I washed up. I thought I’d still have to wait for Utahn when I finished in the bathroom, but I found him already changed and sitting in the common area.
When he saw me, he stood, taking my breath away. I’d always considered Utahn to be cute and adorable, an omega I wanted to take care of. Except, with his shirt made of nothing but dlog chains across his tan chest, and black denim-and-lace pants hugging his curves, cute no longer worked. He was hot. Gorgeous. Mouthwatering. He oozed sex appeal. And I worried I wasn’t enough. “Are you sure you want to go to the club tonight? We could have fun here instead.” Other racers had hit on him many times before when he’d come to see the team race. Tonight would be no different.
Sauntering toward me, Utahn tugged on the waist of my pants. “We will definitely have fun after, but I want to go dancing first.”
I couldn’t deny him what he wanted, though I was sure to feel the clutch of jealousy at some point during the night. Wrapping my arm around his waist, I pulled him closer and kissed his sweet lips. “Okay. I’ll get changed, and then we can go.”
“Ugh! Can’t you two keep that behind closed doors?”
“It was a kiss, Ret.” I spun around and sighed as Utahn giggled and rested his head against my back.
“I don’t care what it was.” My brother shrugged. “I don’t want to see it.”
Utahn stepped out from behind me and pointed his finger against Ret’s chest. “I’ve seen you make out with multiple beings. Don’t be such a hypocrite.”
Ret rolled his eyes and turned to walk away, smacking into Ilam. He caught the young omega in his arms, holding him steady.
Grabbing my hand and squeezing, Utahn looked at me with wide eyes. I had no idea what message he was trying to tell me. Maybe to hurry up?
“Okay, I’ll be quick.” I heard Utahn ask Ilam if he was coming with us to the club but was in my room before he answered. I doubted he would go with us anyway. He never did. Though, being an omega, Utahn might be able to convince him otherwise.
Choosing an outfit was going to be tricky. I assumed Utahn’s outfit had been designed by my younger brother, Vawn. Maybe I had something he’d given me still in the closet. I shoved my crisp dress uniforms and casual racer clothes aside to find the few other pieces of clothing I owned. At the very back was a pair of white pants I hadn’t worn since I’d tried them on. I hoped they still fit, as they were tight then. I searched again and found a dark-gray vest. With a large hole in the back, I’d never worn it. I couldn’t figure out why Vawn would design it like that. But, somehow, it seemed perfect for tonight.
Taking a brief glance in the mirror, I ran my fingers through my hair. There wasn’t much I could do with a brush cut. Then I headed out the door. In this outfit, I might actually look like I belonged with Utahn.
I didn’t worry as much about what he thought of my clothes. Utahn had known me for most of my life, and, for some reason, still liked me. But I wanted to show the other racers that I was in the same league as him and hope they were discouraged from approaching him. The last thing I needed this weekend was for a racer he’d been with on Rennir to remind Utahn of their time together and ruin my chances of something meaningful with him. I sighed, really not wanting to go out. But, I would. Because Utahn wanted to dance.
“Wow!” A grin spread across Utahn’s lips as he gripped Ilam’s arm, standing beside him. “My man is both handsome and sexy.”
I tripped over my feet, stumbling forward as I tried to process what he had just said. Handsome? Sexy? I was “his man?” Stars, how was I going to survive this night? When I finally found my footing again, I glanced at Utahn to see if he was laughing at me. “Are you sure you want to go dancing with me?”
His look of concern turned into a soft smile. “I don’t want to dance with anyone but you.”
A rush of warmth shot through my body. Okay, I could do this. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.
“Time to go.” Ret slapped the bare part of my back before shoving past me. “A hovercab is on its way. Let’s head out.”
I rolled my eyes, sure I would never share my brother’s enthusiasm for going to the club, even if I did have my dream date by my side.
Utahn gave Ilam a quick hug before the young omega ducked into his room. Again. I wondered what it would take to convince him to come out with us. I’d thought Utahn might be able to persuade him, but obviously not. He had always been shy, and maybe he didn’t like crowds.
The club was definitely crowded when we arrived but not the way it used to be. Five new teams had joined the circuit in the last star cycle. Four planets had sponsored their own teams instead of sending a couple of racers to try out for a place on an existing one. Everyone wanted to be “the next ORIXA.” Though we were still here and still winning. Sure, we didn’t have Ojokun anymore, but Ilam proved race after race he was as good as my brother-in-law who had trained him.
The new teams changed the dynamics between all the space racers. Instead of the majority of us getting along, there was more animosity on and off the course and more brawls in the mess hall and dormitory hallways. In the club itself, some of the teams intermingled, but most occupied their own sections, keeping their guests close by.
My brother walked ahead of us with his hands raised. “Ret is here. Let the party begin!”
