Ugly (Winter Sun, #1)

by Roe Horvat

After that first time, he came at least once a week. He must have known I didn’t need the help, but we both played this game for nearly three months. Until tonight.

“I mean, I think I wouldn’t mind if it was just one guy, you know? As long as he didn’t beat me.” As long as he didn’t beat me. Fuck.

When was the last time I’d knotted a man? A decade ago? Nah. Twelve years, at least. And here was a sweet-smelling omega offering me his heat for nothing. I could just reach out and take him. And then I’d have to live with it for the rest of my life.

A spidery web of gashes ran down the side of his face, interrupting his left eyebrow, to the corner of his mouth, and along his neck. They disappeared under the collar of his shirt and reappeared on his left forearm. I figured he must be all scarred up underneath that shirt, too. But why would that be scary in itself? It just showed he must have been in serious pain at some point, poor guy.

He fit into my arms as if he’d always been meant to be here.

There’d be hell to pay for this beautiful sliver of happiness—I was sure of it. The raw ache behind my ribs was a foretelling of the imminent heartbreak, but I wouldn’t think of that now. No.

He made faint purring sounds when he slept, too quiet to be called snoring. Like a kitten. An orphaned kitten you found in the street, a famished little creature that would rub itself against your legs incessantly until you’d pick it up. If you’d feed it, it would lick your fingers with gratitude and sleep in the crook of your arm. And unless you locked it up, one day, it would be gone again.

“Hi. Nice to meet you.” Kirby smiled at him sweetly. “Hi there, alpha man. So, I know a trio of bears who would smash your balls with a hammer for a blowjob from me. Got it?” I gasped. “Kirby!” But Burke only laughed. “Yes. I hear you loud and clear.”

Mine. He’s mine. I’ve bred him, so now he’s mine.

He’s mine. I marked him with my cum, and nobody else can ever touch him. Only mine.

He owns me and protects me. My alpha.

Fool that I was, I dreamed of it becoming reality. Of Emerson loving me and staying with me forever.

had to love him. He became my treasure.

What if he could truly love me?

I do. I love you. Please, stay with me. Don’t ever leave. Please.

I knew he loved me. However incredible it seemed, he did. I’d known since the night of the nightmare. He’d been recovering, shunning away from any closeness, but even so, he’d held my hands and stroked my scars when I’d been sick. Because he loved me.

We slept wrapped in each other’s arms every night, and I never felt cold anymore.

“It feels like you’re mine, little one,” Burke whispered. “Because I am. You’re my alpha. My mate. And I love you.” “So you’ll stay with me, Emerson? Stay forever?” I nodded against his chest, kissing over his heart. Tears clogged my throat, but it was joy that made me choke up. I managed to say one word. “Forever.”