Page 24 of Omega’s Oath

Chapter 9

The three days since her family had visited had been wonderful for her and Aide. It seemed to open a door for them to talk about their pasts, and how they had shaped them and led them to become who they were now. Aide would never be a man who talked freely about his feelings, but he was talking to her and that was all she needed, and in return, she was honest with him. Honesty was important to her. While she knew he was being up front with how he felt, she also knew he was keeping something from her.

She was tempted to ask Condor but didn’t want to put him in the middle of her new and fledgling relationship. She sipped her fruit tea as she listened to Aide in the shower. Whatever he was keeping from her, she knew it came from a good place. She’d thought she’d known him well before but living with someone brought a level of intimacy that superseded everything.

He cared for her; she knew that. He didn’t make grand gestures but it was in the simple things he did for her that meant the world to her. Making sure she was never alone or bringing her a cup of decaf coffee before he left in the morning for work. The soft kiss he dropped on her head as she slumbered. How he cooked dinner every night, even if it was only soup, and he left snacks for her, mainly healthy but with the odd peanut butter cup in there to make her smile.

He was the whole package, so she wouldn’t rush off like a crazy woman and assume his deception meant anything bad when he was probably trying to protect her from something. She just needed him to know she was strong enough to cope with it.

The water turned off and she heard him walk to the spare room he was using to change for work. Her blood began to heat, her body aching to feel his touch and she wondered if it was pregnancy hormones or just Aide and the effect he had on her. She suspected it was the latter, after all, they’d had wild, explosive sex against a wall just before she’d gotten pregnant with her little guy.

Her text alert pinged, and she picked up her phone from the nightstand. It was Harlan wanting to know if she was free that afternoon for a visit.

Rose dropped the phone on the bed as she rubbed her tummy. Her son was active this morning and it made her smile. “What am I gonna do, bub?”

She’d been putting Harlan off because she was happy in her little bubble with Aide and she knew seeing Harlan meant she’d need to be clear with what it was she could, and would, offer him. She wanted his friendship but that was all, and she knew he’d sulk and show off. Yet, it was hard to stay mad with someone who’d been your entire support system growing up and had been nothing but kind.

Aide put his head around the door. “I’m off now. Do you need anything before I go?”

His hair, wet from his shower, looked darker, the gray less noticeable. What was it about men who looked so devastatingly handsome with silver hair? Aide seemed to grow more handsome with every day he aged. He certainly wasn’t old at forty and she knew he was older than the other men on the task force, yet he left them all standing in the looks department.

“Rose?”

She shook her head, realizing she’d been in her own world, daydreaming. “Uh, no. Nothing, I have everything I need.”

Aide frowned. “You sure?”

For a split second Rose considered telling him about the text from Harlan but dismissed it. She knew Aide wasn’t keen on him, he got a clenched jaw look whenever she mentioned him. “No, everything is fine. Just my son doing some very confined somersaults in here.”

Aide grinned as he always did when she talked about the baby she was expecting in three weeks’ time. He stepped closer and placed his hand on her belly, his head close to the pronounced curve. “Take it easy on your mom today, buddy, and I’ll get you a signed jersey from whatever team you want when you get out.”

Rose laughed, her belly shaking. “Bribery already, Aide? I don’t know if that’s the way to go right off the bat.”

Aide shrugged and he looked adorable. “It works so I don’t care.”

He dropped a kiss on her lips, and she wound her arms around his neck, pulling him closer and deepening the kiss.

When he pulled away, he was shaking his head but smiling. “You’re a temptress.”

“That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“I’d better up my game then.”

He winked when he got to the door and she buried her head in the pillow to stifle the moan of desire that washed over her.

She got up and went to use the bathroom for what felt like the hundredth time that morning. When she got back, she settled in the chair Aide had brought up for her to sit in as it got uncomfortable on her hips sitting in bed too much.

Her text pinged again and as she saw Harlan’s name, she realized she hadn’t answered him. Rose decided to see him but would go downstairs and see him in the living room. Mack was coming over later. If she told him to come over around ten, she’d only have to deal with him for an hour before Mack arrived if things got awkward.

After sending the text she made her way slowly down the stairs. Aide would hit the roof if he caught her, but she’d be back in bed by the time he got home. It was funny how quickly she’d begun to think of this as his home as well. She’d never lived with a man as an adult, preferring her own space but he was easy to be around and they seemed to both like their own space and know when the other needed it.

Although recently, she’d wanted to be with him all the time even if it was only watching TV. They’d developed a routine and that comfort was what she needed, yet the spark between them burned hot. She wondered if that was what marriage felt like, cozy and comfortable but with a heavy dose of lust thrown in for good measure.

At five to ten the doorbell rang, and she went to answer it. Harlan was standing with a bunch of roses in his hand. He looked handsome as he always did, and smiled as he walked inside, his eyes taking in her space.

“Thank you for the flowers.” She walked to the kitchen to find another vase. These were white, the last bouquet had been pink.

“You’re welcome. Just want you to know I care, and I know they’re your favorite.”