As Diana watches me drink her in, her need thickens in the air. It’s like trying to stand against the pull of the tide, and it takes everything in me to release my grip on her shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“About time,” Kane grouches, his hand sliding over Diana’s rump before punching my shoulder. He hasn’t bothered with a towel, the scent of satisfied alpha wafting off him as he saunters past me to the bed. “Drop the trousers, governor,” he smirks as he stretches out on the rumpled sheets. “You’ve got some serious catching up to do.”
It would be easy to be intimidated by the sight of his huge, naked body. Kane is in a physical class all of his own, while I’m lucky if I make it to the gym three times a week. But none of that seems to matter when Diana is standing so close I can see the droplets of water still clinging to her neck. I’m tempted to trace one with my finger, but I take an abrupt step back as Rowan Vale leaves the bathroom. He’s wearing black boxers, his brows shooting to his slicked-back hairline as he surveys the gifts scattered at my feet. I didn’t even notice I dropped them, and there’s a smirk on his face as he scoops the scarf off the floor. “Exactly what every omega needs during a heat spike.”
“Sorry, but there wasn’t much of a selection.” I grab the scarf and toss it on the back of a chair, then hold the candy andflowers out to Diana. “I plan on courting you properly, but I didn’t want to turn up empty-handed.”
Diana’s eyes have widened to the size of moons, but Kane snorts from where he’s lounging on the bed. “Knot now, woo later, Jake.”
I glare at him. “I’m not going to fuck this up again.” I turn back to Diana, who’s peeled the ribbon off the chocolate box and is staring in awe at the contents. Lukas’ mate clearly knows her quality candy, but I grimace as I realize the flowers are dripping all over Diana’s feet. “Maybe I should stick those in water.”
“I’ll do it,” she says softly, then turns on her heel and hurries back into the bathroom. She murmurs something to Dex as he passes her in the doorway, and I frown, wondering if I insulted her with the gas station gift. “Is she tossing them in the trash?”
The beta shakes his head as he leans against the doorjamb. “Pretty sure they’re the first flowers she’s ever been given. My guess is she’s putting them into water… in the tub.” He ducks his head around the door and then grins. “Yep. Just be careful of stray thorns the next time you take a bath.”
I feel something throb deep in my gut, because if he’s right, that means there have never been any flowers on Diana’s birthday, or pretty bouquets just because. I make a mental note to talk to my gardener in the morning. We haven’t talked about living arrangements yet, but for as long as Diana wants to stay here, she’ll get a delivery from the rose garden every morning at breakfast.
“All good?” Dex asks as she reappears, leaning into him for a kiss. Her fingers feather over a gash on his head, now covered by a strip of gauze. Kane sent me a few texts while I was delayed at the scene, and I know he got the injury when Watts abducted Diana. He shot another bodyguard in the process, and Dex was lucky to escape with his life. “Do you need me to call someone to look at that?”
“Nah, I’m a nurse.” His gaze drops to my wrists, which are still sporting their bandages. “I can check those over, if you want.”
“Thanks. Maybe later…” My voice drifts away as Diana ducks out of Dex’s arms and heads for Rowan, who’s perched on the edge of the bed. She slips onto his lap, carefully unwrapping one of the chocolates and pressing it between his lips. He gives an exaggerated moan as he chews, and Kane looms up behind them, snagging the next chocolate from her fingers. Dex is quick to join them, and I watch as Diana feeds each of them in turn. They make a bit of a game out of it, shoving each other aside and giving her begging looks so she’ll choose them next. She giggles at their antics, and I feel my chest squeeze at the playful scene.
They’re already acting like a pack.
“Jake?” My head snaps up and I realize Diana is offering me a chocolate. It’s the last thing my ulcer needs, but my mouth instantly waters, and I sink to my knees in front of her as she slips it into my mouth. I barely taste the candy, but the flavor of her fingers lingers long after I’ve licked it from my lips.
“I feel I should say something,” I murmur, staring up at her. It’s hard to tear my eyes away, but I force myself to meet the gazes of her pack. “To all of you.”
“Oh, goodie,” Rowan smirks, tightening his arms around Diana. “The governor brought a scarfanda speech.”
I know I deserve everything they throw at me. In fact, I wouldn’t blame them if they told me to shut the hell up, but they settle back, clearly ready to listen.
And isn’t that ironic?
“I’m used to people hanging off my every word.” Kane gives a scornful grunt, but I shrug, because we both know it’s true. “When you’re a politician, you get good at telling people what they want to hear. I can’t say it’s always been a two-way street, though. I ignored Kane, who’s always looked out for me, andrefused to listen to him, even when my instincts told me there was something wrong. I just assumed I had all the answers.”
Shame burns my cheeks, but I force myself to hold Diana’s gaze. “My worst mistake, though, was not listening toyou. You knew what we meant to each other from the moment we met, but I walked out, right when you needed me most. A heat is such a precious thing, and I refused you the basic comforts of a mate.” I reach for her hand, and she places it in mine, although I can still see the caution lingering in her eyes. “But if you give me another chance, Diana, I promise to listen to every word that ever leaves your lips.”
She studies me for a moment, and I hold my breath until she slides off Rowan’s lap and onto mine. The comfort of her nearness is like a balm to my frayed nerves, and I’m desperate to kiss her. But her fingers are feathering over my cheeks, her eyes scanning every inch of my face. I’m not sure what she’s trying to find, but I drop all pretense for once in my life and just let herlook.
“There are a lot of things I’m still learning,” she says quietly, “but I need to trust you in my head the way I already do in my heart. I can only do that if you show me who you really are.”
The gentle rebuke burns worse than any slap. “I’m sorry, Diana. I was a fucking idiot…”
“Ssh.” Her fingers now stroke my lips, back and forth, like she’s learning their shape. “Youdidtry to offer me comfort when we met.” At my confused look, she wraps her hand around my throat. “Your purr. You got that part exactly right.”
Shit, how did I forget that? Maybe because I’ve never purred for anyone in my life. But Diana drew it out of me as naturally as my next breath.
I guess I also have to get a whole lot better at listening to myself.
“Can I kiss you, Omega?”
I can’t blame her for the flash of hesitation in her eyes. She asked me the same question during her heat, and it was the trigger that made me run for the hills. But it seems she’s too sweet to hold a grudge, and when she nods, I dip my head down to hers.
If I thought her fingers tasted good, the lush warmth of her mouth is a revelation. Her lips part on a breathy moan, and it rips open a floodgate inside me. All those denied instincts suddenly roar to the surface, shredding my control. I’m trying to be gentle, but her needy sounds just feed the hunger in me, and my hand slides down to her waist, pulling her tight. There isn’t an inch of space between us, and she squirms on my lap, her tongue lapping at mine as I try to consume her with my kiss.
When she finally breaks free, her lips are swollen, and her eyes hooded with desire. I want to kiss her again, but her focus is now on my shirt. I removed my jacket on the way up, but she seems confused by my tie, yanking the knot tighter instead of loosening it. She still has a few inches to go before she’ll strangle me, but I feel a burst of satisfaction at her frustrated growl. “Want some help with that, Omega?”
