Page 23 of Forbidden Taste (An Omega’s Preference #3)
seventeen
RILEY
My body is achy and sore when I wake up, a dull throb pulsing through me as Hawk moves beneath me, his hips pumping up, filling me with a warmth that’s both too much and not enough.
My eyes flutter open, blurry with sleep, and I blink against the soft rays of light filtering through the curtains.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Hawk murmurs, his dark eyes catching mine as he shifts, his hands gentle on my hips.
“How are you feeling?” His vanilla musk wraps around me, and I melt into his arms, my chest pressing to his, hating how I’m all but sure he’s another mate—his scent, his touch, the way he fits so perfectly right here.
The haze of my heat is gone which means it was just a spike, a violent one at that.
I sit up a little, my thighs trembling as I turn my head.
Leo’s there, sprawled beside us in the nest, his sea-green eyes wide and dark with desire, fixed on us like he can’t look away.
One of his hands is buried in Hawk’s damp black hair, fingers tangled in a possessive grip I’m not sure he even notices.
I need more than just Hawk right now, more than his steady rhythm, and it’s a new ache, one I’ve never felt before. I’ve never needed more than one Alpha during a heat, but it makes sense—two mates, two scents calling to me, apple pie and vanilla weaving through my roses and honey like they belong.
I reach for Leo like I did all last night, my hand trembling as I stretch toward him, and he obliges immediately, surging up to kiss me, his lips crashing into mine with a hunger that steals my breath.
My hand slides down, finding his cock so that I can stroke him, Leo responding with a guttural sound, his entire body shaking as his scent sweetens, flooding the nest. I come, a sharp, sudden wave crashing through me even as Hawk keeps moving, pumping up into my ass.
My head tips back, a moan spilling from my lips as I pull away from Leo, my voice rough as I meet his stormy eyes.
“You need more too, don’t you, sweetie?” I ask, watching his face twist up, a flicker of confusion and want he’s not ready to face.
I look down at Hawk, his dark eyes steady on me.
“Touch him, but softly. Don’t dominate.” Hawk doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t blink, as if he’s already picked up on the dynamic threading through us.
His hand slides from my hip, reaching over to grip Leo’s, his fingers brushing the curve of Leo’s skin.
Leo hisses before relaxing, his massive frame sinking back into the nest as if Hawk’s touch is enough to break through the hesitation in his expression.
The entire time, I keep stroking my Omega, my hand slick with him, my focus shifting—Hawk’s still inside me, pumping up once more, but it’s Leo I’m pouring into now, wanting him to feel this, to let go.
Hawk’s knot swells, locking us together, and the haze of my heat sinks fully away, leaving me completely clear-headed, tethered to them both.
Leo’s breath hitches, his hand tightening in Hawk’s hair, and then he comes, spilling into my hand, coating the side of my thigh.
He growls through it, a deep, possessive sound that rumbles through the nest, and it pulls me over again—another wave, softer this time, cresting as Hawk fills me, his vanilla scent spiking with release.
The knot pulls me under like it always does, relief settling through me at the fact that Leo doesn’t seem as panicked as before.
The next time I wake up, I’m sprawled across Leo’s chest, my cheek pressed to the warm expanse of his freckled skin, his spiced apple scent thick in my lungs as the sound of running water pulls me from sleep.
“Angel, was it okay?” he asks, his hand stroking my back, fingers tracing slow circles. “He was gentle with you. I made sure of it.”
A giggle falls from my lips as I throw a leg over his waist, straddling him as I nuzzle closer, my nose brushing the hollow of his throat.
“You’re not sore?” he asks, his hand sliding to my thigh, gripping gently as if testing me.
“No,” I say, my lips curving as I press a kiss to his collarbone, tasting the salt of his skin.
“I wanted you too, but I couldn’t get out the words, and I just…
don’t hate me, okay? I really liked his knot.
” My voice dips, my cheeks flushing as I admit it, the memory of Hawk’s vanilla musk and steady strength still lingering.
Leo grins, a flash of teeth that’s both tender and teasing as he leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “I bet you did,” he murmurs. “You said your ass was greedy for it.” There’s a flicker of pain in his eyes that I barely catch, a thread of possessiveness he’s holding back.
“But I think I like yours more,” I whisper, my hand sliding up his chest, fingers curling into his orange curls.
“Knot me?” It’s a plea, his grin fading into something fiercer, hungrier.
I’m not even sure if his knot will take right now.
It didn’t inflate the last time but that was because I was in heat and his desires were working against him. That’s all it was, right?
He flips us, pinning me beneath him, and slides right in.
I hum with pleasure as he starts to move, his lips brushing mine, his hands cradling my face.
The nest shifts beneath us, pillows sinking as he rocks into me, every thrust a tender claim that makes my toes curl.
It’s nothing like our first time when he was unsure.
There’s confidence in his movements, a certainty that makes me submit completely.
But then it changes, his movements turning wild and animalistic, loving the way he lets go, his hands gripping my hips hard enough to bruise, possessive like I know he wanted to be last night with Hawk here.
A yelp tears from my throat as he pulls out, flips me over onto my stomach, and surges back in, my fingers digging into the pillows, clawing at the fabric as he drags my ass higher, pounding into me with a rhythm that’s raw, unrestrained.
“More,” I mumble, my voice muffled against the nest, my breath hitching as need coils tight in my belly.
“I need more.” My instincts sing as he leans over me, his chest pressing to my back, his lips grazing my earlobe, sucking gently before moving to my neck.
His breath is hot against my shoulder, his teeth scraping the skin, and then—pain, sudden and sharp, followed by absolute euphoria as his knot swells, locking us together .
I gasp, my body shuddering as realization crashes through me—Leo bit me, his teeth sinking into my shoulder, bonding me in a rush of heat and connection that shouldn’t be possible, not between Omegas, but it’s undeniably there.
I feel him—his chaotic emotions, panic and love and terror—flooding into me through the fresh mark.
He tries to pull away, his knot tugging at my entrance, and I wince, the pain sharp as he starts to panic, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps.
“Sweetie, breathe with me,” I say, my voice strained, reaching back to grab his hand.
“Shit, Leo… I need you to…” But he’s gone, lost in a different headspace, his body trembling against mine, his spiced apple scent souring with fear.
I yell, desperate, “Hawk!” and the Alpha rushes in, the bathroom door banging open as he drops to his knees beside the nest, his dark eyes wide with concern.
“I need your help. Fuck, he’s having a panic attack.” Hawk moves like it’s second nature, kneeling beside Leo, his vanilla musk cutting through the chaos as he whispers something in Leo’s ear—soft and steady, repeated like a mantra.
I can’t catch the words, but Leo relaxes, his shoulders slumping, and he pulls me back, shifting us so he’s sitting up, me still on his cock, settled in his lap, his knot anchoring us together.
His arms wrap around me as I lean back against his chest, dragging his hands to rest over my stomach, threading my fingers through his.
“Hey,” Hawk purrs, as he kneels there, water still dripping from his hair. “What happened?” His eyes flick between us, searching for answers.
I take a shaky breath, feeling Leo’s confusion and terror pulsing through the bond.
“I think Leo just bonded me,” I say, my voice quiet, my hand lifting to touch the fresh bite on my shoulder, the skin tender and wet.
When I pull away, my fingers are laced in crimson telling me that I now have a mating bond.
I should be furious but for some reason, I’m over the moon that I’m Leo’s.
That everyone was saying we couldn’t be and yet, here we are and I’m his.
Hawk’s eyes widen, leaning forward to inspect it, Leo offering a possessive growl, a sound that rumbles through me, sending shivers down my spine.
“Damn,” Hawk mutters, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “That’s a new one. Yeah.” He sits back on his heels, running a hand through his wet hair. “Riley, call me again if you need me, but I’ll be in the kitchen so we can figure it out, okay?”
On top of all of this, there’s this new mate issue we have to face because damn if I’m letting my desires slip through my fingers.
But one problem at a time. Leo might not be trying to pull away from me but he’s definitely still freaking out.
Hawk steps out of the nest and heads into the hallway, some part of me hating that he’s no longer beside us.
“Sweetie,” I sigh, turning my attention back to Leo, squeezing his hands on my belly, “we didn’t know that would happen.
It’s okay.” He’s still mumbling “I’m sorry,” over and over, his voice small, shock locking him in place, and I feel all of it—his guilt, his fear—through the bond.
I shift, careful not to pull on his knot, and turn my head, brushing my lips against his jaw, tasting the salt of his skin.
“Leo,” I whisper, “you’re mine. This doesn’t change that. ”