Chapter Eleven

Shane

I'd never known bliss like this. For the first time in a long time, my entire body was relaxed. No aches. No pulling. No tenderness.

Being with Zhang had turned me to some kind of pudding cup in the best way possible.

My trainers would pass out if they heard me say that. Pudding and strongman championships didn't really belong in the same sentence.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhang reached for my hand and laced his fingers with mine. His warmth pushed into my skin, and through the bond, I became even more relaxed. More time with this omega and I would be a heap of goo.

"I'm thinking about how I can't wait to win you a stuffed animal or sixty."

He laughed. "Full of yourself, aren't you?" he teased. "I'm excited too. Franklin said the car should be here in a few minutes. Are you going to indulge in a funnel cake?"

I sighed. "I shouldn't."

He nodded. "Maybe you can just watch me eat one. Your life must be all discipline, huh?"

I turned to him and stood, seeing the car pull up. We had been enjoying rocking chairs on the front porch, waiting. "It's structured. From the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep."

"Don't you hate that?" the omega asked. We walked hand in hand to the car and climbed in. Our conversation never lapsed. Now that I thought about it, in the time I'd known him, our conversation had been one long discussion. We simply picked up where we once left off through lapses of pauses and sleeping. He never left my mind.

"I don't. It's always been that way since I was a teenager. That's when I really started lifting and paying attention to my body and working hard."

He nodded. "Why did you start lifting? Getting into all of this?" He squeezed my shoulder.

I told him the story of my earlier years. The way I was picked on. I hesitated in using the word bullied, not wanting to sound like a victim even though I was during that time. But I transformed myself into an empowered young man. A man with goals I expressed through my physicality.

"You must've been popular with the omegas," he said with a twinge of jealousy lacing his tone.

"I was too busy." I laughed. "I had training early in the mornings. I went to school. Had different sports and trainings in the afternoon. Then I ate my fathers out of house and home and went to bed. That was my life. It wasn't until I took some business classes at a local community college that I started garnering some attention though."

We arrived at the carnival and market in the next town in what seemed like minutes. Time flew around Zhang because we were always talking and loving each other. But time with him flew by too fast. We had only one full day to enjoy each other and, as I plucked my phone from my pocket, I cringed. That day was almost over.

Sure, we had the night and the next morning but after that…what?

No way I could just waltz back into my life as though the best weekend of my existence was a dream or, worse, never happened.

"They have a footlong corndog," Zhang said, waggling his eyebrows.

"My treat. Come on."

Zhang ate all the treats and drank three shaken lemonades while I pulled him to the games.

"Here's one that's perfect for you," the omega singsonged.

"What?" I asked but soon saw what he was talking about. "Oh, the High Striker. Wanna see your alpha work?"

He nodded and blushed. "Yes, please."

I pulled some cash from my pocket and handed it to the man, but he stopped his pitch for everyone to come play and shook his head. "No."

"No?" I asked.

"No way. Not you. Last time I let someone like you play, he cracked the damned thing in three pieces, and I was left with no game to sell. Here's your cash unless you'd like to pay for the omega to play."

Well, that wasn't fair.

"Okay. Zhang, you want a shot?" I asked.

He snorted. "I'm a make-out-on-the-Ferris-wheel kind of omega, but thank you."

"Ferris wheel it is," I said and wrapped my arm around his shoulders. We got on the Ferris wheel after I slipped the operator a ten to stop us at the top. I wanted to make this fantasy of my omega's come true.

Once it stopped, we swung a bit, enjoying the view, but soon my attention drew back to my omega as it had since I first saw him. "Come here, omega," I whispered and put my hand over his thigh.

"I had this idea, but now I'm scared to move," he laughed.

"Just slide over. I promise to make that fear go away."

He slid over, and I cupped his face in my hands. I covered his mouth with mine, devouring his sweetness. I moved my hands to his back, pulling him in to get closer to me. He could never be close enough as far as I was concerned, but this would have to be enough for now.

"Wow," he said, pulling back as the ride began to move. The operator had given us about three minutes, and I was grateful for every second.

"Wow is exactly right. Any more fantasies I can help you live out?" I asked, kissing him again, because I could.

"Oh, alpha. I think you are my fantasy come to life."