Page 42 of Holly Jolly Heat
I looked at his hand, hovering near mine, asking permission. Such a small thing, holding hands, but it felt enormous.
I nodded.
His fingers laced with mine, and the touch was electric. Warm and grounding and right in a way that made my omega purr with contentment.
"This is real," Ro said quietly. "What we're building. It's not just biology or proximity or convenient timing. It's connection. Chemistry. Compatibility."
"We barely know each other."
"We've known each other for six months. We're just finally meeting in person." He squeezed my hand gently. "And every moment we spend together, I learn something new. Like how you pace when you're anxious. How you stress-bake at three AM. How you're terrible at accepting help but amazing at giving it. How you're so scared of depending on anyone that you've convinced yourself you don't need people."
"I don't?—"
"You do. Everyone does. And that's okay." He lifted my hand, pressing a kiss to my knuckles—brief and gentle and devastatingly tender. "Let us in, Michelle. Not all at once. Not beyond what you're comfortable with. But let us in."
I looked at our joined hands, at the way his thumb was rubbing gentle circles on my palm, at how right this felt.
"I don't know how to do this," I whispered.
"Then we'll figure it out together. One day at a time. One moment at a time."
"What if I mess it up?"
"Then we'll fix it together. That's what pack does."
Pack. The word didn't scare me quite as much as it had three days ago.
I wanted to kiss him. Wanted to close the small distance between us and see if his lips were as gentle as his hands, if the connection would be as overwhelming as I suspected.
But that would cross a line I wasn't ready to cross.
So instead, I squeezed his hand and said, "Thank you. For being patient."
"Thank you for letting me in. Even a little bit."
We sat there for a moment, hands joined, and it felt like progress.
Small steps. Building trust. Letting the walls crack instead of fortifying them higher.
A knock on the door broke the moment.
"Michelle?" Janet's voice. "Dinner in twenty minutes. And yes, I know you're talking to Ro. The walls aren't that thick."
"MOM!"
"Just saying! Door open, please. House rules."
Ro laughed, standing and opening the door. "House rules. Got it."
Janet stood in the hallway, trying and failing to look innocent. "How was the stream?"
"Good engagement numbers," Ro said professionally. "Strong viewer retention. Positive chat sentiment."
"And the cookie decorating? That seemed very cozy."
"Mom," I warned.
"What? I'm just saying, you two looked very natural together. Very pack-like." She smiled innocently. "Dinner's at six. Don't be late."
