Page 46 of Puck & Her Blades

He looks down, ashamed. “I don’t know that I can do that right now.”

I want to wipe the shame from him and never have him look like that again.

“You don’t want to do this?” I check. “Or you don’t have the energy?”

I don’t want to make him more unwell or pressure him.

When Cygnus’ gaze darts away, I hurriedly tap him on the nose to make him look at me. “It’s okay either way. We don’t need to do anything. I won’t ever push you past what you want or your limits. I’ve waited twenty years to kiss anyone. I can wait as long as you need.”

“Well, I can’t wait,” he groans. “I have serious blue balls here. I want you. I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment, and I have permission from my Alphas. Well, more like we spoke about this and agreed that we’re all free to explore a relationship with you. My Alphas don’t control me. But then, my body has to let me down, again. I’m not only trapped in Blade House. I’m trapped inside the cage of my own body. I’m…broken…”

Alarmed at the angry tears that are gleaming in his eyes, I hurriedly kiss him. “You’re not broken.”

I’ve never wished more that I could purr and soothe him.

Gradually, he relaxes against me.

Then I pull back, studying him. “Okay?”

He nods.

“Now listen, you’re none of those things. My left leg was broken in multiple places. I have chronic pain, and my hip hurts worse in cold weather. It’s never going to be fully fixed. Does that make me broken?”

“No!” Cygnus’ eyes flash. “I don’t care about the Rej bracelet that they forced around your wrist. It doesn’t make you worth less just because you damaged your leg.”

“And it doesn’t make you worth less just because your body’s not as strong as your mind,” I insist.

I hope that he can believe me.

“You mean that.” He looks shocked, as if he thinks that I’d have rejected him as a lover because he can’t perform every time that I’m wet for him. “Thank you.”

“Do you still want to…?” I waggle my eyebrows, as I hump my hips against him.

His eyelashes flutter. “Tease.”

“Is that a yes?” I check in.

“Fuck, yes,” he hisses.

His cheeks are flushed but not from fever this time. His hands are bunched into fists in the blanket.

I lean down, deliberately blowing across the sensitive skin of the scent gland on his neck. “Oh, beauty, you look so good when you’re desperate.”

He whines.

I love playing with my adorable Omega. This is everything that I’ve always desired.

I’m going to show him that he’s not trapped anywhere.

And neither am I.

We can free each other.

I grab him by the chin, and our gazes meet. “There are more ways to pleasure each other than fucking. Omegas know how to make each other wet because we’re attuned to each other’s needs, right? Leave the simple rutting to Alphas. We can be more adaptable.”

Cygnus grins with a wickedness, which on his sweet face does something to me.

My insides squirm with desire.

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