Page 16 of Cleat Heat

Taking a few deep breaths, I slowly exhale, trying to calm myself. The urge to hide under all the covers in my bed is strong. As is the need to sort all the pillows around me and make a nest, but I fight against that instinct.

Nope. None of that.

But my hands itch, and I can’t help but smooth out the mess of my bedding when my hand touches…Oh. My. God.

In all the excitement, I forgot about all the vibrators buzzing around. Flicking the lights on, I scramble around frantically, snatching up each one and turning them off before chucking them into my top drawer. A flush of arousal courses through me, reminding me of the heat spike, but a loud thump from the other room causes me to jump, and my curiosity is piqued. What the heck is going on out there?

Moving to the door quickly, I crack it open and peer outside, surprised when there are voices I don’t recognize. Mako winds between my legs, so I pick him up and cuddle him to my chest, intent on listening.

“We will need to speak to the omega who was supposedly accosted by this Alpha,” a stern voice says.

“I didn’t accost her,” Marcel complains. “Vivi is my omega. Mine. And these pathetic football players are trying to steal her. They think their fame gives them the right to what’s mine.”

Indignation makes my blood sing, and I burst into the main room, completely forgetting about my disheveled state. As soon as I make an appearance, all eyes land on me and a lump forms in my throat that I can’t seem to swallow. Two police officers are standing in my demolished doorway. One holds onto a handcuffed Marcel, while the other has a tablet hanging from his hands. Their eyes scan me from top to bottom, and mortification heats my cheeks as I realize I’m wearing nothing but a short silk robe.

Nice going, Vivi.

“Little flier, are you okay?” Fox asks, abandoning Dash and Ty to come and stand in front of me. His broad body blocks the prying eyes of the officers and Marcel, making it easier to breathe. Immense gratitude at his thoughtful gesture sweeps through me, and I push my head into the safety of his chest while keeping Mako in my arms. Fox raises his hand, rubbing it over my head comfortingly and sifting his fingers through my hair until I’m calm enough to speak.

Somehow, he knows just what I need, and his spring rain scent grounds me, slowing my racing heart.

Swallowing hard, I explain firmly, “I broke up with Marcel months ago. But today, he grabbed me outside of my apartment when I stepped out to get a food delivery. I screamed for him to let go but he dragged me inside and threatened to bond me. Fox, Dash, and Ty broke the door down to save me.”

My words tumble out quickly and I fight against the rising tide of panic that’s too close to the surface. Having Fox so near is the only thing keeping it at bay as I recount the details. A shudder works its way through my body. This could have ended so differently…

“That’s not true. You owe me your heat. And I’m here to collect,” Marcel whines pitifully. What the heck had my parents seen in him? How did he even know about my heat?

But before I can ask that question, growls ripple around the room, and Dash begins advancing toward the smaller alpha.

“My mate owes you NOTHING,” he snaps threateningly, his body vibrating. And the officers, sensing danger, retreat—yanking Marcel with them.

“Thank you for clearing that up, ma’am,” the officer calls from the threshold. “If you feel safe now, we’ll take this Alpha to processing. Do you need any further assistance?”

Gulping in deep breaths of Fox’s spring rain, I know without a doubt that he won’t let anything happen to me. And while there are still colossal problems to face—like the heat still simmering under my skin and my doorless apartment—I can handle them.

“Thank you for your help. I’ll be okay now,” I reply, as a whisper of doubt races through me.

The second the police tow Marcel away and my apartment becomes quiet again, the three hulking Alpha-Ballers crowd me, circling like the hunters they are. I should feel uneasy, yet one look at the tenderness on their faces has me breathing out a sigh of relief.

However, as the warmth and safety of being surrounded by them soothes me, my legs wobble and sheer exhaustion takes over. Fox herds me backward, using his large frame to push me toward my cozy chair. When the backs of my knees touch the soft material, I all but collapse onto it, but Dash’s arms are already there, helping me slide into it carefully.

The plush, oversized chair molds around my body, cradling me, and I finally release my grip on Mako, who claws at the fabric, circling once, twice, three times before settling down.

“Omega, what do you need?” Dash asks. His words call directly to the instinctive side of me, which I so often shove to the side to make space for the athlete. Preening underneath his care, my head bows, offering him my complete and utter submission. The crescent on the back of my neck peeks out, pulsing.

The giant Viking’s emerald-green eyes darken with want, and he falls to his knees on the edge of my soft chair, ducking his head to run his nose over my collarbone before darting his tongue out to taste my skin. And just like that, my heat spike, which had been suppressed during the attack, comes roaring back to life.

Dash’s dark chocolate surrounds me, and all I want is to surrender completely to my mate. To taste. To touch. To give everything that I am.

“Omega, what do you need?” Dash repeats, pressing his hot mouth against my burning throat and sucking hard. Slick gushes from my core, causing all three Alphas to heave in deep lungfuls of my scent. The slick soaks my legs as they watch, licking their lips, and for the first time, I realize that I’m sitting here, legs splayed, wearing nothing but a loose robe.

My face flushes scarlet red, and I frantically grab the hem of my robe. Desperate to cover my swollen pussy from their prying eyes. Butterflies dance in my stomach—the vulnerability causes my nerves to take flight.

At my move, growls and snarls echo around the room, and my heart thumps, making me pant. With fear or anticipation, I’m not quite sure.

What have I gotten myself into?

Chapter Twelve

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