Page 79 of Queen of Spades

“Snuggling with you in the nest sounds like a perfect night to me.” I nuzzle my cheek to the top of her head, and my heart races when she kisses my neck just under my ear.

It’s a quick peck, but the way she holds on tighter to my chest is an affectionate move that I crave more of.

Annika collects her pheromone-covered blankets and pillows, and Cas offers to help, since they’re no longer bundled together. The little vixen stripped me right out of my T-shirt.

“This is serious.” Kane tosses himself down on the couch cushion Cas vacated. “It feels a little like being sitting ducks out here in the middle of nowhere.”

“Are you a city boy, Kane?” Grady snatches his bowl of popcorn once more.

“Fuck you,” Kane growls. “You know I grew up in DC.”

“Exactly.” Grady nods. “As a Southerner born and bred, let me tell you, our situation isn’t as dire as you’re making it out to be. Do me a favor. Check out the state gun laws on your phone real quick. We’ve also got the benefit of being outside of a city but within reasonable driving distance.”

Kane grunts, grabbing his phone from his pocket. “We brought guns and ammo.”

“Yeah, but we’re in the perfect place to stock up. We’ve also got the perk of being on a secluded road.” Grady tosses more popcorn in his mouth and speaks around it as he chews. “That means the neighbors are going to notice any convoys of suspicious vehicles heading our way. They might even give us a heads-up if we ask them to.” He digs around in the bowl, grabbing more popcorn. “I’m sure the local hardware store and even the gun shop will be set up for hunters. That means they’ll have high-quality trail cams to line the property with. There’s also a fence. We need to head to town tomorrow, anyway. I’m guessing no one thought to purchase all the stuff Anni will need for the post-heat cramps.” He glances between me and Kane.

“I didn’t,” I reply. “I honestly forgot about that completely.”

“What do you mean post-heat cramps?” Kane asks, frowning.

“It’s the way the universe signals we didn’t manage to stick a bun in her oven.” Grady laughs. “It’s basically menstruation for omegas. Some types of omega birth control block them, but the one Anni uses doesn’t. Once they start, she’ll be crabby, crave chocolate and all the sweets she passed on the last few days, and want to hunker down.”

“So, it’s not just the heat we have to prepare for.” Kane curses under his breath.

“Nope, but at least we’ll be mentally clear once the heat ends,” Grady says.

“One of us should stay out of the nest at all times,” Kane says, still studying his phone. “That way, someone will always be on guard duty.”

Annika’s arousal slaps into me in the bond. I glance around, noticing Cas never made it back from helping her carry the stuff back.

My eyes meet Grady’s as I shove myself out of the chair.

Holy fucking hell.

Her pleasure pulses through the link, along with heavy hits of her scent.

My cock instantly hardens.

How the fuck do packs manage to function when their omega is having sex while they’re at work?

“I’m telling you. It’s only going to get more frequent from here,” Grady calls after me as I stride toward the steps. “You might want to pace yourself.”

I toss a hand up, flipping him off before taking the corner toward the stairs.

He chuckles darkly, and it taunts me as I jog up the stairs.

Tripping over my own boots in an attempt to get my jeans off isn’t my finest moment, but her perfume smacks all rational thoughts from my mind as soon as the nest door opens. The curtains are still open, but as her heat progresses, I imagine she’ll need them closed.

I bend over and untie the top of my boots before kicking them off. My jeans and boxer briefs end up in a pile by the door as I yank off my socks.

The pillows and blankets are in a huge pile near the top of the mattress.

Cas has Annika pinned to the bed with his arms wrapped under her thighs and his face buried in her pussy. His bare ass faces me as I stride to the bed.

Annika’s head immediately whips in my direction.

“Ward,” she moans, scratching at Cas’s head.

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