CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX - BIRDIE #2
“You didn’t ruin anything,” Hog mutters as he folds me into his bed. The sheets are cold and the bed feels too big, but at least it smells like him. When I’m settled, he reaches over to his nightstand. “I’ve got you something.”
“If it’s another dream catcher, it better be the size of a hula hoop,” I mutter, rolling against his side and hiding my face.
“You won’t dream,” he assures me as he peels me away. “I’ll stay awake and watch.”
I grab his beard and pull his mouth to mine for a kiss. He still tastes the same, even if there’s a hint of hurt under the smoky goodness. “You can’t stop the bad stuff already in my head.”
“I can give you something else to think about.”
I raise my brows, my belly tightening. Yes, a distraction is exactly what I need right now.
But instead of kissing me senseless, Hog places something in my hands.
It’s a small box, and when I flip the lid, I’m staring at a rose-gold ring, set with a pale pink pearl.
“Oh, my God. Is this real? Like, from the ocean?”
“Well, I didn’t harvest it myself, but it’s real.” He smiles at the stunned look on my face. “It was my mom’s. She met her pack when they were traveling in the South Pacific.”
I run a finger over the pink gemstone, my heart in my mouth. He wouldn’t have given this to me if it was over, right?
“Omega, I want to ask you something, but my timing sucks.”
I roll onto an elbow to look at him, the ring clutched in my hand. I’m not sure if he wants me to put it on, but I’ll be damned if I’ll let it go. “I’m a firm believe in now or never.”
He nods and swallows, hard enough for his throat to bob. “Then I want to offer you more than just my protection. I want to be your mate; in every way I can. I know you’re afraid of being claimed…”
“Yes.”
He stops short. “Yes, you’re afraid…?”
“No. Yes, you can claim me.” I put the ring on, a thrill running through me from head to toe.
He’ll have to hold me down and fight like hell to get it back now.
“In fact, do it before you stop and think about it.” He gapes at me, looking just as stunned as I felt a moment ago, and I smirk.
“You really think I need to think about it? You’re basically my dream in living flesh. ”
His brow lowers in a scowl. “You just said you need a dream catcher the size of a hula hoop.”
I run my fingers through his beard, smiling into his honey gold eyes. “Alpha, you’re as badass as they come, but you’re the good kind of dream.”
His lips tip up, relief unclenching his brow, and I pull him over me like a smoky blanket.
We kiss, our scents twining together and prickles of heat rushing to the surface of my skin.
I’m not as slick as I was this morning, but he works himself in slowly, first the tip and then the thick shaft that fills me to the brim.
I watch him rock over me, my mountain of a man, and rub my face on his furry chest. Our size difference means that I can’t reach his face from this position, but I don’t complain as I suck his nipples until he groans.
“More, Alpha,” I tell him, clutching his thick sides. “Give me everything.”
He grunts and sweeps me up, lifting my body until I’m sitting in his lap.
My legs close around him, tight as a clam shell.
He huffs out a happy sound and then attacks my mouth, licking and sucking until I’m panting in bliss.
He’s still buried inside me, his hands gripping my hips as he rocks inside me.
He can’t get up much of a rhythm, but I’m already opening for his knot.
I fist his hair, willing my weary body to worship him as he deserves.
“We don’t have to…”
I press down on his cock, squirming until his knot wedges in my opening. Slick eases the way, but it’s a tight fit. It might be one stretch too far, but I absorb any discomfort with a victorious hiss. “Claim me, Alpha.”
I tilt my head, my body stuffed full and my heart trembling against my ribs like frantic wings.
Hog growls as his teeth pierce my scent gland.
There’s a sliver of pain, bright and sharp, but then pleasure sweeps over me in a silken wave.
I tumble into it, a willing surrender. Hog’s body shudders against mine, and I’m vaguely aware of his cum pumping into me as I quiver on his knot.
It’s a softer orgasm, but it undulates through me, smoothing out the flickers of pain until there’s only…
“What’s that?” I whisper, rolling over and reaching for Hog. I’m still groggy, but I can tell that the chest I’m groping is smaller than his, the arm I’m clutching is tight with muscle. I push myself up onto an elbow, blinking at Axel and Colt.
“That’s the pack bond,” Hog says quietly, but I can hear a warning in his voice. He’s worried about me, that I might learn something painful now that I have a window into their souls. “They could feel me claim you.”
I release the arm, but when Colt scoots behind me, I lean into his chest. His sunshine scent carries a whisper of the ocean, and I feel my heart clench. “You left.”
“I… walked. I couldn’t think straight, and I needed sand between my toes.”
I push myself off him, but as I try to cross my legs, I feel a twinge of pain and slick drips down my thighs. Oh, right. Remove the knot and the floodgates open.
The guys must smell it, too, but we’re not in my nest now. “And what did all your walking and thinking tell you?”
“That whatever led you to us, we’re grateful,” Axel says quietly. “Doesn’t mean we won’t make Booth and Reeves pay.”
“They manipulated you, but I was a part of it,” I point out. “Are you going to look at me, and think of them?”
Colt snorts and threads his fingers through my hair. “Have you seen the general?” His smirk softens, his fingers brushing my cheek. “You should know by now, Baggage, we’ve only got eyes for you.”
I shrug, but if the bond works both ways, I guess they can feel me thawing a little, because Axel cups my chin. He tilts my head, his thumb gently tracing the mark on my throat. I shiver at the touch, and his face tightens, a throb of longing echoing in my bond. “It’s right on your gland.”
Colt smirks. “You ever known Hog to miss his target?”
My mate grunts, but Axel’s eyes don’t leave mine. “Does it hurt?”
“No.” I pause, remembering the sting of teeth, the pain somehow morphing into something warm, and light, and embracing. “I would take a thousand bites if it meant he’s mine.”
Hog leans forward to kiss me, and I feel those wings flutter again, although this time it’s his heart, reaching for me through the bond. “Yours, Omega, body and soul.”