“So why haven’t you said anything?” West tilts his head, looking at me.
“I’m almost afraid that if she knew, she might run and break his heart. If he knew, he might overdo it andmakeher run. I just think…she still has so much healin’ to go through. She hates her scars from her bond marks. She can’t look at them without thinkin’ of the pack of shitstains that force-bonded her.” My fingers reach up to touch the necklace around my neck, tracing the shape of the canine teeth hanging from it.
“You know…” West exhales, leaning back on his hands, “It’s been proven therapeutic to…well, to get a tattoo over old bond marks. So when you see them, you don’t see the teeth marks of your deceased lover…or in this case, deceased abusers, you see a new start. You see that you can move forward even after that part of your life is over. It can be healing.”
A small smile tilts at my lips. “I’ll have to tell her about that.”
We sit in amicable silence for a few more minutes when he speaks again. “How…how are you doing with it all? This is me as your mate who also happens to be a very good listener, not your shrink.”
I sigh, laying back to look at the stars. “With what exactly?”
West lays back as well, his arm pressing against mine. “I don’t know. Any of it. Losing your bond with Hayden and getting it back. Being stuck in a safe house with four guys who are infatuated with you.”
Turning my head, I look up at West to see he’s already looking at me. His honey brown eyes shine with affection as a smile tilts at his lips.
“You first,” I tell him, reaching for his hand and linking our fingers together. “You’ve gone from a hot but boring psychologist to an omega kidnapper all in the span of a week.”
He snorts. “Omega kidnapper, huh?”
“I didn’t say I wasn’tgladto be kidnapped.”
“Right. Well…I don’t know, Jo. I think ever since I discovered that omegas were being…misplaced—”
“We’re not socks, West.”
He huffs a laugh, rollinghis eyes. “Fine. Lost in transit?”
“Not a mail package either. I believe the word you’re searchin’ for is ‘kidnapped’. Not the good kind. It’s strange that that word keeps poppin’ up tonight.”
“Kidnapped,” he concedes, “Ever since then, I’ve started to look at things differently. I lost faith in the system. Realized that the way I was raised was a lie. The way things progressed with Banesworth and getting you out of the Cathedral…well it didn’t feel like a huge deviation from where we were already headed with everything. With all that said…I’m doing surprisingly well.” He gives me a heart-stopping smile, squeezing my hand once. “Turns out I can withstand just about anything as long as I have my Siren by my side.”
“Hmmm,” my fingers tighten around his, “you should be careful callin’ me a Siren this close to the ocean, Doctor. I might sprout gills and a tail and drag you under the waves so I can have my way with you.”
His eyes dart down to my lips. “Maybe that’s exactly what I want.”
Heart pounding, my hand reaches up to cup his cheek. When I prop myself up on my elbow, lean over, and press my lips against his, I realize that I would love nothing more than to drown in this man.
The kiss is sweet and gentle, and when I pull back, his hand on the back of my head pulls me back to him for one last lingering press of his lips.
When we go back inside the house, Sam arches a knowing brow from his place at the kitchen counter.
“I’m gonna go take a shower.” West kisses my cheek before heading to the bedroom.
I walk into the kitchen, leaning back on my elbows against the counter next to Sam. “What are you makin’ today, Chef Sammy?”
“Only the best for my omega,” he grins, nodding to a spread of bread and cheese, “grilled cheese and tomato soup.”
A groan leaves me. “I know you were bein’ funny, but Ilovegrilled cheese.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “I would have made it sooner if I knew that.”
Grinning, I step behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. “Don’t worry, Sammy. You keep me happy inplentyof other ways.” My hand dips down to cup his hardening cock. “Maybe it’s time you let me return the favor.” He’s pulled back since the morning he ate my pussy like a starving man and then shoved his cum inside me with his fingers, and I want to know why.
Sam groans, his head falling forward as I massage his dick outside his sweatpants. “Fuck, Jo— you can’t—”
“I can’t,what, Sam?” I snap, continuing with my motion before dipping my hand in the waistband of his sweatpants. He needs to get out of his own head and accept the damn fact that I want to suck his dick. My hand wraps around his hard length, making him shudder.
“Fuck, Trouble. Dinner—”
