Page 77 of Knot on the Market

The possessive language makes him growl low in his throat, his control snapping like a broken leash. In one smooth movement, he lifts my leg and slides inside me from behind, both of us groaning at the perfect fit.

"God, you feel so good," he breathes, his voice rough as he begins to move, slow and deep and exactly what my body is craving. "So perfect, sweetheart. Tell me what you need."

"You," I gasp, pushing back to meet his thrusts. "Just you, Dean. All of you."

And as he builds a rhythm that has me seeing stars, as his knot begins to swell with the promise of completion, I think about the dreams I had while sleeping. About pancakes andflower gardens and a future built from choice and love and the courage to want something beautiful.

About forever, and how it might be closer than I ever dared to hope.

But for now, there's just this. Dean's hands on my skin, his breath hot against my neck, the exquisite fullness of being claimed by someone who looks at me like I'm everything he never knew he needed.

There's just us, and the promise that this is only the beginning.

Chapter 24

Dean

The first thing I notice when I wake up is the change in Lila's scent.

Not gone, never gone, I don't think her green apple and white musk could ever fully disappear from this room… but different. Calmer. The desperate, molten sweetness that's been driving us all half-crazy for the past few days has mellowed into something softer, more like her normal scent but richer somehow. More settled.

Like maybe, if we're lucky, she might want us to stay.

I'm still wrapped around her from behind, my arm heavy across her waist, and for a moment I just breathe her in. My knot went down hours ago, but neither of us moved. She'd made this small, happy sound when I'd started to pull away, so I'd stayed right where I was, holding her while she slept.

Best feeling in the world. Waking up with Lila in my arms feels like every good thing that's ever happened to me rolled into one perfect moment.

The light filtering through the blue room's windows is different now. Soft Sunday afternoon light. Time moves weird during heat, all urgent need and desperate relief and the kindof exhaustion that comes from pouring everything you have into taking care of someone you love.

Love.

The word hits me like a truck. Yeah. Love. I'm completely gone on the omega currently making soft, sleepy sounds against my chest.

"Dean?" Her voice is rough from sleep and everything else, but the way she says my name, like I'm something good she's happy to find makes my heart do stupid things in my chest.

"Right here, sweetheart," I murmur against her hair. "How you feeling?"

Before she can answer, there's a soft knock at the doorframe. Julian appears first, his dark eyes immediately scanning her face with that careful attention he brings to everything. Behind him, Callum fills the doorway, arms crossed but his expression soft with concern.

"We heard voices," Julian says quietly, stepping into the room. "Wanted to make sure you were alright, love."

Callum nods, his gruff voice gentler than usual. "Been worried."

Lila's face lights up at seeing them both, and Julian moves closer to press a tender kiss to her forehead. "Sleep well?" he asks, his hand briefly stroking her hair.

"Better now that I can see you're all okay," she admits, reaching out to touch Callum's hand where it rests on the edge of the nest.

"Course we are," Callum says, his fingers intertwining with hers. "You're the one we were worried about."

She's quiet for a long moment, taking inventory of her body the way people do when they're not sure what they're going to find. Then she shifts slightly, testing, and I feel the exact moment she realizes what we already know.

"It's over," she whispers, wonder in her voice. "My heat. It's actually over."

"Broke about a couple of hours ago," I confirm, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. "You've been sleeping hard since then." I tighten my arm around her, not wanting to let go just yet. "Julian and Callum have been taking turns checking on you every twenty minutes."

"Had to," Callum says with a slight shrug, but there's worry in his eyes. "Make sure you were okay."

"The bath should help with any residual aches," Julian adds, his analytical mind already moving to practical care. "I've prepared everything you might need."

---