Chapter 51 – Lumen
Chapter Fifty-One
Lumen
The next few days are weird. My system has no chill. I’m all over the place in a way I’ve never experienced. I go from coherent and completely content to an anxious, demanding, sex-crazed monster in the blink of an eye.
I don’t think I’m overly emotional by nature, but I guess that’s not true anymore.
I’m hoping I go back to feeling more like myself once the heat passes. It took some time, but I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ve presented as an omega. There’s literally no other explanation for how I’m still alive.
The highest temperature they’ve recorded for me is 111.
3, but apparently omegas can experience temperature spikes up to 112.
It’s only an emergency if said fever doesn’t come down to below 110 after knotting or it persists for longer than two hours.
Luckily mine came down with lots of orgasms, alpha cum, and being knotted repeatedly.
From what the guys have said, I have longer periods of lucidity than they were told to expect, but when the fog hits, it hits hard.
It’s scary to have huge chunks of time missing from my memory. If I didn’t trust Riser, Mal, and Kincaid, it would be terrifying.
I better understand why they tell omegas to only surround themselves with people they trust during a heat.
The main problem is that every time I think the waves are over, another hits with a vengeance. The guys are exhausted, and I feel terrible about wearing them out.
I’m going to try to focus on staying upbeat, though. I’ll do my best to make it up to them once the waves finally come to an end.
I’m just worried they won’t get to enjoy their break at all. Then they’re going to have to report back for the second leg of the tour, and I don’t want them to be resentful that they missed out on actually resting.
Once my brain is working a little better, I’m going to put all my focus into writing songs for them. I want to create the kind of music other musicians would kill to have access to.
I wake up surrounded by my naked guys. Under normal circumstances, I might try my luck for a foursome. Only, I’m pretty well tired of dick at the moment, so I bring my happy ass out to the living room to try to work.
The suite we moved to when the guys wanted to give me access to a nest is much smaller than the cabin, but it’s cozy.
The room has a king-size bed, an attached bathroom, and a nest. The only other space in the suite is the living room, which has a desk with a pad of paper and pen.
That’s all I really need.
Instruments and my notebook would make it easier, but I’m down to go old-school style. I just really need to feel productive.
Being an omega is something that I dreamed about for a long time. Knowing I can fully meet their sexual needs and that I don’t have to worry about losing them to another omega is a gift.
There are also parts of presenting that are overwhelming. I don’t want to lose myself or stop doing the things that I love.
If I had thought ahead, I could have brought my phone out with me. I hate typing out lyrics, but this pad of paper is so small that I write extra tiny and really think through if it’s something I want to put down.
About an hour after I sit in front of the coffee table, Riser comes out into the living room. He pulled on sweats but didn’t bother with a shirt. It makes me happy that he doesn’t make it a point to hide his scars in front of me.
“Hey,” I say, smiling as I drop the pad of paper and pen on the coffee table.
“I woke up, and you were gone,” he grunts, crossing the room. “I was worried. Whatcha doing?” He climbs onto the couch behind me and stretches out, resting his head on a throw pillow.
“Just seeing if I can get a little work in before the next wave hits.” I smile at him over my shoulder. “Damn, Ry. You look beat. You can go back to bed.”
He yawns, shaking his head. “Nah, I’ll keep you company.” Stretching out a hand, he rests it on my back, digging his thumb in like he’s searching for a knot.
His eyes fall shut, and my teeth push into my lower lip as I study him.
He’s so freaking sweet.
And comforting.
Just an all-around good man.
The fluttering in my stomach probably means that I’m in deep shit, but we’re bonded. The whole goal is to fall in love and build a life together, even if it is crazy fast.
It’s surprising to realize, but I actually miss being on the bus. Maybe Mal was right when he said I view the bedroom on the bus as my makeshift nest.
Watching them perform every night is an amazing incentive to get back on the road. Hopefully this means that I’m better suited for this life than I originally thought.
They’re incredibly talented musicians, and the fans deserve to see Liminal perform live. I won’t let my new designation interfere with that. It might take some getting used to, but I’m going to do my best to not be a hindrance to their careers.
Riser falls back asleep, and listening to his gentle breathing is so grounding. If I focus on the bond, I can tell when they’re awake versus when they’re asleep.
However, I’m too lost to humming out lyrics to notice Kincaid has woken up. He comes to a stop in front of the coffee table with his jeans hanging open.
“I wondered where the two of you went,” Kincaid says, his lips tipping up at the edges. “You’re just as bad as me. It’s okay to relax sometimes.”
“Yeah, but I was going to lose my mind if I hung out in the nest any longer.” I smile, shaking my head. “I’m sure you know what it’s like when inspiration hits.”
“Definitely,” he agrees. “Can I help?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think so. At least, not yet. Once we head back to the cabin, absolutely. For now, I’m just screwing around and seeing what sparks.”
“Gotcha.” He grins shamelessly. “Well, I’m going to hop in the shower. Feel free to join me if you get bored.”
I had no idea that I would experience a period as my heat subsides. Without the guys giving me a heads-up, I would have been so confused. I probably would have thought I was legit sitting in a puddle of cum.
Based on the uncomfortable gush, I might be joining K in the shower after all.
Riser is out of it as I shake him awake, but he rubs his eyes and pops up without any of the attitude I would have had to deal with from past boyfriends. He listens intently and nods. “Same brands as last time?”
“If you can,” I say, clenching my thighs together. Not that it helps, but it’s probably a mental thing. “I have some on the bus, but I didn’t think I’d need them.”
“No big deal.” He shrugs. “It’ll be easier to go to the store than it would be to gain access to the bus when it’s parked an hour away. I’ll wake up the guys and see if one of them wants to come with me.”
“Kincaid is in the shower,” I say as my face heats. “I’m about to kick him out so I can clean up.”
Riser pops off the couch and kisses my cheek. “Let him scrub your back. It’s always more fun to clean up with a partner.”
I smile and take off, waddling my way to the door to the bedroom. I always thought I would end up married to one person. It’s how life goes for betas ninety-eight percent of the time, but I adore all three of them.
For it being the first heat they’ve helped an omega through, they’ve done an incredible job. They’ve told me what to expect and kept me calm.
I really don’t know how I got so lucky in life to end up bonded to the three of them.
Kincaid opts to shower with me. It’s both humbling and sweet, even if my face burns the entire time. Once we get out, he wraps a towel around me and another around my hair.
“Do you mind running out to see if Riser made it back?” I ask as Kincaid tucks his towel around his slender hips.
“Be right back.” He winks, spins, and exits the bathroom.
Damn.
Everyone is right.
That man has killer daddy energy. I’m not sure I’d be down to call a sexual partner Daddy, but we’ll have to see how that goes.
My abdomen aches, and I frown.
Mother Nature hates me lately. At least my cramps are mild compared to the period I experienced on the bus. Having two in less than a month is still cruel and unusual punishment, though.
Kincaid and I talked about it while we were in the shower, and he mentioned he thought my system was trying to jump-start my heat then. It didn’t work out, but it tried again as soon as possible, and this time it succeeded.
It makes sense, but I’m still grumbly about it. The only positive thing is, he told me omegas only menstruate following a heat. That means, moving forward, I’ll only have to deal with this four times a year.
“Sorry, sweetheart. They aren’t back yet.
” Kincaid comes back into the bathroom, shaking his head.
“But I have a little something that might distract you.” He stops in front of me, popping the hinged lid on a necklace box.
The necklace inside has a thick chain with an open heart on one end and a heart-shaped lock on the other.
“Can I put it on you? I want to show you how it works.”
I’ve seen them before, and I know exactly how they work.
“Yeah, go for it.” I pull the towel off my head and bundle up my hair, getting it out of the way.
Kincaid gets me into it, and his bright teal eyes sparkle as he tugs on the end with the lock. The necklace tightens around my throat, the extra chain becoming a bit like a leash. The pressure around my neck is light, not bothering me in the least.
He gets close to my ear, asking, “So, can I put you in this at our first show back on the tour?”
“Is it a collar?”
“Nah, not really.” He smirks. “We haven’t had enough conversations for a collar, but I wouldn’t be opposed to that in the future. This is more a warning to anyone you come across that you’re off-limits.”
“I’m pretty sure the change to my scent and claiming bites give a solid warning.” My lips tip up, and I wrap my hand around his muscular back. “But I like it when you get growly and possessive. I’ll be happy to wear it. Kiss me.”
K bends down, crashing his lips to mine. I love the way his desire spills through the bond as he kisses me senseless.
A gentle knock on the bathroom door makes me jump, and Kincaid growls, swirling his tongue over Malcolm’s claiming bite before he pulls back.
“We’re back with your stuff,” Riser says.
Oh, thank God.