Page 40 of Unbonded (Pack’s Companion #3)

“Jets or no jets?” she asks as I sink into the steaming water, since the extravagant tub has a spa function.

“Fire me up, Omega,” I smirk, giving a happy groan as the jets cover me in a blanket of lavender, sweet orange, and chamomile bubbles.

While I lie back against the bath pillow, Kate grabs a comb and gently brushes out my hair.

It’s been a long time since anyone did this for me, and I shiver with bliss, letting myself sink into the sensation.

The build-up to my heat usually involves grabbing my go-bag and fighting traffic to get to the clinic.

There’s a lot of boring check-in procedures, and then I’m in some sterile, faceless room trying to decide if I want to get straight down to business with a dildo or wait until one of the heat attendants show up.

The first couple of times there was a taboo little thrill at getting fucked by a stranger, but recently I’ve tried to make do with just the sex toys and a helping hand.

Unsatisfying and forgettable, but better than staring into a pair of vacant eyes as I lose myself to the haze.

Not that I would think badly of Kate if she’d gone ahead and auctioned off her heat at Safe Haven.

My preference has always been to avoid unwanted complications, while she has had those complications forced on her, thanks to her asshole ex.

It’s obvious she has a deep romantic streak, and if the situation was different, she’d be counting the days to her heat, instead of fearing it.

Just thinking about how confused and stressed she must be makes my blood pound in my veins. She deserves to be the centerpiece of an adoring pack, not some afterthought or companion clause.

I sit up suddenly, causing a fragrant wave to slosh over the side. “Kate, I won’t bond with them if you don’t want me to.”

The plink of the comb hitting the tile is her only response until her hands land gently on my shoulders. “That shouldn’t be my decision, Dash.”

The careful note in her voice makes my stomach pinch. Unfortunately, my needy omega won’t let me take the cautious approach, and I twist around to meet her hesitant gaze. “Did you really mean it about being packmates? Bites, bonds, the works?”

She doesn’t hesitate this time. “Yes. I won’t ever lie to you about something like that.”

Because she’s learned the hard way that with deception comes heartbreak. Not that I will ever hurt her. I’d sooner break an ankle than break her heart.

I pause, shocked that I mean it in a literal way. My body is my career, my purpose, my identity - but I’d sacrifice it without a second thought if it kept her from harm’s way.

Huh. When exactly did my famous pragmatic backbone melt into a pile of goo?

Kate must be able to sense my epiphany, because she presses her cool palm to my temple. I lean into the touch, my lashes fluttering at the contact. “Tell me what you want, Dash.”

“You. Them. A pack, I guess. But I need to know it’s real, and forever, and that I’ll never be forgotten or ignored.” The words spill out of me, small and weak, like a sad little echo of my childhood years. “I couldn’t cope with being another mistake, Kate.”

My cheeks burn with shame that I’ve spewed it all out – the trauma I hide behind mindless flings and perfect performances.

But Kate smiles at me like I’ve given her some kind of gift and rises to her feet.

She strips off her fuzzy sweater and girlboss trousers, then climbs into the tub and crawls between my knees.

Bubbles cling to her silky underwear, and my mouth waters at the sight of her nipples poking through the fabric.

But I’m just as captivated by the look on her face as she leans forward and presses a soft kiss to my lips.

“Nothing about you is a mistake, Dash Devereux, and I can promise I will never forget you or ignore you.” She takes my hand and presses it to her chest. “In fact, you take up most of the available space in my heart.”

I look at her shyly through my lashes. “Me and Lachlan?”

“Mmm. Plus Coco Chanel and H?agen-Dazs.”

I smirk, since her ice cream obsession is almost as intense as her love for fashion icons. “Wow, that’s a pretty special group to be in.”

She cocks a teasing brow at me. “Unlike you, I have very fancy taste.”

I pull her against me, and she fits perfectly in my lap, those delicious thighs cupping my hips just the way I like them.

I kiss my way across her collarbone, then up to her scent gland, rolling my special brand of candy under my tongue.

Her head drops back, her arms propped on my shoulders, and I lose myself in her sighs as my heat swirls under my skin.

My blood feels thicker, my muscles clenching in hungry little spasms as she rocks against my erection.

I’m still a long way from the height of my haze, but my body is responding to all the stimuli around it, and I have to fist my hands to stop myself from ripping off her underwear and thrusting up into her.

“It’s okay,” she whispers in my ear, her lips skimming my jaw. “I’m here for you. Use me, Dash.”

Ugh. I’m a dancer, not a beast. So why does that appeal to me so much?

If I’m leaning into this honesty kick – and what better time is there when my heat is about to tear me wide open?

– I don’t just want to love and cherish Kate.

I want to consume her. Eat her up and drink her down.

Not an inch of distance between us until we’re sharing our oxygen and grinding matching patterns into our skin.

“I want my nest,” I purr in her shell ear, but when she goes to rise off me, I hold her still. “Not that one. I want inside here .”

I demonstrate by slipping a finger past her silky barrier and into her pussy.

She moans at the intrusion, and I lick the sound from her lips, pumping my finger slowly as she curls and clenches around me.

Heat crackles over my skin, and I bite down on her throat, picturing the mark I want to leave.

I don’t just want to make a nest inside her, I want to imprint on her body, so everyone knows she’s mine.

“Such a sweet, hot pussy.”

“It’s yours, Dash. Make it your home.”

I groan and thrust up, my hungry cock pushing straight past her thong.

She’s slick, her sweet juices mingling with my own, so there’s nothing but eager, willing heat as I sheath myself inside her.

I’m a bottom with men, but I’m all primal dominance when it comes to Kate.

I grip her hips, thrusting hard enough for a wave of water to burst over the side of the tub.

A groan tears from my throat as she clenches around me, and I fumble for her slippery clit, determined to get us both to the crest at the same time.

We don’t just come, we soar , and I shout Kate’s name as she bites the meaty part of my shoulder. It’s nowhere near my gland, but it sparks the same reaction, and I grind against her, trying to burrow even deeper.

We come down inch by glorious inch, the wrap of knuckles on the bathroom door barely penetrating my afterglow.

“Sorry for the interruption,” Lachlan says, his eyes gleaming as he takes in our heaving chests and slick-coated skin. “I can wait out here if you want.”

“Don’t you dare,” I growl, only realizing how bossy I sound when he cocks a brow at me. “Sorry. I’ve just been body-snatched by a high-maintenance omega.”

“Looks like you’re in good hands,” he smirks, bending down to kiss us both, then placing a couple of carrier bags on the vanity. “I grabbed some supplies, just in case.”

Kate pushes her damp curls out of her face and gives him a grateful look. “Give me a second to get the feeling back in my legs and we can unpack them.”

Lachlan carries the bags into the bedroom while we clamber out of the tub, sneaking kisses as we dry each other off.

We wrap ourselves in matching silk robes, Kate instinctively fussing with the fit of mine while I grope her curves.

When we eventually make it into the bedroom, Lachlan has set out his supplies on the bed like we’re packing for a weekend away.

I peruse the selection, my lips curving at the mix of sensible items and sex toys.

“Ah, I kind of adapted the heat kit they have at Safe Haven.” He rubs the back of his neck, looking adorably cute. “There’s massage oil and body butter, though it looks like you’ve already got that covered.”

“Mmm, but you also have lip balm and fluffy socks.” I saunter over to kiss his pink cheek, pressing my warm body against his. “That pretty much covers me from head to toe.”

“Oh, and an acupuncture roller!” Kate picks up the device and rolls the spikes over her palm. It looks like a bedroll covered in little blue starfish, but she gives a shiver of approval. “This will hit the spot.”

“So will this,” I tell her, lifting the biggest of the three dildos laid out on the bed. I palm the thick shaft, then notice an oversized cock ring snuggled up next to my fuzzy bed socks. “Ooh! You brought me a wearable knot.”

“Yeah.” Lachlan gives me a sheepish look. “I’ve never worn one, but Eric from our market research team says this is the best you can buy.”

I hum and palm the front of Lachlan’s jeans. “Eric sounds like he knows his stuff. But I think we should try it out a few times before we give him our review.”

Lachlan stares down at me, those boy-next-door eyes firing up my every nerve. “I’d be up for that.”

“Hold that thought,” Kate says, waving her phone at us before hitting the speaker. “Everything okay? Are you on your way home?”

“We’re calling from the jet,” Corbus replies, his voice so clear it’s like he’s in the next room. Wishful fucking thinking . “We should be home about nine tomorrow morning.”

“How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

I shiver at the rumble of concern from Bram. “I’m good. Kate gave me a bath and Lachlan’s going to wear a knot ring for me.”

Lachlan casts me a wide-eyed look. “Um. It’s a backup measure, obviously…”