Page 36 of Bliss & Her Idols

He chirps happily, burrowing against my side.

He hugs a fluffy cushion to his chest.

I try not to think about the words that Hudson hurled like a blade.

But it’s hard.

I can’t ask Cricket.

It’s too personal.

Violating.

Cricket will tell me, when he’s ready.

Yet I’m desperate to know what his brutal dad meant.

I’ve only just found my Omega soulmate. I couldn’t survive if I lost him.

I study Cricket’s face, overwhelmed by being finally able to see this man who I’ve been falling in love with virtually for over a year.

He’s prettier than anyone I’ve seen before.

I hover my hand over the freckles on the bridge of Cricket’s upturned nose, unable to resist brushing my finger over each of them in turn.

I won’t let anyone hurt a single one of these freckles.

Cricket pushes up into my touch with a hint of desperation.

I smile, stroking my hand into his thick hair.

Now that it’s dry, I can see that Cricket’s hair is a beautiful, gleaming brunet mop of curls.

I can’t resist tugging just slightly, and Cricket melts against my side.

His purr rumbles through the bedroom. He looks at me through sleepy, amber eyes.

Yet those same eyes are purple and bruised.

His cheek still looks painful.

I may be able to stand up for Cricket now, but how many times in the past has he been hurt?

It must almost be dawn, but neither of us have slept.

Cricket’s sweet, honeycomb cherry scent cocoons me.

It was deeply satisfying to build up my nest of emerald blankets and cushions, before urging Cricket to snuggle deeply into it with me.

Cricket’s eyes were wide with wonder.

My nest isn’t luxurious. It’s nothing like elite Omegas have.

A horrifying thought strikes me.

Has Cricket never been allowed a nest of his own before?

We’re both wearing matching fluffy dragon onesies.

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