24
Phoenix
The band had been more forward with me ever since our weekend in the Poconos.
The invisible line we’d kept before hadn’t just been crossed—it had been erased entirely.
They’d become bolder, more comfortable.
There were more touches, lingering longer than before, more kisses that didn’t seem like just friendly gestures.
Part of me loved it—every time one of them would brush against me, or Parker would pull me into a kiss that left me breathless.
It was intoxicating, knowing they all wanted me.
Not just one of them—all of them.
And I wanted them, too. There was no point in denying it anymore. The chemistry, the way they looked at me, the way they made me feel.
But there was another part of me, the part that kept whispering I was playing with fire, that made me feel guilty every time I kissed them back.
None of them knew they were my scent matches.
Zephyr didn’t even know I was an Omega.
I hadn’t told them we were mates. I couldn’t. If they found out, if they knew, everything would change. And not in the way I wanted it to.
It would be over before it even began.
Things felt like they were crashing down already when I realized I had no suppressants left. I’d been so careful up until now, planning out my doses perfectly so I would be covered. But now? Now I was screwed.
I grabbed my phone with shaking hands and called Wren. I’d never needed her so desperately in my life.
“Phoenix?”
she answered after just a couple rings, her voice groggy from sleep. I didn’t care that I was waking her up. I needed her.
“I’m out,”
I blurted, barely able to keep the panic out of my voice. “I’m completely out of suppressants, Wren.”
There was a pause on the other end, then Wren cursed under her breath. “How the hell did that happen?”
“I don’t know, okay? I didn’t plan this. I just… I miscounted, and now I have nothing left. What am I supposed to do? I can’t hide from them. They’ll know!”
Wren sighed, her voice softer now, more comforting. “Alright, I’ll see if I can get some from Ro and catch the next flight out. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I closed my eyes, feeling a wave of relief, but it was short-lived. “That could take hours, Wren. What do I do until then?”
“Stay away from those Alphas,”
she said firmly. “Tell them you’re sick. They’re not gonna question it.”
I bit my lip, trying to calm myself. “I… I’ll try.”
“Do you have enough scent neutralizer to get by until I get there?”
she asked, a hint of worry in her tone.
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Yeah. I’ve got some left. It’s not much, but it’ll have to do.”
“Okay. Just stay away from them, Nix. You can do this. I’ll be there soon.”
“Thanks,”
I whispered, and as soon as I hung up, the door to the bus swung open.
I froze, staring at the entrance as Zephyr stepped onto the bus. He was coming back from his early morning workout, sweat glistening on his skin, his hair damp as he wiped his face with a towel. He’d been doing this a lot lately, and it was doing all sorts of things to me.
“Hey,”
he said, his voice deep and rumbling. “Didn’t think you’d be up this early.”
I swallowed hard, taking a step back. “Yeah, I’m not feeling so great.”
Concern flickered in his eyes, and he stepped closer, too close. I could smell him—the salt of his sweat, the tempting notes of leather and fresh rain—and I had to force myself not to breathe it in too deeply.
“Sick? Do you need me to call a doctor? You should lie down.”
I took another step back, shaking my head. “No, I’m fine. You should stay away, Zeph. I don’t want you catching it.”
He didn’t budge, his brow furrowing in concern. “Princess, seriously, if you’re sick, you should be resting. Why don’t you take the master bedroom? It’s got way more space than your bunk.”
“No,”
I said quickly, shaking my head. “No, it’s fine. I don’t want to take that room.”
He waved me off. “No one’s been in there since it got cleaned. The bedding is all fresh. You’ll be more comfortable there.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes told me it wasn’t up for debate. Zeph could be stubborn when he wanted to be, and right now, he wasn’t going to let me tough it out in my bunk.
I sighed, nodding reluctantly. “Okay. Thanks.”
He smiled, soft and sweet, and I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. He was being so kind, so caring, and all I could think about was how I was lying to him, keeping this massive secret from him. From all of them.
“I’ll have the caterers bring over some soup,”
he added. “Maybe that’ll help.”
“Yeah,”
I mumbled, still stunned by how sweet he was being. He didn’t have to go out of his way like this.
I didn’t deserve this. Not from him, not from any of them.
I headed to the back of the bus, feeling his eyes on me the whole way. Once I was in the bedroom, I shut the door behind me and collapsed onto the bed, burying myself in the blankets.
I was in too deep, and there was no way out now.
◆◆◆
I had been hiding in the main bedroom for most of the day, keeping my distance from everyone as best I could.
The guys were in rehearsals, which gave me some time to myself, though I couldn’t shake the growing panic in my chest.
Wren still hadn’t called, and I was running out of options.
The scent neutralizer was doing its job for now, but barely. I felt the edges of my control fraying with every passing hour.
The bus was quiet now, the hum of the refrigerator and the occasional creak of the walls the only sounds keeping me company.
I curled up under the thick blankets, trying to focus on anything other than the rising heat in my body.
My skin felt too tight, my thoughts clouded with the ache that I couldn’t suppress anymore.
A soft knock at the door made my heart leap into my throat.
“Phoenix?”
Kage’s voice was low, almost hesitant. “You in there?”
I didn’t answer, hoping maybe he’d go away if I stayed quiet. But I knew better.
The door creaked open, and I turned my head just in time to see him slipping into the room. His tall, muscular frame filled the doorway, and my pulse quickened as he stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.
“Hey,”
he said softly, his gaze scanning the room before landing on me curled up on the bed. “How are you feeling?”
I opened my mouth to lie, to tell him I was fine, but nothing came out. The words stuck in my throat. Instead, I just stared at him, my chest tightening as he crossed the room and climbed into bed beside me.
Kage didn’t hesitate. He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me into his chest with a tenderness that made my heart ache. He held me like he would never let me go—gentle but strong, grounding me with his presence.
“You don’t look so good,”
he murmured, his voice rumbling in his chest. He brushed a hand through my hair, the motion soothing, even though it did nothing to stop the need that was clawing at my insides.
I let out a soft whine, burying my face in his chest, trying to fight the urge to press even closer.
His scent surrounded me, making it even harder to resist.
My body ached for more, the warmth in my chest spreading lower, and I clenched my fists in the blanket, trying to hold myself together.
“Doll?”
Kage’s voice had an edge of concern now. “You’re not sick, are you?”
I shook my head, unable to meet his eyes.
His grip on me tightened just a little, his fingers brushing down my back in slow, deliberate strokes. “What do you need?”
he asked quietly.
I bit my lip, trying to hold it back, but it was no use. The moment I tried to suppress it, my scent flooded the room, filling the air with the heady perfume of vanilla and honey. It wasn’t something I could control anymore.
Kage went still beneath me, his breath catching in his throat as my scent washed over him. The change in his posture was immediate, his entire body tensing as the realization hit him. He didn’t pull away, though. If anything, he pressed closer, his nose brushing against my hair as he inhaled deeply, letting my scent sink into his senses.
“Fuck,”
he whispered, his voice thick with need. “Phoenix…”
I squeezed my eyes shut, shame and desire twisting together inside me. I shouldn’t have let it get this far. I shouldn’t have put him in this position. But now, there was no going back.
Kage’s hand slid down my back, his touch slow and deliberate, sending shivers down my spine. “Mine,”
he breathed, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. “All fucking mine.”
I whimpered, my body responding to his words without permission. The tension that had been building inside me for days finally snapped, and I pressed myself against him, seeking the comfort and release I knew only he could give me.
Kage growled softly, his grip tightening around me as he shifted, pulling me fully into his lap. His hands roamed over my body, possessive and gentle all at once. “Is this what you need?”
he murmured against my neck, his lips brushing my skin in a way that made my head spin.
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t form the words. I just nodded, desperate and trembling in his arms. The warmth of his body against mine was overwhelming, the scent of him mixing with my own in a heady, intoxicating blend.
“Good girl,”
he whispered, his breath hot against my neck. “I’ve got you. Just let me take care of you.”
I melted into him, my hands clutching at his shirt as his mouth found the sensitive skin of my throat. His lips teased at first, and then he bit down, just hard enough to make me gasp. The sensation shot through me like a lightning bolt, setting my nerves on fire, and I arched against him, a moan slipping from my lips before I could stop it.
Kage chuckled, low and dark, the sound vibrating against my skin. “I knew it,”
he said softly, his teeth grazing my pulse. “I knew you were made for me. I fucking knew it.”
I whimpered again, my fingers tangling in his hair as he nipped at my neck, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. My body was betraying me, every instinct screaming for more, for him, and I was powerless to resist.
“You knew, didn’t you?”
he murmured, his hand sliding beneath my shirt to stroke the bare skin of my waist. “You’ve been hiding this from us this whole time, but you can’t hide anymore, can you?”
I shook my head, my breath hitching as his fingers dipped lower, teasing at the waistband of my pants. I should have apologized, but all I could do was cling to him, trembling and needy, as he continued to touch me with the kind of care and reverence I didn’t deserve.
“Kage,”
I whispered, my voice shaky and desperate.
“Maybe I should be angry, Doll,”
he said softly, his voice dipping like a caress. “But we failed you first, didn’t we? That ends now. You’re done running—from me, from this.”
And then he slammed his lips into mine.
The air in the room was thick with vanilla and honey—sweet, heady, and unmistakably Omega.
My body trembled as I pressed myself against him, my breath coming in short, desperate gasps. It was a heat spike. A relentless wave of need that threatened to consume me. I couldn’t think, couldn’t focus, my mind a haze of raw, primal desire.
Kage’s nostrils flared as he broke our kiss to look at me. “Phoenix.”
My name rolled off his tongue like a command, making slick drench my thighs.
I turned to him, my eyes wide and pleading. “I can’t—I can’t control it. My heat—”
My voice cracked, the words catching in my throat.
His hand cupped my cheek. “I know,”
he murmured. “You don’t have to fight it. Not with me.”
I whimpered, my body instinctively leaning into his touch. His scent enveloped me—crisp, earthy, and undeniably Alpha. It was intoxicating, a balm to my frayed nerves. My fingers clutched at the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. “Please,”
I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I need… I need you.”
Kage’s lips curled into a slow, predatory smile. “You’re so beautiful like this,”
he said, his fingers tracing a path down my neck. “All soft, and warm, and desperate for me.”
I shuddered under his touch, my body responding to his every word, every caress. His fingers dipped lower, tracing the swell of my breast.
He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear. “Tell me what you want, Doll.”
His voice was a low growl, sending a jolt of electricity straight to my core.
“I-I want you to touch me,”
I stammered, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Everywhere. I want you to make me forget everything but you.”
His chuckle was dark, filled with promise. “That’s my girl.”
His hands moved to the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head in one smooth motion. His eyes roamed over me, taking in every inch of my exposed skin. “You’re perfect,”
he murmured, his voice thick with desire.
I felt exposed, vulnerable, but there was no fear—only need. My hands reached for his belt, fumbling with the buckle. “I need to feel you,”
I whispered.
He caught my hands, stilling my movements. “Not yet, Doll,”
he said, his tone firm. “First, I’m going to take my time with you. I’m going to make you come so hard you’ll forget your own name.”
My breath caught in my throat, my body aching with anticipation. He pushed me gently onto my back, his hands roaming over my body with practiced ease. His fingers traced the curve of my hip, dipping into the waistband of my pants. “So wet already,”
he murmured, his breath hot against my skin.
I arched into his touch, a moan escaping my lips as his fingers slipped beneath the fabric, teasing my sensitive flesh. “Kage—”
His name was a plea, a prayer on my lips.
He kissed me then, his lips claiming mine with a hunger that matched my own. His tongue slid against mine, exploring, tasting, claiming. His hands worked quickly, stripping the last of my clothing until I was bare before him.
He pulled back, his eyes dark with lust as he took me in. “Fuck, Pheonix,”
he growled, his voice rough. “You’re driving me crazy.”
I reached for him, my hands trembling as I pulled him down to me. “Then don’t hold back,”
I whispered, my voice filled with need. “Take me. Make me yours.”
He didn’t need to be told twice. His lips found mine again, kissing me with a ferocity that left me breathless. His hands roamed my body, teasing, taunting, driving me to the edge of madness. His fingers found my entrance, sliding in with ease. I gasped as my body tightened around him.
“That’s it,”
he murmured, his lips trailing down my neck. “Let go, Doll. Let me take care of you.”
My hips rocked against his hand, my body moving of its own accord. His fingers curled inside, hitting that sweet spot that made me see stars. I cried out, and my nails dug into his shoulders as pleasure ripped through me.
“Yes!”
I moaned, my voice breaking. “Don’t stop, please don’t stop!”
He didn’t. His fingers worked with precision, his other hand pinching my nipple, sending waves of pleasure cascading through my body. I felt myself climbing higher and higher, the pressure building until I thought I might explode.
And then I did. My body convulsed, my back arching off the bed as the orgasm tore through me. I screamed his name, my voice raw with ecstasy.
Kage watched me with a satisfied smirk on his lips. “Good girl,”
he murmured, his fingers slowing but not stopping. “But we’re not done yet.”
I panted, my body still trembling from the aftershocks. “Kage…”
My voice was weak, my body spent, but the fire inside me still burned.
He moved down my body, his lips trailing kisses along my skin. “I can’t fuck you today. I don’t want to send you into heat early,”
he said, his breath hot against my thigh. “But I can certainly make you come until you’re wrecked.”
His tongue flicked against my clit, and I gasped, my body jolting off the bed. His hands gripped my hips, holding me still as he licked and teased my sensitive flesh. I moaned, my fingers tangling in his hair as he worked me over with his mouth.
“You taste so good, Doll,”
he murmured against me. “I could eat you all damn day.”
My hips rocked against his mouth, my body already desperate for more. He obliged, his tongue working my clit in quick, firm strokes. I felt the pressure building again, my body tightening with need.
“Kage, I’m—I’m going to—”
My words were cut off as another orgasm crashed over me. I screamed his name, my voice echoing through the room.
He didn’t stop. He kept going, driving me higher and higher until I thought I might lose my mind. My body was spent, but he didn’t let up, his tongue and fingers working in perfect harmony to bring me to the brink again and again.
Finally, he pulled back, his lips glistening with my essence. He crawled back up my body, his eyes locked on mine. “You’re mine,”
he growled, his voice filled with possessiveness. “All mine.”
I nodded, my body limp with exhaustion but my heart full. “Yours,”
I whispered.
He kissed me again, his lips soft and gentle. “Sleep,”
he murmured, pulling the blanket over me. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”
I closed my eyes, my body sinking into the mattress as the heat spike finally broke. My last thought before sleep claimed me was of his scent, his touch, his voice. And the realization that I never wanted to be without it again.