Page 64 of Heat Hesitation

With her, I come so hard I nearly cry. If it weren't for the bond, the feeling of her love, acceptance, and trust keeping me tethered to reality, I might have passed out.

My entire body shakes with the release, and still, somehow, I'm emptying my seed. It goes on and on until her body relaxes around me.

I hold her tight, and even when my knot releases us when her legs fall like jello to the floor, I don't let go. I don't relent.

I suddenly understood with perfect clarity what a world and a life with Ophelia meant.

It's everything.

"I fucking love you so much," I tell her before letting my cock slip out of her. I attempt to get up and carry her to the bed, but she demands, "Shower."

I chuckle and carry her into the shower. Under the spray, we don't move; we just let the water wash over us.

I can't believe this is real. I can't believe she is real.

"I love you too, Asher."

And when she reaches up on her tippy toes to kiss me, I bring my hands under her ass and lift her up, and I fuck her again. And when we crawl into bed, one more time for good measure. Our bond is surreal. It's warm and happy and excited. I feel Enzo there, somehow, it's just as brooding as he is, but I can feel her delight in that, too.

We fall asleep while I purr for my omega, the sound vibrating and comforting us both, but I wake every hour just to reach out to make sure she's really there and that it wasn't all a dream.

Chapter 26

Sully

Even her sullen is cute, but she'd probably smack me if I said so. She's feisty, unbridledly passionate, and I adore her immensely even though we can't look at each other without snapping or huffing exasperatingly. It's different from how she is with Theo. He likes to push her buttons, get a rise out of her.

I just want to keep her safe.

Which is how we ended up in a car together, Ophelia's arms crossed, looking out the window, mad at me for sending the others into the office for the day. She assumed since her harem all followed her around like she was the pied piper that they'd argue with me. She was wrong.

She also doesn't know where we're going. I could have told her when she asked, but frankly, I had a feeling she'd refuse to come. But it's time she stopped pretending she didn't bond with one of the wealthiest packs in the city and took her role as Ophelia Constantine. And that means becoming involved with projects she cares about, not just passing judgment and commentary on how all we do as alphas or OFA supporters is get it wrong.

Thanks to her and Theo's little outing, rumors are already circulating about Ophelia, and I don't want her to be blindsided by the press that's likely about to start popping up.

She must have had some inkling of where we were headed, but when we roll up to the gates at the OFA, she tenses.

"Mr. Constantine, a pleasure to see you. Do you have an appointment?" The guard at the gate asks.

"Yes, with Madam Fletcher and Dr. Rubens." The guard steps back into the booth, types something into the computer and dips back out, tapping the roof of our car.

"You're all set, Mr. Constantine, go on up."

I steer toward the visitor parking lot near a small building to the left of the main estate where most events and all the OFA classes take place.

When I park, I'm acutely aware of the rage flowing off of Ophelia. It's bitter and acrid, tinting her lovely lavender and sage scent. My brothers tell me that very near to her skin, her pulse points and her perfume smell like roses. And when she comes, her rare, earthy, floral scent is the most intoxicating thing on the planet.

At this rate, I wonder if I'll ever experience it. I'm just glad she's not wearing scent-blockers.

"You're mad."

"How can you tell?" She turns to me in her seat, her smile unnaturally wide. Her wild brown hair is tied into a ponytail high on her head, showing off her elegant high cheekbones and wide ocean-blue eyes. She's achingly beautiful.

I could do what I failed to do before we got in the car and explain. Or I can accept that she'll fight me every step of the way regardless and move forward.

Climbing out of the car takes her a second, but she reluctantly follows.

"You remember what Fletcher did, right? You remember what I told you?" She asks as we walk up the steep gravel walkway toward the offices.

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