Page 113 of Claimed By the Band

When we finally break apart for air, I rest my forehead against hers. "I love you," I tell her, the words slipping out before I can stop them. We haven't said it yet—not since Asher's declaration during her heat. Haven't wanted to pressure her.

But instead of tensing or pulling away, she melts against me with a sigh. "I… I love you too," she whispers, and the vulnerability in her voice undoes me. "All of you."

My hands tighten on her hips at her words, drawing a gasp from her throat. The admission changes something between us, makes everything more intense. Each touch feels electric, each kiss deeper and more meaningful.

I trail my lips down her throat again, tasting the salt of her skin and the sweetness of her scent. My teeth graze that spot again—the one that calls to my alpha instincts—but this time she tilts her head, offering more access.

The gesture of submission makes me growl, but I force myself to pull back. "Not yet," I tell her gently, pressing a kiss to her pulse point instead. "When you're ready. When you're sure."

She makes a sound of protest but doesn't argue. Instead, she kisses me again, pouring all her emotions into the kiss. I can feel how much she wants it—wants us—in every movement of her body against mine.

My hands slide up her back, holding her close as we move together. The slow pace is maddening but perfect, letting us feel every sensation. Every shift of her hips, every clench of her inner walls, every shared breath between kisses.

"Mine," I growl against her lips, unable to help myself. "Ours."

"Yours," she agrees breathlessly, and the word sends heat racing through my veins.

The admission pushes me closer to the edge, my knot starting to swell at the base of my cock. But I fight to maintain control, to keep the languid pace she's matching so perfectly.

"So good for me," I praise, sliding one hand between us to circle her clit. Her whole body jerks at the contact, a desperate sound escaping her throat. "That's it, beautiful. Let me feel you."

She starts to tremble above me, her movements becoming less coordinated as ecstasy builds. But I keep her steady, guiding her through it as I continue the slow, deep thrusts that are driving us both mad.

"Please," she gasps, her fingers digging into my shoulders. "Silas, I need..."

"I know what you need," I tell her, pressing harder against her clit. "Come for me, Jordan. Show me how good I make you feel."

She falls apart with a cry of my name, her body clenching around me rhythmically. The sensation almost sends me over the edge, but I hold back and my knot slips in the moment her pussy relaxes. I'm locked inside her, my knot swelling to its full side and pressing into her G-spot hard enough to make her scream.

If there was any doubt the others know what we're up to out here, it's gone now, but I don't care. All I feel is pride and arousal knowing I made the collected omega come loose this way. Jordan's hips rock desperately against me and the movement sends me over the edge with her, my come spilling into her wave after wave.

When I feel the last hot spurt of seed enter her, she's still thrashing on my cock, until she comes again and collapses against my chest with a ragged moan. I hold her close as we come down from the high, pressing soft kisses to every inch of skin I can reach.

"I meant it," she whispers against my neck once our breathing has steadied. "What I said. I love you. All of you."

My pulse quickens at her words, at the vulnerability in her voice. "We love you too," I tell her firmly. "You complete us. More than you could ever know."

She makes a soft sound of contentment, nuzzling closer as we wait for my knot to go down. Soon, we'll rejoin our pack, but I'm in no hurry for this moment where she's only mine to end.

40

JORDAN

Iadjust the binder one final time, smoothing down the front of my shirt in the mirror. The familiar motions feel different now—less like putting on armor and more like stepping into a role. My fingers move automatically through the practiced routine of becoming Echo again, my scent already masked by the blockers I haven't missed at all, but my mind keeps drifting to the pack waiting for me downstairs.

"You don't have to do this, you know."

I turn to find Asher leaning against the doorframe, his expression soft with concern as he watches me transform myself back into the person I spent so many years hiding behind.

"I know," I say, meeting his gaze in the mirror. "But I want to. This is who I had to be to survive. And now... now I get to choose to be Echo one last time. To finish what I started."

He crosses the room to stand behind me, the scent honey enveloping me before his arms do. "You're so brave," hemurmurs, pressing a kiss to my temple. "But you don't have to hide anymore. Not from us. Not from anyone."

I lean back against him, letting his strength support me for a moment. "I'm not hiding," I tell him softly. "Not really. This is just... a different part of me now. Echo helped me survive when Jordan couldn't. Helped me become strong enough to fight back."

His arms slide around my waist, holding me close. "You were always strong enough," he says firmly. "You just didn't know it yet."

The simple faith in his voice hits deep. Even after everything—learning what I am, who I used to be, all the lies I told—he still looks at me like I'm something precious. Something worth protecting.

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