Page 118 of Heat Lightning

Yes, my omega crooned. Let alpha pin us down. Let him devour us whole. Then we’ll belong to him forever.

He knocked my knees apart with his own and settled into the cradle of my hips. “I told you I stayed a room away at the clinic because you were uneasy when I tried to leave, but that’s not true either. I needed to be near you. I had to lock myself in there, Max. I wanted to throw every nurse who went into your room out the window and wrap you up until you smelled like me and only me.”

He lapped at my scent gland. “And you begged for me so prettily. You whined and pleaded for my cock through the wall. Your omega knew before you did who you belong to. But I tied myself to that bed because I knew you weren’t ready for me. I would’ve terrified you, and I can’t stand when you smell of fear. I want to snuff it out of existence. You should only smell warm and sweet and malleable, not burnt and afraid.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on for dear life. “I’m not afraid, alpha,” I said. “Give me your knot now, and bite me, and I’ll make you better. I want you to be better. I want you to be mine.”

“I’m not done, sweetheart. Listen up.”

I pouted, and he nosed at my chin, tipping my head back so he had easier access to my neck.

“I couldn’t stand the thought of you out on your own in the world again, unprotected,” he continued, teething at my fluttering pulse point. “So I asked my brother to interview you for the private chef position. If he didn’t like your food, I would’ve hired you myself and prayed you didn’t recognize me. I told myself it was my fault you couldn’t work at the restaurant Weber might go back to or live somewhere he could find you. But really, I just wanted you close. I wanted you somewhere I could watch. When I moved out of Saint’s guest house, I told him it was so you’d have somewhere safe to stay, but the real reason…”

He nipped my ear. “The real reason was, it made me hard to think about you showering in the same place I used to; sleeping in the same place I did, like we were connected. Sometimes, I’d even go stand in my brother’s kitchen after you left just so I could smell you.”

“God, Atlas…” I breathed. That was so fucked up. It also made me hard as a rock. Grinding my hips up into his, I said, “I can’t believe you held out on me for so long over this. We could’ve been having really hot shower sex this whole time. After you mate me, we’re gonna fight about it, and then I’m gonna make you sit and watch me jerk off while I think about you watching me while I’m in the shower.”

He stilled above me. “Is that… something you’re into?”

The tone of his voice, wary and seeking, brought me to the surface. Surely, he wouldn’t draw the line at exhibitionism after confessing that?

“Um…” I said. “Well. Yes, actually.”

I took a deep breath. He’d just bared his deepest, darkest desires to me. I could do the same in return. “You remember the first night—well, I guess not the first—but the night you broke into my apartment and asked me to help with your rut?”

“I recall.”

Fuck. Did I really, really need to tell him? His eyes were expectant, though, almost like he anticipated what I was about to say. It wouldn’t be right to lie. Not now. Not ever again, after he tore down the walls between us.

“I think I was already feeling the start of my heat after seeing you, and I sort of made myself come. While thinking about you.”

He blinked. “You were… thinking about me?”

“Mmhmm.”

“What about me, exactly?” he asked, that wolfish flare back in his gaze. It made my cock pulse.

“Uhh…” In for a penny, in for a pound, right? “I imagined you were… watching me. From outside the window. I thought about you jerking off with me.”

Atlas froze. Tick, tick, tick. God, how loud was that clock?

I cleared my throat. “Is that too weird?”

Still frozen.

I huffed. “Okay, you just told me you broke into my apartment to smell my sheets. There is no way this is worse than⁠—”

“Max.”

My mouth clipped shut. “What?”

Again, he just looked at me, like he was seeing me for the first time. Awe shone in his eyes.

I protested when he rolled off, but he pulled me up so we sat side-by-side on the edge of the bed.

Then, he pointed to the top drawer of his nightstand. “Open it.”

“Ya know, I’m good. I’m not really interested in your cummy tissues.”