Mateo’s eyes widen just enough that I notice. “I’m really glad to hear that.”
Before I can ask him why, the scent of lemons hits my nose followed by the soothing smell of mint. I perfume and double over in my seat, my inner walls clenching around nothing.
Alphas. Our Alphas.
“Yes, they’re yours. We’re yours, Iris. All of us,” Mateo says with such conviction I want to believe him. Also, shit, I said that out loud too. My Omega is clearly back in charge now.
My thoughts jumble as Mateo ushers me from the car, his hand on my back. Jett’s hand takes mine as I step to the ground, and I meet his ocean blue gaze that’s darker in the late evening. There’s muted speaking I can’t hear going on behind me, but with Jett holding my hand and Mateo at my back with his hand on my hip, I don’t care what’s being said or not said.
A thought I have to tell them tries to push through the haze of heat that’s taking over, but I can’t remember what I needed to tell them. All their scents, the presence of their pack surrounding me again, it’s too much and also not enough.
I double over and grip my stomach, but before I can do anything else I’m being lifted, this time by Jett.
I bury my nose against his neck and inhale the lemon scent that smells almost like lemon bars straight from the source. I lick his neck, tangy sweetness sparking on my tongue, and Jett groans, muscles flexing around me as he holds me tighter.
“Don’t do that, Omega, or I’ll fuck you right here on the ground.”
“Okay,” I reply, licking him again so he shudders.
There’s a warm chorus of male laughter but all it does is make me wetter. The sounds zapping electricity to my already pulsing clit. We move up the steps and someone must open the front door because light filters in. I wince, not liking it. Omegas crave the darkness and comfort of their nests during heat or times of distress, and being in the foyer of a house that’s lit with artificial light after the darkness of the car doesn’t make me happy.
“Shhhh, my star, I’m taking you to your nest.”
My star. I don’t know why he called me that, but my Omega likes it. I like it. I suck over Jett’s scent gland in thanks and my perfume curls around us. My belly clenches at the same time I finally remember part of what I wanted to tell them.
“Touch starved,” I say, clinging to him harder.
Jett doesn’t balk; he continues walking, carrying me like I weigh fifty pounds instead of two-fifty, his purr kicking to life and wrapping around me like a heated blanket, soothing me.
“It’s okay,” he hums. “You won’t be for much longer.”
Arousal curls like smoke in my stomach, rising up until I swear my entire body is vibrating with it. I bury my face in his neck, dragging a long lemony inhale as a door is kicked open and I pry my head up to look at the room we just walked into.
Holy dream nest.
It’s stunning and decorated in every beautiful shade of purple you could imagine. Now I understand Mateo’s reaction to my favorite color. If I was more in my right mind, I’d make a joke about them stalking me, but I know they haven’t.
I try to get down from Jett’s arms so I can fully take it in, but pain and heat explodes through me and I whine, my body curling into itself as my Omega takes over, demanding her needs finally be met after so long.
“Knot,” I cry, against Jett’s chest. “Please, Alpha. Give me your knot.”
Chapter twelve
Jett
“Ithoughtyoutookthe edge off!” Wilder growls from behind me as I hold Iris to my chest, moving to the edge of the oversized round bed in the corner of her nest.
“We did,” Mateo growls back. “Now calm down or get out. An Omega’s nest needs to be peaceful, not full of Alpha bullshit.”
He’s right about that. But I feel for Wilder. I know that if I didn’t have my Omega mate in my arms, I’d probably feel the same as him. Our instincts are riding us hard, and leaving her on set, in heat, in need, was not easy for us, even though it had to be done. The housekeepers we have come once a week have kept the nest and Omega suite in our home clean, but it’s never been used. It was devoid of scents, and while I’ve never tended to Iris during her heat, I know what she needs.
Omegas need the scents of the pack in their nest. If we had Iris leading up to now, she would have been nesting for at least a week before, most likely stealing our worn clothes and weaving them into her safe space. Since that couldn’t happen, Wilder and I went through the house and dug through laundry hampers, pulling out items that smelled like each of us. I didn’t dare weave them in the nest, but we’ve left them in a pile on the bed for her.
In my mind, I saw them pulling up in the car, Iris being shown the nest, and getting to watch her smell each item and build the haven we’ll spend the next few days in, but that isn’tgoing to happen. At least not yet. Not that I’m complaining. My Omega is in my arms and begging for me to take care of her, so I’m going to do just that.
I’m aware of Wilder and Mateo speaking to each other in hushed tones, but I tune them out. Augie appears next to me just as Iris licks right over my scent gland, her nails digging into the back of my neck as I try to put her down on the bed. My cock swells against the placket of my jeans, throbbing with the need to be inside her. To knot her until she’s satisfied and sleeping in my arms.
“Shhh, Omega.” I grip her tighter to me when she whines, purring for her deep enough that her body vibrates from the strength of it. “I’m going to give you what you need, but I need to put you down so I can do that. Alright?”
