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That pisses me off. I don’t get mad often, but Daphne talking down about herself is a surefire way to make it happen.

Tipping her face back to mine, it’s second nature to kiss her cheeks. Her forehead. Her perfect, swollen lips. “Are you telling me you look at this body and don’t see a fucking goddess? You seriously think I could be around you for one second and not think you shine brighter than any star I’ve seen? Come on, Daphne. You know better than that.”

Her shorts come off and I stop and stare, giving her the full weight of my attention. My desire. Running my thumbs along the edge of the matching panties, I can’t stop my groan. They’re cut high on her hips, only to dive low at the front, showing the top of her pussy like a tease. “Look at you. My omega, laying in my house in nothing but the lingerie you made. You’re absolutely breathtaking, little muse. How can you possibly see yourself as anything less?”

“It’s just lace.”

“This isn’tjustanything, Daph. It’s a symbol of the life you created when no one thought you could. It’s a fucking miracle, baby.”

She pretends my words don’t have an effect, but I feel her shiver. Feel her bend for me. That’s fine. I’ll get her to admit it one day. For now, I have other things to do.

My hands rove her body, desperate for more, aching after days without her touch. Her nipple peaks against my tongue and Daphne loses it.

“I need you to fuck me,” she begs, eyes wild and hands caressing every inch of me she can find.

“I had plans to eat, but I’m willing to negotiate.” Palming between her thighs, I give her pussy a squeeze and nearly die at how wet she is. My girl likes my praise and attention.

“Fuck me now and you can eat me out later. Actually, we can sixty-nine because I want to blow you at the same time.”

Trailing my finger down her sternum, I consider it. “Agreed, but no knot without serious warmup…and I want three orgasms.”

Daphne’s eyes blow, her scent following. It’s been pillowing around us for a while, but it’s sharper now. Needier. Good. I want to smell her whenever I walk in the door. “You can come three times that fast outside a heat?”

Oh, sweet little muse.

“I can, but that’s not what I meant.” Watching those lips drop open is seriously making me reconsider the wholefucking firstthing. “Yes or no, Daph?”

“Yes. I’ll take three orgasms.”

“And no knot.”

She pouts at that, but I won’t risk hurting her again. The memory’s kept me company since the heat, a shadow waiting to sweep me under when I’m not paying attention. I’ll never forget the way she stiffened, the way she hurt. I’ll give Daphne everything else, but my knot isn’t an option.

She finally agrees and we race to strip each other.Damn, she’s just so fucking pretty.

When I get distracted tracing patterns through her freckles, Daph huffs, dragging me into her grasp and anchoring me so close to her pussy, I can feel the heat on my hips. “If I promise to let you draw me nude another time, will you fuck me now?”

My cock jerks, dripping along her skin. The idea of laying her out for my eyes only, sketching her impaled on my lap steals what willpower I have left.

Being inside Daphne during her heat was insane. She was constantly overstimulated, her body desperately trying to force me deeper, knot her faster. She was also so hot, it was almost uncomfortable to penetrate her during the worst of her waves.

It’s a totally different experience this time. We kiss slowly, coaxing each other’s lips open. Hands roam bodies in quiet need. Daph traces the marble tattoo across my shoulder and rises to meet me. Wanting and aching, but not to the point of pain.

Having her feels like getting everything I’ve ever wanted and losing my mind all at once.

“God, I love your tattoos,” she whispers, hand running over the owl on my thigh.

“I know.” She spent most of the heat exploring our ink and the owl was a fan favorite. Apparently, sweet little Daphne likes thigh tats.

We stay tight together, skin sliding across one another, breathing the same fucking air. Her curls knot around my hand and I already know I’ll be detangling them for her later. Each whispered word stays between us, held in the rare spaces where our bodies don’t touch.

You feel so good, Daph. How did I live without you for so long?

Are you going to give me what you promised?”

I’ve been dreaming about you, little muse. Waking up every day hoping you were real.

Her first orgasms are small and sweet, my name on her lips no more than a cry, but I don’t let her rest. I adjust her so I can get closer, deeper. Angling my hips so I’m hitting the spots that make her eyes cross, head tipped until she bares that perfect throat.