Page 32 of Feeling the Heat: Part Two
If I were everything to them, why did this happen in the first place? Why didn’t they bust down my door and demand I take them back? Why did it take me going into heat to get River to apologize and explain himself? What’s really changed that would make those words mean anything real?
A deeper whine, a sorrowful one from the core of my being, escapes me.
I vaguely recognize that my omega is making me spiral. Everything feels more intense when she takes over. The need. The pain. The frustration. The longing.
That last one blossoms to life in full force as Ambrose holds me tighter to his chest. “Almost there, sweetheart. You’re being so good for us. So patient.”
When we reach the back exit and emerge into a dim alley next to a dumpster and a loading dock, Ambrose pauses. He turns his focus to River, who is hovering nearby but not touching me.
God, I want him to touch me. Things would be so much better if I were surrounded by all three members of their pack, their bodies soothing the fire threatening to engulf me.
“I had to valet park in order to get a spot.” Ambrose frowns at the thought of bringing me up to the valet stand in my current state.
“We’ll take my car. Stay here. I’ll go get it and meet you outside.” Despite his words, River stays frozen for a few seconds, staring at us. Something determined flashes behind his dark eyes, and suddenly he’s leaning down to capture my lips in a deep kiss.
When he pulls away, I’m panting, and the desire only flares higher when he moves his mouth up to give Ambrose a hot, demanding kiss that has him groaning. Visions of me between them as they fuck me together, kissing as they use my body, makes slick gush down my thighs and my perfume rise.
River’s pupils are blown wide with desire, and for a moment I wonder if they’re going to fuck me right here in the alley. I wouldn’t mind.
“You can do it,” I murmur, rubbing against Ambrose’s chest, the scrape of my nipples against his solid bulk making me moan. I tilt my head toward River, begging for him to kiss me again. “Please.”
Both alphas curse, and River takes a lurching step backward.
“Hurry,” Ambrose rasps, his voice sounding like he’s been gargling rocks.
River gives him a curt nod and takes off jogging down the alleyway.
My omega hates the sight of the alpha running from me, and I bury my face into Ambrose’s neck, stinging tears welling in my eyes.
It’s so stupid. I know that he’s not abandoning me again. Yet, I can’t keep the emotions from crashing over me. Knowing something isn’t true isn’t enough when you’ve been hurt before.
“Oh, sweetheart.” Ambrose’s soft voice echoes the sorrow I’m feeling, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking as my tears spill onto his dress shirt.
“I’m being ridiculous,” I sniff, even as more tears spill.
Kind gray eyes, filled with understanding, gaze down into mine as Ambrose tilts my chin to look up at him. “You’re not. Every time he walks away, I feel it too. It’s hard to trust someone after they’ve hurt you. He has to earn that trust back.”
My purr rumbles to life, heart aching at the compassionate alpha’s confession.
A smile spreads across his lips at the sound, and he strokes my cheek. “Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. If I know one thing about my mate, it’s that he’s stubborn. River has decided he’ll stop at nothing to prove to us that he’s working on being a better man, a better partner, and a better packmate. That doesn’t mean he won’t fuck up again, and I’m not saying it makes up for how he’s hurt us, but it’s something.”
Ambrose’s hopeful assessment eases some of my omega’s panic. “That’s definitelysomething. I…”
Emotion chokes me as I think about River’s effort. As I think about my part in all of this. If what River said about getting me fired was true, I’m as much to blame for how things fell out as he is.
Maybe even more so because I told him to stay away from me. He confessed his feelings, bonded me, quit his job so we could be together, and I turned around and yelled at him to never speak to me again.
He should’ve asked questions. He should’ve fought to understand. And he absolutely shouldn’t have run out on his pack out of some misplaced need for martyrdom.
“Fuck, I’ve ruined everything,” I murmur, shame surging inside me, strong enough to temper the clenching need of the heat spike. A sharp whine I can’t find the strength to cut off spills from my lips.
Ambrose’s brow furrows in deep concern. “No, no, sweetheart, you didn’t. Nothing is ruined.” His lips cover mine, soft yet insistent, swallowing down my pain as his purr reverberates against my chest. When our lips part and I open my mouth to speak, he shakes his head. “We’re not too broken to fix.”
I swallow hard, willing myself to believe him.
He kisses me again. “I meant it when I said you’re everything to us. You’re carved into our hearts, and there is no us without you.”
“Ambrose…”
