Page 24 of Roommate Wanted

Ourbond.

Conall whined, pacing inside me.

All we could do was prepare the nest and wait.

???

The longer she waited, the angrier I became. There was a cycle of sobbing, begging, smashing items against the door and cursing me in ways that no one ever dared to. But the worst part? I could feel her pain in my gut, as if we were already bonded. It could only be my imagination playing tricks on me.

My knot bulged obscenely, and the ache was so violent that it made me want to vomit. Through the closed door, I could smell her need. It took everything in me not to burst through that door and force her to accept me.

By 4 am, I heard her nails scratching at the door.

“Lyall,” she whimpered. “Lyall, please—”

Like a whipped dog, I sat outside her door.

“Am here, Nia,” I said softly, touching the door.

“It hurts so bad,” she cried before I heard her broken sob.

“Ah know, ma darlin’, it hurts me too,” I replied.

She sniffed a few times and blew her nose.

“How does it hurt you?”

Fuck. How could I explain it to her?

I sighed because I knew the answer. Through honesty.

“Am connected tae yae, luv. Am no going through cramps, but am aching fur yae. The longer ah wait the more painful ma knot becomes. Ah cun hear yae, smell yae. The same way yur dying tae smell me and ma scent. It will gie yae comfort.”

There was silence before she gasped in pain. I ran a hand through my hair in frustration before closing my eyes.

How much longer could she endure—this—madness?

Click.

The sound of the lock slammed through me like a bullet.

My heart stopped.

“I can't take it anymore,” she whispered weakly.

I jumped up off the floor, placing my fingers on the handle.

“Cun ah come in, darlin’?”

There was a shuffling noise—then silence.

I pushed the handle and the door sprang open. She wasn't on or near her bed. I stepped inside and found her curled in a ball on the floor behind the door, knees to her chest, slick clinging to her inner thighs, her face blotchy with tears. Her eyes were red around the rims and puffy.

My heart cracked like bone under pressure.

“Ah’ve got yae now,” I whispered.“Let me make it stop.”

I bent down and scooped her into my arms. Silent tears streaked her cheeks, but she clung to my shirt like a lifeline. Her body shuddered before she buried her face against me and inhaled deeply. Slowly, I felt her body relax as my scent dulled the edge of her pain.