I scowled and prodded at the golden strands joining us on the deepest level possible. He let out a shuddering laugh and hugged me tight to his chest, his face pressed to my hair.
“You’re such trouble.”
“Don’t hide from me,” I grumbled back.
He opened the bond, releasing a floodgate of love, fear, and anxiety. He shifted so he was sitting up, keeping me straddling his lap.
He locked eyes with King and Leo. “I’m going to get an injectable tranquilizer that you can use on me in case I lose control.”
I tightened my hold on him. “You won’t—”
“Nonnegotiable, sweetheart. I’m not willing to risk your safety.”
I narrowed my eyes. I could feel his resoluteness in the bond, so I let out a little huff of defeat. “Fine. But you won’t need it.” I pressed a kiss to his jaw. “My omega can handle you just fine.”
He grinned, chest rumbling. “I’m sure she can.”
“Have you had a heat before?” Leo asked. “I don’t know a ton about them.”
I shook my head. “I thought about it with my exes, but it never happened.”
King and Wilder growled, but Leo kept a cool head as he stroked my hair. “Why is that? You were with them for a while, right?”
“Almost a year.” God, it was so embarrassing to think how long I stayed with them. “They wanted me to have one. Well, that’s an understatement. They said I couldn’t move in or have a nest at their house until I had a heat with them.” I’d never told anyone the full story of what happened, and now that I’d started, the words spilled out.
“They said it wasn’t natural for omegas to be on suppressants, but I was really busy with my shop. At least, that’s the excuse I gave them for not going into heat, but after we broke up, I realized the real reason was that my omega didn’t trust them. The longer I went without having a heat, the more distant they became until they were withholding pretty much all affection, although they still acted like perfect alphas when we were in public. I was actually relieved when I found the proof that they were cheating because it gave me the courage to end it.”
“Oh, baby girl. They didn’t deserve you,” King murmured.
My friends had said the same thing for months, but it finally felt like the truth of it was sinking in.
“I think I know that now. But if you think it’s too soon for me to have a heat, I totally get it. I can refill my suppressants, and if I take a double dose today, I should be fine.”
“I don’t want to wait,” Leo blurted out.
I smiled up at him. “Yeah?”
He cupped my cheek and gave me a sweet kiss. “Fucking my girl for days? Sounds like a dream come true.”
“I don’t want to wait, either,” King said. His deep scent swirled around me, all bright citrus.
“Wilder?” I whispered his name and trailed my fingers through his short beard. “Will you see me through my heat?”
A surge of possessive arousal shot down our bond so strong I swore I had a mini orgasm.
“Yes, I will,” he said roughly.
I captured his lips, winding my fingers through his hair as I dippedmy tongue in his mouth. He palmed my ass, pulling me tighter against his hard cock, concealed by his boxers. Since we were all here, and I was already naked…
“Oh shit,” Leo said, making Wilder freeze.
I groaned. Could women get blue balls?
“King and I are signed up to chaperone Ivy’s class trip to the New England Aquarium tomorrow. I’ll text her to say we can’t go.”
“Oh no. How tragic,” King said dryly.
“No, wait, you can’t cancel,” I said. “My heat shouldn’t start for a couple of days. Ivy said the kids are so excited for more of King’s fish facts.”
