Chapter 38

thirty-eight

DIMITRI

The kiss started softly, tentatively, but quickly ignited. I teased her bottom lip with a gentle nip, easing the sting with my tongue before exploring further. She tasted like the sweetest sin, pure sugar, with a hint of something darker—more seductive.

I was a goner. An addict.

I needed another hit, another touch, another taste.

My little Omega had me wrapped around her finger already, and I fully embraced the obsession, diving headfirst into the compulsive dependency.

I couldn’t get enough of her, and I was damn sure I never would.

Kit melted against me, her fingers sliding into my hair as she returned the kiss with equal fervor. I groaned into her mouth, my hands roaming down her back to grip her hips. The thin fabric of her panties teased me, hiding the silky smoothness of her skin. I wanted to touch every fucking inch of her, to learn every dip and curve, to worship her like she deserved.

I trailed kisses along her jaw, down the column of her throat. She tilted her head back, offering more of herself to me. A low rumble of approval vibrated through my chest.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I murmured. “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”

She whimpered softly, her hips rocking against my hardening length. The friction sent sparks of pleasure shooting through me, and I had to grit my teeth to maintain control.

“I want to taste you,” I growled, nipping at her collarbone. “May I?”

Her cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of pink as she bit her lip.

She nodded, her breath coming in shallow pants. “Yes,” she whispered, almost too quietly to hear over the bubbling water.

With a reverence that bordered on worship, I slid my hands up her thighs, pushing the soaked nightgown further up her body. It clung to her, reluctant to let go, and I had half a mind to tear it off—but I liked the way it teased me, the way it made her look like a sinful angel.

I lifted her slowly, setting her on the edge of the hot tub. The cool night air kissed her wet skin, and she shivered, goosebumps rising along her arms. Her legs dangled into the water, and I spread them gently, planting soft kisses up her inner thighs. She tensed at first, then relaxed into my touch, a quiet moan escaping her lips.

The scent of her arousal was intoxicating, mingling with the steam. It took all my willpower not to dive in and devour her like the starving man I was. Instead, I breathed her in, letting the anticipation build. My hands caressed her legs, her hips, tracing lazy patterns as I worked my way closer to the source of her heat.

“Kit,” I said, my voice rough with need. “Look at me.”

Her lashes fluttered open, and she gazed down at me with a mix of desire and vulnerability that made my chest ache. I wanted to remember this moment forever—how she looked, how she smelled, how she trembled with expectation.

I loved her like this—hair mused, eyes half-lidded, lips parted. She was a vision, a goddess, and I was on my knees in worship.

Slowly, deliberately, I pressed my mouth to her center, kissing her through the flimsy barrier of her panties. With a gasp, she grabbed the edge of the hot tub; her knuckles whitening. I flicked my tongue against the wet fabric, tasting the faintest hint of her sweetness, then sucked gently. A soft cry flew from her lips as her back arched. The sweetest fucking melody.

That’s it, Kitten. Show me how much you like my tongue.

Unable to wait any longer, I hooked a finger into her panties and pulled them aside, exposing her glistening core. The sight of her, so ready and willing, made my mouth water and my cock throb with painful need.

“Beautiful,” I whispered, more to myself than to her. Then I lowered my head and lapped slowly up her slit, savoring her taste. Her legs tried to close around me, but I held them apart with a firm yet gentle grip, my fingers digging into the soft flesh of her thighs.

She was so wet, so fucking hot, and every stroke of my tongue drew out another whimper, another moan. I circled her clit lazily, then flicked it with more pressure, testing what made her squirm the most. Her hips had a mind of their own, bucking against my face as she chased the pleasure I was giving her.

I lapped at her eagerly, savoring her taste. She was more delicious than I could’ve imagined, a perfect mixture of sweet and savory that matched her scent.

Kit’s hands found their way to my hair, tugging desperately as I worked her with a hunger that bordered on feral.

“Dimitri,” she moaned, her voice high and breathy.

The sound of my name on her lips was a fucking song, calling out to me, and it spurred me on, drove me deeper into madness. I sped up the movement of my tongue, using the quick, precise movements she seemed to love most. Her hips bucked against my face, seeking more, demanding it.

I slid a finger inside her, groaning at how tight and warm she was. She clenched around me so hard that I almost lost it right then. I imagined what it would feel like to be buried between those sweet thighs, to claim her as mine in every possible way. But this wasn’t about me. Not yet.

“Fuck, Kit,” I growled against her, the vibrations making her whole body shudder. “You’re going to make me come just from this.”

I added a second finger, stretching her slowly as I continued to assault her clit with my tongue. Her breathing turned ragged, her moans more urgent. She was close, so fucking close, and I wanted nothing more than to push her over the edge and watch her fly.

“Come for me, Kitten,” I commanded. “Let me see how beautiful you are when you break.”

Her body tensed, every muscle tightening as she teetered on the brink.

I knew what she needed, and I was all too eager to give it to her. Curling my fingers inside her, I found the spot that would send her flying and pressed against it firmly. At the same time, I sucked her clit into my mouth, swirling my tongue in relentless circles.

She shattered. A scream tore from her throat, and her body convulsed, waves of pleasure crashing through her. Her legs clamped around my head, her heels digging into my back as she rode out her orgasm. I held her steady, drinking in every drop, every shudder, prolonging her ecstasy as long as I could.

She was fucking exquisite.

I eased up slowly, giving her small licks before placing one last gentle kiss against her pussy.

When she finally came down from her high, her body went limp, and she slumped back on her hands, chest heaving with ragged breaths. Leaning up, I kissed her tenderly, my face still slick with her arousal. Some deep, primal part of me loved sharing her taste with her.

Dazed, with a contented smile playing on her lips, she reached out to touch my cheek. I leaned into her palm, savoring the contact.

“Dimitri,” she started, but trailed off, biting her lip.

I could see a hundred thoughts flickering behind her eyes, a sum of all the emotions I knew we both felt shining in those pretty blue depths.

I was mesmerized by her. How could one woman hold so much power over me? How could she make me feel this way with just a look, a touch? I was drowning in her, and I didn’t want to come up for air.

“You’re amazing,” she breathed, still trembling from the aftershocks.

“No, Kitten,” I squeezed her thighs gently, “You’re the one who’s amazing.”

I straightened back to my full height, and water cascaded off my body, splashing against the hot tub’s surface. Instantly, Kit’s focus shifted, tracking the rivers that trailed down the grooves of my abdomen. Seeing the raw desire still burning within her did wonders for my ego, though I knew she was spent.

I ran a hand through my wet hair, trying to cool the inferno raging inside me. Every part of me screamed to take her now, to sink my teeth into her and claim her as mine once and for all. But I held back. I had to.

“Come here,” I said, extending my hand.

Languidly, and without hesitation, she took it. I pulled her gently into the hot tub, and she slid into the water with a soft sigh. The warmth enveloped her, and we settled down together, her sitting on my lap, resting against my chest, nuzzling into me like a contented kitten.

That’s why my little pet name for her was absolutely fucking perfect.

We stayed that way, the sounds of the city below mingling with the bubbling of the water. Her breathing slowed, and I wondered if she’d drifted to sleep. Stroking her hair, I let my thoughts wander.

I’d never given much thought to finding an Omega before, but now that she was here, there was no going back. Kitania filled the parts of my life I hadn’t even realized were missing, and there wasn’t a version of my future that didn’t include having her at my side.

This—holding her, feeling her soft warmth against me—I wanted this for eternity. Not just the physical closeness, but the peace, the quiet contentment that came with knowing she was safe in my arms.

“Kit,” I murmured. “About tonight… I’m sorry I worried you.”

She shifted slightly, looking up at me with those big, expressive eyes. “You don’t have to apologize. I know there will be times when you have things to take care of and can’t check in as often as I’d like. I just… I worry. I wish…” Biting that lower lip again, she trailed off.

“What do you wish for, Kitten?”

“I just… I need to know what’s going on, Dimitri. When you disappear, I imagine the worst. I wish I could feel that you were alright,” she rambled in a rush.

Was she…. was she hinting at bonding? We hadn’t talked about the physical act, not in so many words, but this woman was mine . It was only a matter of time until she bore my mark—the perfect silvery crescent scar from the shape of my teeth. I eyed the spot high on her throat where I planned to bite her, a place everyone would see and know she was taken.

“Trust me, I want that too,” I promised. “When your heat comes, we’d like to make this official, Kitten.”

Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “Yes. So, so much, yes.”

Goddamn. I pulled her against me, careful not to crush her too tightly. I swooped down and captured her mouth, dominating her lips, her tongue, to my will. The urge to spread those pretty thighs, line myself up, and thrust knot deep into her wet heat had my cock aching.

Down, boy.

The vision I had of doing just that didn’t help, especially with her wriggling in my lap. I wanted everything with this woman. But I could wait.

When Kit leaned away, breathless and flushed, her gaze flicked back and forth between my eyes. “I was worried about something else, too.” The admission almost made me smile, because I was pretty damn sure I knew what she was going to say.

I hummed in understanding, waiting, letting her lead.

“I… I had sex with Marco.” The confession rushed free, guilt coating every word.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“I—” She blinked, the pink in her cheeks deepening, “Yes.” The truth was nothing but a wisp of air, a tendril of sound, barely formed.

“Does being intimate with my brother change how you feel about me? Or Gio or Tommy, for that matter?”

Kit’s eyes widened; that guilt replaced instantly with a look of shock. “Of course not!”

“Are you planning to make Marco a part of your pack?”

“I—” Kit shook her head, not in denial, but in confusion. Her brows furrowed. “Yes. But Dimitri—”

The line of my finger pressed over her lips, stopping her mid-sentence. “I know it’s customary for the lead Alpha to have his Omega first, but I’ve never been a man to put unnecessary stock in traditions or ceremonies. Relationships are meant to progress naturally, and as our Omega, you’re the one in charge, Kit. You could fuck Marco a hundred times before you ever let me into your bed, and I’d still be here, loving you. Waiting. Because you’re worth it, Kit. You’re it for me.”

A small, delicate gasp, and then my Omega was shifting, straddling me, her hands cupping my face as my hand fell unapologetically to her ass. I kneaded a handful, then suppressed a groan, realizing that touching all that bare skin was doing nothing to help my insatiable hard-on.

“Dimitri Cristenello… Did you just tell me you love me?”

Fuck.

I had just told her that, hadn’t I? The words had slipped out so naturally, like they’d been waiting in the wings all along, ready to take center stage. But now that they were out there, hanging in the air between us, I couldn’t take them back.

Nor did I want to.

I looked into her eyes, searching for… hell, I didn’t even know what I was searching for. Reassurance? Acceptance? The same unspoken feelings staring back at me? Whatever it was, I found it.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice rough with emotion. “I did.”

For a moment, neither of us moved. It was as if the world had paused, holding its breath to see what would happen next. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face—warm and radiant, like the first rays of sunlight after a long, cold night.

Relief washed over me, followed by something deeper, more profound. It was hope.

Kitania leaned in, her lips brushing against mine with a tenderness that made my chest ache. “I love you too, Dimitri,” she whispered, and my heart fucking exploded.

This was it. This was the moment where everything clicked into place. Where all the doubts and fears were obliterated by the sheer force of her words. I pulled her closer, kissing her with all the passion and longing I’d been holding back. Her fingers tangled in my hair, and I let out a low growl of satisfaction.

We broke apart, breathing heavily, and she rested her forehead against mine. For a few precious seconds, we simply existed together, absorbing the magnitude of what we’d confessed.

“I’m so scared of messing this up. Of not being enough for you all.”

My heart clenched. How could she not see her own worth? “You’re more than enough, Kit. More than we could have ever hoped for.”

She closed her eyes, as if savoring my words, letting them sink into her. I stroked her back, tracing lazy patterns along her spine, feeling the tension slowly melt away.

“We’ll take it one step at a time,” I continued. “You don’t have to rush anything. Not with me, not with the others. We’re in this for the long haul.”

Dark lashes fluttered open, and the vulnerability visible in her gaze nearly broke me. “I just want to do it right. I want to be a good Omega for you.”

This woman.

“You already are, Kitten. You’re exactly what each of us needs.”

I shook my head as it hit me that we were failing. Kitania should never question her worth. Never doubt that she was enough for us. Never wonder if we planned to bond with her and keep her for the rest of our fucking lives.

Omegas needed their Alphas’ reassurance and praise, and if she was worried she’d disappoint us in some way, we weren’t fulfilling our roles properly.

“We want to do this right, too.”

Her lips parted to fire off a response, and I silenced her with a shake of my head.

“Don’t. I haven’t given you a single present. We haven’t convinced you to move into the Omega suite. And most importantly, we haven’t courted you properly. I’m sorry, Kitania. I promise you, we’re going to do better.”

Kit hit me with what she probably hoped to be an intimidating glare. Leaning back, she propped her hands on her hips in a rare display of sass and attitude. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing, because she looked like a pissed off Tinkerbell, small and adorable, with a temper to match.

“Are you kidding me right now? You gifted me with an entirely new wardrobe that’s ten times the size of my previous one. You gave me a roof over my head when I was homeless, and a fancy one at that. You’ve cooked and cared for me, kept me safe, and invited me into your family. I—I haven’t had that since my parents died.”

The pain in her voice when she mentioned them nearly gutted me.

“Don’t you see? You and your brothers have given me everything .”

I swallowed—hard. “It’s still not enough. You deserve the fucking world.”

I’d burn it down for her, if that’s what she wanted. Figure out how to steal the very moon from the sky, if she asked. Didn’t she know that?

“It is enough. You’re enough. You’ve given me a future, and that terrifies me. I’m so scared. Of losing this. Of losing you . I’d never survive it.”

My heart clenched in my chest, but it was a good kind of pain. One that proved it was still capable of feeling something other than the cold indifference this life demanded of me. This woman cracked me open, exposing the raw, tender parts of my soul I thought I’d lost long ago.

“You won’t lose us,” I vowed, stroking her back with slow, deliberate movements. “We’re not going anywhere.”

Kitania released a shaky breath, and some of the tension seeped out of her as she visibly relaxed.

I was half tempted to give her another orgasm just to clear the heaviness and get her nice and languid in my arms again. Wanting to rekindle that lightness, I steered the conversation away from weightier topics and onto a subject I was keen to discuss.

“I meant what I said about courting you properly.”

She tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes.

“Starting with a date,” I continued. “I speak for all of us when I say we’ve been dying to take you out.”

Her lips formed a soft ‘O’ of surprise, and then the most beautiful fucking smile spread across her face. She glowed with happiness, the kind that was pure and unfiltered.

“Really?”

“Absolutely. We can go anywhere you’d like.”

My mind was already racing ahead, making plans to call the pilot of my private plane. The world was at our fingertips. If she wanted to see the Eiffel Tower at dawn, take a gondola ride in Venice, or sample the street fair in Tokyo, I’d make it happen. We had more than enough resources to give her the most extravagant experiences imaginable.

Kitania bit her lip, looking almost timid as she considered her options. I could see the wheels turning in her head, and I was half desperate to know what would make her happy when she finally had mercy on me.

“Can we—” she started, then paused shyly, as if unsure.

“Tell me where you’d like to go. Or do I need to torture it out of you?” The word ‘torture’ dripped with innuendo, and salacious visions filled my mind once more, this time of edging my Omega over and over again, refusing to let her come until she gave me whatever answer she was hiding.

Her lips parted and her pupils dilated as though her thoughts followed the same sinful path mine had traveled. Her scent thickened, and I barely stifled the groan that rose from deep within my chest.

Fuck, I’d give my left nut to know what fantasies had just crossed her mind.

But first…

I raised a brow, a silent demand for the answer to my question, ready to make good on my threat if she didn’t relent.

“Can we go to the movies? I-I’ve never been.”

Jesus fucking Christ. “You… You’ve never been to a movie theater?”

Kitania looked away, shrinking in on herself. “It’s embarrassing, I know.”

“It’s not embarrassing, sweet girl. It’s heartbreaking that you didn’t get these types of experiences.” I scrubbed a hand down my face, willing the anger that rose at her admission into the background to deal with later. A session with Gio in the gym should help to work off some of the rage I felt at how poorly Kit had been treated by the people who raised her. “Yeah, Kitten. We can go to the movies.”

The goddamn movies.

Her eyes sparkled with happiness, and the Alpha part of me nearly roared with satisfaction. I’d put that look on her face, and I’d do anything I could to keep it there.

Starting with dating the fuck out of her.