Page 34

May have been ages since I took the mandated classes in school, but I know spike behavior when I see it.

Fever? Check.

Heightened arousal? See the wet spot on my jeans.

Loss of inhibitions? We’re grinding in a fucking fabric store.

Not in heat, my ass.

Her hips writhe, frustrated growls rising when there’s no friction. I’ve got the mental fortitude of a squirrel most days, but this wet, willing omega is literallyaskingme to touch her, and I’m not sure I can say no.

“Why’d you come out when you were like this?” I ask, grinding against her ass in hopes it’ll satisfy the primal part of her leading the show for now.

“Need alphas,” she pants. Those hips move along my length, drawing a groan from both of us.

I’m not a territorial person, but I don’t like how she says it. Like she’d be okay withanyalphas when she’s so obviously mine.

I slip my hand into the waistband of her shorts. The scent of her slick coats the back of my tongue and the air around us but Iwait until she begs to do more. When I brush the utterly soaked fabric covering her, I nearly die.

She’s warm, wet heaven. I don’t think I’ll survive inside her. “Is that so? Did you find any alphas, kitten?”

“Daphne,” she pants, arching into my touch.

My fingers run along her body, slipping against the fabric with ease and distracting me so I almost don’t hear her. “Hmm?”

“My name’s Daphne.”

It’s perfect.She’sperfect.

“Beautiful. I’m Nate.” When she reaches for me, the touch grounds us, like she’s tethering our souls together. I’ve never felt more alive. “Answer me, Daphne. Did you find any alphas?”

“Just you, Nate.”

My name on her tongue is doing unholy things to my body. “That so?”

Her face turns sheepish even as she squeezes my arm. “Wasn’t actually looking yet.” When I raise an eyebrow, refusing to move even when she wiggles against me, she huffs. “Left my ex-pack ages ago. Too late for suppressants. Wanted to stop here for supplies before I hit the clinic and here we are.”

“You’re unbonded?” I check her scent again, but there’s none of the scent markers of a bonded omega. No bite marks I can see, either.

“Yes.”

Thank fuck. My fingers slip under her panties, circling her clit as we both struggle to focus. A touch that’s already too far when we’re so exposed, but she doesn’t stop me. “What do you want, Daphne?”

She whines a little and my entire body goes on edge. “Help. I’m just?—”

“Nervous.” There’s this undercurrent to her scent that tells me so.

“Yeah.” She exhales against my cheek, scent marking me. “But I want this. Ineedthis.”

“You needme.” The distinction means everything. I can’t just be some knot to her. “Say it or I’ll have to walk away.”

“No! I needyou, Nate. I do.”

Her eyes look a little glazed, and I know there’s not much else I can do right now. If not me, she’ll end up with some other asshole, and I can’t allow that. “Just going ease you, then we’re going to talk.”

“Fine. Whatever. Just touch.”

Her impatient hand drags mine until I’m cupping her drenched, bare pussy. Daphne scorches my palm, burns when my fingers dip inside. I watch my omega, taking my cues from her moans and movements. The way she scratches my arm and begs against my cheek.