Page 5 of Every Chance to Stay

“Have you always wanted to study ocean life?” Antonio asked, cutting through Lucky’s thoughts.

“There was a small amount of time where I wanted to be a veterinarian. We get lots of animals that have been injured by nets or propellers, so I thought I wanted to be the one to fix those injuries. As I got older though, I realized I wanted to try and prevent the injuries from happening in the first place.” He rubbed at the condensation on his glass. “What about you, did you always know you were going to work in search and rescue?”

Antonio shook his head. “No, not at all. When I was little, my parents had strong opinions on what I would do. My mother wanted me to work in one of her family’s businesses but… Things changed over time and I had the freedom to pursue my own interests. I wanted to do more for the island, so I volunteered, gained skills, took classes and now… Now, we have the search and rescue team.”

“I think you’ve been very successful at it.” On a whim, Lucky reached across the table, resting his hand over Antonio’s. The alpha flipped his hand over, rubbing his thumb along Lucky’s knuckles.

“Is this where I admit I don’t do these things often?” Antonio asked, lips quirking up in a half smile that made Lucky’s heart thump against his ribs.

“Things?” Lucky echoed.

“Dates. Drinks.” Antonio brought Lucky’s hand up, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “I keep thinking about how I don’t want this to end. It’s been the best day off I’ve had in a long while.”

Lucky squeezed Antonio’s hand. “Then… Why does it have to?” He leaned into the table, “I keep hoping you’ll ask me to go home with you. But if that’s too forward…” They could spend several more hours talking and Lucky was certain he would have a fantastic time. But Antonio was a handsome alpha, and Lucky felt no shame in how much he wanted to run his hands along the man’s muscular shoulders. He wanted to kiss him from the moment he saw him smile. Simple attraction. Easy, light, just a fun night with no expectations.

“I see…” Antonio’s eyes darkened, the honey brown turning rich with a hunger nothing on the menu was going to satisfy. Heat sparked under Lucky’s skin. “Would you like to come home with me, cariño?”

Lucky nodded, eyes wide. “Yes… yes I really would.”

4

Antonio

Lucky tasted like rum.

They barely made it through the door. Like moths and flames and poetic stirrings Antonio could hardly follow, Lucky pressed him into the wall to claim his lips in a hungry kiss. Antonio’s hands wrapped around Lucky’s waist, pulling at the loose shirt until he touched skin.

He hauled the omega up. Lucky wrapped his legs around his hips like it was the most natural thing in the world. Fingers sank into Antonio’s hair. He groaned into Lucky’s mouth, spinning to push him up against the wall. Something fell off the foyer table. Antonio didn’t care. He tilted his head, taking control of the kiss as Lucky arched against him.

Saltwater taffy turned warm with rich caramel. Lucky’s arousal was sweet on the air.

Hands tugged at the short brown strands before sweeping down his neck to slip beneath the collar of his shirt. Antonio moved two steps over to place Lucky on the narrow table. Yesterday’s mail scattered on the floor as he broke the kiss to pull his shirt over his head with Lucky’s help. Long fingers spread over his chest. Antonio breathed slowly, holding blue eyes that were bright even in the dark.

Slowly, he pulled Lucky’s shirt up. His fingers brushed over soft skin until he was able to strip it off entirely.

“You’re beautiful.” Antonio whispered the compliment that had lingered on his tongue since he first laid eyes on the omega.

“And you’re very handsome.” Lucky smiled, looping his arms loosely around Antonio’s shoulders. Fingers carded into his hair, tugging him closer as Lucky arched up to press a kiss to his jaw. “Take me to bed.”

Antonio did not need to be told twice. He lifted Lucky, tilting his head to nip the omega’s cheek. “As you command.”

Lucky trailed kisses along his neck and shoulder. The sharp nip of teeth followed by the warm stroke of his tongue dragged a groan from his lips as he carried the omega through the house. Upstairs, down a hall, to his room where the door was left cracked. He was glad he’d spent the morning cleaning…

They fell onto the bed with laughter quickly stifled by kisses. Hungry mouths worked together as hands stroked whatever skin they could find. Warm hands slipped past his waist band, drawing a groan from his chest.

He broke away from Lucky’s lips to press kisses along his jaw. “Are you…” His thoughts were sluggish, especially when a hand cupped him. “Fuck—”

“Am I?” Lucky prompted, dragging Antonio from the distraction of that warm hand.

“Suppressants. Are you…on them as well?” He had condoms, he could go find them, but the way Lucky squeezed him really was not prompting him to move at all.

“Such a responsible alpha.” Lucky cooed in a way that surprisingly didn’t feel condescending. Amused, yes, but not derogatory. “I am.”

That was all he needed to know. Lucky squeaked when he nipped at his throat, fingers teasing along the underside of his ribs. He filed a note in his head that Lucky was ticklish before moving his hands lower to strip the omega of his skort. His own shorts followed, joining Lucky’s on the floor.

Bare to the warm breeze fluttering through his sheer curtains, Antonio let out a slow breath as his eyes roamed Lucky’s form. “Like stars…” His fingers brushed over a swath of freckles and moles splashed over Luc’s stomach.

Lucky caught one of his hands, dragging it up to cup his chest. “I want you to touch me.” The honest desire on Lucky’s face made heat pool in his stomach.