Page 81 of Coveted

“Are you?”

“It can’t be…”

She trailed off as she thought back over how long she’d been on Farcon 1.

On Libeqor, her cycle came at the end of spring and again in late fall. She’d left in early spring, but it had already been mid-summer on Farcon 1 when she arrived. She assumed that meant her heat would come at the beginning of fall and it would be an easy adjustment, but she hadn’t taken into account the length of the seasons. Farcon 1 had a longer orbit, making their seasons longer, and she’d already been there for eight weeks.

“Oh no.”

She winced as another cramp tightened her middle, sending more fluid rushing from her to wet her dress and Vax’s leg beneath. It would have embarrassed her if she hadn’t been more worried about what was going to happen while they were indisposed. She’d been looking forward to her heat so Vax could finally claim her, but she’d expected to have more warning to rearrange their schedules.

Vax tapped his tablet, Varner’s face filling the screen after just one ring.

“Empty the halls between my office and Alana’s room. No one is to disturb us until I call you again. You’re in charge.”

Understanding lit in Varner’s eyes and he nodded.

“Give me five minutes.”

The screen went dark before either of them could respond. She’d always appreciated Varner’s ability to get things done, but never more than in that moment. She knew she could rely on him to reschedule any meetings he couldn’t handle and manage their affairs until they were able to get back to work.

She almost snorted at the thought that she’d become almost as much of a workaholic as Vax had been. She enjoyed knowing she was making a difference and helping Vax by not having to do it all himself.

She whined as another cramp tore through her middle. Vax squeezed her tighter against him, his big hand spreading across her lower back and rubbing in circles as they waited for Varner to clear the halls. Without Vax having pupils she couldn’t see how affected he was by her surge in pheromones, but it was better for them not to encounter anyone on the way to her room. If it was another alpha, it could get violent.

Tucking her nose into the hollow of his throat, she tried to ignore the itching sensation crawling across her skin. She was hot, she was sweaty, she wanted out of her clothes, and she wanted to curl up in her nest.

Alana had taken to staying with Vax in his room since it was the larger of the two, but they’d already discussed staying in hers during her heat. The darker walls, dimmer lights, and overall feeling of closeness in her original room was more conducive to an omega in heat than the spaciousness of his room. The curtains around the bed could been drawn closed and the smaller mattress assured they’d be close. She’d been collecting blankets and pillows for when the time came, and they were all waiting for her.

They just needed to get there.

“Vax.”

Her whine was pitiful, but she didn’t care. Her uterus was attempting to wrap itself around her spine, and she was tired of waiting to get somewhere she could be comfortable.

“It’s okay. It should be clear by now.”

He rose to his feet with her still in his arms. It was a good thing since she doubted she’d have been able to walk the halls to her room. It was a little shocking how fast her symptomshad come on, but she was willing to bet it had to do with being around Vax. The only alphas she had ever been exposed to when she was getting close to her cycle had been family, but having a virile male capable of breeding her had ramped up her hormones in record time.

She shuddered at the thought of what was coming. Her previous heats had always been about dealing with the pain and ignoring the need as best she could, but now she had a mate to tend her through it.

She didn’t realize she’d slipped her hand inside Vax’s shirt until she felt his beaded nipple rake her palm. Vax twitched when she did it again with her nails, the purr he’d been releasing dipping into a growl.

“Behave. Neither of us wants me fucking you in the middle of the hall.”

Shivering, her lips ticked up as she tried to force away the pain in her middle.

“Who said I wouldn’t enjoy an audience?”

Vax stumbled, the look he shot down at her making her laugh until another cramp stole her breath. She enjoyed teasing him, but it was rare she could get such a response.

“No one is allowed to see your body but me. You’re mine.”

His grumble held the edge of a growl in it, but she was already distracted again by the feel of his flesh beneath her palm. Her fingers found the edges of the scar where he’d been shot with a stunner during the rebellion, and she traced it before smoothing her hand past it to dip lower.

The way he was carrying her didn’t allow her to reach below his ribs, but she let her fingertips follow the dip between each of them, working back up to his nipple to tease it again.

She barely noticed they’d turned into their wing of the building, Vax pausing outside her bedroom door. He had accessthe same as her, so it was only a moment before the door opened.

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