Page 15 of Take All of Me

I twist around in Dakota’s lap, mumbling my thanks to him. He brightens the slightest bit, dragging the bagel bag onto the bed before pulling out mine. I try reaching for it, but he whines, his hands moving fast to keep me from doing anything with mine. He digs into the bag, pulling out a small tub of cream cheese and a plastic knife, working quick to smear a thick layeracross the bagel before holding it up to my lips. His other arm slides around my waist, locking me against him, and I glance at Roman and Holt, desperate for answers.

I’m not entirely against this development but I’m also not sure how it’ll pan out over time. Giving in, I open my mouth, Dakota feeding me, a triumphant hum rumbling through his chest. The sound has me clenching my thighs, the thought of his rapidly growing cock inside of me giving me ideas I can’t satisfy.

Cream cheese clings to my lips as I swallow, warmth spreading through me despite me trying to keep my emotions in check. “Did they say how long this is going to last?”

Holt scratches his jaw, brown eyes flicking to Dakota. “It’s all leading up to his first heat. They said it softens out with time.”

I frown, the reality sinking in heavier than I expected. “See, I know Omegas go into heat, but it didn’t really occur to me that Kota would.” My words falter as Dakota tries feeding me again, the bagel hitting my teeth, smearing cream cheese across my lips. I groan, swiping at it, but he sets the bagel down, grabs my chin, and leans in, licking the mess off my lips with a slow, deliberate swipe of his tongue.

A little moan slips out and before I can process it, Roman’s there, dragging me off Dakota’s lap. Dakota lets out a possessive growl, Holt dropping onto the edge of the bed and planting a firm hand on Dakota’s shoulder to keep him there.

I stumble into Roman, trying to figure out what just happened. “What?”

“He’s not the only person in this room who’d have liked to do that,” Roman states. “He’s just the only one not in control.”

My cheeks burn as I try to keep from reacting to his statement but the way his nostrils flare tell me that I’m failing miserably. I run my hands down my sweatpants, looking for a way out of this conversation. “The dean said I could try for the assistant coach position,” I blurt out.

Holt leans back slightly, his hand still on Dakota, who’s watching me like he’s ready to pounce the second Holt lets go. “Carrying on your dad’s legacy?”

I shrug, picking at my hoodie sleeve. “Well, he was a head coach. I suppose I’ll get there eventually, but for now, this is good. I need something to fill… the hole of extra time.”

Roman chuckles beside me, a wild grin forming on his lips that doesn’t match the situation. “She’s under the impression this is all off-limits,” he says to Holt, gesturing at Dakota, “as well as the fact that you’re gonna go all territorial on his ass.” He turns to me, head tilted. “Did I get that right?”

“Why do you seem so nonchalant about all of this?”

Holt watches me for a minute, almost as if he’s seeing through me before he speaks. “Because there’s not really a problem when it comes to dating on the team. It might be unconventional for Dakota to have a relationship outside the pack now that he’s an Omega, but…”

I throw up my hands, cutting him off. “There’s no relationship,” I insist, “We got a little carried away when I came back. Besides, a coach dating a player? No administration’s okay with that.”

Holt’s brows lift. “Maya, that’s not really a rule here. Taboo, sure, but not illegal or anything.”

My reasons for saying no are crumbling around me. But for some reason, I can’t trust my instincts because the one time I did, I landed in Nox’s arms. “Right, let me just get through this interview first, okay?” No one objects as I turn around to leave, a low whine spilling out into the room from behind me.

“This sucks,” Dakota mumbles and then he’s there, caging me against the door with his arms braced on either side.

I twist around to look up at him, his eyes still glazed over a little.“I always wondered if you could get any more adorable,Kota. Guess the universe’s answer to that’s a big fat resounding yes.”

He gives me a small, lopsided smile. “Sorry,” his voice softer now, almost shy. Then he leans closer, breath brushing my cheek. “I really need to kiss you. Can I kiss you?”

My heart stumbles, caught off guard by the earnest plea in his tone as I tilt my head up. “Of course, sweetie,” The word slips out before I can stop it. Confusion swells in my chest because I’ve never called him that—not once in all the years we were us. Sweetie didn’t fit back then; he was my protector, my rock, the one who held me together. Now, though, with his eyes soft and his body trembling under this Omega shift, I feel this urge to shield him, to wrap him up and keep him safe.

He dives down, lips crashing into mine, and it’s all tongue and heat, a wet, licking kiss that presses me harder against the door. His body crowds me, his hands sliding to my hips, and I melt into it, my fingers curling into his shirt, pulling him closer, but then he’s yanked awayagain. Roman’s there, one hand gripping Dakota’s arm, his citrus scent sharp with exasperation—the first full whiff I’ve gotten of his scent. “Maya, please tell me you recognize some of what’s going on?”

I swallow hard, looking at Dakota—his pupils blown, a flush creeping up his neck. “I can smell him a little bit now, which means it’s probably really potent?” My voice wavers, unsure, and I let my gaze roam the room, trying to catch more than just the heavy lavender clouding the air. It’s overwhelming, like stepping into a flower shop mid-bloom, but then my eyes drop, and I see it—the thick bulges straining against all their pants, unmistakable even through jeans and sweats.

“If you expect to get out of here before class starts, I’d leave now,” Roman suggests, although it comes out more like a warning. As much as I want Dakota, I am not ready for him in this state. Not yet.

I barely hesitate, spinning for the door as Dakota lets out another whine. The sound hits me like a wave, a blast of pheromones that nearly buckles my knees in the hallway. I grip the wall, steadying myself, and force my legs to move, heart pounding as I stumble toward my dorm. I kind of forgot about this part too. The part where an Omega in heat puts everyone else on edge too and while I can’t smell Dakota like the others can, my body feels all of it. My pussy is clenching around nothing, a need growing in the pit of my belly as heat courses through me. They’re all saying a relationship with Dakota is okay but I need a good hard fuck first.

Maya

I barrel through a full day of classes, dodging Dakota’s texts and Brogan’s lingering glances because I don’t know the right response. My body is saying one thing, my heart another, and my head keeps warning me, telling me that if I take that first step, it’ll end up just like Nox. But all that is falling apart little by little despite trying to focus on the degree I so desperately want to finish.

Scarfing down a turkey sandwich at lunch, cramming for a pop quiz in sports psych, and bolstering every ounce of confidence I can muster for my meeting with the coach makes it hard to concentrate on anything else. I’ve got my degree, my goals, my plan: assistant coach for the Northvale Hawks, a step toward my dad’s legacy without the mess of mates or packs. But something keeps tugging at my heart, a soft ache that won’t quit, and itsharpens to a point when I step into the ice rink, the chill hitting my face like a memory.

Brogan’s there, leaning against the boards, stick in hand as he flashes me a grin. “Hey, coach,” he calls, his eyes lighting up, crinkling at the corners. “I’ve been waiting for that all fucking day, Maya. Now, go get ’em.”

I laugh, a short burst that loosens the knot in my gut. “You’ve literally never seen me coach anything.”

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