Page 133 of Harley & Her Ferals

“I wouldn’t dare forget you.” River blows Laurent a kiss, and the Omega subsides looking mollified.

Laurent drops the half-eaten muffin, before taking out his handkerchief from his pocket and meticulously cleaning his fingers.

He crawls out of the nest, pushing himself to his feet. “May I help you dress?”

I frown. “I know that I don’t look like it but I know how to put on a dress, sort of.”

Laurent saunters to me, laying his hand on my shoulder. “My mistake. You’re more skilled than the dancers in the ballet academy. I’ve spent years helping to do up zips and elaborates dresses like this for their quick costume changes during performances. Obviously, you’re a secret contortionist. What other hidden talents do you have? Can you touch your nose with your tongue? Do that funny fish face…oh look, River is demonstrating. ”

Feral laughs.

Then he surprises Laurent by grabbing him by hair in the same way that he’s caught River. He bends Laurent’s neckbackward to capture his lips in a kiss, which drives all the sass out of the Omega.

Then Feral shoves Laurent with a pat on the ass toward the dress, which is a clear order to help me with it.

Reluctantly, I push myself out of the armchair and approach the dreaded dress.

The only thing that makes it easier is the cute way that Laurent is touching his lips like they’re still tingling.

“You’ll look like the true princess that you are,” River breathes, excitedly. “I have always imagined being able to gift you something like this. In Sicily, bella, I would have.”

River’s happiness transforms how I feel about wearing this outfit.

It represents our success.

River’s joy.

His love.

So, I smile at him and allow myself to enjoy this moment fully.

I step to the bed and watch in shock the deft way that Laurent turns the dress over and then undoes a complicated sequence of zips, buttons, and ties that I would one hundred percent never have been able to work out and definitely couldn’t do up myself.

“I bow to your superior knowledge of both posh clothes and chess,” I admit. “You’re my dress fairy godfather.”

“Cinderella, you will go to the ball.” Laurent holds up the bodice. “Careful, step in. Don’t put your foot through the tulle. Slowly.”

I let him guide me into the dress.

He’s careful not to stand on the skirt, which flows around me like ruffled flames. Then he pulls the bodice up, concentrating hard on doing up the back.

I shiver, as Laurent’s fingers dance across my skin.

“You’ll be the most beautiful woman in the room in this dress.” Laurent presses a kiss to the back of my neck. My breath hitches. I fist my hands, struggling not to move. His breath is hot, as an equal heat races through me. “But to me, you’re always the most beautiful woman in any room. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. Feral and you were like these blazing, wild pair of Omegas and Alphas, when I first saw you in the cage. But you were bigger than any cage. Nothing could hold your spirits. I fell in love not because of your beauty but because of your souls.”

“Laurent…” My eyes burn with tears.

“Stay still. One button to go.”

I feel his fingers fiddling with a final button, before he presses a kiss to my back above the bodice and then on my shoulder like he’s not ready to face me yet but is showing me the love in his touch.

I’m trembling with need.

“May I put your shoes on for you, bella?” River asks.

I nod, shakily, as Laurent continues to lavish me with tender kisses.

Feral and River exchange a glance, before they prowl together to the bed. They take up a shoe each.