It took aboutthirty minutes for my knot to go down. Olive shifted as it did, her eyes blinking open.
“I fell asleep,” she said, looking around, a little confused.
“You worked very hard,” I murmured, placing a kiss on the side of her face.
She sat up and grabbed my arms so she could inspect my wrists. I realized a beat too late that she was looking to see if the rope left any marks. Then she shifted off me, letting out a gush of fluid, and got up off the bed.
“Where are you going?” My voice was a low growl, my alpha telling me to grab her. Keep our omega close. It took all my self-control to stop myself from barking at her to cuddle with me.
She didn’t go far, though. Just to the edge of the nest to grab her water, an extra blanket, and a bottle of lotion. What was she doing? If she needed something,Iwould get it for her. She got back on the bed, but instead of curling up in my arms again, shetucked the blanket around me. What was happening? She held a straw up to my lips. My brow furrowed as I took a few sips of water. Then she gently took my wrist, freed it from my blanket, and rubbed lotion into my skin.
It clicked.
My lips twitched.
“You giving me aftercare, kitten?”
“Yes,” she said, still focused on my wrists, which weren’t one bit sore after her expert tying. She met my gaze. “Do you want a snack, too?”
She looked so serious, so fucking sweet, that I didn’t have the heart to tell her I’d been topping her all along. I snagged her around the waist, pulling her tight to my chest.
“I love you fussing over me.”
I carefully leaned forward and snagged another blanket, wrapping it around her. I held the straw up to her lips for her to take a drink. Her eyes drifted closed, and I gently rubbed my hand up and down her back, savoring these quiet moments with my omega. Iknew I needed to get up soon, feed her dinner, but I didn’t want to break this perfect moment.
“Lars?” Her voice was sleepy and muffled from how she was pressed against my chest.
“Yes, kitten?”
“I don’t think I want to be in charge again.”
She couldn’t see me, so I felt safe smiling. “That’s okay. You don’t have to be.”
She wrapped her arms around me even tighter and dozed off.
38
LARS
I stretchedwith a quiet groan as I woke. My back was fucking killing me. Our plans to transform Olive’s nest couldn’t happen soon enough.
I blinked my eyes open and was met with big brown eyes. Big, brown,exhaustedeyes that looked so fucking sad.
“Morning, sweetheart.” My voice was hoarse with sleep, and I wondered if my omega had slept at all. Last night after dinner, we’d gone up to the top of the lighthouse for a while and just sat together before heading to bed early. I’d fallen asleep instantly, and now I wished I’d forced myself to stay awake so Olive wouldn’t be alone in the night.
She didn’t say anything.
I shifted so I could tug her closer to my chest and run my hand through her hair. “Is it still a dark day?” The sky outside was dim and gray, the stormy weather persisting.
Olive nodded against my chest. I brushed my cheek against hers, hoping my scent provided her some comfort. What could I do to support her? I wished I could take all the darkness away.
A purr started up in my chest and Olive let out a little sigh, her breath a puff against my bare skin. I stroked my hand up anddown her back. I could get her breakfast. A pumpkin spice latte. Cuddles. And then it hit me—Olive craved routine.
“Do you want to go out to the water?” My voice was a whisper against her hair.
“Oh.” She trailed her fingers against my skin, and I forced myself to be patient and wait for her to say more. “I don’t know if I have the energy.”
“It’s a good thing you have me, then.” I glanced back out the window. It was sprinkling and looked cold. I grabbed one of the fluffy blankets from Olive’s bed and wrapped it around her until she was completely bundled up. I located my clothes on the floor and threw them on before picking her up.
