Lola & the Millionaires: Part One (Sweet Omegaverse #2)(97)

Matthieu’s eyes narrowed at me. “You assume that means you aren’t?”

My skin flushed hot, and I stared down at my lap again. “I think it’s just not a guarantee for the rest of us. Alphas are always waiting for something better.”

Matthieu set his food aside, grabbing a napkin from the pile and wiping his fingers. “What are betas doing then?”

The mood was souring in the car, the food heavy in my stomach and the last of the perfectly delicious fries growing cold.

“Waiting to turn into alphas or omegas,” I said. “And then moving on when that doesn’t happen.”

“Hm.” Matthieu didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to. The quiet sound was enough condemnation. He turned the key in the ignition, and we left our quiet moment by the water.





Thirty-One





Lola





His voice was mumbling in my ear, singing tunelessly to the stupid song my parents had cursed me to carry for the rest of my life.

“Her name was Lola…”

I tried to keep my breathing even as the mattress sank at my back. Would it even matter to Indy if I was asleep? Couldn’t he just leave me alone? Where was Buzz, and why was I always stuck with Indy now?

“Wake up, bitch, I know you’re faking it. Like usual.”

“Lola. Lolotte, wake up.”

My breath hitched, and I stiffened in Leo’s bed. My heart was pounding, but my mouth wasn’t dry. Matthieu was kneeling on the bed at my back, and he coaxed me with a gentle touch to my back.

“Was I screaming?” I whispered, looking up at his dark shadow

Matthieu froze for a beat, and then his hands slid underneath my shoulders. “No, no you weren’t screaming. I…came in to ask you to come to my room and sleep next to me. Is that all right?”

I nodded, and my arms circled Matthieu’s chest as he pulled me up from the bed, arms cradling me. The rest of the night had been awkward. Matthieu had held my hand for most of the drive back to the house, but when we’d made it up to the top floor, I hadn’t known where to go. He hadn’t issued an invitation, so I trailed back to Leo’s rooms, cursing myself for my dinner confessions.

“Nightmare?” he asked, leaving Leo’s rooms and heading for his own across the hall.

“Just the start of one,” I said, my head foggy with sleep.

Matthieu’s room was brighter than I expected and compared to Leo’s vast island of a bed, his was a relatively cozy four-poster king. He had a lamp lit on the nightstand, and he left it there as he settled us together under the covers. I remained curled against his chest with one of his arms draped over my back and the other hand combing gently through my hair.

“I don’t want to lecture you about designation,” Matthieu murmured. “But please don’t think you being a beta has any bearing on the very simple fact that you are wanted here.”

I clamped my eyes shut. Matthieu was not going to deal with my tears on top of managing my warped headspace of the evening.

“I shouldn’t have said that. The way Leo is here, my relationship with him…it’s not lesser,” I choked out.

“I know,” Matthieu said, still stroking my hair into a smooth rush down my back. “Someone’s been pouring poison in your ear, Lolotte.”

My lips twitched. “What’s that mean? Lolotte?”

“Hm? Oh, nothing really. It’s just a…a name for someone precious. I like the way it fits your name.”

“I do too.” The soft curls of Matthieu’s chest hair were against my cheek, and I pursed my lips, blowing against his skin and smiling as he twitched beneath me. Now that it was safe to open my eyes again and not leak on him, I shifted and raised slightly so I could look down at him.

His hand took a fistful of my hair in a careful grip, the ends teasing my back above my loose tank top. “What do you think it means to be wanted?” he asked, head tipping, light catching in the gray hairs of his stubble. “Nests and fancy clothes and traveling?”

My chest tightened, and I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about—”

“Tell me, Lola,” Matthieu said, eyes darkening. His arm lowered to my waist, voice grunting slightly as he pulled me to lay over his chest. “Do you want to be spoiled? Given presents?”

I swallowed hard, breaths thin and even. I nodded once.

“Say it,” Matthieu said, lips curving.

“Yes, I want presents.”

His hand slid from my waist down to my ass, and he smiled wide enough to give me a glint of his teeth, gentling the command in his tone. “Pretty things or french fries?”

“French fries are pretty things,” I said, squeaking and squirming as his hand slapped lightly, just along the hem of my shorts. “Both.”

“Do you want a spectacle of it?” he asked.

I shook my head, face flushing and breaths starting to pant. When I let my legs slide down on either side of me, I realized I was poised perfectly over his groin. Another little spank, another wiggle, and I’d be grinding against him. My pussy burned with wanting and tried to squeeze around nothing.

Matthieu’s eyebrow arched. “I’m not sure I believe you on that one, but we’ll start gently and in private.”