Page 202 of Just Wait

She lets me dry her off and towel her hair, but she wants no part of clothing, which is okay.

I just want her to be comfortable.

“You’re going to have to deal with my tits being out,” she grumbles, diving onto the mattress in the pack bedroom.

“That’s perfectly fine with me.” I chuckle.

She grabs the blanket, rolling up like a burrito.

I frown, evaluating the room temperature. I’m a little chilly, but I’m not sure burrowing is going to help with that raging fever of hers.

Her head pokes out the top of the blanket, and she scoots down even farther.

“Come cuddle me,” she says, sounding exasperated. “I need to smell you. The cramps are back.”

I climb onto the bed, but it’s complicated with her all bundled up. “How about we unroll you? Then you can snuggle up to my chest. I can’t make you come if you’re a blanket burrito.”

Her nose scrunches and wrinkles appear on her forehead. Those freckles of hers seem brighter with how red her face is.

“That makes sense, but I want to be confined…” She pauses, and I wait patiently.

Alphas are warned that omegas can get snappy at times leading up to and during a heat. We’re also told they can get downright hateful if they don’t get their way, but that’s due to the hormonal fluctuations and not because they actually don’t like us.

I can’t imagine having to cope with going from having a normal day to being in physical pain any time I go too long without sex.

We’re taught to stay calm and command the situation.

The first part, I can handle with no problem.

The second, I’m working on.

I don’t mind being in control or making the tough calls, but this relationship is still very fresh.

I don’t want her to think I’m a controlling dick.

I also won’t stand by and watch her hurt herself because what she wants contradicts with what she needs to be safe and healthy.

“The room feels too open, and I hate it,” she finally says. “God, Ry. What’s happening to me?”

I roll over and pin her top half to the mattress with my chest. Hopefully it helps give her that secure feeling she’s craving.

“Nothing is wrong with you.” I brush the backs of my fingers over her cheek and offer what I hope is a comforting smile. “We’ll know more once the guys get back with a thermometer.”

“Then we’ll know if I should go to the hospital?” she asks, pulling her hand from under the blanket to cradle my face in her palm. “I should be panicking, but somehow you always manage to put me at ease.”

I grin. “That’s a good thing, considering you’re stuck with me for life.”

“I don’t think stuck is the right word for it,” she says, teasing her thumb over my lower lip. “I heard what Wren said, but I don’t think I’m presenting as an omega. I don’t want you to get your hopes up.”

It feels like she tries to block off her emotions in the bond, but I still get hints of what she’s thinking and feeling. She might want to give me a gentle reminder that nothing is for sure when it comes to her designation. I just think she’s predominantly trying to keep herself from getting her hopes up.

It makes sense, but based on her temperature, the cramps, the changes to her scent, and the fact she can take a knot without any discomfort, it’s very likely she’s going into heat.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Kincaid

Let’s hope the press didn’t get any sneaky pictures of me and Mal. Buying a bunch of omega-related products would be a dead giveaway that we’re locked down or about to be.