Resistant Omegas 5: Dewey by Joyee Flynn (book club suggestions TXT) 📕

“It’s just his way,” Azyle explained as he sat on the side of the tub next to me and ran his fingers through the filling water. “Percy’s had a rough life and he uses humor as a deflection when things get too serious.”

“Yeah, my parents didn’t try to beat me to death with a belt if they were laughing,” Percy mumbled and turned away to undress. I stared at Azyle and then Taggart with wide eyes. They both nodded that it was true. So Taggart must have gotten the Betas’ files from the High Council and read up on them.

“My father used to starve me for a day as a child when I’d ask a question. He used to say no one cared what an Omega thought and the sooner I learned that and how to be blindly obedient the more money they’d get for me,” I whispered. I hated to reveal such a horrid memory but sometimes it helped people to know they weren’t the only ones. “And when they did let me have a whole thousand calories in a day, which was the diet they put me on since I was seven, I had to run a few miles to stay thin.”

“When did the running start?” Percy asked quietly, turning back towards me when he was naked. Azyle calmly leaned over and grabbed some apple-scented bubble bath, pouring it into the massive tub.

“It was three miles a day when I was ten. Then by the time I was sixteen it was fifteen miles a day.”

“When I first met Dewey you could see every rib, every joint, and his cheekbones looked almost ready to pop out of his skin,” Tag said as he pulled me up into his arms. “But he was still the most breathtaking man I’d ever seen.”

“Tag gave me my first candy,” I giggled, remembering how it happened. “He had peanut butter cups on his table after he won me during the hunt. I asked him what they were and he just about shit a brick.”

Tag chuckled as he kissed my shoulder and helped me out of my shirt. I had left off the boots and hat but still had the tiny shorts. Those I lost thanks to Azyle’s gentle hands.

“That’s when we found out you have quite the sweet tooth,” Tag teased. “He ate the whole bag of them before I even figured out what movie to play since he’d never been allowed to watch TV.”

“And then you brought home a bag of Twix from the store the next day.” I groaned, loving that candy. Tag smiled as he lost his own jeans before everyone stepped into the tub. We settled down and I realized all eyes were on me. “What?”

“You groan over candy and I think all of us just about shot our loads, baby,” Percy practically purred. “You are just too sexy for your own good.”

“And now we’re going back to the serious topic,” I replied, uncomfortable with all of them eyeing me over as if I was dinner.

“I think your deflecting our group advances is a serious topic,” Azyle said in a nervous tone. He glanced over to Taggart, who nodded. “What aren’t you telling us?”

“Um, well, being with you and Percy was my first ménage,” I admitted with a sigh. “And we didn’t even have intercourse. My old Alpha was only with me during the claiming ceremony and the Betas were one at a time. Then the hunts were one person on me so…” I trailed off and spread my arms as if to say, this is new to me.

“Oh so are we freaking you out?” Percy really did have a way with words but I did appreciate his candor most times. Right then though? It made me blush. “That would be a yes.” He glanced down at his lap and I saw his erection wilt. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“No, it’s not that.” I bit my lip and tried to figure out what I wanted to say. “I just need to go slow. I mean, don’t you guys? Isn’t this all weird to you?”

“No, we’ve been in plenty of ménages in our pack.” Percy shrugged as if no big deal.

“Glad we’ll just be one of many,” Tag bitched, rolling his eyes. I can’t say I wasn’t feeling the same way.

“You know what?” Percy growled, narrowing his eyes at both of us. “Fuck this. I can’t say anything right with you guys. I feel like I’m constantly walking on eggshells and I’m sorry that this might be petty, but that’s not how I want to live my life.” He stood in the tub and groaned as he held his ribs before stepping out of the tub.

“Percy,” Azyle called out but the only reply he got was Percy’s middle finger. “Well that went well.”

“I’ll say,” I sighed, reaching over and turning off the tub before sinking lower into the warm water.

“And yet you probably think this is all his fault, right?” Azyle was getting defensive about his partner and that made things tricky.

“His fault? No, not at all,” I admitted with a shrug, proud of my reply when Tag nodded in agreement. “But it won’t always be walking on eggshells as he puts it. I’ve been careful with what I say with you guys too. I love Tag but when it was just us did I ever make you feel as if I wished he was there instead of you?”

“No, you were always right there with us.”

“Exactly. I was paying attention and being considerate of our new relationship or whatever we were starting before we knew where we stood. I think that’s all we want from Percy as well. We all have issues and baggage and while you’ve been there for mine I’ve worked hard not to dump it all over you. Tag and I had lots of kinks to work out