Chapter 34
SKYLAR
How embarrassing thata love confession is what finally starts my Heat.
I read the pamphlets that detailed what to expect after suppressant withdrawal, but experiencing it is another thing entirely.
Within seconds, sweat drips down my back, and my womb cramps so hard tears fill my eyes.
I can’t even make it off the couch.
“I’m sorry,” I gasp to River, who looks at me like I’ve grown a second head.
“Sorry?” he repeats. “Fucking sorry for what?”
“For this,” I choke out. “For all the side effects. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”
“You really are fucking crazy,” he mutters, stroking my back. “It’s a fucking honor that you even want me here.”
“Please…there should be some water in the fridge, and a heating pad?—”
“It’s in the side closet,” River says, already off the couch and opening the fridge. “We have the checklist. It’s taken care of.”
“The what?” I turn to him, grimacing. “What checklist?”
“You think we’re not prepared?” he shoots me a grin. “We’re detectives, baby. We’re always prepared. And we did our research. You’re not going to go through this alone, including the negative parts.”
They did their research.
My head spins with the knowledge.
River returns, pressing a cool water bottle to my lips. I gulp it down greedily, feeling the icy liquid course through me.
“I need to get out of these clothes,” I gasp. “They’re too hot.”
“I know,” he says patiently. “I’ve got you, Skylar.”
It’s as if I’ve caught the flu. My head aches and chills wrack my body as River leads me to the bedroom, where I collapse into my nest.
He undresses me quickly and methodically, instructing me to lift my hips and arms when necessary.
Once I’m naked, he leaves me only to return with a cool cloth, wiping away the sweat from my body.
Tears fill my eyes. Jason never did this for me.
River’s scent is more peppery than ever, and his eyes smolder as he runs the cloth up my body.
But I’m not aroused. I’m in pain.
“You don’t have to do this,” I tell him. “I’m not going to be able to reciprocate right now.”
He stops washing me. “Do you think that’s why I’m doing this?” he asks quietly. “Just so I can fuck you?”
I don’t answer him, and he closes his eyes and sighs.
“I’m going to kill him, Skylar, I swear to fucking God—” he stops himself and runs a hand through his hair. “I’m doing this because I want to, and it’s what you deserve. I love you. And to me, that means taking care of you in every possible way. Not just during sex. But in life.”
“Okay,” I whisper as cramps assault me.
“This is the first stage,” River says, resuming washing me. “You’re going to feel sick, and you might have a small fever. But afterwards, it’s less painful, but still intense. And that’s when we can all enjoy ourselves.”
I catch his smirk and chuckle weakly. “Pervert.”
“Remember what I told you about kink shaming? It’s not very nice.” The cloth finally reaches my core, and he’s careful as he wipes away the slick. I’m overly sensitive, so the slightest touch makes me cry out in discomfort. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “Almost done.”
Once he finishes, he brings me an ice pack and wraps me in my nesting blankets.
“Thank you,” I whisper, peeking up at him through the bundle he’s wrapped me in. “For everything.”
He sits on the edge of the bed and runs his fingers through my hair, sending tingles through my scalp. “Thank you for loving me,” he says simply. “Thank you for being the one to see through my shit and accept me.”
“It wasn’t very hard,” I say. “You’re easy to love.”
He snorts. “That’s the fever talking.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my hair. “But it’s still nice to hear.”
“Will you stay with me?” I ask. “Just until I fall asleep? I just don’t want to be alone.”
“You’re not alone, baby,” he promises me. “Never again.”
My skin literally burns. Sweat drips down my forehead, sticking to my hair as I struggle through the cramps. But the weighted blanket helps, along with River holding my hand.
“The others will be here soon,” he says.
“Do they already know?” I ask tentatively, as River interlaces our fingers together.
“Yes, baby. And they’re more than prepared.”
I groan in pain, and he squeezes my hand.
“Try to sleep, Skylar. Your body and mind have been through hell. You deserve some peace.”
All of us do, I think.
I waketo the sound of a fan whirring.
I’m soaked in sweat, but the chills have stopped.
My fever has broken, and the cramps have been replaced by the steady fluttering of my cunt.
Pain has turned to arousal.
Kicking off the blankets, the cool air from the fan hits my naked body, sending a delicious chill through me.
My heartbeat is elevated, as if I’ve just had two cups of coffee.
I’m full of manic energy.
I find a pair of lavender sweatpants and a white flowy top folded at the edge of the bed and I quickly dress, the soft material scraping against my nipples.
“Oh,” I gasp.
Every inch of my body is sensitive, from my toes all the way up to my face.
My Heats have never been like this.
Even the breeze from the fan is almost too intense.
Unable to stay in my room any longer, I head down the hall, following the familiar, delectable scents of the men that mean the most to me.
When I turn the corner and enter the front of the house, a sense of euphoria washes over me.
They’re all here, and they’re working together.
River and Vincent are in the kitchen, River at a cutting board while Vincent stirs something delicious smelling at the stove.
Landon is in the front room on the couch, folding a pile of blankets I’ve never seen before, but I recognize the thick fabric immediately.
Nesting blankets.
It’s all strangely domestic, as if I have three house husbands, taking care of everything for me.
Their scents mix in perfect harmony, and a sense of completion washes over me.
This is how it’s supposed to be.
Landon is the first one to notice me.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he says with a knowing smile, showing off his dimples.
River and Vincent both stop what they’re doing to look at me, the only sound in the room the sizzling of food on the stove.
The air is thick with tension, and I realize they’re all waiting on me.
Whatever happens next is on my terms.
Vincent is no longer in his suit from the conference, but in a simple black shirt that shows off his chiseled arms, and black sweatpants. River wears a grey V-neck and jeans, while Landon is in his classic white-button up.
My inner Omega preens.
They’re here for me.
“What’s all this?” I ask shakily, doing my best to ignore my aching cunt.
My core throbs with need, but I don’t know how to ask for what I want.
But River smirks at me and crosses his arms to his chest. “Well, you see, Skylar, usually in a kitchen, people cook food?—”
“River,” Landon interrupts, shooting him a look. But River winks at me and quirks his lip, his playful teasing easing some of the unease in my stomach.
“We wanted to help you prepare,” Vincent confirms. “And keep you safe.”
His pupils are so wide that his eyes are almost black.
I lick my lips as the tension in the room thickens.
I can smell all three of them. Landon with his earthy, welcoming scent, River’s spicy, addictive one, and the richest of all three, Vincent’s.
Landon is the closest to me, and his shaky inhale tells me all I need to know about how strong my scent is. “Fuck,” he whispers, “you smell incredible, sweetheart.”
Vincent turns the stove off.
All three of them face me.
I can’t move from my spot. I’m frozen, overwhelmed by my arousal and trepidation.
“I’ve never done this before,” I admit, looking between them. I meet Vincent’s eyes and give him a pleading look. “Never with three,” I whisper.
My nipples ache, begging to be touched.
My clit throbs as Vincent’s gaze darkens. “We will take care of you,” he promises.
River looks at him, then nods at me.
“Whatever you need,” Landon whispers. “Say the word, and it’s yours.”
I swallow.
No one moves, though.
They’re leaving it to me.
“All of this is your choice,” Vincent continues, his voice low. “Of whom you want and when. And how.”
“And where,” River adds darkly.
I let out a breath. Slick trickles down my thighs, and the sweet scent fills the room.
“Already soaked, I see,” Vincent murmurs, pleased. He moves past River to turn on the faucet, washing his hands.
Once the water stops, I hold my breath as he strolls out of the kitchen to stand mere inches from me.
I crane my neck to look up at him. He’s so handsome up close, with his strong jaw, piercing eyes, and full, plush lips.
“Breathe,” he commands, and I suck in a breath.
“What do you want, Skylar?” he asks softly, tilting his head. He takes another step forward, and I swallow nervously and my eyes dart to the floor.
“No.” Vincent grips my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. “Don’t hide. What do you want?”
I can feel River and Landon’s watching, waiting for my response.
And what do I want?
There are a lot of things I want but don’t have the words for yet.
So, I gather what is left of my sanity and tell him the truth.
“I want to be yours.” I blurt out. “I want to belong to all three of you.”
My confession takes him aback, if just for a moment. “You already do,” he says quietly, reaching out to cup my cheek.
“It’s been that way for a long time, Skylar,” Landon says.
“A very fucking long time,” River adds.
But their voices seem far away as all my attention is locked on Vincent.
On the leader of the pack.
“That’s not the only thing I want,” I whisper.
“Anything,” he promises. “Any fucking thing you want.”
“I want to come,” I breathe.
Vincent gives me a half smile. “Good girl,” he purrs. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? To just tell us what you want?”
Good girl.
Something about that phrase makes me short circuit.
“She likes being our good girl,” Landon says from somewhere behind me.
More slick drips out of me.
I keep my gaze locked on Vincent, stepping closer and shakily running my hand down his chest. I drown in his scent as he pushes my hair from my neck, exposing my mating gland.
“Is this what you want?” he asks, his fingers dancing along the sensitive skin as I cry out. “Is this what you mean when you say you want to belong to us?”
“Yes,” I hiss. “That is exactly what I mean.”
I want the mating bite. I want all of them connected to me, permanently.
I want us to be a family.
If Vincent seems surprised by my confession, he doesn’t show it. Instead, he nods. “You know what that means. No going back from this. You will belong to us,” he growls the last word and pulls me into his arms. I moan against his mouth as he kisses me violently, his tongue tangling with mine as I taste the mint of his breath.
“Oh, fuck,” I hear River groan.
Any worries I had about being with him and Vincent at the same time dissipate.
Vincent pushes me against the wall and grabs my ass to lift me up easily, and I wrap my legs around his hips. He thrusts against me and brings his mouth to my ear as I clutch against him desperately.
“Do you know how fun this is?” he pants into my ear. “To make them watch while you moan and soak yourself for me?”
I glance over at Landon, who meets my gaze with lust filled eyes. From this angle, I’m also able to see River, who is watching us from the kitchen with his lips slightly parted.
His cock is thick and tenting against his pants.
“My pretty little Omega,” Vincent continues, kissing along my neck as he rocks his clothed erection against me. “With such a pretty cunt.”
“Vincent, please?—”
I cry out as his hand tangles in my hair, the other still pressed against the wall. “You know what to call me,” he snarls, a growl vibrating in his chest. “Say it.”
“Alpha,” I choke out. He rewards me by slipping his hand from my hair into my pants, brushing his fingers against my slick.
“Fuck yes,” he chuckles. “So fucking wet. I’m sure you could take our knots right now.”
Our knots.
“Please,” I beg, thrusting against his hand. He slides his fingers around my core, barely brushing against my clit. Teasing me.
“You’re so wet, baby,” River calls out. “You’re soaked, and you haven’t even been fucked yet.”
“I wonder how many cocks she can take at once,” Landon adds thoughtfully, while Vincent chuckles and brings his mouth to my mating gland.
I shake in Vincent’s arms as a weak orgasm floods through my body. It barely even takes the edge off, and I’m panting and begging for more in mere seconds.
“You want it like last time?” Vincent asks after he lets go of my abused gland. “Where you let us take control?”
I nod, blinking away tears. “Yes, yes, please, like that.”
I trust them.
So, with a wicked smile, Vincent steps away and looks to Landon and River. “Which one of you wants to taste her first?” he asks.
“Me.” Landon’s rough voice replies, and I whimper as Vincent scoops me up and carries me to the couch, which is covered in nesting blankets.
They even prepared the couch as a safe space for me.
“Shit, I wanted to be first,” River grumbles, and if I wasn’t so aroused, I would laugh at his remark.
They’re arguing over who gets to eat me out.
“Should have said it faster,” Landon answers cheekily, kneeling on the opposite end of the couch. I smile up at him, delirious and overheated. River and Vincent stand to the side of the couch, facing me.
Vincent leans down to kiss me, then whispers against my lips, “you have an important choice to make, Omega.”
I furrow my brow. I’m not in any position to make decisions, except the ones that will lead me to an orgasm fastest.
“Used or worshipped?” Vincent asks softly.
It takes me a moment to realize what he’s asking.
“Before we go further,” he continues, “do you want to be used, or worshipped?”
“Used,” I whisper. “Worshipped later.”
Vincent grins, and I’m done for.