Page 41 of A Promise of Forever (The Vallaverse #3)

Sterling

I wake up slowly, my body pleasantly sore in ways that speak to thorough use rather than injury.

My heat is finally over, the relentless biological storm that consumed the past two days having passed and left me feeling wrung out but satisfied.

Forrest made sure I was freshly showered and fed before I fell asleep again last night, his care and attention never wavering even when I was too exhausted to do more than accept what he offered.

I'm wearing one of Forrest's shirts, the fabric soft and saturated with his scent in ways that make my Omega instincts purr with contentment. The bond mark on my lip throbs with a dull ache that feels more like reassurance than pain, a constant reminder that I'm claimed and protected and wanted.

I stretch carefully, testing the various aches and pleasant soreness throughout my body.

Everything works, nothing hurts in ways that concern me, and the bone-deep satisfaction I feel suggests that Forrest kept his promise to make this the best heat I've ever experienced.

Not that the bar was particularly high, considering my previous heats were disasters.

I stop mid-stretch when I look down and see Forrest's head resting on my chest, his large body curled around mine in a way that uses my smaller frame as his pillow. My powerful, dangerous Valla is using me for comfort, seeking out my presence even in sleep.

I run my finger across my bottom lip carefully, feeling the swollen tenderness there.

Forrest's bite mark is still sensitive, the skin broken where his teeth claimed me permanently.

He'd been sucking on it all day yesterday between rounds of my heat, the stimulation causing fresh waves of need that demanded immediate attention.

But now, with my heat finally passed, it just feels nice. Really nice.

And all that terror I was feeling because of Wilson is sitting on the back burner of my mind, manageable rather than immediately overwhelming.

The bond between Forrest and me pulses with so much love and focused attention that there's barely room for fear.

I can feel him even as he sleeps, his emotions bleeding through the new connection in ways that constantly reassure me.

It's almost too much, actually. The intensity of feeling someone else's emotions layered on top of my own takes adjustment.

I can sense Forrest's contentment and possessive satisfaction, his deep love and protective instincts, his exhaustion from caring for me through an intense heat.

It's beautiful and overwhelming in equal measure.

I let out a heavy gasp as another pulse of emotion flows through the bond, stronger than the previous ones. Forrest wakes up immediately at the sound, his body going from completely relaxed to alert in the space of a heartbeat.

"Good morning, little dove," he says, his voice a delicious baritone that rumbles through his chest and into mine.

He slides up slightly to press a kiss to my lips, gentle and sweet despite the intensity we've shared over the past two days.

I squirm involuntarily as the pressure makes the bite mark throb more intensely, pleasure and slight pain mixing in ways that make my body start to respond despite my exhaustion.

I sigh into the kiss, letting Forrest's presence ground me fully in the present moment. When we finally break apart, he's looking at me with fond exasperation written across his features.

"Settle, sweetheart," he says with gentle amusement. "I'm not starting anything. I'm not sure either of us has anything else left in the tank after the past two days."

The observation makes me grin despite myself because he's absolutely right. My body is thoroughly satisfied and completely exhausted. The thought of another round makes me want to curl up and sleep for a week.

But then I hear noises outside the cottage, voices and movement that remind me we can't hide away forever. Reality is waiting just beyond our sanctuary, full of complications and threats that we postponed but didn't eliminate. My grin fades as anxiety starts creeping back in.

"We'll figure all that out," Forrest assures me, reading my expression with the ease that comes from our new bond.

"I just need to grab a quick shower and speak with my brother about what's been happening while we were occupied.

But then I'll bring back a full breakfast. I think the fruit and crackers we've been surviving on for the last two days aren't going to cut it anymore. "

He starts to move from the bed, and I immediately shift to the edge, kneeling there and watching him with growing distress I don't fully understand. "I... that's so far away."

The words come out before I can filter them, revealing the separation anxiety that's apparently part of our new bond. Even though Forrest is just going to the main house, the thought of him being that far from me feels wrong.

I huff out a little sigh, frustrated with myself for being so needy. We can't spend every moment together. He has responsibilities and I need to learn independence rather than becoming completely codependent.

Forrest's expression softens with understanding.

"What if I meet them in the courtyard instead?

You'll be able to see me from the cottage windows the whole time.

But this really can't wait anymore, Sterling.

I don't want to be on edge waiting for something to happen.

We need to address the Wilson situation head-on. "

I nod, content to watch as Forrest heads toward the attached bathroom, but the idea of him washing off my scent feels like a physical pain stabbing through my chest. I make a small sound of distress before I can stop myself.

Forrest turns around, concern written across his features. "Sterling, what's wrong?"

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 gather around 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.