Page 24 of Yes Now Yes Forever

His praise had my heart soaring as I came, my whole body tensing to the point I caused Eli to grunt as I gripped his cock. “Holy fuck.”

Eli pulled me close and buried his face in my neck. In a teasing fashion, his lips and tongue worked their way up until he reached my ear. “Is my Omega trying to milk my cock? Are you that desperate for my knot?”

“Yes, Alpha,” I answered, my nails digging into his back. “It’s not enough, I need more. No, I want everything.”

With a roar, Eli placed one hand on my hip and the other on my shoulder, locking me in place as he pounded into me. All I could do was hang on for dear life as I spoke gibberish, begging for something I couldn’t put into words but knew I had to have. When another orgasm barreled into me, I acted on instinct and bit down hard on Eli’s shoulder. A sensation unlike anything I’d experienced before seemed to implode within my brain. Just as I thought the feeling was beginning to ease a second implosion rocketed through my body from just under my ear.

Unable to do anything more than figure out how to take my next breath, I melted against Eli. His chest rumbled as he purred, but when his tongue ran over some tender skin under my ear, I screamed in ecstasy. Trembling, I clung to Eli, but shifting only caused us both to hiss as Eli’s knot stroked over a sensitive spot causing my pussy to squeeze even tighter.

After a moment, I felt as if someone had placed the world’s softest blanket around me. Wrapped up in this feeling, I knew I’d never feel more protected, loved, or precious. As long as I remained in Eli’s arms, nothing in this world or any other would dare to cause me harm. I felt like a flower that had been forgotten in the corner without water or sunlight had been discovered and brought into a room flooded with light.

For so long, I’d been searching for this feeling, but I never had the words to describe what it felt like. Now I knew why—only a bond with my scent matched Alphas could fill this void I’d had in my soul. Tears rolled down my face, but I didn’t bother to wipe them away, I knew Eli understood they were tears of joy mixed with tears of regret. It would take time to learn to forgive myself for running from the one thing I needed most—a pack. How I wished my mother had the chance to tell me how powerful this bond was before she’d lost my fathers. Maybe, just maybe, then I wouldn’t have run for so long.

“Lyra,” Eli murmured before he hugged me tight and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Is this what the pain you’ve been carrying around all these years feels like?”

I didn’t want to answer him and face the pity I might find now he’d discovered the truth. Instead, I tucked my head under his chin and curled up the best I could while still knotted. Eli nuzzled his nose into my hair and purred again as he draped the blanket around us. His large hand stroked my back, and I realized he’d sensed my trepidation and shame without me having to say a damn word.

“There is nothing that can change the fact you are mine forever, Lyra,” Eli said, his voice soft and void of judgment. “You fear now that you can’t hide your true feelings, I’ll be ashamed of you. Nothing could be further from the truth, my petal. All I see is a warrior, a woman who refused to give up on life even though the pain you carried would crush so many others. How could any Alpha who’d seen the truth of what you survived view you as weak or pitiful?”

Stunned, I lifted my head and met Eli’s gaze. “You think I’m a warrior?”

Eli rested his forehead against mine and took a deep breath before speaking. “Oh, my perfect petal, you are a fucking gladiator, and even more importantly… you’re mine.”

Now officially bonded and no longer caring about my issues with the car, Eli carried me to his room, where he spent most of the night testing out how sensitive my mark truly was. Then, at some point, Fawn joined us and wrapped himself around me as I was snuggled against Eli. Having them both so close, I could see how my bond with Fawn was slightly different, but both were a warm, comforting presence I now carried with me.

With one last look at my outfit, I sighed and tossed my hair into a messy bun. I’d been instructed not to wear anything I’d be upset about getting paint on. However, ratty jeans and a well-loved T-shirt with Elora’s old band logo on it wasn’t how I wanted to look when meeting Eli’s sister for the first time. I believed Eli when he told me his sister wouldn’t judge me, but I wanted to feel confident, and the right outfit helped with that.

“Come on, beautiful, everyone’s already downstairs,” Pascal said from my room’s doorway.

I couldn’t help but smile at the T-shirt he wore under the open jean button-down he was wearing as a coat. “Team internet?” I asked as I walked over to him.

He looked down at the shirt and then back to me. “Too nerdy?”

“Not at all,” I assured him as I grabbed the edges of the jean shirt to pull him closer. “I think it’s absolutely perfect.”

Ensuring he didn’t think I was just telling him what he wanted to hear, I kissed him soundly. Pascal groaned as I slid a hand under the shirt and up his stomach. Before I could venture any higher, he caught my elbow, halting my movements.

“Beautiful, I would love to know just how much you like this shirt, but we have to be somewhere, and what I have in mind would make us extremely late,” Pascal murmured against my lips.

“You’re right. When we get a chance to be alone together, I don’t want any interruptions or to feel rushed,” I agreed.

Pascal kissed my forehead before he took my hand and twined our fingers together. Together, we headed for the elevator, where I took the opportunity to rest my head on Pascal’s shoulder and breathe in his cedar and sage scent. Something about his scent seemed to quiet the worry and racing thoughts in my mind, which I needed.

Thankfully, getting into the back of Eli’s car wasn’t an issue, but I couldn’t keep from blushing at the clear smell of sex, which lingered. Fawn simply smiled and kissed me until I was breathless, giving me zero time to feel anxious about being in a car. Zachary and Tanner took a separate car since none of our vehicles would fit all six of us. As we pulled out of the driveway, we noticed a few news vans and paparazzi hanging around, but our security kept them at bay.

“How long do you think they’ll stick around,” I asked no one in particular. “You’d think our pack having two Omegas would be old news by now.”

“I’m not sure, but my guess would be until there is a story they find more interesting,” Eli reasoned. “All they truly care about is selling magazines and newspapers. Sadly, gossip always sells.”

Soon the reporters were forgotten as we entered a part of the city that was unlike anything I’d seen so far. The buildings weren’t as tall, and they all looked so unique and full of character. We passed a rather ornate building with a grand staircase leading to an entryway with massive pillars.

“That’s the Museum of Modern Art,” Fawn shared, leaning against me to get a better look at the building. “I’ve only been there once, but it was pretty cool. I know, maybe we should go on another Omegas-only date to the museum.”

“I love the sound of that,” I said and gave Fawn a quick kiss on the lips. “I used to beg my parents to take me to all the museums when I was younger, but I stopped going after they passed.”

“It’s a date then,” Fawn promised as he squeezed my hand reassuringly.

Eli turned us onto a side street full of little shops, galleries, and various places advertising all kinds of arts and crafts you could do or make. What had me truly in awe was all the stunning murals painted on the sides of buildings, walls, and even dumpsters. It was a chaotic color explosion in the best way.