Page 83 of Heat Clinic

Soon.

We have time.

Now that we’ve found each other, we have the rest of our lives. She goes limp on my lap as her aftershocks squeeze my knot, milking the dregs of my seed. I press a kiss to her mouth, her forehead, her hair, and tuck her into the hollow places of my body where she fits perfectly. I stroke her back, smoothing my hands over her as we wait for our tie to fade.

“I love you, sweetheart.” I kiss her temple and drag her scent even deeper into my head until it’s etched into me.

Her arms squeeze tighter around my neck. “I love you too.”

My entire being bursts with happiness with those four simple words that mean everything.

I purr for her and hold her until my knot releases, then abandon my book and carry her into my bedroom. Sam and Tom look up from their cuddling on the bed as I set her down with them and go into the bathroom to draw her a bath. While the water’s heating, I lean against the open doorway and watch them lie together with a deep sense of rightness in my bones.

My pack.

Mine.

ChapterTwenty-One

TOM

It’s almost toocold to continue doing yoga on the terrace, but I’m loath to give up this view. From up here, I can see everything. The people walking at a steady clip on the sidewalk. The cars and yellow taxis weaving around them. All of the leaves have turned. Central Park is bathed in shades of green, yellow, and orange. It’s a chilly, overcast day that reminds me of England.

With my headphones in, I miss Emily coming out onto the terrace while I finish out my session with one last stretch. When she leans against the railing and looks out, I fish the earbuds from my ears and tap my music off.

“It’s so pretty up here,” she says.

“It’s my favorite place.”

“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” She wraps her cardigan tighter around herself and tucks her hands. “I just wanted to watch the sunset. It gets dark so early now.”

“You’re cold. Here.” I grab the hem of my hoodie and peel it off. The crisp autumn air is downright arctic where it blows against my sweat covered skin. The short-sleeve shirt I wore underneath is useless at keeping me warm, but I don’t mind. This is the first time she’s sought me out alone.

She nibbles her bottom lip and takes the hoodie, then gives me a shy smile and slips into it. I don’t miss how she gives it a little sniff. It’s pleasing to know she genuinely likes the way I smell. That she’s accepting me as pack. Marcus and I bonded slowly after years of knowing one another. I wasn’t completely sure what that might mean for her and Sam. Would they feel the same sort of biological imperative, or would that also take them years?

The hoodie swallows her to mid-thigh and hangs over her fingers. She’s adorable. “Thanks.”

Before it can blow away, I grab my yoga mat from the rough floor and roll it up, then stick it in the lidded box that stays out on the terrace. “I’ve been thinking of places that you might want to see. I know Sam’s busy. How do you feel about a little outing? Just us?” I ask.

Her face brightens. “Oh! Sure. What did you have in mind?”

“I would be a terrible secret keeper if I told you.” I throw one side of the French door open and follow her in.

Emily gives me a suspicious, assessing glance. “How will I know how to dress if I don’t know where we’re going or what we’re doing?”

Nice try.I lean down, letting my lips slide along her cheek as I whisper against her ear. “I think you look perfect as you are.” Everyone we come across will scent me all over her. There won’t be any question of who she’s with and if she’s taken if she smells like me and wears my clothes. I’m beginning to understand why Marcus has such a brutish possessive streak he tries to keep hidden. I’m wondering if I’m not more similar to the alpha than I thought.

Her cheeks pinken as I pull away and head into the bedroom so I can grab a sweater from the closet. I leave my joggers and trainers on so she won’t feel so out of place with her casual outfit. She’s wearing her coat, a puffy ballet slipper pink thing that swallows her up, and everytime I see her in it, I grin. She looks like a marshmallow. A lemon candy-flavored treat. Biteable.

I grab my wool trench coat from its peg and slip into it, then make sure I have my wallet and grab the keys from the bowl by the door. We both chat with Bobbie as we spill out onto the street.

“It isn’t far if you don’t mind walking.”

“Sure.” She falls into step beside me and we head east.

“Autumn is my favorite time of year in the city.” It smells less like hot, stinking garbage and piss. “Feels a little more like home. Doesn’t seem to matter how many years I live here, I can’t quite get used to the heat of summer. I’m glad you’re seeing the city before the winter when everything looks sad. With all the traffic, any snow that falls turns gray pretty fast.”

“It’s like that in Boston too. Do you miss England?”

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