Page 86 of Fragile Heart

Fuck, the aftermath of knotting looks good on her. Small bruises dot her chest, and I smirk, remembering each nip of my teeth and drag of my beard across her skin. My dick jumps, and I don’t try to ignore it or downplay the effect she has on me. Her gaze flicks down before focusing on my face again. One eyebrow slowly rises as her lips bunch into a pout. I groan and reachfor her. She doesn’t resist as I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her toward me, sucking her bottom lip until she opens enough that I can kiss her the way I want. Lavender explodes around us between one breath and the next.

My damn phone goes off again.

She’s quick to disengage, retreating to the bathroom before I can stop her, closing the door softly without a glance back. I run a hand down my face, trying to remember how mornings after when you’re dating are supposed to work. We’d had to be discreet a decade ago, so we never actually left my house—or Melissa’s—at the same time, intentionally staggering it just in case farm hands from either ranch noticed and said anything. Not that it was all that hard to avoid people then. We’d been so consumed with each other we hardly bothered to come up for air. It had been the best sex of my life up to that point. And last night? Easily the best I’ve ever had.

My stomach tightens with grief and guilt, but I breathe through it. It was probably something to be expected, just like our scents mingling so well. Biologically perfect for each other means biologically perfect, after all.

I shove out of the bed, grabbing a new pair of jeans and boxers and stepping into them, ignoring the way my dick aches at the restriction. I dig out my phone from the back pocket of the pair I’d thrown off last night. Almost nine in the morning.Shit.

Multiple messages from Emily have me scowling. I send a quick text to prove I’m alive and haven’t left to get the milk, or whatever euphemism assholes use for walking out on their children.

Overslept. Sorry. Be on my way soon.

Sounds good. We’re hanging out with Joan. We’ll be back over in time for brunch.

And then she sends a photo of Camden, whipped cream covering his nose as he grins for the camera. I can’t help but smile.

And then curse under my breath.

My steps eat up the small space as I cross the room, intent on knocking on the bathroom door, politeness be damned. Brielle opens it a heartbeat before I can drop my knuckles against it. My hand hangs suspended in the air for a moment. She walks into me and then gasps, offering a quick apology. Her eyes are wide as they look up at me, and damn if I can’t quite manage to keep my hands off of her, combing my fingers through the brown strands of her hair already falling out of the haphazard braid. Her scent strengthens again, and I smirk.

Focus, Ethan.

“I didn’t use a condom,” I say.

No use beating around the bush. Omegas getting pregnant outside of their heats is rare but not impossible. Trust me to screw up the first hookup I’ve had since Kayla. Some of the light drops away from her gaze. She doesn’t push away from me, though, so I let my other arm wrap around her waist. I trace shapes on her skin and twist her hair around my hand, forcing her head back far enough that I can see the small bruises I’ve left on her throat.

Satisfaction rips through me at seeing the physical marks. Fuck me. No wonder Caleb can’t keep his damn mouth off of her.

Goddamnit, focus, Ethan. You can fuck her later.

“I can grab the Omega-specific Plan B if you want,” I say, forcing my attention to the issue at hand. “And I’ll take responsibility if something happens.”

She presses her hands against my hips, her finger tracing the lines of my stomach.

“I have an IUD,” she offers after a moment, her voice blending into the quiet of the room.

My stomach tightening over that realization isnotout of disappointment. It can’t be. Getting her pregnant would be a nightmare in the extreme. We haven’t even discussed what the rest of this weekend looks like, much less the rest of the summer. Her being on birth control simplifies everything.

“I didn’t put you at risk,” I offer.

Difficult to do that when I haven’t fucked anyone in nearly four years.

She tilts her head into my touch, a thoughtful look crossing her face. She runs her hand down the hair under my navel as she nods.

“I got tested shortly after everything happened. It was negative.” She sighs. “I’ve only been with Caleb. I can get tested if it’s something you want to double check.”

I shake my head and run my thumb along her cheek. “I trust Caleb,” I say.

She relaxes. I kiss her.

And then the rest of what she said catches up to me.

“Wait,” I say, my lips brushing hers.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

ETHAN

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