Chapter 50
Every thrust into Maisie’s body sent a shockwave of pleasure through me.
She was damn perfect, and all ours.
I drove into the tight heat of her ass, desperate to fulfill her craving in the bond.
Wyatt had faded into incoherency beneath her.
I wasn’t bonded directly to Maisie yet, but I planned to be very soon.
I needed that soul connection, one that was just us, not filtered through anyone else.
I wanted to be hers in all ways, as much as I wanted her to be mine, to be ours.
I was the last piece of the puzzle.
Sweeping my hands over her body, I hooked them on her shoulders, hoisting her until her back was against my chest. She was so keyed up, her scent was syrup in the air.
I let my fingers wander down to her clit, nearly spilling on the spot when I brushed over it and she squeezed sharply, letting out a delicious moan.
She shattered, muscles contracting. Apparently that was all that took when she was so close to the edge.
I circled her clit again and this time it flung Carter over the edge right after her. He buried his face in the blankets to muffle his scream.
Focusing on her clit and driving slowly through the hot ring of her ass pushed her to the precarious edge. I was torturing myself each time I nudged her over it. The spasms were delirium inducing.
Maisie grabbed my arm that was wrapped around her waist and drew it up to her face, snaring my skin with her teeth.
The claiming bite sent me over the fucking edge.
I slammed my hips into her to catch my knot and bent down to leave my mark on her.
The moment my teeth broke through, metallic floral sweetness coating my tongue, I almost collapsed from the brick wall of pleasure I ran up against.
The whole pack was a shining network, connected and glowing like stars.
I held onto Maisie like a life raft in the ocean. Having her wrapped up in my arms and her peach blossom scent in my nose helped me adapt to this new existence.
I wished we could’ve all grown up together, could’ve seen each other through our milestones and spared one another so much of the heartache experienced before fate finally brought us together.
On top of all the desire and affection pumping through the bond, I could touch all of the wounds my packmates carried. I could see the pillars that held them up, feel their strength, their determination, and their commitment.
I reached out to the undercurrent of pain that flowed through the bond. We needed to be connected in all things, not just the positives. Shared joys were brighter, but shared burdens were lighter. None of us would ever carry those weights alone again.
The world around me drifted in and out. I surrendered to the rhythm of the heat, pushing my omegas to the peak when the fevers rose, indulging in the quiet rest whenever we were successful at breaking the heat, all the while steeping in the adoration they offered me.
I knew they loved me but it was another thing entirely to feel it all the way to the marrow of my bones.
It was hard to tell where I ended and my pack began. We were a tangle of limbs, a torrent of need, a cacophony of echoing cries filling the night.
Maisie stretched out next to me. I wasn’t sure how long it had been, hours or days since we had claimed each other.
She napped with Carter curled around her back and Bryan curled around him, his arm stretching over the two of them.
Wyatt pressed against me, sound asleep. The bond was quiet while everyone slept, but not silent.
I traced my fingers over Maisie’s cheek, tucking her sweat-damp hair behind her ear. “I love you.”
She blinked open sleepy eyes, a slow smile spreading over her lips. “I love you, too. What time is it?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.” The extent of my knowledge was that it was dark outside, but the phones were out of reach and I was far too comfortable to move and check.
Maisie traced her fingers over my forearm, placing a kiss on my wrist. A happy sigh followed. “How do we know when the heat is over?”
“You can kind of tell in the bond, but heat spikes can still surprise us. If you go for a full twenty-four hours without a heat spike, then the heat is officially done.”
“Part of me wants it to last forever now that I know it can be like this, and part of me wants it to be done right now.”
“Why’s that?”
“It all feels too indulgent. I’ve never stayed in bed and been this comfortable for this long before. They didn’t abide by laziness on the compound. If you were in bed for any longer than usual it was because you were sick.”
“Rest isn’t lazy. It’s a requirement to be healthy. Minds and bodies need breaks, and you especially need recovery time after a heat. Even with consistent care it takes a toll. It’s like running a marathon.”
“Rest isn’t lazy,” she repeated, an edge of wonder to her words. “I like that. I probably won’t absorb it immediately, but the seed is planted.”
“I know an excellent therapist who could help you process everything if you were interested.”
Her nose scrunched up. “I’ve never been to one before, but I probably need it. I’m sure I’ll be finding things to unpack for the rest of my life.”
“It has to be something you want to do, and something that you feel ready for. You’ve got more to unpack than most, but it can benefit everyone.”
“I think it would be a good idea.”
“What do you think about the kids going to therapy, too?”
Her sorrow welled up in the bond, but I kissed her forehead and assured her nothing that had happened to them or that they saw was her fault.
“There are people who specialize in helping kids coming out of bad situations. Maybe the girls don’t remember enough to be a concern, but I think it would be good for Cody, and at least for Paisley to be assessed. ”
Maisie nodded. “I just want what’s best for them.”
“I’ll look into all of it once we’ve had a chance to rest and our kids are back home.”
A twist of her love, awe, and surprise wrapped around me. “Our kids?”
“You chose us and I’m choosing them, we’re all choosing them. I love our kids. Plus, they’ve got some vacancies open for dads. We’re all in this together now, and I intend to make sure you and our kids never question a single day in your lives how much you’re loved.”