Chapter 29
29
brIAR
There’s a different energy to the guys tonight, most likely because of their incredible game tonight.
Maybe I’m biased because it’s the only one I’ve been to, but I enjoyed it a lot.
The score was high, with the Riptides scoring five goals, and Ronan was in the penalty box once for a tripping call.
It almost looked like he enjoyed being in there too, which didn’t surprise me.
Something tells me that Ronan is fully aware of every move he makes that could lead to being sent away for two minutes.
Dash had a shutout game, which I learned from Sadie before we dropped her off means he didn’t let the other team score.
Jasper skates faster than what should be humanly possible, and Landon .
. . well, it’s obvious why he’s the captain of the team.
Not only does he carry himself with a proud sense of leadership, but his ability to take control on the ice while under pressure is admirable.
It’s obvious he’s someone who can think well on his feet.
I’ve been on the receiving end of his quick thinking a few times already, but not a single time have I enjoyed it.
Wiggling into the couch cushion beneath me, I blink at the movie playing on the flat screen and swallow a sigh.
I chose which one we’re watching, but I haven’t been able to focus on it once.
My brain keeps going back to the only person not here on the couch with me.
Ronan stretches his arm where it’s draped over my shoulder and runs his curved nails up and down my bicep.
Tonight is the first time I’ve gotten a chance to really examine the tattoos that cover the length of his arm.
He has a full sleeve, but every design feels important.
Like he had each one designed with a story to tell.
The first one—my favourite—involves four stars that circle a planet.
It feels like a call-out to us, even though he must have gotten it inked a while ago, long before I came along.
Then there’s the hockey stick with the number 5 on the blade and two women’s names, along with a bolded Montgomery.
I settle further beneath his arm while Jasper nuzzles his cheek against my knee from his place on the floor in front of me.
He kisses me there, and my chest tightens, the obvious affection from the two men causing my heart to swell too big.
Dash is on my other side but hasn’t made a move to touch me yet.
At least his scent is soft and rich, which I’ve taken as a good sign.
“He’s down in the gym, Petal,” Ronan whispers, leaning close to my ear.
My pulse skips. “Who?”
We’ve avoided talking about Landon all night.
When I arrived an hour ago, he was already hiding away.
His scent was strong, though, which told me he was still at home.
“Go talk to him. We’ll be here waiting.”
“He doesn’t want to talk to me.”
Dash makes a humoured noise in his throat while Jasper palms my ankle, stroking the bone with a slow touch.
“Landon spends hours in the gym after a game. It’s not healthy. Maybe you can help convince him of that,” Jasper suggests.
“I think the last thing he wants is me to convince him of anything,” I argue.
Dash turns his head, taking me in with a worried expression.
“Would you check on him instead? For us?”
It’s worth a shot.
His lack of acceptance shouldn’t mean that he’s left to struggle alone.
“I’ll try. Don’t get your hopes up, though. I’m the last person he wants checking on him.”
Ronan releases a gruff noise and tugs me into his side.
I fit into the curve of his body perfectly, like I was always meant to be right here.
“Call for one of us if you need anything. I’ll come running,” he promises.
I smooth a hand down his thigh, feeling the muscles flex and strain beneath my touch.
“Okay.”
His breath catches on a low groan while Jasper slides out from between my legs.
My skin flushes at the sound before I’m standing and taking quick steps away from the couch, knowing if I don’t move fast, I’ll wind up stuck here, pinned between two alphas and a curious beta.
“I’ll be back, then,” I rush out, slick pooling in my panties.
Ronan jerks his chin in a forced nod while he grips the arm of the couch.
Dash glances at him before Jasper’s shoving pointedly at his knee.
I slip out of the room while their attention isn’t on me and make a beeline for the basement.
I’ve only had a brief tour of this area of the house, but as I start down the dimly lit staircase, I let my instincts guide me forward.
The basement is huge, with a couple of bedrooms, a storage room as big as my entire apartment, and the home gym, which rivals any public one I’ve ever been to.
Each door is open besides the one I stop in front of, the scent of vanilla and cinnamon slipping through.
Music pulses behind the door as I hesitate to enter.
Somewhere deep inside my chest, I know this should be the last time I try with Landon.
If he doesn’t let me in even just a little after this, he probably never will, and forcing myself to believe otherwise isn’t healthy.
I’ll still be able to have a pack of my own, even if it’s not complete.
With a swallow, I glide the door open and step inside.
I don’t see him at first. The room is a bit overwhelming with workout machines I’ve never used and racks upon racks of weights.
Mirrors are hung on the opposite side of the room while two swinging bags dangle from the ceiling.
My sock-covered feet sink into the black floor as I sway further inside, drawn by the tether in my chest. The hairs on my arms stand up as my skin pebbles.
A turn of my head and I’m lost. My knees lock up, forbidding me to run as I stare across the room.
Landon hasn’t noticed me yet.
He’s too focused on his exercise.
Large puffs of air escape him as he glares at the ceiling and lifts the weight bar above his chest. His naked, gleaming chest and the carved abdominal muscles that might as well be winking at me as they flex.
My eyes struggle to focus as he lowers the bar and grunts, spreading his legs further and digging his heels into the floor.
Again, he lifts the weights.
His biceps are thick and round and so damn hard as they carry the weight.
I don’t have to feel them to know that.
I’ve never seen arms or a chest like that.
His shoulders are wide enough to hang over the bench in a way that I would assume isn’t all that comfortable and despite being half hidden in a pair of loose basketball shorts, his thighs are unbelievably muscled.
Heat crawls up my spine and throat before painting my cheeks red.
I feel the burn so deep I know there’s no chance of dousing the flames before an ache builds in my belly.
Gritting my teeth at the discomfort, I press my thighs together and release a weak breath.
The wall is behind me, too far to lean back against as I gasp, throbbing between my legs.
Pressure rises, my scent spiking and flaring wide in a call meant for him.
Another jab goes through my middle, forcing my eyes closed while I wince.
There’s a loud clang that rattles in my ears and pricks at my skull.
Suddenly, I’m too sensitive, every inch of my skin buzzing.
I choke on the air, Landon’s scent battling mine with an intensity that doesn’t seem real.
It just makes everything worse.
The yearning in my chest, the throb in my core, and the slick pouring out of me faster than water in a faucet.
“Briar.” His voice draws a moan up my throat.
“Get out of here.”
I shake my head, opening my eyes to find him right in front of me, and oh, god.
Craning my head back, I trail my eyes up his entire torso.
Over the ridges of the abs still glistening with sweat, the sharply contoured pecs and broad shoulders pushed back with dominance.
My pussy throbs so fiercely I flinch before finally meeting his blazing stare.
The heat rippling off him is still nowhere as intense as the gleam in his eyes as he grinds his teeth.
Veins strain beneath the thin skin of his throat before he speaks again.
“You need to leave.”
Panic explodes inside of me.
“No.”
Slowly, he looks down.
The heat beneath my palm has me doing the same, only to find my hand planted firmly on his chest. I hold my breath and press harder, watching in fascination as his muscles ripple in response.
“Why are you so warm? Your scent is wrong,” he hisses.
I wait for him to step back or push my hand away in disgust, but he doesn’t.
Pupils expanding, Landon leans forward, close enough for my elbow to bend at our proximity.
“Wrong?” I whisper.
He inhales, body quaking.
“You smell like you’re?—”
“In heat.”
The growl that escapes him should send me running in terror.
It’s deep and raw, aggressive but somehow comforting to the omega inside of me.
Fear is the last thing I feel right now.
“Are you?”
“Not yet. I can’t be.”
It has to be another spike.
My next heat cycle is closing in, but surely, I have at least another week to figure out what I’m going to do.
I’m not ready for it yet, and the signs haven’t started yet other than for brief moments.
My stomach swirls at the thought of sharing my heat with anyone but a member of this pack.
As if sensing where my mind has gone, Landon shocks me by snapping a hand out and cupping my face.
It swallows the side of my head in a strong, possessive hold that I can’t help but wish was between my legs.
The pre-heat hormones twist me up inside, forcing all my innermost desires to the surface regardless of how much force I apply to shove them back down.
I need Landon. Need him on me, with me, inside me.
Yes, inside me. He’ll know how to help.
We’re mates. I’m his to soothe.
“Please, Lan,” I plead.
His expression shudders and cracks.
The mask he wears disappears as he strokes his thumb over my chin and below my jaw to where my pulse thrashes.
“Please what, Haven?”
My heart beats wildly.
“Please help me.”
“You have no idea what you’re asking for.”
His cinnamon scent is on fire.
I lean toward him, bringing a second hand to his middle and slipping it around his back.
“It has to be you,” I state through the fog in my mind.
He hisses a breath and tightens his hold on my face, fingers threading through the hair behind my ear.
Lips grazing my forehead, he shifts his hips, letting me feel the hard press of him in his shorts.
“It won’t mean anything.”
“You’re lying.”
“Get one of the others to help,” he demands, not moving away.
I splay my fingers on his abdomen and stroke the firm muscles.
“Touch me, Landon.”
“Jasper would be better to you,” he argues, sounding weaker with every word.
“Is that what you want? Someone else to do your job for you?”
It’s a lowball shot, but I’m desperate.
Every moment I don’t get relief, the pain grows more intense, threatening to steal the air from my lungs.
I could leave, but my body wants Landon right now.
Needs him more than it needs anyone else.
Sparks fly in his eyes.
“Nobody could do as good of a job as me.”
“It’s fine. I’ll ask Ronan.” My body cries in outrage as I release him and take a single step back.
“He’s already?—”
Suddenly, Landon’s hands are all over me.
One second, my feet are on the ground, and the next, they’re in the air, and my back is planted on the same weight bench, still warm from his body.
My entire body shakes in anticipation as the emptiness inside of me grows more painful.
Landon drops to his knees at the end of the bench and grabs my thighs, yanking me toward him.
His nostrils flare as he inhales and paws at the hem of my dress.
It’s high on my thighs but still hides my panties.
I shed the jersey earlier, and I’m grateful for that now.
It would have been too thick.
Too bulky and in the way.
“It’s my turn,” he snaps before my dress is shoved up to my belly, my slicked panties exposed.
“You can scream, omega. Let Ronan know who’s making you come now.”
Coherent thought escapes me.
The only thing I can do is nod and fall into the promise of relief.
My eyes roll back as the band of my panties snaps and the soiled material is peeled away, baring me completely.
“I’ll be the first one to taste this pussy, Briar,” he spits, angry at me for something I don’t care to learn the reason for yet.
“Yes,” I moan.
He shoves my legs up and away before diving between them.
His tongue draws a hot line up my pussy before he sucks at me and fills the gym with a rattled curse.
My vision disappears as the pain eases, replaced with a blast of pleasure that makes me jerk against the bench.
“Call my name,” Landon demands, tongue lashing my entrance.
A thick finger slides inside, filling and stretching.
I push up with my hips, searching for more.
“Landon,” I breathe out.
“ Louder .”
He adds a second finger while pulling my clit into his mouth, teasing it with his teeth.
I reach down and grab at his hair, needing more of a connection with him.
His responding groan shoots through me.
Two fingers curl with every thrust, dragging across the spot that blackens my vision.
“Landon!”
“That’s it. I’m the one easing your pain. You needed it this way, right? Needed me.” His voice drops, darkening.
“Wanted me.”
“Wanted you,” I repeat mindlessly, chasing the relief dangling above me.
“Fuck. You’re gushing on my tongue. Slicking me up, Haven. This room will smell like you for weeks.”
I nod, reaching behind me for the bench, needing stability.
His hair is so soft that it pains me to pull on it as I thrash below his mouth.
My lemon scent swirls around vanilla and cinnamon until they become one.
It’s still not enough.
Nothing is enough.
“Please, Landon. Please,” I cry out, tears flooding my eyes.
My alpha pushes harder.
I hardly register each flick of his tongue as he drives me closer to release, fingers pistoning inside of me.
“Give it to me, Briar. Let this perfect pussy come for me.”
Time freezes.
Landon’s eyes snare mine, brutally beautiful and cruel.
He snarls as I come, slick pouring out of me and into his mouth.
His fingers don’t slow as I quiver around them.
“Landon,” I whimper, the heat not breaking the way it’s supposed to.
Another slash of pain moves through my belly, bringing a second wave of tears to my eyes.
Frustration and fear make it hard to think clearly.
Bright blue eyes blink up at me from where he kneels on the floor and slowly eases back, fingers slipping free.
“Go, Briar. Leave.”
“It’s not getting better. It should. It’s just a spike,” I ramble, voice lifting with worry.
The next wave of pain has me pushing up and away from him.
My dress falls to cover me as I breathe in through a constricting throat.
Concern twists his expression.
His mouth is still wet with my slick, lips glossy and swollen.
“What do you mean it isn’t getting better?”
Sweat breaks out on the back of my neck.
My nipples are so hard they’re painful as they brush against my dress, attempting to cut right through the fabric.
“Touch me again, Landon.”
“I can’t.”
I whine, heart crumbling.
“Why not? You just did.”
“What do you need? Another?”
“Maybe. Yes. I think so. I don’t know. It’s just—” My stomach cramps, and I lean over my thighs, breath pitching.
I slur my next words.
“Please, Landon. Just . . . just give me your knot.”
“No. You’re not getting that from any of us.”
His rejection hurts worse than the cramping.
“Why don’t you want me?”
“Ronan!” Landon booms. When his eyes fall on me, he lowers his voice and adds, “You’re not in heat. It’s important to wait until then with the guys.”
“It doesn’t matter when it happens!”
“Yes, it does. You need to wait to be sure?—”
“You still don’t believe me?” I attack, looking up at him.
He doesn’t hide from the question.
“Not yet.”
“What do you need from me? Go ahead and mark me, Landon. Do it and see for yourself.”
I bare my throat for him, unashamed of the desperation tainting my words.
There’s no reason to pretend I’m anything but desperate right now.
He already doesn’t want me.
Not for anything more than a quick heat spike relief session.
Anything more than that and I might as well be proposing.
He focuses on my throat, head shaking.
“Don’t offer that to me. Even out of frustration. You can’t take back a mating mark.”
“You can. And I could,” I threaten, knowing I’m playing with fire.
Insanity flashes in his eyes.
“If you wore my mark, it would stay there for the rest of eternity. Long after we were both six feet under.”
“Nobody is biting anyone,” Ronan snaps from behind Landon.
“Ro,” I whimper, my anger melting to make way for the desire clawing at my insides.
He lurches into action, lunging past Landon.
I spread my legs in preparation, but suddenly, he’s stopping.
Inhaling, he focuses on Landon, staring and staring .
. .
“What’s going on?”
I claw at the top of my dress when it grows impossibly tighter, suffocating me.
“I need more.”
“More what, Petal? What did Landon give you?”
“You know what I gave her. Finish the job,” Landon snips, avoiding my eyes.
Ronan keeps his sights set on his pack leader.
I gush slick onto the weight bench, but I’m too drunk on desire to care.
Let them see it. Maybe they’ll finally come back to me.
My dark and broody alpha points a finger at Landon.
“She needs you. You’re doing this to her.”
“Her heat’s coming soon. Any day, if I had to guess. Keep an eye on her until it does,” Landon demands.
How does he know that?
Has he slept with that many omegas in heat?
I whine so loudly it burns my throat.
“You know what? I will. But you’ll help.”
Landon hesitates before releasing a warning growl.
“Ronan.”
I pant heavily and tug down the top of my dress to bare my chest. The heavy weights of my breasts bounce free before I dip a hand between my legs and swirl a finger through my hot, slick flesh.
Pleasure bursts behind my eyes as I moan, eyes drifting shut.
The sound of a zipper sliding down floats into my ears before Ronan’s voice calls out, encouraging me to open my eyes again.
When I find him standing beside me with his jeans open, my mouth waters, hands reaching for him.
“There are plenty of ways to satiate an omega in pre-heat, Landon. If you’re not up to be the one to help her, then stand there and fucking watch me do it for you.”