When we reach the section I’m looking for, she stops short. “Nate.”
I can’t really hide it when the sign spells it out in giant, illuminated letters.
Omega nesting.
When I turn to Gabrielle, the teasing smirk on my lips slides away. “Kitten?”
She’s pale as fuck, staring up at those letters like they’re about to jump off the wall and eat her. “Why are we here?”
Spotting a display chair, I gently take her shoulders and steer her towards it. Once I’ve nudged her into sitting down, I drop to my knees, taking her cold hands between mine.
“You’ve never had a nest before, have you?” I murmur.
It doesn’t take a genius to work it out. She’s been working her ass off just to survive, and before that nests were strictly outlawed by the Omega Creed.
Fucking assholes. What the fuck does a fluffy blanket have to do with birth rates?
It was all control.
And even if she doesn’t realize it, my kitten is still being controlled by them.
“I’m not going to force you to go in there,” I murmur. “If you want to leave, we’ll walk out right now and go for another cupcake.”
Her eyes move to mine, the slight shimmer grabbing at my heart and yanking it.
“But,” I breathe, “I’d really like to take you in there and spend a few hours learning exactly what my kitten wants in her nest. Think of it as useful research.”
She blinks, her voice wavering. “Research?”
“For your nest,” I say softly. “At home.”
A tear trickles down her cheek. “I don’thavea home, Nate.”
Fuck. My fucking heart.
“Oh, Gabrielle.”
Ignoring the scowling saleswoman watching us from the other side of the room, I lift Gabrielle and slide into her vacated seat, adjusting until she’s curled up on my lap, her head tucked underneath my chin.
Her light breathing fades in and out against the skin at the neck of my shirt.
“Does this feel right to you?” I ask her quietly, running my hand up her arm. She nods, her hair brushing against my other arm as she rubs her cheek into me like a cat.
“It feels right to me too,” I whisper. “I know we haven’t known each other long, kitten. But sometimes, you meet someone, and you just know that you work better together than you do apart.”
She sniffs. “I don’t understand why you’d want me, Nate. I’m a mess. And you – all of you—,”
“Wantyou.” My words are firm, cutting her off. “All of us want you, Gabrielle. Without question.”
When she stiffens, I panic for a second that I’ve fucked up, shown our cards too early.
Cade will be livid when he hears about this conversation, but I don’t care. I’m not about to play coy and let this omega believe that she’s alone in the world. Not for another damn minute.
“I don’t need your secrets, Gabrielle.”
Softening my tone, I stroke my thumb across the softness of her cheek.
“Not if you’re not ready to share them. But right now, I want to see you give the proverbial middle finger to everyone who told you that omegas couldn’t nest, and I want to help you pick out all of the pretty things you need to design a nest that’s perfect for you.”
