Page 132 of Daisy

"Yours," she agrees, breathless. "Always yours."

I collapse beside her, careful not to pull where we're locked together. She turns in my arms, pressing her face to my chest with a satisfied sigh.

"I can feel you," she whispers. "Right here." She presses her hand over her heart. "I can feel how much you love me."

"Because I do. More than anything."

A deep rumble starts in my chest… my purr. I want this. Want to comfort her, soothe her. She melts against me at the sound, her whole body relaxing as the vibration soothes her. This is what she needs after being claimed. To give her comfort, safety. To take care of my omega.

"That's so nice," she murmurs sleepily against my skin. "Makes me feel safe."

I keep purring for her, one hand stroking her hair while the other holds her close. Through the bond, I can feel her exhaustion, her happiness. The fierce love flowing from her toward me. Her breathing starts to slow, becoming deeper and more even.

"Sleep," I tell her softly, still purring. "I've got you."

She nods against my chest, already drifting. Within minutes, she's asleep in my arms, still locked around my knot. I keep purring, watching her peaceful face. Through the bond, all I feel from her is deep contentment and love.

She’s perfect.

Chapter 34

Daisy

The bond with Dante feels different from Gunner's.

Where Gunner's is warm and steady like a heartbeat, Dante's is fierce. Protective. Like a shield wrapped around my heart. I can feel his emotions mixing with mine, his overwhelming love, his amazement that I chose him, his need to keep me safe.

It's incredible.

I'm still pressed against Dante's chest, our bodies relaxed and sated from our claiming. His knot went down while I napped, and when he slipped free, there was a rush of our combined fluids. Slick and cum run down my thighs, soaking the sheets beneath us. I should be embarrassed, but I'm not. This is what heat is. What bonding means.

My body isn't done, though. Even after being thoroughly satisfied by Dante, heat builds again like a slow fire. The cramps start deeper in my belly, sharper than before. My skin feels too hot, too tight, like I might crawl out of it if I don't get relief soon. Underneath it all, there's this hollow, empty ache that only a knot can fill.

"How do you feel?" Dante asks softly, stroking my hair.

"Perfect," I whisper against his chest. And I mean it. "But I can feel it starting again. The need." Another cramp hits and I whimper, pressing closer to him. "The cramps are getting worse. And I feel so... empty inside. Like I need to be filled again."

Through our bond, I feel his surge of protective concern mixed with arousal.

Around us, the others have moved closer. I can smell their arousal thick in the air. See the way they're looking at us… at me. Like they're dying to touch but waiting for permission.

Gunner catches my eye from where he's sitting against the pillows, and I feel his emotions through our bond too. Love and satisfaction and burning need. Even though we bonded yesterday, seeing me with Dante heightens his desire. He told me that he wouldn't knot me in heat until the end, he wanted me to bond with the others first. I send love through our bond and he smiles over at me.

Two bonds. Two completely different kinds of love and protection surrounding me.

It makes my heart feel so full I might burst.

"Better?" August asks gently, appearing with a warm cloth to clean me up.

"Much," I say, but even as he touches me with the soft fabric, I can feel my body responding. Getting ready for more. Another wave of heat crashes through me, making me whimper and arch against the pillows. "But I think…"

A sharper cramp hits and I cry out. The heat builds faster now, more intense. Like my body knows I'm not done. Knows I need all of them.

My scent explodes again, richer than before. Honeysuckle and vanilla but deeper now. More complex. Like it's calling specifically to each of them. I can feel more slick gathering between my thighs, my body needing more.

They all groan in response. I watch Cassian's hands clench into fists, see the way Hawk's breathing goes shallow. Even August's composure cracks as his pupils dilate.

"Who do you want next?" Gunner asks, his voice rough with renewed arousal. I love that he is helping me through this. I get to choose. Get to decide who claims me next.