Pember’s nostrils flared. “Don’t do that,” he said, clenching his jaw. “Stop fucking doing that.”
Blake pressed his nose into Pember’s hair. “Doing what?”
Pember wiped away a tear before looking Blake directly in the eyes. “Stop saying you’re doing things formybenefit. It’s clearly hurting you, and because of that it’s hurting me. I wouldneverask you to give me the bite for my benefit. But I also…” His words trailed off as more tears began to gather.
A tight sensation pulled at his tummy; it writhed like a snake threatening to slither into his throat. He felt nauseated.
“I shared my nest with you, Blake. My first ever nest, and I let you in becauseI wantedthat. And I thought you wanted it too, but not because of some self-righteous duty that you felt you had to fulfil. I’m an omega. I’m weak. I know that. But I’m notthatweak. I don’t needyou to fix all my problems, I can do it myself. And if you think I’m going to spend years of my life proving that to you, you’re wrong. I’ve spent enough time proving myself to my mum.”
Blake gripped his waist, holding him tight. “You aren’t weak, Pem. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met.”
Pember ran his tongue over his teeth and cupped Blake’s face. “So why are you wrapping me up in cotton wool? Why are you pulling away when we just spent my heat together?”
Blake sniffed, turning his head to kiss Pember’s palm. “Because I… because I’m falling in love with you, Pem. And it scares the hell out of me.”
Pember swallowed. The lump in his throat felt like it was burning. His rational brain knew it was just his glottis muscle opening to let in more air. But his emotional brain had him throwing his arms around Blake’s neck and kissing him. Hard.Rough. Pulling him forward until he was almost doubled over from the force.
“You are?” he said, voice shaking as he leaned back.
Blake was smiling against his mouth. “Yeah.”
Pember’s heart felt as though it was going to explode into confetti. His chin was quivering uncontrollably. “You’re an idiot, Blake Smith,” he whispered, drawing Blake in for another open-mouthed kiss.
Blake laughed, tilting his head. “An unorthodox response to a budding love confession. But I can’t really argue with?—”
“I’m falling in love with you too,” Pember said, cutting him off with another kiss. “So let’s just start from there, okay?”
Blake cocked a brow. “What do you mean?”
Wiping his tear-stained face across Blake’s T-shirt, Pember let out a breath. “My dad used to have this saying—when you break a vase, don’t try to pick up all the pieces at once, because all you’ll do is cut yourself. Take one piece at a time and start from there.”
A blush crept up Blake’s neck and he kissed Pember’s forehead. “He sounds like a wise man.”
After breakfast they’d dismantled the nest, washed everything and hung it on the line. In between kissing and almost falling into bed again, Pember had checked his temperature to confirm that his heat had indeed broken and he was blessedly free to have all the unprotected sex he wanted. Were his hole not so puffy and sore.
They’d somehow managed to run a bath, and Pember sighed as he leant back against Blake’s chest, the aching in his muscles slowly draining away into the hot water.
“This is the first time I’ve used the bath,” Pember said, glancing up at Blake.
The alpha had his eyes closed, but a smirk tugged at the edge of his lips. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but you were beginning to smell a bit ripe under that lab coat.”
Pember scoffed and smacked his knee. “I use the shower. Anyway, you said I smell nice, so what does that say about you?”
Blake shrugged. “Don’t they say cheese gets better with age? I’d say you’re somewhere between Roquefort and Gorgonzola.”
Pouting, Pember closed his eyes and leant his head back against Blake’s shoulder. “We should take the dogs for a long walk this evening. Maybe try the tracks on the other side of the woods. After checking on Val, obviously.”
Blake nodded and pressed his mouth to Pember’s wet hair. “Sounds good.” There was a long pause, before Blake said, “Pem?”
“Hm?”
“Do you think you’ll go out with Maya again any time soon?”
Pember opened his eyes.
That caught him off guard.
He swallowed, nibbling his lip as a small swell of guilt cooled his skin. He had wanted to make friends so badly, but he wasn’t sure he could forgive Maya after what he’d heard.
