30. Thirty - Tate

thirty - tate

. . .

"Do you want to go see Nova?" I ask her cautiously. It's been a rough few hours for Rebel, and I don't want to force anything on her after what I now know. I can't believe it. Her story. I mean, I believe her. My mind just doesn't want to process how someone could do something so incredibly fucked up to the girl I'm falling hard for. To my omega.

Violence churns below my skin at the injustice. I will find this fucker, and he will pay with his life. It may not be by my hands, but I will make sure it happens. Then another thought hits me. Is he the one who's been terrorizing my omega?

I'll hop onto my computer later and find out exactly what we're dealing with. For now, I need my omega calm. I need her to feel safe. She's vulnerable. The assault didn't happen to her, but those memories had her turning to a razor. A blade I didn't even know existed in my bathroom.

I'll have to make sure those are all gone in case this happens again. In case she falls back on the old memories she can't escape. I never want to see the defeat in her eyes again. It's the first time she's ever let down her walls enough to let me see the real her.

She's been flying outside of my radar. Trying to not let her feelings get involved, but I want all of her fucking feelings. Good ones, bad ones, scary ones, naughty ones. I need everything from her.

"Rebel?" I question again because she looks lost, my eyes following hers to the window as she looks out into the woods behind my house.

"Does it make me a horrible person if I say no? It's just…" She sighs and shakes her head. "I feel guilty, okay? I know what that's like, living in fear that he'll find you again. Knowing what can happen when you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've fucking lived it, and it guts me knowing that she was assaulted because I wasn't there."

I pull her into me, tucking her head under my chin and against my neck. "Gunnar got there in time. He didn't actually…" I don't want to say the words out loud for fear that it'll throw her into fight-or-flight mode. It's the last thing she needs right now.

"She still got hurt because of me."

Using my finger and thumb, I lift her chin to look up at me. "Are you listening? Because I want you to hear this." She nods sadly. "You are not the reason she got hurt. She got hurt because some sick asshole decided to do something that violated someone else."

She looks drained, emotionally, and I know she probably is physically. I can only imagine how bad the cuts hurt on those beautiful thighs. How did I not see the marks before? How did I not catch those little white lines? I've been down there worshiping her a few times, and I hate that not once did I see anything off.

She's a fucking survivor. So damn brave.

"You want to rest in bed for a little while before we go see her?"

She shakes her head numbly. "No, I won't be able to. Every time I close my eyes…"

I know what she's going to say. When she closes her eyes, she just sees him, and it wrecks me.

My brows pinch in concern. "How can I help?"

She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Maybe take my mind off of it."

My eyes widen in surprise. That… is not what I was expecting her to say. "I'm not sure that's the best idea, my little firebrand."

"Please, Tate. I just need to forget about things for a while, and I know how good you are at making me lose my mind."

I smirk. "Oh, I'm good am I?"

Her lips twitch as she narrows her eyes. "Don't be cocky."

I lean in slowly, so slowly. "Don't pretend you don't like me cocky, Omega."

My phone buzzes, interrupting our banter. I ignore it because I have better things to do right now. It buzzes again, and Rebel looks at it. "Aren't you going to answer it?"

My eyes find the screen, and my mom's name lights it up. Why is she calling me? It's been a few weeks since we talked. I'd been so preoccupied by Rebel that I forgot to check in like we normally do.

The phone continues, but I make no move to grab it. I'm lost in the gold of Rebel's orbs, and I'm mesmerized. Her eyes are gorgeous, and I can't believe I didn't notice it before.

"Look, you should really answer that. My mom was a bitch and hated me, but I'd give anything to hear her voice again. And I can't. You have the opportunity to, though, don't waste it." The sincerity in her eyes kills me. Her mom treated her like shit, and she still says that. My girl is too loving for her own good. To be knocked down so many times. To be hidden from society and only trotted out when the occasion called for it. No wonder she has insecurities. Who the fuck wouldn't?

"I'll send her a text, okay? I'm a little preoccupied right now, making my omega focus on me, and me only." I wrap my arms around her and pull her into me.

She grins up at me. "Oh, is that so?"

"It is definitely so."

"I'm waiting." She's flirting with me, batting those lashes.

I lean in closer to her lips, almost touching them but still staying away. "Waiting for what?"

She gets the cutest stern look on her face. "Tate Geekies, if you do not kiss me right now, I might expire on the spot."

Mmmm… a moan leaves my mouth. "I like you desperate, Danger."

I hover my mouth above her lips for a minute longer than necessary. "Gonna take care of you, Rebel," I whisper before stealing her with a kiss. Using my tongue, I gently coax her lips apart.

My goal with the kiss is to remind her just how much she means to me. I use it as a salve to try and mend some of the hurt and pain she's experienced in her short lifetime.

Our tongues tangle as one, and the kiss deepens with her urgency.

It's a promise of having one another's backs.

Of support.

Of understanding.

Of love.

I know this kiss won't fix those freshly broken open mental wounds, but maybe it will start the healing process. She nips at my lower lip, knowing it turns me the hell on, and I growl into her mouth. The kiss turns from sweet and meaningful to dirty and lust-filled as I push her against the counter in the kitchen.

My hips drive forward of their own accord, creating friction between us, but it's not enough. It will never be enough with this omega.

Her hips jerk against me, and she moans when she brushes against the hard length hidden beneath my gray sweatpants. I'm so damn hard for her. Precum slips from my tip at the mere thought of bending her over this counter and sinking into her warm heat.

Speaking of heats. Hers is coming up soon. I'm excited she wants me to help her through it, but a part of me is nervous because I've heard stories about how needy omegas in heat can be. The lack of sleep, the worn out cock, and the lack of food really take a toll on the body.

Another moan draws my attention to her again, and I wrench my lips from hers. What the fuck am I doing? She just had a horrible flashback that almost ended a lot worse than it could have. I won't be the reason she sinks into her own head. The guilt swirls in my chest. I feel like I've taken advantage when she isn't in the right space of mind.

"Please, don't stop," she pleads so beautifully. "Please, Tate. Please, don't stop."

"Rebel." Her voice comes out in a rasp, pupils blown wide and a fierce need in those dangerous orbs.

Taking a moment, I simply look at her, taking her in. Her eyes beg. Those pouty lips start to curve downward into a frown, and I can't let my omega frown right now. A frown should never mar her face again, and I won't let it as long as I live.

But I can't hold out any longer. I want her. I've always wanted her.

"Fuck it." I curse under my breath and slam my lips against hers. Rebel pulls me into her and holds on tight like she can't quite let go. Like she doesn't want to let go.

Grabbing onto her thigh, I pull it up and wrap it around my own, bringing her center even closer to me. Heat rises from her body, and the scent of her arousal pools between us. My eyes roll into the back of my head as my nostrils flare. Fuck, she smells like sin.

Those sweet little hips start to grind against me, and I lower my head to her neck, inhaling delectable apple pie. My chest heaves as I try to slow my breathing, fighting to gain control of the alpha who's waiting to unleash himself. My hand reaches up to cup her cheek. "Sweet mercy, Rebel. The things you do to me."

"Give me more. Please, make me forget. Fill this ugly memory with a new one, a better one, a you one."

My eyes find hers, desire burning brightly. "Hell, Rebel. You're killing me. Your scent is driving me mad. Tell me you'll come on my tongue as I go down on this sweet little pussy of mine. Tell me I can taste you, my little firebrand. Drink up every last drop of your arousal."

"God, yes, please."

I growl. "I'm certainly no god, Rebel. I'm more along the lines of a devil. Being a gentleman never really suited my style."

"Tate…" She moans as I slide to my knees before her, allowing her leg to drop to the floor. With a wicked grin, I look up at her. Promises of dirty things written plainly in the way I look at her. I can't help but admire the way she looks in my t-shirt. It's so sexy. In fact, it's so sexy I want her to keep it on while I fuck her.

Settling between her open thighs, I push them apart further. She's not wearing any panties and, hell, is that turning me on.

Then my eyes gloss over those painful, puffy-looking cuts on her upper thighs. Leaning in, I kiss each one. Her breath hitches. "Tate. Don't." Her hands fall to try and cover the marks, and I bat them away.

How can I not? She's beautiful, these scars that I hate to see are significant because it means she's a survivor. I wouldn't exactly say slicing up this creamy smooth skin is the way to go, but it's better than the alternative. It could always be worse, I remind myself.

Looking up her body, I watch as a tear slips down her cheek as I continue to reverently kiss each battle wound left behind. I want to reach up and wipe it away, but my arm won't reach that far right now.

"You don't have to keep quiet here, Rebel. I want to hear you say my name. I want you to know who's bringing you to ecstasy time and time again."

With those last words, my self-control shatters like a loose wire. Her eyes go wide as her hips grind against me, pleading and begging for more than I'm giving. Oh, my little omega. You have so much to learn.

She squirms above me, and I reach out, holding her hips to keep her in place and her rhythm balanced.

Using my fingers and tongue, it doesn't take her long to fall to hell with the orgasm I just delivered. Swirling my tongue, I lap up all the arousal pooling between her thighs at my touch.

"There we go. See, now I've had the best afternoon snack an alpha could ask for." She smiles down at me, running her fingers through my hair, leaving strands sticking out in weird places, I'm sure. "Let's rest for a while, and then we'll head to the hospital to see Nova, maybe give Gunnar a reprieve since he's been there since it all happened."

She nods at me. "Sure, okay."

"Sleeping only, though, don't get all handsy like a needy little omega while I'm sleeping or I'm liable to wake your ass up and spank you."

She pouts for a few minutes, but then nods her head in acceptance of my terms.

Her legs wobble as she tries to slow her breathing and regain her strength. Seeing her struggle, I dip one arm behind her knees and another one behind her back. "I got you."

Rebel's damn smile could make the world stop turning. The sincerity of it. The simple thank you she says without using the words.