Dane remained silent, but Kade answered. “Thanks.”
I gripped Dane tighter as another wave hit me. The muscle in his jaw tensed as he carried me through the front door. Kade and Uriel followed us past the sitting room, up the stairs, and into his room. Kade closed the door as Dane placed me on the bed.
Before the fog could fully take me, I fumbled for my phone in the pocket of Dane’s hoodie. It wasn’t there.
“What are you doing?” Dane asked, watching me.
“Looking for my phone.”
“It fell out in the car.” I turned to him as he handed me my phone. I grabbed it. My fingers shook as I held down the power button.
“Turning it off,” I murmured. The screen went black. “I don’t want… any distractions from the outside. Just you. Just us.”
Dane’s expression softened. He took the phone from my trembling hands and placed it on the nightstand, screen down.
He sat at the foot of the bed and I crawled behind him, dropping my legs on either side of him.
I was burning up, and the only thing on my mind was his knot. Through the haze, I knew I would be in pain after my heat. Riding Dane’s cock put me out of commission the first time, but right now, I couldn’t find a fuck to give.
“We need to talk first,” Dane said as I rubbed his back.
Kade folded his arms. Uriel shuffled on his feet by the door.
“I’ll take her first. Kade, you need to check on our package. By the time you’ve fed Uriel, I should be ready to switch out.” Dane leaned forward, his elbows on his thighs. “You two need to stay fed. We’ll take breaks and stay fed. That way, we avoid crashing too soon.”
Kade nodded, his eyes darting to me.
“You come first, Lumberjack, but when your heat is over, we’ve got shit to unpack. Without all the sex.” Kade’s words pierced through the fog that was growing thicker by the minute. I nodded, letting him know I heard him.
“You okay?” My gaze cut to Uriel at his words. His big browns were wide, filled with a worry that wasn’t needed in this room. I smiled weakly.
“Mm-hmm. Knot. I want my Alpha’s knot,” I murmured.
“Dane will take care of you. Won’t you, brother?” Kade asked, his head tilted as his focus returned to his brother.
“Check the package. Fuel up,” Dane said.
Kade didn’t respond. His eyes were on Dane. Kade grabbed Uriel’s hand and led him out.
The silence that followed the click of the door was a heavy blanket that kept us apart. Dane sat like a statue. My skin screamed. The need for my Alpha’s touch—his knot, his seed—outweighed everything else.
My breasts were heavy and aching as they crushed against the back of his neck, yet he remained maddeningly still. I trailedmy fingers down the hard planes of his chest. The thrum of my beating heart thrummed against his skin as my hair cascaded down the sides of his face. He was here. He was providing the body I needed to survive this fever, but his heart was locked away, hidden from my prying hands.
The sweet, caring Alpha I’d left was gone and in his place was a man with a bleeding heart who would take care of me out of obligation. The whine that left my lips reflected the pain mirrored in my chest.
The world spun, and in one swift motion, I was on my back, pinned beneath the weight of him. His eyes locked on mine, his jaw set. The look in his eyes had nothing to do with the need cracking between us, and everything to do with an agony so palpable I could taste it.
“You hurt me, and I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive you.” Dane’s words struck a chord in my chest that sang just for him.
“You’re mine,” I hissed. His jaw clenched, his eyes dropping to my lips. I pushed against his chest and he moved, way too easily. I didn’t want to talk, I wanted his knot, but first, I needed to make itright.
Dane sat at the edge of the bed. I could feel his hardened gaze following me across the room as I dug through his closet. It wasn’t strong enough. His scent was too weak. I clawed at the room. The scent of campfire came from a shirt, and I dragged my trophies to the center of the bed.
Dane didn’t move, didn’t try to touch me, or stop me. His eyes followed me as I was reduced to Omega instincts. He looked at me like a man conflicted, stuck between being mad, and proud.
I lunged for the laundry basket, digging until I found used joggers. I piled them up, spinning in a panicked circle as I tried and failed to find the scent of cherries, ink and sweat. The lack of their scent was a hollow throb in my chest.
I whined, a pathetic, needy sound, and Dane jumped to his feet. Without a word, he turned and rushed past me, out the door. A sob caught in my throat.
