Chapter 13
Wren
“Will you…will you come sit with me?” I sniffle once, looking over at Teddy, who had been just about to grab a chair and pull it up next to the bed.
After my IV was removed, I was able to use the little omega’s room, and when I came back, it was only Teddy in the bedroom, much to my relief.
Not that I don’t want the others here, but…it’s overwhelming, having them all in the same room like that.
They seem to have picked up on my anxiety, opting to give Teddy and I a brief moment of privacy.
Teddy looks at me, his head tilted. “That’s wot I was just ‘bout to do, Dove.”
“No,” I shake my head, my cheeks warming, “I mean…” I pat the spot next to me, “up here.”
He grins, this unrestrained, almost maniacal grin as he launches himself onto the bed, landing on his back next to me with a thud. A giggle bursts out of me, and then I’m being pulled into his arms, my head on his chest.
I’m stiff at first, unused to such physical affection. But then, a damn purr rumbles in his chest, and he looks down to where the sound emanates from before raising his brows in surprise. “That’s new.”
The sound has me melting, though. My body molds against his, my arm banding around his abdomen. And then…it’s like part of me is whole.
Hearing Maverick purr earlier had been the first time I had even heard the sound, but now, feeling the vibration against me with his breakfast tea scent swirling in the air around us? I’m a little omega pile of goo.
But…it’s time to get some answers now.
“Teddy?” My voice is so quiet, it’s nearly a whisper.
“Hmmm?” He presses a kiss to my hair, making my stupid heart flutter.
“I just…I have a few questions.”
“Like what, Dove?”
“Like…What happened to Pack Caruso? Where are we? Where did these clothes I’m wearing come from? And the nest…am I in someone else’s nest right now?” The thought has been niggling at me since I launched that first pillow at Ethan.
Even though it hasn’t escaped my attention that this nest is pretty damn identical to the one I had at my parents’ house.
Teddy, his purr never ceasing, holds up a hand, ticking off his points, “I’ll wait ‘til everyone is ‘ere to explain ‘bout Pack Caruso. This cabin belongs to an acquain’ance o’ Brennan’s, I s’pose they owed him a favor.
The clothes you’re in were bought from Nestin’ Co.
, and I managed to get them over you and then slip off the bloody dress you were in from underneath—all while maintainin’ your modesty.
” He flashes me a grin. “And the nest…well, I may or may not ‘ave raided the store and bought anyfin’ that resembled i’ems from your old nest. So, no, you aren’t in anyone’s nest—we built it ‘round you. I even found a replacement for Lord Stuffington.” He reaches behind him, pulling out a rabbit stuffy that perfectly matches the one he bought me for Christmas.
I don’t know what to say.
“You…built it for me?”
“All o’ us,” he concedes, shrugging as he puts Lord Stuffington back into the pile of pillows, “‘cept Ethan, but if he ‘ad been ‘ere when we arrived, he woulda ‘elped too. Brennan and I did the shoppin’ together while Mav stayed in the car wiff you.”
The lump in my throat doesn’t want to move.
What am I supposed to do with this information? How am I supposed to suddenly reconcile the fact that less than a week ago, Teddy was the only one I wanted, but now…fate seems to have other ideas?
Though, I suppose it doesn’t matter at all if I don’t confirm one very important detail.
“Do…” I clear my throat, gently pulling away and sitting up to cross my legs. Looking at Teddy—my alpha, I realize with sudden clarity—I take his hand in mine. “Do you still want me?”
When he kissed me only a few days ago, he was a beta, and there were no other men involved. Our plan involved running away to Starbrook City, not hiding away with three other men.
The thought that this could change everything, that I might lose Teddy over something like this—I can’t even bear to think of it.
It’s not until his thumb swipes across my cheek that I realize I’m crying.
“Oh, Dove,” he whispers, before sitting up and taking my face with his. His kiss is possessive and hungry, but somehow gentle at the same time. When he pulls back, he keeps a hand on my cheek and presses his forehead against mine. “O’ course I do. How could I not?”
“It’s just…everything has changed now.” My voice is small, unsure. “Back when you wanted me, it was just you and me, and you were a beta, and—”
He cuts me off with a press of his lips. “When I wanted you? Dove, there is no force on this Earth that could keep me from wantin’ you. You could have fif’y-two other true scent matches runnin’ ‘round, and I would still want you.”
Sniffing, I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “So fifty-three is where you draw the line?”
“As long as I still get you, then it don’t ma’ter.
I…love you.” His words wipe the air from my lungs.
“I thought…I thought I knew back when I first kissed you—but now I know it’s nuffin’ compared to the bone-deep knowledge that now sits inside ‘ere,” he taps his head, “and ‘ere.” He taps over his heart. “The moment I realized you were gone…” He shakes his head. “I’ve never known anyfin’ with such cer’ainty. ”
“Teddy.” The word is choked as I kiss him again, tears running down my cheeks. How is it that he can make me feel so safe yet so alive at the same time? “I have been so in love with you for…I don’t even know how long. Long before the true scent match…long before any of it.”
Before I know it, I’m on my back again, and Teddy’s mouth is on mine, his body pressing into me. I can’t even think about how good it feels to have his weight on top of me. How my body lights up when his hands skim up my sides.
Because all my attention is quickly drawn to the very hard, very large…something that is pressing against my leg.
Is that…is that his erection?
I may be a virgin, but I know the basics. What I do not know, however, is how the actual fuck that thing is expected to fit inside me.
“Teddy?” I gasp, ripping my mouth away from him.
“Wot is it?” The heat simmers out of his eyes as he looks down at me with concern. “Did I ‘urt you? Fuck, I’m sorry, Dove.”
He hurriedly rolls off me before sitting up and holding a hand out. “No,” I shake my head before taking his hand, using it to pull myself to a sitting position, “you didn’t hurt me. The opposite. I just…well…” I bite my lip, staring at the obviously hard length outlined by his sweatpants.
Teddy follows my line of sight before bursting out into a laugh. “Shit, Dove, I wasn’t tryin’ to fuck you.”
His words are like a splash of cold water. My back goes stiff.
Of course. His…reaction was just because of my scent. Why would he ever want to fuck me?
“Oh, no you don’t,” Teddy chastises before yanking me into his lap.
“That ain’t what I meant Dove. I just meant…
” he sighs, and I try to resist relaxing into his hold again.
“I just meant that you just woke up from a three day nap, and…well, I’m not tryin’ to rush you.
I know you ‘aven’t…well, ‘ad the opportuni'y to do anyfin’ wiff anyone. So no, I wasn’t tryin’ to pressure you into losin’ your virgini’y to me less than an hour after wakin’ up. ”
Oh.
Relief fills my chest at his words. That makes sense.
“I don’t have anything to compare it to…” I admit, my head resting against his chest, “but you’re…very large. I’m scared of it…hurting.”
To my surprise, he chuckles, the sound low and dark. It sends curls of warmth low in my belly, and a wave of need straight between my thighs. “Don’t you worry ‘bout that. When the time comes, I’ll ‘ave you so wet and ready for me, it won’t ‘urt a bit.”
My throat goes dry, and my heartbeat pounds in my ears. “How…how will you do that? Get…me ready, I mean.”
His throat bobs as he looks down at me, his hold tightening slightly. “Are you lookin’ for an explanation? Or a…demonstration?”
“Um…” My heart races, my stomach turning so hard I’m surprised it’s not inside-out. “Both?”
I’ve touched myself before. Of course I have. But the thought of Teddy’s slightly rough, callused fingers being anywhere near the most sensitive parts of me sets my body on fire.
A slow, sexy grin takes over his face as his hand slides down my arm. When he reaches the waistband of my shorts I’m wearing, he leans down, kissing me.
“Well,” he murmurs into my lips, and I suppress a shiver as his fingers swipe under the elastic of my underwear and run across the soft skin underneath. “First, I gotta build the anticipation.” He kisses me again, his barely there touch making me gasp.
“Then what?” I whisper, our lips brushing together.
He looks into my eyes, his stare dark and heavy. “Then…” He dips his fingers into my already slick folds, drawing a sharp gasp out of me as my hands grip his shoulders tight. His mouth feathers kisses across my jaw until he reaches just under my ear. “I start slow.”
Another gasp leaves me as he swipes over my clit, a swirling combination of our scents in the air. I can feel his throbbing erection under my ass, and suddenly, the thought of taking him isn’t as scary.
My eyes flutter closed, and without thinking, I tilt my head so Teddy has better access to my neck. A soft “Oh,” leaves me as he slowly circles the bundle of nerves, his lips worshiping my skin.
“So wet already, Dove,” he murmurs, and I shiver.
It never feels like this when I do it myself.
No, my hands are too small.
Too soft..
Teddy, though?
Teddy…Teddy is slightly rough, but gentle. Sure of himself, but receptive to every little whimper that leaves me.
He picks up the pace, his fingers moving faster and faster, the orgasm building into something stronger than anything I’ve ever experienced. “And then,” his breathing is heavy as his head rests against my neck, “you come apart under my touch.”
As if set off by his words, my body reaches a tipping point. Lightning flashes through my veins as my head goes light, and then…I’m falling.
A cry leaves my lips as waves of ecstasy unlike anything I’ve ever known resonate through me, travelling all the way to my toes.
He doesn’t stop his ministrations though.
My pussy clenches around nothing as he strokes me through the orgasm, and imagining how this would feel if I was clenching around him—well, I nearly come all over again.
“You’re so pre’ty when you’re comin’ undone, Dove,” Teddy’s voice is rough, and I open my eyes just in time to see him remove his hand from my underwear and…stick his fingers in his mouth.
I gasp in shock. “Teddy!”
He groans as he tastes me, his head falling back briefly. “Shite, that’s good. Next time, I’m tastin’ straight from the source.”
My brain momentarily stops. There are plenty of sex scenes in the fantasy books I read, but…they only do…that…in books, right? “You…you want to put your mouth…?”
“On that sweet-as-fuck pussy? Yep.” He nods once.
I start to shake my head, but then I remember some other scenes in my books…where the heroine returns the favor. Could I…could I taste Teddy? The thought of his taste on my tongue, or even Ethan’s, Maverick’s, or Brennan’s…
I don’t know if Teddy can sense the turn my thoughts have taken, because he just smirks at me. My cheeks flush further as I quickly look down, my hair falling in front of my face. “Okay.”
“Hey.” Teddy’s voice goes soft as he puts a finger under my chin, lifting my face. “Hey, are you alright? Was that too much?”
I hate the way my cheeks burn even hotter as I fervently shake my head. “No, it was perfect. I just…I’ve only read about these things, and I’m so inexperienced—”
“Dove,” Teddy shakes his head at me, “it don’t make a lick o’ difference ‘ow much experience you ‘ave. I’m just gra’eful to get to be wiff you at all. And so…so will the other guys, if you want ‘em.”
The other guys.
I was leading the conversation towards his feelings on the whole true scent match situation before we got…distracted.
“How…how do you feel about that?” I ask, sitting up and removing myself from his lap before we start going at it again.
It’s one thing to say you’re okay with it, and another to be faced with the actual situation.
“You know,” he shakes his head, sighing.
“I was right pissed at first. Thought ‘bout ‘ow unfair it was.
That I had been the one in love wiff you for ‘ow long, not them.
But then…we were in the back of the car, driving away from the Caruso ‘ouse, and I was tryin’ to shop on my phone for you and ‘old you at the same time, and Brennan just…took over.” A small smile starts to creep up on his lips.
“‘E made sure you got what you needed, and I was able to make sure you stayed comfortable. It was…nice.”
“So…you…”
“I’m fine, Dove, really.” He grabs my hand in earnest. “If you ‘ad to be a true scent match to three other alphas, I’m glad it was these arsewipes and not some random ones. It’s more men to keep you safe from your parents—and I trust ‘em wiff me life.”
“I think it’s time I find out what happened to Pack Caruso,” I sigh. Despite the fact that I’m so happy that Teddy still wants me, it’s time to acknowledge that life has just gotten even more complicated.