Page 54 of Wolf It Down, Knot Me Up

“You smell like heat.” His voice drops.

“It’s not heat,” I gasp out.

“Then the bond, maybe. It’s been open too long.” He’s guessing as I hear the worry in his voice. He instantly scoops me off the ground and into his arms, and I sag against his chest. “I’ve got you, little bird.”

He shoulders us through the doorway and into the living room. “Get the hell up! You fuckers, out here, now!” he bellows through the dark house.

He’s carrying me down the hallway while I cling to him, every part of me burning as though I’ve been dropped into an inferno. Sweat clings to my skin, my thoughts slipping further out of reach, leaving me able to do little more than stare at his beautiful face. My gaze drifts to the ink curling up his neck, and for one strange, ridiculous moment, I wonder if it hurt. But words are beyond me. A broken groan is all that escapes as I melt against his bare chest, breathing in his scent and chasing the brief relief it brings to the relentless ache twisting low inside me.

“I heard you from my room,” he murmurs. “Thank God I wasn’t sleeping.” He kicks open a door and lays me on a bed that smells like him—brandy and leather. It engulfs me, and I bury my face in the pillow with a moan, clutching it in a death grip. I inhale deeply, needing more.

“For fuck’s sake, Roman, get your ass in here!” he roars so loud the room seems to rattle, and I flinch onto my back. As he lowers his attention to me, his whole face softens. He’s at my side in seconds and brushes the sweat from my brow with his thumb. “Let me get you some water, some⁠—”

I grab his wrist before he can pull away. “No.” I shake my head. “Stay. You… you help.”

Having him close feels like a hand pressed over the worst of it, dulling the agony just enough that I can breathe. My other hand is already flat against his bare stomach, desperate for the warmth of him.

“I c-can’t…” My voice catches. “It’s… It’s two things. At once.” I squeeze my eyes shut as another wave tears through me. “Hurts so much. And I’m… I’m…” The words slip away. “I don’t… know.” My breathing turns ragged, and I swallow hard, panic rising with the tears burning my eyes. “Please… I’m scared.”

“I’m here.” He cups my face, the worry in his eyes raw and unmistakable. “Whatever you need. But we deal with the bond first, okay?”

Loud, thunderous footsteps boom, and Roman’s there in seconds, chest heaving, hair wild, wearing nothing but blue love-heart boxers. The second I spot him, something inside me lurches. My whole body reaches for him before my mind can catch up. I’m half off the mattress before I even realize I’ve moved.

“Whoa.” Grayson catches me before I hit the floor, an arm banding around my waist. “Little bird, careful. Fuck.” He eases me back onto the bed, but I’m already writhing, too hot, clawing at the collar of my robe.

Roman crosses the room in two strides and drops to his knees beside the bed. I’m grabbing for him, needing him. “Touch me!” I plead, and he’s got me pulled to the edge of the bed, his arms around my middle, another under my neck.

“Lucy?” His gaze flicks over me, confusion giving way to alarm. “What happened?”

“The bond,” Grayson says sharply. “It’s unraveling.”

Roman’s attention flies to the bite on the palm of my hand, his eyes widening.

“The bond’s trying to finish itself,” Grayson states. “It’s tearing through her while she seems to be going through some kind of mini heat at the same time. I don’t know how much longer her body’s going to keep up.”

“Hey.” Roman settles my head back down and cups my shaking hand between both of his. “Gorgeous. Look at me.”

My eyes find his for half a second before everything blurs again.

“Lucy.” Grayson’s on the mattress, on the other side of me, and he’s holding my jaw, turning it toward him. I’m forced to look between them. “Open your eyes, beautiful. Don’t fall asleep, you hear? Stay with us.” His voice is calm, but I hear the fear trembling underneath it. “Listen to me, little bird. We need to finish what we started.”

My brow pinches, and I’m gasping for air.

Roman’s touch on my cheek has me moaning and pushing toward him. “I need more of you,” I whisper. “But I’m so tired.”

“Be strong, please. We only just met our Omega. Don’t you dare leave us, Lucy.” His thumb brushes over my lips, and I’m trembling, the pulse between my thighs quivering. “For this to stop… you’re going to need to bite me.”

I blink at him.

“Just one bite,” Grayson says softly. “You’ll close the bond.”

I shake my head weakly.

My thoughts scatter, hearing them, knowing it’s what I need, but it feels too difficult. “What if… if…” I squeeze my eyes shut. “Not sure I can.”

Roman’s fingers tighten gently around mine.

“Lucy, stay with us. Open your eyes,” Grayson pleads, his voice low and steady despite the fear bleeding through it. “You can do this. We’re not losing you.”