Page 146 of Lavender and Honey

Lucian moved with deliberate slowness, lowering himself to the edge of the nest. His hand reached out, hesitating just above my cheek as if asking permission one final time.

"Lydia," he said, my name a reverent prayer on his lips. "We need to be clear about what you're asking for."

I struggled to focus through the haze of heat, my body thrumming with need. "I want to be marked," I whispered. "I want to belong to this pack. To all of you."

Another wave of heat washed over me, more intense than the last. I whimpered, curling into myself as slick pooled between my thighs. The scent of my arousal filled the room.

Elias moved closer, his touch gentle as he brushed damp hair from my forehead. "Shh, it's alright," he soothed, his voice a balm on my overheated skin. "We've got you."

"It hurts," I gasped, another wave of heat making me tremble. My clothes felt like sandpaper against my skin, every touch both agony and relief.

"I know, pretty girl," Elias murmured, his fingers cool against my burning cheek. "We're going to take care of you."

Lucian's hand finally made contact with my skin, and I couldn't suppress the moan that escaped me. His touch was electric, sending sparks through my overheated body.

"First things first," he said, his voice steady despite the hunger in his eyes. "These clothes need to come off. You're burning up."

I nodded frantically, desperate for relief from the fabric that felt like fire against my skin. Lucian's hands were steady as he carefully unbuttoned my shirt, each brush of his fingers against my skin sending shockwaves through me. Elias supported me from behind, his gentle touch on my shoulders grounding me as Lucian worked.

"That's it," Lucian murmured as he eased the shirt from my shoulders. "You're doing so well, Lydia."

The cool air hit my exposed skin, bringing momentary relief before another wave of heat crashed through me. I whimpered, arching involuntarily as my body sought contact, comfort, anything to ease the burning need.

Elias's hands steadied me as Lucian's fingers moved to the waistband of my pants. Every brush of his knuckles against my overheated skin sent lightning through my veins. I bit my lip to hold back another moan as he carefully slid the fabric down my legs.

"There we go," Lucian murmured, his voice a deep rumble that vibrated through me. "Better?"

I nodded weakly, though the relief of being free from my clothes was immediately overwhelmed by a new wave of heat. I was aware of how I must look—flushed and trembling, clad only in my underwear, slick visibly soaking through the thin fabric. But the embarrassment I might have felt was burned away by the intensity of my need.

"Alpha," I whispered again, reaching for him with shaking hands. "Please..."

I should have felt embarrassed, vulnerable under their collective gaze, but the heat had burned away my inhibitions. Instead, I felt powerful, wanted in a way I'd never experienced before.

Lucian's hands moved to the waistband of my underwear, his eyes seeking permission even as his nostrils flared at the scent of my arousal. I nodded frantically, lifting my hips to help as he carefully slid the fabric down my legs.

"So beautiful," Soren murmured, finally approaching the nest. His usual playfulness was subdued, replaced by reverent hunger as his eyes traced over my exposed skin. "Look at you, all flushed and needy."

My body burned hotter at his words, another wave of slick dampening my thighs. I should have felt exposed, vulnerable under their collective gaze, but the heat had burned away my inhibitions. Instead, I felt powerful in my need, wanted in a way I'd never experienced before.

"Please," I whispered, not even sure what I was begging for. Relief? Touch? The claiming I'd been both fearing and craving?

Lucian's hand moved to my neck, his thumb tracing the spot where his mark would soon be. The touch sent electricity coursing through me, making me arch and whimper.

“Such a good girl.” He muttered as his eyes locked with my own. I felt myself slick up at his words, his body stiffening as the smell permeated the air around us. His low growl rumbled out of his chest, the vibrations jolting through my body.

"I'm going to take such good care of you" Lucian said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through my bones. "Then the others will have their turn. By the time we're done, you'll be wearing our mark. You'll be ours completely."

The promise in his words sent another flood of heat through me. I moaned, unable to contain the sound as my body responded to his declaration.

"Yes," I gasped, reaching for him with trembling hands. "Please, Alpha. I need—"

"I know exactly what you need," he interrupted, his fingers trailing down my neck to the hollow of my throat. "And I'm going to give it to you. But first..." His hand slid lower, between my breasts, down my stomach, until his fingers brushed the slick heat between my thighs.

My back arched off the bed at his touch, a desperate sound escaping me that I barely recognized as my own voice. Lucian's eyes darkened further, his control visibly thinning as his fingers explored the evidence of my need.

"So wet," he murmured, almost to himself. "So ready for us."

I couldn't form words anymore, reduced to whimpers and moans as his fingers circled my entrance, gathering slick before moving to the sensitive bundle of nerves that had me crying out, my hips bucking against his hand.

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