Page 75 of The Rejected Omega

That’s it. The reminder I needed.

I push him away. “You have to leave. Cassandra is waiting for you.”

He swallows. “We need to talk.”

“There’s no time. My heat is starting.”

“I know. God, I can smell it on you—but I can’t leave. Leaving you feels like dying.”

I grimace. “Welcome to hell. You must be new here.”

“I didn’t know Cassandra was coming. I told you, we aren’t together.”

“For now.”

Connor snarls. “No. You think I could ever want another, after finding you?You’re my mate. Even if you won’t have me,I’ll wait for you. I would drag myself through broken glass just for a taste.”

My chest squeezes. “Finding me? You don’t get it, Connor. I’ve always been here…always wanted you. This just confirms my worst fears.”

His scent curdles. “Fears?”

“You only want me because our scents are compatible. Because biology dictates it. You didn’tchooseme.”

He laughs, low and dark.

“Is that what you think? Do you know why I only ever hooked up with betas in high school? Because the second you presented as an omega, I dreamed of you being mine. I’ve loved you since we were children, Lana. I’ve always noticed you. Always seen you. I was afraid that if you weren’t my mate, I’d forever feel torn between you and them. It was inconceivable to me that I’d choose someone over you. I resented the fact that biology and pheromones might dictate my future when I already knew who was perfect for me. I would choose you for the rest of our lives if you let me.”

The longer I soak in Connor’s words and scent, the more my resistance melts.

“Let me touch you, Lana. Please”

I can’t. It will hurt so much more if he knows everything and leaves me anyway. I won’t survive the bond tearing again.

But my bodyachesfor him.

His hands clutch at me like a lifeline, and he presses his nose into my belly.

“I’m sliding into rut fast, Lana. If you really want me to go—I need to leave,now. Before I can’t make myself. You smell so fucking good.”

My body begs me to give in. To relax into his hold and take everything he’s offering. It will kill me if the bond tears again. Maybe I ought to let it.

Flashes of my first heat play through my mind. The ache, the emptiness and pain. My nails dig into his shoulders. I need him here.

“Don’t leave me.”

His eyes blow wide, and his grip on me tightens. “I’m not going anywhere, baby. You’re mine. Fuck, I can’t believe it.”

His hands slide up my thighs, fingering the edge of my shirt—hisshirt. His breath against my skin is molten. We’re descending together, and soon the only thing that will matter is each other. The meeting of flesh and glide of skin against skin. Touch and scent and taste.

“I need to taste you. Please.”

I give a jerky nod, and he peels up my shirt and buries his nose in my curls.

Connor growls low in his throat. His breath is hot on the seam of flesh hiding my clit. He’s so close, yet so far from where I need him.

I press my hips into his face.

He pulls my labia between his teeth and sucks.

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