Page 97 of Daisy

Their lips crash together, desperate and hungry. It's nothing like the gentle kisses I've shared with them. This is pure need, months of wanting each other while taking care of me.

The taste of August mixed with my own essence is still on Cassian's lips, and when they break apart, both breathing hard, I can smell everything. Rain and musk and cedar and want so thick it makes my mouth water.

"I can smell that you both want..." I trail off, my face burning. "Oh god, I can't believe I just said that."

They both freeze, staring at me like I just suggested we burn the cabin down.

"Daisy—" Cassian starts.

"I want to... I mean, could I... watch?" The words come out shaky. "I want to see you together. But only if you're both okay with that. I know it's private between you, and I don't want to intrude on something that's just yours."

Silence stretches between us.

"You sure about that?" Cassian asks, his voice rough.

August's pupils are blown wide. "You sure that's what you want?"

"I'm sure. I need to understand what this means. For all of us." My voice gets stronger. "If we're going to be together, really together, I need to see what that looks like. What love looks like between you two."

They look at each other. One of those wordless conversations they have.

"This changes things," Cassian says quietly. "Once you see us like this, there's no going back to just...wondering."

"I don't want to go back," I tell them. "I want to move forward. All of us."

"We've never had an audience before," August says, his voice gone thick with want. "Never had anyone watching."

"Do you want me to?" I ask quietly. "Because I don't want to push into something that's just between you two."

Cassian's hand slides into August's hair, possessive and gentle all at once. "If you're sure," he says, his voice rough. "But once you see this, you see everything."

"I think... I want to see everything. If that's okay," I tell them, my voice steadier than I feel. "I'm curious. I want to understand what it's like between you."

August's eyes search mine. "If you change your mind at any point..."

"I won't," I say quickly. "I need this. I need to know."

"Last chance to change your mind," Cassian says quietly.

August moves first, cupping Cassian's face in his hands, thumbs stroking those sharp cheekbones. The gentleness should look wrong on him—August, who's always so controlled, so careful—but it doesn't.

"Come here," he murmurs, and there's something in his voice that makes my spine straighten.

Command. Authority.

Wait.What?

I expect Cassian to laugh, to flip August onto his back and take charge because that's what alphas do, right? That's what I've been taught my whole life. Alphas dominate. Everyone else submits.

But Cassian melts. This massive, terrifying alpha just melts. His shoulders go soft, his breathing hitches, and he lets August guide him down onto the bed like he's something precious.

Holy shit.

"That's it," August says, and his voice has gone all commanding. "Let me take care of you."

Everything they taught me about alphas was bullshit.

"Oh my god," I breathe.