“Did the storm pass?”
“No, your ears must be ringing because it’s bearing down on us now, making a racket. But Lincoln’s house is a fortress and we’ll protect you. No one is getting in or out, and we’re not getting blown away. It’s the ideal place for a heat cycle. Lincoln even has a smallish room—based on a nest—that has never been used,” he offers quickly when I start hissing like a cat.
Maybe I should think over all this and question my decision, but I don’t. I put my faith in my success and it steers me to a decision that was inevitable. I feel strangely at peace as I go in search of them all. I find Lincoln first, and I shake Noah’s fingers from mine, asking him to give us privacy. Lincoln doesn’t say a word or move a muscle from his office seat facing the roaring fire. When I fall to my knees in front of him and lay my head on his lap, his hand on top of my head is the only acknowledgement I get before he stands up and walks off.
Since I already know Gabe’s in, the only person left to find is Valak, and much like Lincoln was waiting in the dark, he is too. I move over to him, the only light coming from the small clock on the stove, but it is more than enough. Clicking my fingers for Ares to heel, I hold Valak’s intense stare as I tap my naked hip. Of course he notices, and his eyes flick down to watch as Ares swings around to sit at my back, watching out for things I can’t see.
Making a small sound like a tock with my mouth, Ares hops up and stands in front of me, alert and wary. And then I rest my hand on Ares’ head and rest a finger between his eyes. My voice is quiet but there is no hesitation when I tell my boy, “Scent, accept, and submit.”
Ares stands his ground, and Valak raises his hand for Ares to properly scent. My dog starts at Valak’s hand and inhales every part of Valak that he can reach. He digs his nose into the main points, including his crotch and his armpits. But he’s learning Valak’s scent properly.
“Ares, sit for a new command,” I say, my voice whisper quiet before I look to Valak, “commands come under your breath, barely loud enough for yourself to hear. Basic words, simple touches or easy to remember noises. What is the first thing you want him to do for you?”
“Protect you.”
“He always will.”
“Wealways will.”
I smile at Valak as he looks at my dog with appreciation. When he refocuses on me, it’s the look in his soulful brown eyes that makes me take a slow, purposeful breath before I talk again. “Make your command for him to accept your voice, Valak. Simplicity is the key, but you’ll never be able to be his full master, and I’ll never relinquish control. I can show you more later, but you and I need to do our thing too.”
He tips his head in acknowledgement before he drops to his knees in front of Ares and speaks so low, I can’t hear exactly what he is saying. Valak is gentle as I give him access to a very big part of me.
He asked for my faith, and I just gave it to him. And more.
When he stands, he looks to Ares before he makes his own noise and movement combination, returning Ares to me, but becoming a part of us too. It’s fucking scary letting go of something I hold onto, but I’m not scared of Valak. He won’t abuse the power I just willingly handed him. And then Valak trails his finger from my bare pussy right up my body before he wraps his hand around the back of my neck, his thumb trailing under my jaw, his voice quiet, a little husky as he keeps this between him and me. “Ready to be my world?”
“I’m thinking I might be,” I say.
“You were just a little lost,” he says as he leans down, right at the same time as I reach up, to kiss me tenderly. All around us, the air thickens with Valak’s distinctive bergamot inspired scent. It’s so strong I swear his lips taste of it too.
Valak pulls back, a slight growly rumble to his voice, that makes me leak my sweet scent. “We deal together, Lennon. Whatever comes up, we deal together.”
I nod, agreeing, and this time when he kisses me, he cups my face in both of his huge, strong hands as he licks his way into my mouth, securing his place in my future. I’m not sure what I expected, but for a man that cracks heads for a living, he sure has an achingly sweet touch. Of course, he only gives himself a moment before he questions how I got to him so quickly.
“You must have scared Noah for him to lose his cool. What did you do?”
“Had a cold shower.”
“You go gather the others, and I’ll get some food warming. We eat, sleep, and then get your nest ready. In no other order than that.”
I go to walk off, but he draws me back to him, his hand grasping the back of my neck again. And then he cups my face again and kisses me until I’m left with a dizzy head and a racing heart. Every now and then he stops and sniffs the air. With a final smooch that leaves me with weak knees, he drops his forehead to mine. “No one goes in your cunt again until I’ve filled you with my claim. I don’t give a shit what they say, Lennon, but they need to accept and respect my wishes. My brother included.”
20
LENNON
Anticipation thrums through my veins and makes my skin itch. My thoughts race in a thousand directions. Everyone’s watching me like a hawk, it’s sweet, but overwhelming too. I need to calm down.
“Len, you good? You’re looking all flushed,” Gabe asks, but instead of answering him, I get up from where we’re sitting in Lincoln’s theatre room and kiss him on the head.
“I need to think,” I mumble, recognising all that I’m moving into the next phase of my heat cycle.
“I’ll come,” he jumps up to his feet.
But I wave him off and stop them all. “Not yet, Gabe. Give me a bit…”
Ares follows behind me, dropping a little further back to make sure they don’t follow, because I really do just need a minute. The hours have pushed past slowly, and the four of them have been overly attentive and supportive, shocking me once again by how easily they’ve fallen into caring for me.
