Page 96 of Claimed By the Band

She studies my face for a long moment, like she's searching for any sign of deception. Finally, she nods. "Okay."

I help her sit up, supporting her weight as another wave of heat makes her tremble. "Just breathe," I murmur, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Working together, we manage to get the binder off without too much difficulty. I pause for a moment, taking her in. Every inch of her exposed skin, smooth and soft to the touch as velvet. It’s all I can do to resist palming her perky breasts and dusky pink nipples, but I know I need to let her take the lead. Tell me what she's comfortable with. The soft taper of her waist and the swellof her hips. She's still petite, but there are curves there that weren't before and my hands burn with want to explore them. To know every part of her she trusts me enough to reveal.

"You're so beautiful," I tell her firmly. "Every part of you."

She flushes, but doesn't pull away. "Even though I'm not what you thought?"

"You're exactly who I thought," I say, pulling her close. "You're perfect. The packaging doesn't change any of that, but it's perfect, too."

She curls into me, pressing her face against my neck. Her scent wraps around us both and I turn my face into her throat, breathing her in greedily.

She relaxes against me, a shuddering sigh escaping against my throat. Her skin burns against mine where we touch.

I run my fingers through Jordan's hair as she trembles against me. The heat is clearly getting more intense—her skin burns where it presses against mine, and small sounds of discomfort escape her throat.

"Jordan," I say softly, waiting until those beautiful dark eyes meet mine. "Let me help you through this? Please?"

Her blush deepens, but she doesn't look away. "You... you want to?"

"More than anything," I tell her honestly. "But only if you're comfortable. There's no pressure."

She bites her lip, and I have to resist the urge to kiss her again. "What about..." Her eyes dart toward the door. "What about the pack?"

I stroke her cheek gently, feeling the heat of her fever beneath my palm. "That's entirely up to you, kitten. If you want them here, they can come in. Now or later or never—it's your choice. But..." I hesitate, not wanting to pressure her but needing her to understand. "You'll probably need an alpha's knot eventually to help ease the symptoms."

She looks away, but I also catch the way her scent spikes with interest. "Yeah," she breathes. "Probably."

"But if you're not ready for that," I continue quickly, "we have other options. I've got knotting toys we could try, different things that might help take the edge off."

Jordan shifts against me, another small whimper escaping her throat as the movement sends a fresh wave of heat through her. "I... toys might be interesting," she admits. "But I wouldn't mind trying with them either. If they want to. If you're okay with that."

My heart soars at her words, at the trust she's placing in us. "They want to," I assure her, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Trust me, they want to. And I'm more than okay with it."

She's not just some omega I'm taking to my bed. She's our scent match. Our mate. I knew it the moment I found her in that stairwell, and I can tell my pack knows it, too, but that's way too much pressure to put on her right now.

"But we can start slow, just you and me for now if you'd prefer?" I offer.

She nods, relief evident in her expression. "Maybe... maybe later? When I'm more..."

"Whenever you're ready," I promise, capturing her lips in a tender kiss. "We'll take this at your pace. Whatever you want, whatever you need."

"Just you," she whispers against my lips. "For now, just you."

The words make my chest tight with emotion. After everything she's been through, all the walls she's built to protect herself, she's choosing to trust me with this. With her vulnerability, her truth, her heat.

“Tell me what you need,” I murmur, pulling her closer.

She presses closer, her bare skin burning against mine where our bodies touch. "Touch me?" she asks, her voice small but wanting. "Everywhere. Please?"

I've never heard anything more beautiful than that soft plea. "I've never wanted anything more," I promise, sliding my hands down her sides.

Her only response is to kiss me again, deeper this time, and I let myself get lost in the taste of her. In the way she melts against me, trusting me to catch her. To take care of her.

I trail kisses down Jordan's neck, marveling at how soft her skin is. The scent of dew-laden roses fills my lungs with every breath, making my head spin in the best way. She tilts her head, offering more of her throat in a gesture of trust that makes my chest tight.

My teeth graze her pulse point and something primal stirs inside me. I've never wanted to mark another omega before—that's always been something I let my alphas do to me. But the urge to sink my teeth into her delicate skin, to leave my mark where everyone can see it, is overwhelming.

---