Page 112 of Daisy

My mouth goes dry. "Of course."

I set down the screwdriver. Hands definitely aren't steady. She takes my hand, her fingers warm and sure, and leads me to the bedroom. It's the only private space in our tiny cabin.

The room feels too small suddenly. Too intimate. Her scent fills every corner—honey and vanilla and something that makes my teeth ache. This is where she sleeps every night, curled up safe between August and Cassian while I lie awake on the van mattress in the living room.

She closes the door behind us.

The click of the latch echoes like a gunshot.

"I've been thinking," she says. Not looking at me. Her fingers play with the hem of the flannel shirt she's wearing. I notice her hands have a slight tremor. Another pre-heat symptom. "About what I want. For my first time."

I freeze.

"Daisy… Sweetheart."

"I want it to be… I want you to be my first." The words rush out in a breath, and I can see pink spreading across her cheeks. "Before my heat. Before everything gets... overwhelming."

I can't breathe. Can't think. She just offered me everything.

"Are you sure?" My voice comes out rough. Barely recognizable. "Are you sure you don't want to wait? For your heat? Are you sure you want it to be me?"

"I'm sure." She finally looks up at me. The want in her eyes makes my knees weak. "I've never been more sure of anything."

"Why me?"

The question slips out before I can stop it. Of all of us, I'm the quietest. Hawk's got that easy charm. Dante's the protector. Cassian's strong. August makes her feel safe. And me? I fix things. Stay quiet.

"Because you make me feel safe." She steps closer. Close enough that I can feel the heat radiating off her skin, her body temperature running higher as her heat approaches. "Never pressure me. Never make me feel like I have to be anything but myself."

Her hands come up to rest on my chest. I swear my heart stops.

"When I imagine my first time, I imagine your hands. Gentle. Patient." Her cheeks flush deeper pink, but she doesn't look away. "I trust you to… to be careful with me."

"You're not broken."

"No. But I'm new at this. And I trust you to be careful with me."

Fuck.This is really happening. She wants this. Wants me.

"Daisy." I cover her hands with mine. "I want you. But you need to be sure."

"I am sure," she breathes. "I want this. I want you."

"I have to tell you something," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've never... I waited. Always knew my first time had to be with someone I loved."

I meet her eyes, letting her see everything I feel. "Never imagined it would be with my scent match, but I can't think ofanything more perfect than sharing this with you. Having this be ours forever."

She rises up on her toes. Brings her mouth close to mine. Her scent is so thick now I'm drowning in it. Sweet and perfect. I can feel the heat radiating off her skin, her body temperature running higher as her heat approaches.

"Please," she whispers against my lips. "I choose you."

That's it. I'm done for.

I kiss her soft and careful. Show her how much I want her. How precious she is.

When we break apart, we're both breathing hard.

"You sure?" I ask one more time.