Chapter 13 Faye #2
He passes me the bowl, waiting for my reaction like a chef waiting for a customer to take their first bite of a new dish. I shove a handful of goodies into my mouth with zero grace then groan in ecstasy. The only perk of being in heat is that everything tastes so much better.
“Do you want us to go?” Cole asks. “We can give you space?”
“No.” I wince, embarrassed about how quickly I answered him. Could I possibly sound more needy? “I mean, no. Please. I want you to stay. All three of you. Can you … sit with me?”
It’s cursory to wait to be invited into an omega’s nest. As soon as I give him the green light, Ren hurries to join me. Cole and Laz are more cautious, approaching slowly, still too hesitant to sit down.
“We know what your body is craving right now, Faye.” Cole eyes me like I’m a bomb that’s about to detonate. “But we won’t do anything that you’ll regret tomorrow. You can’t properly consent like this, but we’ll help you however else we can, okay? Just tell us what will make you feel good.”
“I… I don’t know,” I duck my chin, too ashamed to meet his gaze. “I’ve never been in heat like this before. With people.” My panic turns to despair. “I-I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Did it feel good when Ren was holding you?” Cole asks.
I nod earnestly. “So good.”
Ren’s cheeks turn pink as he wraps his arms around me, holding on tightly. “Better?”
“Yes.” My heart rate slows. “Don’t let go.”
“You’re in control, Faye,” Cole reminds me. “I know you must be scared right now, but we’re going to take care of you. Just tell us what we can do.”
I never knew that alphas could be so tender.
“Could you…?” I’m not used to being assertive. “Um…”
“Go on?” Cole encourages.
“Could you both…” I cringe at having to ask. “Come closer?”
If they won’t give me their knots, their physical presence alone will have to do.
“Of course.” Cole cracks a small smile. He shuffles closer and kneels in front of me, giving me a better look at his steely, silver-flecked eyes that look like clouds before a rainstorm.
Unlike Cole, Laz bounces over and sits on my other side like an overenthusiastic puppy, dying for attention. Being between him and Ren is helping already.
“Deep breaths,” Ren coaches, stroking my hair. “You’re doing so well, baby.”
“I remember Sabs mentioning something about pressure cuddles,” Laz says. “It can help regulate your temperature. And foot rubs. And washcloths! Cold washcloths! Cole, can you take my place?”
As soon as Laz leaves from the couch, mumbling about washcloths, Cole takes his place. As if I have no control over my limbs, I reach for him, my hand resting on his knee. He bristles for a second then relaxes, gently putting his huge hand over mine, instantly making some of my stress melt away.
“I’m sorry to put you guys in this position.” I blow out a heavy breath. “I’m basically a stranger, and you’re all … being so nice.”
“You’re not a stranger to me,” Ren points out.
“Helping a sweet omega is no hardship.” Cole seems to be dropping his guard a little, letting me see he has a softer side.
“I didn’t think alphas were like this.”
“Then you’ve never met any decent alphas before.” Cole rubs the back of my hand. “It’s our job to protect you. Protecting and caring for you—an omega—is all that we want.”
I find myself smiling, imagining how it would feel to have the Silverwood Pack take care of me regularly. When I remember that they’re not mine, realization hits me like a downpour of icy water. They could be doing this for another omega one day.
“What’s wrong, Faye?” Ren asks sharply. “Are you okay?”
“I…” I don’t vocalize what I’m feeling. It’s the heat talking. It has to be.
Thankfully, Laz returns with a basket full of various towels, sparing me from explaining. “I have hot ones, wet ones, and cold ones. I didn’t know which you’d like. I’ve also got some scented oils and some massage oil. Sabs says that foot rubs can—”
“You got all this for me?” I choke back a sob. Laz’s mouth turns down as he drops the towels and crouches before me like a fallen knight.
“What did I do? Was it the towels?” Regret radiates from him. “Shit, I’m no good at this. Do you want me to leave? I can take the towels with me—”
“No!” I swipe at my tears. “It’s not the towels.” I let out another sob. “I can’t believe you did that … for me.”
Laz’s gaze softens when he realizes I’m not mad.
“Faye,” he says. “I’ll do anything for you.”
I sniffle. “But you don’t even know me.”
“But I want to.” My breath hitches at his endearing smile. “We all do. Right, guys?”
As Ren nods earnestly, I look at Cole. I dread the possibility of enduring more rejection, but he also dips his head in agreement.
“I wouldn’t offer a foot rub to just anyone.” Laz adds. “Does that sound good?”
Hell yes, it does.
With nerves racing through my gut like a swarm of hornets, I slide my toes out from beneath the blanket for him to take my feet in his hands. I sigh happily at the feel of his surprisingly soft palms and gentle touch. The heat from Ren and Cole, coupled with Laz kneading my feet, feels amazing.
“Does that feel good?” Laz asks.
“Yes.” His touch sends shivers of longing up my legs. “So good.”
My slick-soaked panties have no hope, and they’re going to struggle to get my scent out of their bedding.
“You’re still running a little hot.” Ren touches my forehead before scooping up one of Laz’s many washcloths to dab my face. The smell of his wrist has me practically writhing.
“Hot,” I whine, trying not to drool. “So hot.”
His attempts with the cool cloth only seem to heighten my desire to be knotted here and now by all three men on the sofa.
“The heat patch should’ve begun to take effect by now.” Cole checks his watch. “How’re you feeling, Faye?”
“Like I really want a knot.”
Their knots, in particular.
Cole chuckles. “We’ll give you anything but that.”
I catch a whiff of Damon’s scent and feel the bitter sting of disappointment when I realize he isn’t there. I paw at the cushion behind me, hunting around for the source of his smell.
“More of this!” I’m rubbing my face into the soft material when I realize how demanding I sound. “Please?”
“I’ll be right back,” Cole promises, dashing off.
“How are your cramps?” Ren asks.
“A little better.”
They’re definitely easing, but I’m still so slicked up and know it’ll take more than a foot rub to give me the relief I crave.
Cole returns, holding up a sweaty, old T-shirt. “I got it out of Damon’s laundry basket.” He wrinkles his nose at it. “I don’t know whether this will—”
“Give me!” I hold out my hands. Damon’s scent is exactly what I need. I’ve slept with his hoodie every night since we met. It’s a poor substitute for having him here, but it’ll do.
“I told you she has a feisty side.” Laz chortles and continues to lotion up my feet with his magic fingers, making me wonder what else they can do.
Cole watches as I bundle up and inhale the tee like I’m trying to suffocate in it. “Damon should be here.” He settles down next to me again. “What else can we do?”
“Can you … stay with me for a while? Maybe put something on the TV to distract me from the pain?”
And your knots, I think.
“Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere,” Cole says as Laz picks a light-hearted comedy. “I contacted all our professors. We’re not leaving you.”
“Thank you,” I manage as drowsiness sweeps over me—a common side-effect from the patches. The deep yearning still bubbles inside me, but it’s becoming more muted as the tiredness takes hold.
“Take a nap if you want to,” Ren whispers, running his fingers through my hair as Laz tucks my feet away and puts a blanket over my legs. Cole’s hand dwarfs mine, anchoring me in place.
Feeling so comfortable between them, it’s easy to drift off, sending me into a world of fever dreams filled with the four Silverwood Pack alphas.