“Oh.”
“You want me to put you down?” I ask.
When Nate pulled up, I was the only one home to pick up his message and come help shift an absolutely ridiculous number of parcels from the car upstairs.
But I snagged the best one first.
“No,” she mumbles drowsily. A hand reaches up to curl into my shirt as she rubs her cheek against it.
“You feel like pillow.”
Choking back a laugh, I carry her into the apartment.
“Where to?” I ask Nate, and he jerks a thumb in the direction of her room.
“The nest.”
With a slow nod, I carry her down, toeing off my shoes at the doorway before stepping into her bedroom. It’s already drenched in her scent, and I breathe my fill as Nate slides open the doors.
“She hasn’t seen this yet,” I tell him. “I don’t think so, anyway.”
Excitement lights up his eyes as he glances down at Gabrielle.
“Kitten?”
“Mmph.”
“Time to wake up.”
“Hmm?”
When her eyes flutter open again, I carefully set her down, holding onto her as she catches her balance.
“Ready to see your nest?”
Sleep clears from her face as she turns to me, her face twisted in curiosity.
“I thought this was the nest?”
Nate laughs. “This is your bedroom. But this—” he gestures through the double doors, flicking on the overhead light, “—is your nest.”
Gabrielle’s body turns to stone against mine.
I take a breath, bracing myself and exchanging a look with Nate.
Gabrielle has never had a nest of her own before. But we know from our time at the Omega Center how important this is.
Gabrielle’s nest should be her safe space, her retreat, her rest area, her comfort.
And if she can’t settle… then it’s because she doesn’t feel safe enough.
With us.
I peer over the top of her head. It’s an empty canvas, but the bones are there. Low ceilings, no windows, one exit point. The floor is a soft, built-in mattress, with wooden shelves lining the area to hold any objects she wants to include.
If our omega likes it, then she’ll nest.
I don’t even realize I’m holding my breath until she takes a step away from me.
