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Good enough for me.

I’m sure I’ll feel like shit later, but when Nate steps closer to drop a kiss to Daphne’s cheek, my lip curls in a snarl. Even that’s too much touching when I’m like this.

With a wary eye on the near feral alpha in front of him, he backs off immediately, speaking soft and slow. “You sure you’re okay with this, kitten?”

The growl makes my chest vibrate. “I wouldn’t hurt her.”

“No one said you would,” Daph promises. She pets my ass and my thighs, unable to reach much more. “I’m good, Nate. Just let us through.”

My brother’s bigger than me and doing absolutely everything he can to remind me he’s not a threat. Shoulders bowed, head down, hands loose at his sides.Innocent.“Dez and I will handle the guests. Call if you need us.”

“We won’t.”

He rolls his eyes at me, blowing Daph a kiss. “Have fun, babe.”

I take the stairs fast, careful not to jostle Daphne more than I have to. When we get to my room, it takes everything in me not to toss her on the bed and sink inside her. I’m fully in hindbrain, desperate torut, claim, defendmy omega. The fog’s a little too close for comfort, but not enough that I’m concerned.

Accidental bonding? No. Taking too long? Probably.

Carefully, I slide Daphne down my body, not wanting her to get sick from the blood rush. When she’s upright, I realize it’s the first time she’s in my room. My space. She looks so fucking perfect here. It feels wrong to be so close and not kiss her, so I do.

There’s something about kissing this woman that just feels right. Is it the way her lips mold to mine or how we instinctively know what the other wants? That same connection that traps us, whispering secrets in our ears. Whatever it is, I hope we neverget used to it. I want the awe of kissing Daph for the rest of my life.

When she finally pulls away, she’s fumbling for the edge of my shirt even as she mutters, “We shouldn’t do this. They’re going to be here soon.”

I lean away enough to get it off and then I’m right back against her, driving deep into her mouth and desperate for the chance to do it somewhere else, too. “Who gives a fuck?”

Her hands fly to my chest, pupils wide as she glides them over the bare skin. Daph tracks my tattoos, fingers tracing them reverently. I would give anything to have her do this every day. “Seriously, we shouldn’t do this.”

I nearly choke when she says it, but I force myself to pull away. Give her space. Guiding her to the edge of the bed, rubbing my hands softly along her calves. “What does that mean?”

I want to think I haven’t ruined things between us with my fuckup, but maybe she’s trying to let me down gently. One courting gift—as awesome as it was—isn’t enough to fix things. We’ve had a few dinners together as a pack, but maybe our journey is just slower than my brothers.

Eventually, Daph says, “This isn’t a good idea.”

“If this is because of what happened between us, I completely understand, and if you tell me to stop, I will. But if you want this and you’re scared to say it, let me prove that you can fall, and I’ll always catch you. I made a mistake once, Daph. I don’t intend to make it twice.”

“I’m scared to want you.”

Is it wrong that I like when she tells me that? Not because I get off on her fear, but because I don’t think Daphne’s had a lot of people she can trust with her feelings. Every time she offers them to us, she proves that we’re in that small group. The chosen few.

“Do you remember what I said when I apologized?” I wrap our fingers together, needing to feel her. To feel us. “Let’s be scared together, baby.”

“Okay.”

My heart leaps at her trust, but I don’t move. “Tell me what you want. I won’t push you, but I need you to give me the boundaries.”

“You’re with me?” she asks.

“Right here, angel.”

Her eyes shine with affection when she pulls me closer, whispering against my mouth. “Then I want everything, Connor. For today, at least.”

Good enough.

I steal a brief kiss before pushing her onto her back and drowning her in my heat. My scent. “Your friends are almost here, so this is gonna be quick and dirty.”

“Yes. Do that.” Daph’s already shoving my jeans down, even as our mouths connect in a messy, desperate embrace. I don’t mind since I’m ripping her pants and panties off. There’s something filthy about fucking your partner half-dressed and fully crazed. Like even the act of getting naked is too long to be without them.