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Warnings: Smut. A lot of it. Then someone… skip to the end for the warning…
"Now remember, when I come in the bakery, we don't know each other."
"I know but can I drag you in the back and kiss you silly?"
"Maybe—" one more kiss before he goes. But this one has a desperation that wasn't there before. The taste of his worry is sad but bitter. He's the first to pull away. "Sweetheart—please—" he begs. For what, she's not sure. But she knows that he's in danger.
He needs us to protect him.
I know—he cups her cheeks and with his thumbs he wipes her tears. Then he whispers, "Remember Omega, I do this to protect you, us. I will be back to claim you—"
"I know Alpha—but I worry, can't we come with you to help protect you?"
"My sweet Omega—" his alpha murmurs against her lips before he kisses her. In the short time they've known each other, they've kissed, well a lot. But this one is different. He tastes of desperation while she tastes of sorrow. Add to that their tears—it's quite emotional in the kitchen of the bakery.
The clock strikes one, and they both know that he has to go. As much as she wants to beg him to stay, they instead watch quietly as he climbs into his truck and slowly pulls away from the curb.
"Please—" she and her omega begs anyone who is listening, "Please keep him safe and bring him back to us."
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Before she met Ben, she didn't really care about when she worked, as long as she was working. Another day, another dollar, more people to feed—her and Rose would say. But now, after he left last night, she wasn't able to go back to sleep- she's still not sure if it was because she was missing him, or because she could still scent their combined scents or she really is head, over heels in love with him.
When she first moved into her apartment that always smells like bread, there were so many windows surrounding her. The panes of glass let in the mountains that are always changing colors as the seasons change.
But for once, as the morning dawn lightens the sky around her apartment, she pulls down the blackout shades she bought on a whim. The gentle scent of them surrounds her as her dreams pulls her under.
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"Where were you last night?" Hux asks. Ben meets his eyes with that one brow arched in question. Hux answers the unspoken with a shake of his head. They're standing in the backyard where both of them can just look over the top of the privacy fence to see the mountains that surround them.
"A friend," he breathes, afraid to speak her name just in case someone is watching. And if that feeling in his gut is right, then they've been watching since he got home last night. He did check the cameras after he got in, no one's been by to "fix" them.
"Yeah, I need one of those," Hux quips and Ben's shoulder's shake from his silent chuckle. "I left some scent masking spray in your mailbox. You'll need it before Monday morning."
"I was wondering about that," Ben whispers. "Are we any closer?"
"The Big," Hux murmurs, and Ben knows that his unofficial partner means Lando, their boss. "Wants some specific evidence that we can't find. They're hoping that since we're here, and Snoke is here, that we're getting closer." Hux reaches into his pocket and palms something before he presses it into Ben's hand. "Gotcha a little something."
Ben doesn't have to see it to know that it's a secure phone from the agency. "Can I use it for personal?"
"Yeah, but don't call the general or anything like that. It's mostly so the Big can text you."
"What are we looking for, exactly?" Ben asks. If he only knew what Lando is waiting for, then he could tear down that old Victorian board by board if he had to.
"That's just it. There's something that Snoke has been doing to keep the family on top all this time. And it's not just the usual casinos and money laundering. That's what we're looking for." He's been given vague assignments before, and he can figure out this one, too. But before he can ask anything else, Hux continues, "How does it feel?"
"How does what feel?"
"To find your mate." Ben glances at his friend but instead of finding the sarcasm that he was expecting, he finds and genuine eagerness to know.
"How—"
"Your scent has changed. It's softer, gentler."
He's not sure what to say, so he just nods. Yep, when this is all over, he's taking early retirement and opening that restaurant somewhere. Maybe here. If Snoke is finally behind bars this would be a nice little town. Close to his parents, close to other friends. What would it be like to be mated to Rey? he can just see her now, surrounded by several pups while she teaches them how to bake—his alpha hums in happiness at the image.
"See, it's different. Use that stuff I left for you. You can't be smelling like that come Monday. I think we're supposed to meet Snoke."
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912-555-1267: It's Ben
Rey: What? Where are you?
Ben: In the alley
She doesn't even respond because she's flying down the stairs to the bakery kitchen. There she looks through the peephole, just to be sure. The alley light she insisted the power company put up shows her, her alpha—it looks like he's staring back at her.
First the deadbolt then the knob. The door swings open and he surrounds her as she jumps into his arms. she peppers his face with kisses before he claims her lips—she pulls back only so she can ask, "I didn't think you were coming back this soon?"
"The shadows are at the house playing Saturday night poker and drinking," he says with a smile as he kicks the heavy steal door shut. He only puts her down to lock it back.
"They follow you? But why?" she says to his back as he leads the way up the stairs.
"Probably because I figured out how to turn off the live streams." He chuckles.
"Cameras? Ben—what are you not telling me?"
"Can we talk about it later?"
"Only if you promise to tell me everything one day?" She murmurs as he sets her down. But it's as if he doesn't want her to go far because he still touches her arm. She, in turn, takes his hands, interlacing their fingers together.
"If I can."
"Fine. Are you hungry?" Her omega wants to take care of him.
"I ate earlier."
"Oh good, because I'm hungry for you—"
"You are?" He hums as his smirk appears.
"I've been thinking about you all day."
At her confession, he picks her up again, and walks through the doorway of her bedroom to their nest.
Their nest.
She has a fleeing thought of pups, their babies in here with them.
"What are you thinking about?" He whispers before he kisses her cheek then a path to that spot on her ear that makes her knees buckle.
"Ben—" she hisses as he finds it. She knows he can support them but when she picks up her legs again, he lowers her onto the nest, and he follows. "We forgot something," she giggles.
He picks his head up and looks around. "What?"
"Our clothes. We forgot to take them off." She loves the way he growls before his clothes start coming off. His shirt is first, and it goes into lining their nest. She crawls onto her knees and grin of her own as she leans forward to kiss the place over his heart.
Fresh rain blooms under her touch—which tells her that he's happy here in their nest. She reaches for the buckle on his jeans. When she gets it free, she pushes down his pants and underwear. With a push, he tumbles back into the pillows. She makes haste to help him and it doesn't take long to get him naked.
His hand runs up her leg as he murmurs, "Let me help you—"
"Not yet," she answers as she looks down. "How long have you been hard for me?"
He watches her as she takes his length in her hands. more rain, more forest surrounds her as she runs her hands over his hardness. She leans over and kisses over his slit before she takes just the tip into her mouth.
"Ahh—ever since I left my duplex," he moans. As a reward for answering her, she swallows about half of his length. "Rey—omega—fuck!" She has to put her hand on his hip to keep him from bucking into her mouth.
She sucks as she moves back to the tip and releases him with a loud pop. His eyes are wild and just from laying there as she teases him, his inky waves are already tousled. "Can you—please? do that again."
"What? This?" She doesn't take him back into her mouth but licks his slit again. His moan is his answer, and she can feel his eyes as he watches— as she lightly bites the head before she sucks him back into her mouth. He weaves his hand through her waves and while he doesn't push her onto him or anything like that, he just lightly pulls her hair like he's supposed to—until her eyes roll back into her head it feels so good.
Encouraged, she inhales him again. This time, she almost takes all of him, but when she hears his groan- "Rey—" she pushes herself just a little more. His gasp is her reward. She smiles around his length as he pulls her off of him. He looks like he did when he was in rut: almost feverish, frantic for her touch, needing her- "Fuck, Omega."
"Did you like that?"
"The clothes you're wearing, are they important?" He rumbles. She looks down to her faded bakery t-shirt and shorts that have seen better days and she took her bra off hours ago.
"No—"
"Good," he says as he sits up. A hand on one shoulder, his other on her other—then he rips. Her shirt falls in two pieces on either side of her.
"That's oddly erotic," she says as her need spreads from her core to all over.
"Then what will you think about this?" Next are the shorts. He doesn't rip them off, but he does push her over. That's when he gently pulls them off. But then the fever returns as her legs naturally part.
She grabs a pillow and after she tucks it under her head, she meets his eyes. But he's not looking at her there. He stares at her like she's – well Thanksgiving dinner after being in the dessert for a hundred years.
"Eyes are up here—" she quips.
"And the rest of you is just as amazing." He leans over but instead of doing what she thinks he's going to do, he kisses her belly button, and she rewards him with a giggle. "I have to greet the rest of you first—" he mutters just as his lips land on her right nipple. Her fingers thread through his waves in an effort to keep him close. Maybe its because she knows what's going to follow if he keeps on doing that—or maybe her omega doesn't ever want to let him go.
Because here in their nest, she can keep him safe—
He bites. Not hard but just enough to earn her moan. She wraps her legs around him and she can feel his hardness, the same length she just had down her throat, tease her entrance. A wiggle and he could be where she wants him most.
But then he kisses his way to her other breast. Her nipple follows the way of the other as he licks it into his mouth. "Fuck, Alpha."
"Omega," he growls around her.
She tugs and he keeps his latch with a growl. "I need you, fuck me please."
His answer is to shift his hips, she holds still and with the hand that's not holding her, cradling her like she's the most precious person in the world to him—he guides his length into her depths.
Like he always does when he first enters her, she loves the way he steals her breath. When she can breathe again, he watches her—lips on hers and she wraps her arms around him. But he doesn't move.
He pulls away but only so he can slide his hands under her knees and put her ankles on top of his shoulders. "I love it when you fuck me this deep—" she gasps. "I can feel you all the way in my heart."
"Rey—omega—" he groans as he begins to thrust. He's so deep, her orgasm is almost immediate; she's momentarily distracted as she watches him come undone above her. For a moment his eyes roll back but when he blinks, she could swear her alpha stares back at her.
One leg slides off his arm and it lands softly in their nest. He's still fucking her, but he uses this as an opportunity to lean over to kiss her.
"Can I knot you?" He grunts.
"Please—" at her permission, he pulls out. She knows what he wants, so she scrambles to her knees. He slams into her, and it only takes several strokes for him to swell, locking them together.
And that's how they collapse, together in their nest.
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A soft snore makes her smile. Ben Solo, her Alpha, man of questionable trade, is sleeping on her breast. Instead of sleeping, she makes herself stay awake. she'll be the one to admit that she wants to hold and see him for as long as the night allows her to.
A glance at the clock beside her bed tells her that it's almost three. He didn't say what time he needed to go. But she sets her cell phone alarm for five anyway and cuddles him close just so she can run her fingers through his waves.
Another kiss and she finally allows herself to slips off to dreamland.
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"Rey! Omega!" he calls. The only thing that answers him is his echo that comes back to him over the mountains. Even in his dream he knows this overlook, it's high on the parkway where you can see all the way to Tennessee.
"She's no longer yours—" he hears behind him. Slowly, he turns and there is what could only be a creature. Deep scars, elongated limbs, small beady cold eyes.
"Who are you and where is my mate?"
Instead of answering, the creature begins this evil cackle, the likes he's never heard before. A cold chill dances down his spine as a dread blooms in his chest—
"Rey!" he wakes with a gasp. Slender arms tighten around him, centering him again. Omega loves us—he looks up into her worried eyes. "Just a dream—" he huffs.
"I've got you," she murmurs. They are quiet for several minutes until she asks, "do you want to talk about it?"
"Someone took you from me." her arms tighten around him. "I couldn't find you."
"You know that will never happen, right?" He can feel her lips move against his forehead.
He looks up into her green eyes and fall so much more for her in that moment. "Why do you say that?"
"Because I'm actually a mean little omega. Absolutely feral." They chuckle together. "I'll chop them up into itty bitty pieces and feed them to the bears."
"I like the way you think." Then a cell phone chime buzzes beside them and his heart sinks. "What time is it?"
"Five."
"I don't want to go."
"One day you won't have to. We'll be mates, maybe even married and be together so much that you'll be so tired of me," she says.
"Never," he says as she leads him to her for a kiss. he lets her take the lead and as soon as he's hard again, she rolls him over, and sinks onto him.
He loves the way she looks at him, her eyes lightening as her omega takes over as she rides him. He feels his knot forming and she must too, because she grinds down on him. She shakes and he quivers as they both come.
She collapses on top of him, and he wraps his arms around her.
"I love you—" he whispers.
"I love you too," she hums.
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He insisted that she stay in the bed, but she wraps a throw around her anyway. After all someone has to lock the door behind him. Something—perhaps her omega—tells her to give him a key. Maybe she will next time.
Perhaps this will work after all.
She watches his taillights until they disappear as he takes that turn on to maple. It's not until she's back in her nest, deep under the covers that she lets herself admit that as perfect as everything is—there's still a little something that doesn't feel quite right.
For the first time in, well since her parents were killed, she can feel the soothing purr of her omega. As sleep comes to claim her, she finds herself doing another thing she hasn't done much since then—silent prayers to whoever listens to little omegas.
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"Meet me here in 30 mins?" Ben squints at the map in the text on his burner phone. He knows it's Rey—he memorized her number just in case someone else finds the phone, even though he didn't program in her number. But the map isn't familiar at all.
It's Sunday morning and he left her bakery just before dawn. After a bowl of cereal, he tried to sleep a little more, but between his alpha clamoring to go claim their omega and the way her scent still lingers on his skin—he couldn't go back to sleep.
He's not sure—well no. He knows who makes the decision for him—his alpha not to shower before he goes. He might have to take blockers but just for the rest of today, he's going to let the world know that he has an omega that he adores with all of his heart.
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The curvy mountain road wines around the hills as it takes him to the top. He can see where the oaks and the maples are starting to change their colors and there's a freshness in the air that wasn't there last week. The GPS chirps, "Your destination is ahead on the right."
And just as the voice predicted, on the right is a blue Jeep that he knows belongs to his omega. His heart and his alpha does a happy flutter when they see her as she waves at him. He pulls to a stop and rolls his window down. Instead of hopping in like he hopes she would, she grabs the mirror, and stands on the running board which puts her at eye level. His smile is ready and easy as he leans over to steal a kiss.
She still tastes like midnight promises-
"Fancy meeting you in a place like this—" she teases.
"What a happy accident." He could just stay here forever, with her and be happy.
"How do you feel about picnics? And fishing?"
"Personally?" he asks, and she hums her yes. "They've never done anything bad to me—so I guess they are still good. If no one invites the ants."
"No, I didn't text them. Just you. Follow me? I don't want to leave my Jeep down by the road."
"Are we going far?" He asks as he looks behind her. The gravel road disappears around a curve into the forest.
"You'll see and you might even get to put that truck into four wheel drive."
"Alright. I'll follow you then." He leans closer. "Kiss me?"
He loves the way she smiles at his request. Like she feels all this too. His alpha pushes into his mind that their omega indeed does. It's a quick one like she's excited to take him to this the place. Which makes him excited too.
She pulls away but only so she can look into his eyes. He has to admit that he loves this part. Everyone but his parents never look him in the eyes for long. Which until now has been alright with him.
But Rey—his omega—isn't afraid of him at all. He loves that. "Let's go, Stardust."
"Alright." She dazzles him with one of her brilliant smiles before she runs back to her Jeep. It purrs to life, and off she goes.
It doesn't take him long to figure out where she's taking him. As soon as they take that first turn, trees surround them on both sides. The road grows rough as it climbs what's left of the mountain. He sees why she said what she did about the four wheel drive.
He has to admit, that makes him more than a little excited.
They bounce as the road gets a little steeper—when he was five his mom had to take a trip to Sweden. Dad went too and while Mom was doing what she had to do, he and Dad went sightseeing. On the last day, Leia proclaimed that she had been in enough meetings, she wanted to see the Swedish countryside. Wide green fields with little wild flowers everywhere, that's what he remembers and that's what he sees when the woods open up again.
Still surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains, she stops in front of a creek wide enough to fish in. he turns off his ignition the same time she does. Then, blessed silence. A deep breath as he lets the stress of the job go. Then the stress of not being able to claim his omega—yet. But he can't quite let go of the need to protect her. And that's alright with him.
She's at his door— "Come on, Alpha." He climbs out faster than he has before—then he sweeps his omega into his arms like one of those hallmark movie moments. Her giggle restores him as he buries his nose in her neck. He stops spinning and hums as she buries her fingers in his waves. Her touch is like—well better than anything he's ever felt before.
Somewhere above him she says, "I'm hungry, but I also want to fish."
"Are we catching our dinner?" He teases as he sets her on her feet.
"Eww no." She wrinkles her nose at the thought. "It's catch and release for us. I did bring the southern picnic staples. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, baked beans. Macaroni salad and potato salad. Biscuits and sweet tea."
"What did you do, rob a church homecoming?"
"No—Maz. I robbed Maz and Chewy."
"Wait—you robbed my Uncle Chewy of his Sunday supper?" He steps back and tries to look troubled. "I'm glad it was you and not me."
"He won't be mad. I think Maz figured out that I was meeting you and Chewy said fine."
"Now I think you're lying, because Chewy doesn't give up his fried anything," he chuckles and he loves how she joins in.
"I might have traded him some of my homemade cookies that he loves."
"That sounds like him. How about if we fish and eat a biscuit?"
"We could do something else and then eat. Then maybe do it again—" she steps, no it's more of a stalk. If you could call what she's doing that. Whatever the name for it is, his alpha sits up and takes notice you could say.
Her scent has changed and he knows exactly what she wants from them. More than anything—now he knows why his alpha said to grab what he did. "Hang on," he murmurs as he opens the back seats of the truck. A couple of boxes, still packed from the move, simply labeled as "camping".
The first one that he grabs, he puts on the just lowers tailgate. "What—"
"Let me surprise you—" he finishes. The box opens easily, and he pulls out the wrapped-up vinyl. He flips a switch, and a hum fills the air. It unrolls itself and he loves the little gasp she utters.
"What a good idea. Did you bring—"
"The other box," Is all he says. His omega does this adorable little hop and then she almost floats to his open door. She comes back with a couple of blankets and some pillows. He's already up in the bed of the truck so she hands the bedding up to him. Together, both make the air mattress up.
"Ben—this is perfect. Thank you for thinking of bringing all this."
"When you said picnic—"
"It's perfect." She looks around and says, "do you think we should go sit in the shade. I know it's not that hot, but if we're under the trees, that means we can, you know."
He loves how pink her cheeks turn.
"We can what, omega?"
"We don't have to—"
He pulls her into his arms. "But we do—" a quick kiss though and he pulls her behind him. He climbs down first then he reaches for her but she's already on the ground beside him.
"Just pull over there. I'm going to get the food. Probably move the Jeep too."
"Hey, is it alright that we're here? Who owns this?"
"Maz's friend Amilyn Holdo."
"I know her. She's a friend of Mom's too."
"Come to think of it, I bet Mom and Dad know her too. Why haven't we met before now?" she asks.
He knows why. "One day, I'll tell you."
"Ah, more of the secret agent stuff." He knows she says that in jest, but she doesn't know how close she is to the truth.
He shrugs. "Let me move the truck. I hear a chicken leg calling my name."
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"Too bad we can't build a fire."
"I know, but the summer was too dry. We can't chance the fire. Besides we still have a couple of hours left," she pats the place on the air mattress by her. "Come here."
"As my omega wishes." He climbs into the truck bed and sits down beside her. They ate part of the food long ago and the sun is starting to go down, but it's so nice here. "I might have to beg Amilyn to sell me this little spot of paradise."
Her heart does a little flutter, and her omega mewls wanting to know more. "And what would you do with this? There's like thirty acres."
"That's more than enough."
"Enough for what?"
"A house—I need it big enough for you and me."
"Really?" Her heart does another little flutter.
"Yes, plus all those pups we're going to have."
"How many?" she whispers.
"Kids? Several. I always wanted a big family. How many do you want?"
"At least two. More if possible." She threads her fingers with his before she brings his hand close for a kiss. They lean against the cab, with the pillows behind them as twilight takes over. "I wish—"
"I know, Sweetheart, I do too."
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Monday morning comes as it always does- rude and obnoxious like a cranky ex who still demands all of your attention.
But not for Rey and Ben or Kylo as his working associates know him as. A stolen kiss in the bakery kitchen and he's on his way to the Victorian on the edge of town. She's back to work to feed her people.
Sometime mid-morning, her phone buzzes in her apron pocket. Not thinking much about it, she answers without checking the caller ID. "This is Rey—"
"He's been hurt—" an unfamiliar voice tells her. "Don't come now, he's stable but they are going to keep him for a couple of nights after they do surgery. Don't call this number, text, and I'll call you when I can."
That's when she feels it. Alpha is hurt! her omega cries. We have to go to him! Only we can keep him safe!
"Rey? What's wrong?" Rose asks.
Warning: major character is shot.