Omegas In Love

Chapter 12

A new door hung in the main entrance to the brownstone. Someone in the pack had repaired it for them and Eric had given Katrina a new key. As she stepped over the threshold, the air left her lungs. The damage, so much of it, made her home a disaster area.

Chen’s men had violated the brownstone, attacked her small family, and almost killed her best friend. May that bastard rot in hell with demons picking on his bones.

Seeing poor Sugar and Daedalus had given Katrina a reality check. Her injuries and Tyler’s were minor in comparison. Their troubles easily fixed. They’d survived a horrid day and found each other once more.

Tyler limped inside and closed the door. He contemplated the mess. “I really need some shut eye. Can we clean tomorrow?”

“Yes.” She snuggled against his chest, absorbing the solid strength of his body. The doctor in the emergency room had eased her pain with medicine. By morning, she’d be healed. Without it to distract her, she could sense her season escalating. “I want to sleep.” But she doubted with her growing need she could. How could she broach this subject with Tyler? He looked beat.

“Come on.” He tugged her.

Following a trail of debris, Katrina descended to the basement, but detoured into the bathroom they shared with Sam, and turned on the shower. Tossing the remains of her dress into the trash, she stepped under the icy water. Its clean scent washed away the faint stink of fish clinging to her body, and cooled her aching desires.

Just a quick wash. She stepped out, wrapping a thick towel around her. It didn’t hide the bruises and scrapes on her face. She’d been beaten before. Never this bad, though. The collar was still around her throat.

She grabbed it and yanked. The silver in her blood stream had worn off so her beast loaned her strength. Bending slightly in her hands, the metal dug into her skin. A trickle of blood slid along her neck, slipping over her shoulder.

“Stop!” Tyler barged into the bathroom and removed her hands. “You’re hurting yourself. Let me do it.” He caressed her face, then positioned his fingers around the tight collar. The muscle along his jaw bunched with focused strain as he pulled the locked ends apart. Sweat beaded on his forehead, then the collar clattered onto the tiled floor.

She stared at the shattered remains. Not a prisoner anymore, not a slave, or a dog. Her breath shuddered as she exhaled.

Tyler sported a fresh black eye and his bottom lip hung in a swollen pout.

Tracing a finger along it, she whispered. “I’m sorry for not telling you about Chen.” She swallowed around a tight ball in her throat. “When I came to America I wanted a fresh start. To forget…”

He kissed her fingertips. “If I’d really wanted to know, I would have asked. You’ll talk when you’re ready. I trust you, Katrina.”

“Even now?” A vise squeezed her chest.

Resting his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes. “What do you think?”

“I don’t deserve you.”

“Yeah, but you’re taking the universe out of context when you begin talking like that.” He opened his eyes; amusement twinkled there.

She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. The weight of a thousand suns lifted from her shoulders. “I love you so much. I cannot even express it.”

“Express it by letting us get some sleep.” He kissed her nose. “I love you more.”

Pressing her face against his, she sighed. Sleeping at home with Tyler, her small slice of heaven wrapped in curly red hair and freckles.

Lying on his side, Tyler admired the graceful line of Katrina’s back as she sat on the edge of the bed.

They’d taken a nap but he wasn’t ready to leave his comfortable spot. He traced his finger along her spine.

Shivering, she glanced at him over her shoulder. The spark in her gaze stirred him.

“I haven’t welcomed you home yet.”

“Really?” She raised an eyebrow. “And how would you like to welcome me?”

He placed his hands behind his head. “Let me think.”

Laughing, Katrina tore the blankets off him. “While you’re thinking, I am going to occupy myself.” She ran her hand over his already stiff cock.

“Oh, yes.” He closed his eyes and pulled her onto his chest. Her scent had changed. It was heavier with something exotic mixed in. “That’s an excellent idea.” Slipping his fingers between her thighs, he smiled when he found her pussy wet.

Her silken hair brushed his shoulders as she pressed soft kisses on his face. “I’m in heat now.”

“Is that what I smell?”

“Yes.”

“I like it.” He took a deep breath through his nose, savoring the aroma.

“This will make us parents. Are you sure?”

Was he ready to be a father? Running his hands over her legs, he settled Katrina over his hips. “Never been more sure of something in my life.”

The kiss she planted on his lips tasted of sweet relief. Slow and gentle, she explored his mouth.

Knots in his shoulders untangled and the aches vanished. Melting into the king-sized bed they’d once struggled together to carry, Tyler pressed his cock into her pussy.

She leaned into him, rocking her hips back and forth to ease him deeper.

Luscious velvet wrapped around him. Tight and hot. He groaned. Sliding deep inside her, he waited a moment before dragging back out. Each time Katrina tried to increase the speed, he slowed her down. Easy and smooth, in no time he had her digging her nails into his flesh.

“Tyler.” She whispered his name just above his lips.

He opened his eyes and met her dark, hungry gaze.

Her pussy clamped around his cock. Eyelids fluttering, she parted her lips and arched her back. She was breathtaking.

His climax tackled him and shut down his brain. Savage bliss took over him and he thrust into her pussy, letting his hot seed fill her.

Panting, she rolled off of him. “You should welcome me home like this every day.”

“Is that a request?” He chuckled.

“No, a demand.” She kissed his cheek, then sat on the edge of the bed.

“Where are you going?” He tried his best not to whine. The bed was so warm and her body so soft. They really should stay there. A bucket of scorpions dumped on his bed wouldn’t make him move.

“To Chinatown.”

Tyler catapulted into a sitting position. “Are you nuts?”

“No, I need to check on those girls from the freighter.” She gazed at him, her weary face pleading. “I’m worried.”

So much for being selfish and content. He crawled out of bed on aching limbs and found a pair of clean underwear.

It didn’t take them long to dress and drive to Chinatown. Tyler called Robert for Tony’s address. He parked the car and Katrina paid the meter, then they strolled under the ancient archway.

The usual vendors weren’t around, the stores appeared empty, and only one soul walked the avenue with them. A full-out shifter street fight could put a damper on tourism.

The other person drew nearer and stopped mid-step. He glanced over his shoulder and started to retreat.

“Tony?” Tyler was happy his voice sounded more surprised than furious. At the moment, he didn’t know what to feel.

The young shifter nodded, but wouldn’t meet his gaze. He stuck his hands in his pockets and kicked at a stone on the street.

“Did your sisters make it home?”

He glanced at Tyler. “Yes.” His eyes wandered to Katrina. “They told me you rescued them.”

She nodded and gave Tyler a who-the-hell-is-this look.

Offering her a crooked smile, he took her hand and led her to Tony. “Katrina, this is Tony.”

She studied him. “I remember you from the pack meetings. Jiao and Li’s boy.”

Tyler noted the dark bags under Tony’s eyes. His shoulders sagged as he tried to meet their gaze.

“You can spread the word that it’s safe. We took care of Chen. The rest of his pack left with the ship. Eric made sure of it.”

Tony nodded. “Yeah, we know. He dropped my sisters off on the way back to the hospital.” The shifter shrugged. “I have to leave the city for a year.”

“Why?” Katrina looked back and forth between them.

Tony cleared his throat. “Punishment for being stupid.”

“I’ll explain later.” Tyler offered Tony his hand. “Good luck, man. I might have done the same thing if I were in your shoes.”

Tony took his hand and shook it. “Thanks.” He smiled. “You both look like shit. Go home and heal, everyone’s fine.”

“That’s the best suggestion I’ve heard all day.” Tyler guided Katrina away. He couldn’t believe twenty-four hours ago they’d been here having lunch.

Katrina stopped and stared at the spot where Chen had confronted her. The spot where Tyler had wanted to propose.

God, he’d lost the ring when he shifted in his clothes. Nothing remained of the shredded suit he’d been wearing. The street had been cleaned of yesterday’s debris.

The sunlight peaked from behind the clouds and glinted off something between the cobblestones.

Disbelief kicked him in the balls. Could it be? He released Katrina and knelt to pick it up. Left in the dirt, the ring seemed intact. How it got here from its box inside his jacket pocket, he’d never know.

“What is it?”

Tyler faced Katrina, still kneeling, and offered her the ring. “Will you marry me?”

Tears sprang to her eyes as she clasped her hands over her mouth.

“I wanted to spring the question yesterday, but we got interrupted. This is the ring, still here where I shifted.”

She burst out laughing. “There could be no better omen, Tyler. Of course, I will marry you.”

His heart throbbed. He slid the ring onto her finger then stood, scooping her into his arms.

Their love never needed testing. Forged of trust and respect, it would last forever. Yesterday had proved it. What didn’t break them only made them stronger.