Page 88 of Ruin Me Knot
"Because we all love the sound of your laugh. And that smile. Didn’t know I’d ever get to see it for real." I shift to look up at Jax, his dark eyes glinting.
I move my fingertips over my lips, but all I find is the honest curve of a smile stretching my cheeks. Iamsmiling. I can’t remember the last time it was this easy.
But the sweetness of that smile barely has time to bloom before reality floods in. What must I look like with dried sweat over my skin, crusted slick and cum on my thighs and stiff, tangled knots in my hair.
I draw inward, arms hugging tight, shame coiling bitter and sharp beneath my ribs. I’m surrounded by the scent of pack, but underneath lies the raw tang of me.
The cruel laughter of the Facility guards claws into my memory, echoing from those times they’d come into my cell after my heat to mock what I’d become. I remember being that dirty, disgusting creature. How can my Alphas stand to look at me now?
Ronan catches my chin with his knuckle and brings my head back up. "None of that, Leah."
I frown, the words tangling up on my tongue. How could he know what I was thinking? "How?"
He brushes his lips over mine. "I can’t read your mind, but your perfume told me you drifted into a bad headspace. And you know what that means."
I shake my head because I have no idea.
Ronan just smiles, the corners of his mouth softening. "It means we have to bring your head back into the present. Remind your body how safe you are now. How does a bath sound?" He tips his forehead to mine, voice all molten promise. "We all need one and there’s one here big enough for four people. What do you say, Kitten? Will you let us pamper every inch of you?"
The thought lodges in my chest like sunlight after too long in the dark. Being clean, being cherished, having their touch erase everything old and ugly clinging to my skin, sounds wonderful.
Gabriel springs out of the nest, completely unashamed at his nude state. His cock swings heavy against his muscular thighs. "Eyes up here, Sweetheart."
I squeak when I realize I’ve been staring at his cock.
He only laughs. "I love that look on your face, but Mister Happy is also Mister needs-to-be-cleaned." He leans down to plant a quick kiss on my lips. "And I saw a loofah in there I’m dying to try out on your back."
His ridiculousness tears another choked laugh from me and the sharp edge of shame smooths away. Ronan scoops me up and heads to a bathroom I hadn’t noticed. Jax is already moving through the doorway to fill the tub.
Ronan carries me through the doorway, and I gape at the obscene luxury. The tub could easily fit six massive Alphas, let alone the four of us. Steam already rises from the water, carrying the clean, herbal scent of bubbles forming on the surface.
Ronan steps with me straight into the steaming tub and settles me between his thighs. Heat soaks into my bones, turning every muscle loose and heavy with relief.
"My Gods, this is so good." I let my head fall back against Ronan’s shoulder with a moan. My eyes flutter shut as the ache in my body slackens, dulled by the warm water and his arms circling me.
"You’re not wrong, Sunshine," Jax says, spreading his arms along the rim of the tub and letting his head fall back.
"You’ve been in heat for five days. No wonder you’re wiped out." Gabriel reaches for the shampoo.
My eyes widen in shock, searching their faces. "Five days? It didn’t seem that long."
Jax kisses a soapy droplet off my shoulder, voice calm and gentle. "You were lost to it, that’s all. We never left your side."
I bite my lip, rubbing a thumb over my neck where a bite might have been. "You… you didn’t bond me."
The words leave an ache in my chest I hadn’t expected.
"We wanted to. Gods, did we want to, but you weren’t in a place to say yes," Ronan says.
"I’ve been half feral with the urge, Sweetheart. You have no idea how tempting you are." Gabriel scoots across the tub and places his palms on my thighs.
"You were?" I say.
"Of course. Now turn around. You’re going to experience my magic fingers as I wash your hair." Gabriel turns me so I’m facing Ronan.
My mind still spins as I wrap my arms around my knees and butterflies come to life in my stomach. "You’re going to have to wait until my next heat."
Jax’s mouth crooks, a smile that’s reassuring and a little dangerous. "Scent-matches can bond anytime. The bond will take whenever you say yes."
