“My leg is stronger than you think, baby,” he says, kissing my shoulder.
I went for a black dress tonight that shows off a lot of thigh. The buttons begin at mid-thigh and end at a deep vee to show off my cleavage. It’s understated while being really fucking sexy, and is perfect for moving around in, just in case Jude and I need to find a mark if this meeting goes badly.
“No negative thoughts,” he whispers, capturing my lips as I turn my face fully to kiss him. “However tonight goes, we’ll ride it out.”
Someone introduces Briar on stage, and I glance over to see a beautiful, dark-haired omega walk out toward the mic. She’s wearing a black vest that accentuates her perky breasts and a flowy green velvet skirt that shows off her every curve. My lips part as my eyes drink in how gorgeous she is, and I wonder if her bouncy curls are as soft as they look.
Maybe if I think hard enough about her hair, I can ignore the wetness in my panties whenever I gaze at her pouty, red lips.
“Let’s start nice and easy,” she says with a grin.
Ugh. I’m so fucked.
“You made it,” Atlas murmurs, walking up to us with a beer in his hand. “Her voice is incredible. I’ve heard her sing in the car on dates, and she always takes my breath away.”
I nod, my eyes returning to the stage, and I sigh as she begins to sing a song by Seether. It’s moody yet has enough energy to keep the bar entertained. Her voice is throaty and clear as she sings, and I find myself completely enthralled. Not once does my mind wander, which is a feat in and of itself.
It’s the same way I’d feel whenever I’d watch Jude perform. Nothing else mattered but the extension of his arm or the jump that he made appear ethereal and easy. I find myself hanging on every word, wondering why she’s not singing for a larger audience.
She certainly could if she wanted to, that’s for damn sure.
I’m disappointed as she ends her set, and Atlas chuckles under his breath when he notices.
“I feel the same way. Hello, Little Ballerina. Sorry, we didn’t have time for introductions earlier. I’m Atlas,” he says, turning toward me to offer his hand as he says hello to Jude.
I don’t need to look to know there’s a blush across my omega’s cheeks. Good. I love this for him. I don’t really have a jealous bone in my body. As long as he’s happy, so am I.
“Wil…Willow,” I stutter, placing my smaller hand in his. He squeezes it gently with a smile. “Sorry, I’m a little off-balance.”
Instead of saying “I can see that” in the smug way some people will, he shrugs. “There’s not a handbook for asking to date your omega. Jude is talented and gorgeous. You’re a lucky alpha.”
The way he casually and discreetly admits this, has the potential to be awkward, but it helps settle me.
“I’m the lucky one,” Jude murmurs. “Willow has helped me through really dark days, and gave me a reason to wake up when I really didn’t want to.”
Having his ballet career destroyed really broke him. Dropping my head back, I accept the kiss he presses against my lips. It’s not simply a peck, because with him it never is. Instead, it’s a slow, steady, possessive reminder of why we both hold our heads up on the hard days.
“That’s what being a team is about,” I reply, my voice husky as I offer Atlas my attention again.
My lips twitch in amusement as I catch him adjusting his cock.
“I’m not gonna apologize for it,” he murmurs. “You two are damn sexy together. Arching your back like that in that dress should be illegal.”
The easy way he gives the compliment makes me chuckle. Jude told me the girls at The Rusty Pipe say he doesn’t flirt with anyone at the club outside of Briar, and it tells me Atlas is being sincere. It’s not a come on to a girl he doesn’t know, but more a promise of what we could all be.
Desire is an important part of attraction, and without the latter, it makes it difficult to begin a conversation about becoming a pack.
“I told Briar we’d be coming by,” Atlas continues.
“So we aren’t blindsiding her?” I ask, wanting to clarify a few things. “It would suck to start this conversation on the wrong foot.”
“It’s loud. Let’s start walking toward the back office. Briar said she’d meet us there after her set. She told me she wanted to change first,” he explains.
“I wish she didn’t feel like she needed to,” I pout as we walk. “She looked gorgeous up there.”
“You noticed, huh?”
“It was hard not to,” Jude mumbles to Atlas.
