“I…ah…” I try to find my words, but every time Ben touches me, my core clenches and shock waves of pleasure pulse through me. Goosebumps rise on my skin even though I’m overheated.

“Come on, Devyn,” he whispers, his voice slightly strained. “One more for me.”

Ilovewhen he starts to lose control. He’s always so careful, so calculated and prepared. When I get to see him in moments like this, my inner Omega relishes every moment.

He turns his head to kiss me, and his hand slides down the front of my chest, his fingers grazing over a sensitive nipple. Even through my bra, the pleasure is enough to send me over the edge.

I don’t have time to warn him. I let out a wail, trembling in his hold as he nibbles at my mating gland, building an even bigger release. Waves of euphoria wash over me as Ben holds me through my fourth orgasm with the patience of a saint.

He’s still dressed in his white undershirt and jeans, but his cock is as hard as a rock as it presses against my stomach.

I whimper in his hold, groping between us to grip his erection. He rewards me with a groan against my skin and keeps his mouth buried in my neck, his lips closing roughly over the mating gland.

Once again, I wonder if this is when he’ll bite me.

I’ve offered it to him more than once—Ben is mysoulmate, and I want to be tied to him permanently.

“You can do it,” I whisper in his ear. “You can do it; I want you to.”

But he freezes and lets out a shaky breath, then pulls back, giving me a gentle smile. His eyes soften and he looks at me tenderly.

“Not yet,” he tells me softly.

It’s not a no. Iknowit isn’t, but my inner Omega senses the rejection, anyway.

I pant in his hold, the post-orgasm bliss slowly draining from my body. “Ben,” I whine, hating how childish I sound. “It’s our anniversary?—”

“And you know exactly why I’m waiting.” He boops me on the nose with his finger. “We’ve talked about this.”

I huff. Ben wants to wait until I find my pack—but I don’t need a pack.

I’m perfectly content with what I have with Ben. We have toys we use during my Heat, and even though it’s not the exact same as a knot, it works.

Ben is all I need.

He caresses my cheek and kisses me gently. “You’ve told me you wanted to wait until you had your pack for the mating bite,” he murmurs against my lips. “More than once.”

I growl in frustration. He’s right; wedidtalk about it, and maybe a part of me wants a pack, but…

What if I mess everything up?

“I want this,” he adds, chuckling at my growl. “I wantyou. But I also want to honor your wishes.”

I groan. “I hate that you’re such a nice guy sometimes,” I grumble, and he bursts out laughing.

“I’ll try to be meaner to you in the future,” he promises, tugging at the pink fabric of my blanket. “In fact…I’ll be taking this back now.”

“Hey!” I pull it, and he laughs and flips me onto my back, pinning my wrists above me with one hand. I giggle as he kisses me while pushing the blanket down and exposing my shorts.

“Is this mean enough?” he murmurs, his hand caressing in between my thighs. My cotton shorts are soaked with slick, and he hums appreciatively as he caresses the outline of my pussy. “Or should I be meaner?”

His fingers trace along the outside of my folds, barely missing my clit. I wriggle in his hold, but he keeps my wrists in place with little effort.

I huff out a gasp. “Don’t tease me, Ben…”

“But I thought you hated when I was a nice guy?” he whispers, pushing the heel of his palm against the crotch of my shorts. I moan loudly and arch my back, desperate for more.

“Ben…please…ah…”