Page 39 of Pack Down Bad

“That’s not pathetic, Belle. Those feelings are natural,” I tell her.

“Maybe.” She tips her head back to look up at me cautiously. “But I miss them so much when they haven’t even left the property, and I barely know them. I feel like I’m falling for all of you so quickly, and we’ve barely scratched the surface of getting to know each other.”

Guilt stirs in the pit of my stomach.

Misleading her seemed like a good idea when I first found her with her car crashed into a tree. I figured she would fall deeply enough for us in a few days that we would lower the risk of her wanting to return to her own life once her memory returned. Now I’m realizing that my lies have limited her ability to get to know us. Which I guess is what Knox tried to warn me about in the first place...

She really might not forgive us when the truth comes out. The thought is gut-wrenching.

My spiraling thoughts of impending doom recede to the back of my mind as Belle begins to rub her face against my chest, scent-marking me.

Oh, I like that.

She seems to simply be seeking comfort until the rubbing grows more aggressive.

A heightened smell of cinnamon assaults my senses, and I realize her spike must be peaking. No wonder she’s extra emotional and feeling out of sorts about being a short distance away from her other two alphas.

Belle moves from snuggling roughly against me as if she can burrow inside my chest, to standing on her tiptoes to run her nose along my collarbone.

“You alright there, Snow Bunny?” I ask with a forced sense of calm so she doesn’t sense any judgment from me about her chasing her instincts.

She startles, realizing what she’s doing. “Oh, shit. Rhys, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

“I could,” I retort automatically.

Wait.

That was sleazy.

I mean, yes, she would look great covered in my cum, but I should be less intense with my approach. Then again, I wouldn’t consider my words a hollow offer... I clear my throat since there’s no hope of clearing my dirty thoughts.

“What Imeanto say is that judging by how warm you feel and the flush of your skin, I think you might be having a spike.”

Leaning down to her, I rub my nose against hers. Butterfly kisses. A silly gesture, but the affection feels special.

Belle giggles as she reciprocates. “I think you might be right.”

I tilt my head to kiss her.

We shared a stolen moment in the hall her first night, butthis kissfeels like two worlds colliding. All of the stars in my universe shine brighter now that they get to orbit her.

My lips move against hers, gently at first, us testing one another.

I hate to pull away as the kiss deepens, but my omega has needs. I want to make sure we’re both on the same page and not just assume that I know what she wants from me.

“I can help you,” I offer. “However you’ll let me; I can make you feel good.”

She grabs me by the neck and drags me back to her mouth, her eyes a little wild and frenzied. She whispers against my lips, “You better.”

ChapterTwenty-One

Belle

Rhys accepts my challenge immediately.

Before I can blink, he sweeps me up, my legs wrapping around his waist as though they belong there. His mouth takes mine with a hunger.

As hurried as I feel, wanting him more than anything right now, I try to let myself live in this moment. This perfect moment where kissing seems like the most intimate thing in the world, and his lips against mine create our own secret language.

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