Page 51 of Want It All

Which was exactly what the doctors had always said, but I didn’t tell her that. ‘Okay. Seb’s in heat.’ I inhaled slowly, trying to calm my instincts, which were suddenly roaring need to see him, now . ‘What do we do?’

‘I’ve already done the prep work,’ Rose told me. ‘You’ve got enough food to feed an army, and you’ve already got energy drinks. I asked the kitchens to send meals to your room, and I contacted the first-year student advisor and told her we had the flu and would be out for a few days.’

I dipped my head and kissed her. She froze for a moment, then her lips parted and she returned the kiss with a hunger that warmed my chilled body all the way to the bones. ‘You’re amazing, omega,’ I murmured, gently breaking away. ‘I’m glad you’re his.’ I paused. ‘And mine.’

Rose flushed, trying not to look pleased. ‘Hurry, alpha,’ was all she said.

I didn’t put her down. We were leaving puddles of water all over the waxed wood floor, but I didn’t care.

Sebastian was all that mattered.

‘What will he need?’ My breath was shaky, but it wasn’t from exertion; I was almost trembling with nerves.

‘He’s in preheat, so he’s in pain.’ Rose touched my cheek.

‘You need to be prepared for that. Preheat usually lasts twenty-four hours, but with the length of time he’s been on blockers, I’m not sure if he’ll follow the usual pattern.

While he’s in preheat, his skin will be painful to touch.

He’ll be aroused, but climaxing feels like pins and needles. ’

‘That sounds awful.’

‘It is. But it’s our body’s way of gearing up for the heat haze.

Our nerve endings get all messed up, and so does our temperature.

Our muscles don’t know what’s going on, so they’ll tense and release randomly, which can lead to cramps.

If he can stand being touched, a gentle massage will help.

Other than that, he’ll take comfort from your presence.

’ She wriggled and I put her down as we reached the apartment door.

‘But you need to stop your blockers and wash off your scent cancellers so he can smell you. He’ll want that more than anything.

’ Rose turned to face me, studying my expression. ‘Are you ready?’

‘No,’ I answered honestly. ‘I’m so fucking nervous. I’ve wanted this for so long, but I wanted it to happen in a place of our own, in a beautiful nest full of things Seb had picked out, where I could make sure he was looked after properly. Not in student accommodation.’

Rose smiled at me. ‘You’re such a snob, Tristan,’ she said affectionately. ‘Sebastian doesn’t need all that. And he has a beautiful nest. All he needs is you.’

‘And you,’ I whispered.

Her smile widened. ‘Come on, alpha.’

I scented Sebastian as soon as Rose opened the door.

I pushed her gently inside and slammed it shut behind me; no one was scenting my omega when he smelled like that .

Like the most decadent cherry pie I’d ever known, with thick, buttery pastry and sweet, tart filling that made my mouth water at the mere thought of it. ‘ Fuck .’

Rose inhaled. ‘Oh, shit .’ She turned and locked the door behind us. ‘Seb, baby? We’re back.’

There was no answer; I strode through the lounge room to the nest, anxious, absently noting the coverlet and cushions tossed on the floor outside the nest. Was he hurt? In pain so severe he couldn’t answer?

Luckily, it was neither of those things.

Sebastian was curled up on the nest-bed, fast asleep.

A hectic red flush spread across his cheeks and down his neck and chest. He was entirely naked – another thing that made my mouth water – but for a pair of thick, woolly bed socks.

I’d tease him about it mercilessly after the heat, but, in this moment, I found them so endearing that my heart hurt.

‘Oh, Seb,’ Rose murmured, rising on her tiptoes to peek over my shoulder, taking in the ring of pillows. ‘He’s nested properly. Oh, it’s beautiful.’ She tugged me back from the door. ‘This is perfect, actually. Go and have a shower, Tris. Wash off your cancellers.’

I swallowed. I knew she was right, but I glanced back at Sebastian. I didn’t want to leave him, not even for a five-minute shower.

‘Alpha.’ Rose took my chin in hand and tilted it down. Her hair was plastered to her cheeks, her skin still pale from the outside chill. ‘You’re soaking wet and shivering. You need to get warm and dry. I’ll watch your omega while you shower. Go.’

‘Our omega,’ I corrected. ‘And you need to get dry, too.’

She smiled. ‘ Our omega. And I will.’

I glanced at Sebastian again. ‘He won’t wake up?’

Rose shook her head. ‘I think he’s out for a while, Tris. And even if he did, you’re here. He’s safe.’

I gave a curt nod, then tore myself away from them both. It hurt to leave, physically hurt, my stomach twisting itself in knots.

I showered as quickly as I could, scrubbing off the scent canceller and rinsing my hair. I took several deep breaths, mentally running through everything I’d ever researched about heats.

Academically, I was prepared for this. But in reality?

I was shaking.

My cock was rock hard and had been since I’d walked through the door.

But I knew I couldn’t just knot Sebastian straight away.

He’d want it – at least, I assumed he would – but the more often I knotted him, the more tired I’d get, and I’d be at risk of being unable to satisfy him when the heat haze hit its peak.

I’d have to pace myself, and work with Rose.

When I’d imagined a heat before, I’d always been by myself. It had always been me and Sebastian against the world. But now, Rose would be with us, and I felt a rush of gladness at the thought.

I towelled off quickly, pulled on a clean shirt and pair of shorts, then all but ran back to the nest, stopping still in the doorway.

‘Hey, alpha.’

Sebastian was awake, lying on his side. Rose stretched out beside him, her body a foot or so away, so she wouldn’t accidentally touch his skin.

‘Hey, baby. How are you feeling?’

Sebastian frowned at Rose. ‘Well, I think Rosebud might be right,’ he said grumpily.

‘What gave it away?’ Rose teased.

‘The rampant erection.’ Sebastian glowered, this time down at his cock, which was swollen and leaking precum on the blanket beneath him.

‘What do you need?’

‘Will you lie with us, alpha?’ he answered plaintively.

I stepped into the nest, then settled myself on the bed behind him, careful not to touch him. He was glorious like this, all flushed and rumpled. The scent of cherry was thick in the air, coating my tongue, and I caught a hint of Rose’s chocolate, too.

I looked around at the circle of cushions he’d arranged, at my neatly folded coverlet, and noticed a shirt of mine stuffed beneath a pillow near his head. ‘Your nest is so beautiful, omega. You did such a good job.’

‘It’s still not right,’ he said crossly, shifting his weight. ‘There’s something missing, but I can’t –’ He shuddered, his cock twitching. ‘I want to go to a proper nesting shop when this is over, Tris. I need to make it right.’

‘Of course,’ I soothed. ‘Of course. We’ll go as soon as we can. And we won’t stop looking until we find what’s missing.’

Sebastian sniffed, then stiffened as his body tensed and his cock leaked precum in a wave of sensation that looked painful, rather than pleasurable. ‘Fuck, I hate this.’

Rose’s brow creased, her expression equal parts stricken and understanding. ‘Can I touch, Seb?’ she whispered.

He hesitated, then nodded his assent. Rose didn’t touch anywhere but his cock, which she grasped with fingers both firm and gentle. Sebastian groaned, the sound half-pleasure and half-pain, as she moved her hand in a fluid motion. I rose up to watch, my own cock leaking at the sight.

‘Fuck, Rose, yes ,’ Sebastian hissed, then came without warning all over her hand. ‘Urgh, sorry.’

Rose huffed a laugh. ‘Why are you sorry?’

‘For lasting as long as this sentence.’

She snorted. ‘When I had my heat, one of the heat alphas accidentally brushed my knee and I came. Your body is all sorts of fucked up right now. Plus,’ she went on, grinning, ‘you’re still hard, aren’t you?’

‘I know romance novels make a big deal about steel ,’ Sebastian moaned, ‘but that’s exactly what it feels like.’ He shook his head and glared at her. ‘And please don’t talk about your heat alphas, especially now. You’re mine .’

Rose’s smile went soft. ‘Silly omega. Of course I’m yours.’

Sebastian wiped her hand – and his cock – with a handkerchief, which he promptly stuffed under a pillow. In usual times, Sebastian was fastidiously tidy, but I knew he’d want the nest to smell like him – and like us .

‘I want to talk about something,’ he said, rolling onto his back with a wince. He was so fucking pretty , flushed and cross, and it took all my willpower not to reach for him. ‘And it needs to be now, while I’m still lucid.’

‘You’ll be lucid during the heat, Seb,’ Rose said, frowning. ‘You’ll know what’s happening and you’ll be able to make decisions. It will just be a little … fuzzier … than usual.’

‘Yes, but I don’t want the heat haze held against me.

’ Sebastian’s eyes found mine, searching.

‘If I beg for a bite, and one of you is willing to give it, then I want it. I’m telling you now, when I’m not thinking about knots.

Well, I’m not thinking about knots every moment , at least. I want your bite. Bites .’

‘Seb –’

‘No, alpha.’ He scowled at me. ‘I won’t be talked out of this. I fully understand that you might not want to bite me. But if I ask for it, and you change your mind – or if Rose wants it – then I want a bite .