Page 58 of Bonding the Band

I left the conversation as quickly as I could, desperate not to start crying as every fucking choice I had ever made crashed me into a brick wall.

I made my way back to the bus, heading straight to the mini fridge and combining a tiny bottle of rum with one of the colas.

“You okay?” Meadow emerged from her nest, peeking around at me. She was dressed in microscopic sleep shorts and a snug tank top that emphasized the delicate curve of her belly.

Desire rocked me down to my toes.

“Yeah, just a rough conversation.” I held up my cup. “Want one?”

Arlo looked up from his spot on the couch, where he was sprawled out, playing a video game. “Dude, she’s pregnant. She can’t drink.”

“Shit, sorry. Force of habit.”

Beckett and Phin popped their heads out of their bunks.

“Speaking of not being able to drink,” said Beckett, “maybe we should all go sober since Meadow can’t take anything.”

“I’m sorry, do youwantme to be a giant ball of anxiety?” Phin asked. “Weed is how I relax.”

“I relax with a mouthful of omega pussy,” replied Arlo, a ridiculous grin on his face.

Both Phin and Meadow flushed hot pink, and Phin growled. “Not all of us have that on the menu, asshole.”

“Okay, well, I’ve hit my upper limit of awkward for the day, so I’m gonna go back up to my nest,” Meadow announced. “Hendrix, can you come with me?”

I didn’t questionwhyshe wanted me; I just set down my drink and immediately followed.

Once upstairs, she sat down on the edge of her bed and turned to me. “What’s wrong?”

“Noth—”

“Bullshit. I could feel you freaking out through the bond.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Just a conversation with Gary that put me on edge.”

Meadow frowned. “He doesn’t like me.”

“In his defense, he doesn’t like most people. Can I sit?”

Meadow patted the space next to her.

The moment I was that close to her, with all of her white rose and lilac scent filling the air, not only from her proximity but also from the nest, all of my anxiety began to slide away.

“Your stress is my stress,” Meadow said quietly. “I propose a cuddle, so we don’t stress the baby.”

Fuck yeah. I’d beenachingto commit the feel of her to memory since I’d failed so spectacularly the last time I’d been in a bed with her. “Definitely don’t want baby stress.”

Meadow climbed into the nest, and I kicked off my shoes to follow her, stretching out in the mountains of pillows. I couldn’t help but notice pieces of our clothing tucked here and there among the pillows and blankets. She must have raided our bunks. Once she was settled, she opened her arms to me, and I wedged myself against her, face tucked against her throat as she held me close. I was already in heaven, but when her purr started to rumble, I truly ascended.

Everything about her was warm and soft, safe in a way I was pretty sure I had never experienced before.

Meadow held me long after my stress melted away. She made absolutely no move to scoot away, simply continuing to purr while her perfume turned my brain into soup. I kept my hips angled away so she wouldn’t feel that I was rock hard, but thenshe shifted, looping her leg over my hips, and I froze, heart hammering.

“You’re playing a very dangerous game, omega.”

“Shh. Instincts. I’m needy.”

“I’m going to need some explicit permission if you want me to do something about that.”

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