Now it’s my turn to laugh. “That’s your big reason?”
He gives me a look which tells me exactly what he thinks about my stupid pun. “I mean it, Ver, I’d hurt you.”
I scoff. That throbbing has leveled up to one million just at the talk about Bas’s package, and when I shift I’m noticeably damp between my thighs.
Bas swallows, his Adam’s apple working. “Vera, I know you think it would be fine but trust me. It’s too big.”
I fold my arms across my chest. “I highly doubt that, but OK. I guess the only other choice is for me to weather it here. Without a rutting.”
His mouth drops open, and he stares at me for a long moment. “Y-you can’t.”
“It can be done.”
“It won’t be pretty.”
I shrug. “I won’t die. I can’t promise not to try to have my way with you when it gets bad, but you’re strong. You can just tie me up, right? Or hold me down.”
I have to pause and bite my lip to hold back a moan at the thought of Bas looming over me, holding my hands above my head while he sinks his hard, thick—
A low growl from him startles me. “This is a bad idea, Vera.”
“Got a better one? One that doesn’t involve either of us potentially getting hurt or killed?”
He sighs. “No. I don’t, but I don’t like it.”
“Well feel free to change your mind and rut me any time you like.”
Three hours later I’m feeling a whole heck of a lot less cool and collected. Once we’d agreed neither of us would leave theemergency shelter, Bas began setting out emergency rations and sleeping gear.
I can’t force myself to eat, but I drink the water he gives me. I try to sit, but I’m too restless; however, pacing only makes me more conscious of my body and the constant ache between my thighs.
The wind howls outside, and I know I should feel cold, but I’m sweating. I strip down to my shirt, and it’s still not enough. Everywhere fabric touches my body makes me want to scream.
Bas looks up from where he’s sitting against the wall. “Why don’t we make you more comfortable?”
I almost get on my hands and knees right then. Goddamn hormones! I try to force the words to come out in a steady voice. “Did you change your mind?”
He shakes his head. “No, but I do know one thing about soothing an omega, and it involves nesting.”
“Nesting?” Some knowledge forced to the back of my mind rises to my consciousness as I remember. “Oh! But we don’t have a bed or anything to make a nest with.”
“Challenge accepted.” He gets to his feet, and within a short space of time, Bas has pulled out all the sleeping bags and emergency blankets from our stash. He finds a corner of the cave where the roof dips low and tucks everything inside, blocking part of the entry by fixing an emergency blanket over it like a door using a tent peg and a mallet.
I crawl inside, and to my surprise some of the nervous energy swirling around my body fades. I sigh. “That is actually a bit better.” For some reason being in the smaller space with the silky sleeping bags around me calms the frantic fluttering of my heart. “But what about you? I’ve got all the sleeping bags.”
“Don’t worry about me.”
I don’t like that answer, but I honestly don’t have it in me to fight with him right now, so I tuck myself into the makeshift nestand try to relax. It must be night by now. I shut my eyes and try to sleep, but I’m too restless. I can’t keep still.
I must have drifted, though, because next thing I know Bas is brushing hair back from my forehead and holding out my bottle of water. “Here. Try to drink something.”
As soon as his fingers leave my skin the heat prickles over my body and I shudder. “Wait. Keep touching me. It’s better when you’re touching me.”
I expect him to draw back, but instead, he strips off his jacket and crawls into the nest with me. The space is tight in here, especially with Bastien in here too. He slides in feet first, and I snuggle in against his side, letting out a deep sigh at the relief I feel with his arms around me.
“Ahhh. That’s so much better. Please don’t stop touching me.”
“Shhh.” He strokes my hair again. “You’ve got this.” A deep rumble comes from his chest and makes me feel all melty inside.
