Muscle and Bone - Mary Calmes Page 0,58
spoke, I warmed more to the idea.
“If you do that, you could provide for those omegas who are currently a financial drain on their families by helping to offset whatever costs are being incurred, without divulging why, of course, and give omegas who would prefer not to be mated the necessary funds to stay single.”
He made good sense, but I had a terrible thought.
“And for the unsuccessfully mated ones, you could provide a parachute, a way out of the situation they’re in.”
I was quiet.
“What do you think?”
Quick clearing of my throat. “I think that’s a well-thought-out plan.”
“Really? Because you sound like you’re not sure.”
“No I…I just—you didn’t want to remain unattached, did you?”
It was his turn to be silent, and with every passing second I died just a bit.
“Avery, you––”
“I thought I did,” he murmured. “And I’m sure I would have…if there was no you.”
Amazing how such simple words from him could settle me so quickly in my own skin.
“When I saw you at Remy’s tonight, you helped, you know? Like, I felt calmer just seeing you, more grounded, almost––”
“Settled in your skin?”
“Yeah.” He exhaled, as though relieved to have his feelings put into words. “Exactly.”
The man was made for me, and all I wanted was to have him close, right there, so I could touch him.
“Graeme?” He sounded tentative.
I had no idea I could enjoy hearing my own name so much. Other people using it had certainly never resulted in this swell of pride and possessiveness rolling through me. “Yes?”
“Remy was adamant when he was talking about you and what you wanted from a mating, and that you would never want an omega.”
The truth was always the best. “Remy knows very little about me, but that is true. My mother was an omega, and she was, perhaps, the textbook definition of one, delicate and easily broken. At the gatherings, one is treated to the worst kind of alpha and omega interaction, and never, no matter how beautiful, did I ever look at any of them twice.”
He was quiet, listening.
“But Avery, your scent had me bewitched,” I confessed. “I had to find you, and when I did, imagine my delight at discovering you to be a beautiful, strong, virile man who is exactly the mate I’ve always needed and wanted.”
“But still an omega.”
“It doesn’t matter what you are, only who you are. I need to put my mark on you so you’ll know how I feel and won’t second-guess my words.”
“I won’t do that. I believe you…or, I want to believe you.”
“Good. Wanting will suffice for now until I claim what’s mine.”
His breath caught.
“Avery?” The low, seductive, husky chuckle from him was a surprise and sent a roll of heat right to my cock. “Something funny?” I barely got out.
“No I—it’s just, you’re very sure of everything, and I should mind that you think of me as belonging to you, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t breathe there for a second.”
“I’m thrilled to hear it.”
“Okay so, about the omegas, is it a plan?”
“It is,” I agreed. “I’ll task my brother with it. He’s quite discreet, and it should go without saying, but I will have him wait to contact anyone until the police—you—conclude your investigation. We certainly don’t want to risk tipping off a murderer in our zeal to make amends. That would be exceedingly counterproductive.”
“Yes, it would,” he agreed, and I could hear the mirth in his voice.
“Something you find humorous?”
“Exceedingly counterproductive. I would’ve said it’d be a shitshow. You’re so proper and smart and gorgeous and…”
“Gorgeous?” I stopped him, hating myself because of how pathetic I probably sounded, as though fishing for a compliment. But this was my mate. “I’m horribly disfigured, you know. Perhaps gorgeous isn’t the adjective you were looking for.”
“It’s the right one,” he replied, his voice thick, smooth like honey. “And I…I see the scar, but to me it only adds; it doesn’t take away.”
The man rendered me mute so easily.
“I see you, okay?”
“Yes,” I managed to croak out.
“There are life and death parts of being a wolf that most people never think about because they’re not cynes who have to put their lives on the line for members of their holt, like I’m sure you had to do, right?”
“I did,” I confirmed for him.
“You being a champion, taking care of everyone—I don’t want to change you, but I also wouldn’t want to lose you,” he murmured, his voice like a caress. “And there’s so much for us to talk about. I would like