He places his hand on his chest, right over his heart, and I realize he's feeling my distress through the bond just as clearly as I felt his contentment earlier. "You're confused? Sweetheart, talk to me. Tell me what you need."
I struggle to find words for the instinctive panic flooding my system. "I'm not sure why, but I need you to smell like me. That shower, you washing everything off, you wouldn't..." I can't even finish the sentence, too embarrassed by how irrational I sound.
Forrest laughs, the sound warm and affectionate rather than mocking. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. I'm still trying to figure all this bonding stuff out too. Can we compromise? Let me wash off the dried sweat and slick so I'm presentable, and then you can scent me thoroughly after I get out?"
I chew my bottom lip, considering the offer. It's not a perfect compromise. Every instinct I possess wants him to stay exactly as he is, saturated with my scent and our combined smell so thoroughly that no one could doubt he's claimed. But I can recognize that's not reasonable or practical.
"Okay," I finally agree, nodding slowly. "That works."
He disappears into the bathroom, and I hear the shower start moments later. The sound of running water makes me restless, but I force myself to stay in the nest and wait patiently.
He's only gone for maybe ten minutes, but it feels like an eternity. When he emerges, all remnants of my scent lingering on his skin is gone. The wrongness of it makes my Omega instincts scream in protest.
Forrest moves back to the bed, responding to my distressed emotions. "Go ahead, sweetheart. Make me yours again."
The permission unleashes something instinctive and possessive inside me. I surge forward and drag my nose along Forrest's chest, breathing in his coconut rum scent while adding my own to his skin. I move up to his neck, and spend extra time there making sure my claim is obvious.
Forrest purrs beneath my attention, the rumbling sound vibrating through both our bodies. His hands come up to steady me, holding me close while I complete my marking.
When I finally reach his cheeks, dragging my nose along the sharp lines of his face, Forrest captures my mouth in a fierce kiss. I melt against him immediately, my body remembering all the ways he claimed me over the past two days. Heat starts building in my lower belly again, slick beginning to gatheraround my hole despite my exhaustion, Forrest's cock hardening against my hip.
But then he pulls back with obvious reluctance. "I'll be back in a little bit, okay? Just long enough to handle the immediate crisis with Caelan and make sure we have a plan for dealing with Wilson."
I nod, understanding, even though the Omega part of me wants to protest his leaving. I settle back into the nest as Forrest gets dressed in clean clothes, watching him with possessive satisfaction as my scent clings to his skin beneath the fabric.
The moment he's out the door, exhaustion crashes over me like a wave. I barely manage to register the sound of Forrest's footsteps moving away before I curl up tighter in the nest and happily let sleep take me out.
Forrest
I step out of the cottage into the late morning air, feeling it run over my bare arms in a way that's refreshing after the intense heat of the past two days. My body is sore in all the best ways, muscles aching pleasantly from extended use and my skin still tingling from where Sterling scented me so thoroughly. I can't stop smiling like an absolute fool, the bond between us thrumming with contentment even though Sterling is already drifting back to sleep inside.
I pull out my phone and send a quick message to Caelan:Meeting in the courtyard. Five minutes.
His response is immediate, a phone call rather than a text. I answer with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
"Please tell me you're dressed and I'm not going to walk outside to see my brother actively knotting his Omega in the courtyard," Caelan teases.
I laugh despite the tension I can feel building. "I've been asked not to go too far from the cottage, so we're meeting in the courtyard like civilized people. Get your ass out here and give me an update on Wilson. I already know it's going to be bad news, so let's just get this shit over with."
I hang up before he can respond and take a position in the center of the courtyard where I'll have a clear line of sight to the cottage windows. Sterling will be able to see me the entire time should he need it, which should help ease his separation anxiety while we handle whatever crisis has been building over the past two days.
The back door of the main house opens and Caelan steps out with Bryn at his side. But they're not alone. Behind them is another Alpha, Draven, our family lawyer. The sight makes my stomach sink with dread. If Draven is here personally rather than just being consulted by phone, the situation must be significantly worse than I anticipated.
I sigh heavily, dragging a hand down my face as they approach. "This is bad, isn't it?"
Caelan reaches me first, and his nose wrinkles slightly as he catches my scent. "Jesus Christ, you smell like you've been marinating in Sterling for days. Which I guess you have been, but damn. That's intense."
The observation makes me grin with possessive satisfaction. "I'll make sure to let everyone know the next time you're unavailable because Bryn is stuffed up your ass. I'm sure the whole organization would love detailed updates on your sex life."
Caelan actually blushes, a rare sight that makes Bryn laugh outright. The Valla looks thoroughly pleased with himself at having caused that reaction in his usually unflappable mate.
"I don't think I've ever seen you speechless," I say with genuine delight, enjoying this moment before we have to deal with serious problems.
"Fuck off," Caelan mutters, but there's no real heat in it.
Draven clears his throat, reminding us that we have actual business to discuss. "Forrest, we need to talk about the legal situation developing with Detective Wilson."
The lawyer's formal tone kills my good mood immediately. "What's he done now?"
