Page 80 of Generation Omega: Claimed
I pull at the peace in that garden and its magnificent standing stones. “What that means is my heart will either bring this pack together or tear it apart. So, I had to go with my instincts, and my instincts declare that Kazimir adores that beautiful man sleeping right there, and he would never intentionally harm him. But if Kazimir does betray us, I didn’t want Ethan to think that it’s because he’s not worthy of love—we all know he is, more than anyone. I also didn’t want to place that burden on Ethan, if our reunion gets me killed.”
Gideon’s calming presence soothes me. “He’s not the only one worthy of love. But, rather than describing exactly how lovable you are, will you tell me something?”
I love that he’s asking, not just snatching my secrets from me. “Sure. What do you want to know?”
Even though I can’t see his smile, I know it’s there. “If we’d met under different circumstances—without our omegaverse matchmakers—and I asked you out on a date, would you have said yes?”
I respond with unapologetic giggles, exactly how I would have reacted iftheGideon Blake asked me out. “Dude, are you serious right now? Because I would have laughed hysterically, probably snorted embarrassinglymanytimes. Then I would have searched for cameras recording the entire thing, figuring itwas a stunt Ethan managed to arrange. Have you forgotten my first words to you? If so, please,neverremember them.”
He hums playfully. “Let’s see… I believe there was an exclamation ofholy hotness. Is that correct?”
“Absolutely not. Never happened. Give me a lie-detector test, and I’ll pass it.”
Gideon nuzzles against me, kissing my temple. “Fine, it never happened. But help me out here. Just pretend you said yes. What would you have wanted for our first date? The sky’s the limit. After all, I have my own plane.”
I’d laughmoreat the question if his tone wasn’t so earnest and his curiosity entirely genuine. But darn, my honest answer is tough to share. I’ll just never be sophisticated, will I? “You…we… already did it.”
“What?!” he blurts, performatively prim and proper. “You would have had me bang and bond you on our first date?! Shocking.”
“No!” I choke out, laughing again. “I just would have wanted you to cook for me and spend some quiet time together. Men cooking for me is literallychef’s kiss. Ethan’s very good at it, and…”
His burly arm tightens around me. “Hold on—are you suggesting that you evaluated my cooking abilities based on those grilled cheese sandwiches at my penthouse?”
“Well, yeah, and you cooked for me on the yacht too.”
“Oh, no—none of that counts.” Mr. Grumpy is adamant, even before he adds, “I hereby forbid you from making any judgments about my skills in the kitchen based on anything you’ve experienced so far.”
“Really?Hereby forbid? That’s a little stuffy, don’t you think?”
His divine scent envelops me as he murmurs, “Tillie Harrison, will you go on a date with me?”
I’m making faces, even though he can’t see them. “We’re bonded already. Be serious.”
Gideon’s cheek is against mine. “I am serious. When we’re safe enough—whatever that means—I want us to date.” He pauses, and I sense the depth of his emotions. “I keep thinking about our future, and I love it, imagining all we can be to each other. I don’t mean just us, but I’m greedy with the way I think about us andourfuture.” He scoffs, and I can almost guess what’s coming next. “I hada lotof time to think while you were connecting with the others, so I’m giving myself a pass for some well-earned selfishness.”
“That’s fair.” I knew Gideon was alone most of the past three days, while the rest of us were living in Jameson’s decadent, live-actionporn-a-thon. Mackenzie kept him company some, but mostly, my ginger god served an important role as my body pillow between rounds with my infamous alpha.
All the wild things we did over those three days… what an incredible sense ofnormalJameson created for Ethan and me. When he controlled us like we were his toys, the heights of passion we reached, all without any self-consciousness, absolutely wrecked any barriers we ever had. When it was Jameson and me, I felt freer while bound by his invisible lasso than I ever have in my life. The man lived up to the hype, no doubt.
I can’t feel my connection to Jameson now, but in Gideon’s arms, it’s a struggle to believe anything is missing in my life. They are so different—all of them—but each entirely necessary.
Gideon seems to know that I’m lost in my thoughts, and when I return to the perfection of being this close to him, he continues. “So, with the future, I’m all good. What bothers me is thinking about our past, how we began. As passionate and right as it was, we missed some wonderfulfirststhat all new lovers should experience. I want that for us—for you. I want us to beginagain, without the omegaverse rushing us past the priceless moments that are the true foundation of every worthy romance.”
I don’t know why I’m rebelling against the idea, but I am. “I don’t want to be unappreciative here, but aren’t you just trying to clean it all up after the fact? Tender moments aren’t what define the omegaverse, and we are the omegaverse now.”
Oh, dear, he’s moving into the hard sell by licking and kissing our bondmark. “If we’re the omegaverse, then we get to decide how we live and love, now and forever. I think this is important, and not just because you love all the amazing omegaverse stories ever written or because I’m trying to create the movie version of our lives. This is more than that, because we always need to remember what we’re building here, and that starts with us. Right here. Right now. In the back of a moving truck.”
“Oh, yeah, I totallyswoonfor trucks.” When I begin to turn, he gives me space, and then I’m on my back gazing up at his face that’s shadowed by the faint illumination from the small lanterns. “Okay, fine. If it’s important to you, then it’s important to me. And it might be fun.” Unfortunate truth time… here goes. “I think what’s challenging me is my doubts that we’ll reach a place or time that’s safe enough for us to do sweet, silly things like go to the movies or even to a 50’s diner for strawberry milkshakes.”
With my hand over his heart, I ask, “Do you believe it’s possible that this will work and lead to a peaceful life for us and everyone else?”
His dark eyes shimmer, and I can’t read his expression, but I know he’s fully with me in this moment. “Baby girl, it’s you—I know it’s you. When you recited that new text from the prophecy, I just felt it. It was like everything I’ve ever believed fell away and was replaced by this one certainty. You. You were born to be our omega queen. So, do I believe we’ll live to woo you, to love you, to build a crazy life together—yes, I do. DoI think that together we’ll change the world—I do. That’s why I want us to start thinking about what we’re going to do the second we’re safe and beginning the best part of our story.”
His smile broadens, compelling my mood to lighten. “Beach vacation or mountain cabin? Naked tug o’ war with all your alphas—I know you’ve obsessed about that quite a bit. Or me forcing everyone to cosplay for you, all your favorite scenes from my films—you’ve spent a lot of time planning that one too. A date with Ethan, while the rest of us mind our own business. Whatever you desire, we’ll make it happen for you.”
“I love you, Gideon. And thank you. I want to believe in the time after this, but I’m not there yet. Doubting feels safer than hoping right now.”
Gideon brushes his knuckles over my cheek. “It’s okay. You just keep moving, trusting yourself to know what needs to be done, and I’ll take care of the future planning.” He leans and nibbles on my lip, before kissing me with a hunger that starts lighting torches along the path leading beyond where my eyes can see, into a future I’m desperate to reach.
