Then he bends over me, our bodies still connected, and captures my slack mouth in a messy kiss of teeth and tongues that leaves my lips stinging and the fever rising once more.

“Mine,” he groans into my ear, his breath hot against my skin. “You’re mine, Oliver. Never forget.”

I nod weakly, too overwhelmed to speak.

Grabbing my leg behind the knee, he hooks it over his arm to start moving again, and the burn of my Heat sweeps away everything else.

The sensation of cool liquid sliding down my throat draws me back to consciousness.

I blink the haze from my vision and find Caleb cradling me, a water bottle pressed to my lips. A cold drop escapes, trickling down my chin, and I shiver at the chill.

Caleb sets it on the nightstand before wiping the dampness away with his thumb. He pops it into his mouth and rumbles in pleasure.

At the sight, my sore body tries to rise once more, but all my dick can do is twitch.

Caleb chuckles and brushes my hair back from my face. “You need more fluids if you want to go another round. How do you survive when you’re alone during your Heats?”

“They’re not that bad.” My brows sweep together in confusion. “Not like I’ve heard some Omegas have it.”

Caleb’s head tilts to the side, the motion drawing my attention to the scratches and bite marks peppering his chest and shoulders. My focus drops to my hands, which rest unbound in my lap, only a faint redness left from the cuffs.

Caleb reaches for the water and urges me to take another sip. “Your Heat lasted almost a week, and it was a fight to convince you to eat or drink anything the entire time. I had to threaten to take my cock away before you’d agree.”

A flush rises to my cheeks, but I shake my head. “That can’t be right. My Heats only last two days, three max.”

Caleb sets the bottle down again and grabs his phone off the nightstand, showing me the date displayed on the screen.

Sure enough, the fever took hold on a Thursday, and it’s now Monday.

Astonishment washes over me, followed by a wave of gratitude as I realize how much Caleb did. With the haze from my Heat clearing, I notice the fresh sheets, the clean feel to my body, and how I wear a pair of silky pajamas that don’t chafe despite how sensitive my skin feels.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” I whisper, my throat hoarse.

“It’s what Alphas do for their Omegas.” He presses a tender kiss to my forehead.

I shift, wanting to wrap my arms around him, and something shifts in my ass, sending a burst of unexpected pleasure through me. “What…”

“Easy there.” Caleb reaches between my legs to massage the flared base of the butt plug, and another hot jolt rolls through me, my hips twitching. “Don’t worry, I put this in prior to cleaning you up, so all of my seed stayed where it belongs.”

Moaning, I twist to catch Caleb’s lips in a deep kiss, our mouths moving together with a fervor not at all driven by my Heat.

Caleb’s hands roam over my body, reigniting desire even through exhaustion. But he pulls back before it goes too far. “You’re not getting any more until you come downstairs and eat some proper food. No more protein bars for you.”

“Later,” I promise, but Caleb shakes his head and slides out of bed, striding to his wardrobe.

More scratches cover his back and ass, bright red against his fair skin. His hair lies loose around his shoulders, his chin clean-shaven despite the beard burns that chafe beneath my pajamas. He slips into a pair of black slacks and a casual polo shirt, looking every bit the perfect Alpha.

“Finish your water and then come downstairs.” Caleb’s firm stare dares me to challenge him in this. “And don’t remove the plug. That privilege belongs to me.”

As he leaves the room, I fall back on the bed, burying my nose in the sheets and inhaling the heady combination of my and Caleb’s pheromones. I want to curl up and stay here for the rest of the day, but I also don’t want to test Caleb when he’s being so gentle and giving.

I reach back to touch my ass, fingers slipping over the concave, silicone base. Imagining his cum still within me, my inner muscles clench around the thick shaft inside, a shiver running down my spine.

My hand moves up to my throat, thumb brushing against the nape guard protecting the spot on my neck.

Disappointment washes over me to find it still in place, and when I check beneath the metal plate at the back, the skin is unbroken. I want Caleb’s Mark, but I can’t be greedy. While I’ve been aware of him for a long time, it doesn’t go both ways. It’s too soon to expect a commitment.

With a sigh, I finish the water before I get to my feet, the plug rubbing my insides with every wobbling step I take out of the bedroom.