Chapter 16 The Waiting

That voice caused an embarrassing reaction in him when he said his name like that- like he was somehow caressing him with his words alone. He took a deep fortifying breath before jerking his gaze up to meet amused golden eyes. Curse the man, he knew exactly what he was doing to the little omega. The alpha patted his lap and Kari blanched.

He expected him to what? Sit like some pretty little doll at his lap while his so-called master worked? He caught Trois glaring at him and nudging his head from beside the desk and swallowed his pride. He wanted to argue, scream that he would not bow down but that would just make him seem more like a child in the scowling beta’s eyes. He had decided to play the game for now, right?

Gritting his teeth, Kari walked forward, feet thumping petulantly against the soft carpet.

He slowly sat on Ryedir's lap and fought down the urge to turn and bite the damn man’s hand when the alpha gently stroked his hair like he was a pet. Ryedir positioned him sideways and pulled his head to lean against his chest. He shifted around a bit until he found a comfortable position and soon drifted off.

The fullness of his belly and the sheer boredom induced by the reports that the grumpy beta read out loud lulled him to sleep. The dull reports were a surprisingly effective lullaby.

He stayed mostly asleep even when large hands scooped him up and carried him into another room. A small, sleepy sound of protest barely made its way past his lips and was easily ignored. He woke slightly more at the hands stripping of his garments but was almost immediately sent back to his sleepy, pliant state when his body was encased in soothing warm water.

He drifted in a sea of pleasant warmth as gentle touches caressed his skin and when he was cocooned in a soft, cloud-like embrace, he finally succumbed to the darkness of a dreamless sleep.

*****

Kari was awakened in the early afternoon once again by a chirpy Nevis, Ryedir nowhere to be seen.

The cheerful beta showed Kari his full wardrobe, mostly things of a similar manner as yesterday but he learned that when he was leaving the manor, he would be expected to wear a longer trouser that reach half below his knee and a light-colored hooded half cloak that falls to his knees. The beta helped him try one on and Kari had been mortified at how good it looked.

Honestly, it was a good thing it was warm here. Not that Kari felt the cold, but that was beside the point. Wearing such attire anywhere else would be a recipe for hypothermia.

The healer, Laret, arrived soon after he was dressed and turned out to be a motherly young slave that fussed over Kari and his rather appalling appearance. She trimmed and cut his hair and nails though, so he was looking more presentable now, he supposed.

Still, she prescribed him extra bed rest for the next week and threatened even more forced recovery time if he didn’t behave himself. The omega didn’t even have a chance to try to protest before she was bullying him into submission. What followed that was an incredibly embarrassing conversation about strenuous activities and what things were allowed and what weren’t.

She went through the list of allowed activities with a completely serious face and no change of tone even when she got to the more explicit options. Kari wanted to melt into a puddle on the floor while she rattled off safe activities for him to undertake with Ryedir while Nevis was almost wailing with laughter on the floor. The beta was eventually kicked out for being disruptive and then she barraged Kari with questions about his possible bearer status and sexual history.

That was one conversation he never wanted to repeat.

It was even more mortifying when he realized Ryedir had been standing in the doorway listening in after having been disturbed by Nevis’s laughter. Even worse was when Laret realized that the alpha was there, so she sat him down as well and ran through the list again. Then scolded the man about not stressing the little omega, much to his obvious amusement.

She seemed satisfied when Ryedir assured her that he planned on waiting until Kari’s next heat for actual mating. But just as the omega thought he was home free, the healer decided to give some advice on possible activities and positions that could be used for mutual pleasure outside of mating.

Ryedir seemed to be enjoying every second of Kari’s embarrassed misery. It seemed as though once the healer started, she wouldn’t stop until she had said her piece.

Kari flopped back onto the bed, rolling onto his side and burying his face in the blankets once Laret was done and took her leave. He had discovered that it was actually impossible to die of embarrassment but it felt like a close thing.

He tensed when fingers trailed up the back of his thigh and dangerously close to his backside. The slave mentally cursed when he realized that this position was almost as bad as bending over, the tunic was most likely covering nothing. While the pants was probably framing his ass as though it was a treat just for the alpha’s viewing. No doubt the man saw it as exactly that.

Kari rolled around to face Ryedir and was met with a smoldering gaze. The heat in his eyes sent little shivers down the omega’s spine.

The alpha leaned forward, resting his weight on arms that trapped Kari in place on the bed. He lowered himself until they were almost nose to nose and the omega could feel his breath fan out across his face.

“That was quite an impressive list filled with some intriguing possibilities, don’t you think? Perhaps we should try some out.”

Neither of them moved, both frozen, locked in a silent battle of wills. Golden eyes glowing with hot intensity met evenly by blazing blue eyes filled with a fiery determination.

“That’s a good look on you.” The alpha’s voice had dropped even deeper than usual and the sinful caress of it sent heat pooling into Kari’s belly. He leaned forward even further and spoke the next words right into Kari’s ear. “You should make your choice soon. I promise to show you a world of delicious pleasure to drown yourself in should you choose me.”

Ryedir pulled back to shoot one last lingering look of desire at the omega before he sat up and moved off the bed. Kari watched him leave before pulling himself into a sitting position. He felt short of breath again, curse the man. Nevis popped his head back in a few minutes later with a cheeky grin.

“Hurry up. We have stuff to do! Laret only just left so you can’t be that out of sorts. I mean, I can feel the damn sexual tension between yourself and Master from outside the room but he didn’t have enough time to do anything to you.”

Kari groaned and covered his face. “Can we not talk about this?”

“Why are you so embarrassed? I mean really, a pleasure slave who is embarrassed by sex? That’s kinda what you do, you know?”

“Not yet!” Kari protested hotly and Nevis giggled.

“Yeah, I know. We’ll be able to smell him on you once you actually do stuff. Anyways, I told you he was a good master. He’s making sure you’re all healed and stuff before doing anything. Although honestly, he probably needs to do it sooner rather than later. It’s only day two and Trois’s already getting pissy. Now come on, if we are too late we might end up scrubbing floors in punishment for slacking!”

Kari pulled himself from the comfort of the bed and righted his clothing as he followed his beta friend out of the bedroom. Honestly, did Niamreans have no shame at all?