Page 72 of Feeling the Heat: Part Two
“Trust me, sweetheart, I’m not being sweet.”
The flush on her cheeks deepens as her perfume fills the air. She clears her throat and shakes her head. “I don’t think I’m going to go.”
I tilt my head, curious. “Why not?”
“It’s too…” She sighs as she tries to come up with the right words to explain. “It’s for embracing your inner omega and channeling that power, and I’m not at that level. I’m still trying toadjust to this new life. I’d be out of place and out of my depth.”
“It sounds like it could be really great for you. You haven’t given yourself space to explore your omega and those needs.”
She sighs again, and I worry I’ve overstepped. “I know, but I don’t know if I have time to go. And I don’t want to go away while we’re trying to…”
“There’s no deadline for our courtship. Don’t factor us into the decision. If you truly think it’ll be too upsetting or a waste of time, then don’t go. But if going to this retreat could let you adjust and figure out your relationship with your omega instincts, we’d all want you to take the time for that. What matters most is your comfort and happiness.”
Her brow furrows. “That’s not fair. Your happiness matters as much as mine.”
I set the brochure down and stand, moving over to her and wrapping an arm around her waist. “Your happiness is my happiness, Camille. Same goes for the rest of the pack.”
Her eyelashes flutter as she gazes up at me. “I have a really hard time accepting that’s true. I don’t want you all to resent me,” she confesses, barely more than a whisper.
“I know, sweetheart. I’ll remind you how wrong you are whenever you need me to.”
She releases a shaky laugh. “Okay, okay.”
“Can I kiss you now?” My voice is raspy, her nearness making it hard for me to think of anything but putting my lips on hers.
“You don’t have to ask,” she murmurs, closing the distance between us until her lips brush against mine.
I groan against her mouth, my alpha’s need flaring bright at her words. “You can’t say that, baby girl. I need you to tell me I’m going too fast or my alpha will use that as permission to fuck you right here over the back of the couch.”
Camille’s breath hitches. “I…I think I’m ready for that. If you want.”
A deep chuckle rumbles out of me. “Sweetheart, I want it every moment I’m with you. You make me into a base creature who wants to fuck and claim you over and over.” My fingers sink into the plush flesh of her hips, rocking my hips forward to let her feel how hard I am.
“Yeah?” The question is somehow both innocent and filthy in her breathy voice.
“Yeah,” I rasp, kissing her again, letting my tongue plunge into her mouth to show her how ravenous I am.
She’s panting when I pull back, her pupils blown wide and perfume saturating the air between us. I nip at her lower lip, calling on all my willpower to draw back and give her a smile. “If we start now, we won’t ever leave.”
She giggles. “True.”
I squeeze her hip once and let go, reaching out to slide to tote bag off of her shoulder. I grunt at the surprising weight. “What’s in here? Rocks?”
Camille shakes her head, amused. “Not rocks. Though the bone is as heavy and solid as one.”
“Bone?”
“For Dolly.” She smiles shyly. “I have some presents for her. And for the rest of the pack. I hope that’s not weird.”
I think my heart is going to burst out of my chest at her unexpected words. “Not weird at all, but you’re making it even harder not to ravish you.”
“Don’t get too excited,” she says, shaking her head at me.
“Too late,” I laugh.
“Seriously, they’re not a big deal. Just small things that made me think of you.”
She looks almost embarrassed, so I don’t insist that it’s avery big deal that she was thoughtful enough to get things for us, no matter how small or silly they might be. The fact that she thought of us fills my stomach with butterflies.
