Page 54 of This Pack of Ours

Fuck. The surging pleasure rushed up my spine, prickling, making my vision white out as I sprayed into the water.

Sweat coated me as I leaned there, panting, still picturing how messy he’d looked afterward.

Little shit. I’d been doing so well. I’d spent all day with him on my radar, constantly aware of where he was when we were in the same room. I couldn’t switch it off. I’d find myself wanting to walk past him just to get another hit of that sweet almond smell, and every time I deliberately kept my distance.

Then he’d come with his fucking pastries and his large eyes and his soft lips—looking so sweet, so perfect. Begging to be ruined.

I was supposed to be shutting him out, trying to convince him he didn’t want to bond with us, but I hadn’t been able to stop myself, so I’d desperately flung up other boundaries.

Leave me the fuck alone for anything else.

I’d expected him to scowl, to try to worm out of them. To hate me for my coldness. Instead, he’d seemed… relieved.

It left a curdling discomfort in my stomach, an uneasiness that I couldn’t shake.

And as I was leaving, I heard the question he’d cut off. The one he changed.

Do you want me?

That had been my chance to say no, but at that moment I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I cleaned off and tucked myself back in my pants, avoiding my eyes in the mirror as the timid omega’s voice echoed in my head.

If the others want to.

What kind of question was that? Omegas were the ones who made those decisions. If a pack got a whiff of interest from an omega, they’d have to really be a piece of work for themnotto get offered a bond. Let alone a scent match.

I shook my head, splashing water on my face.

JHIN

I crossed the last thing off my list and put down my clipboard. We’d done it. The Safe House was settled into its new location, the needed supplies unpacked and the rooms ready for the omegas who were booked in. It had been a lot more complicated than I anticipated, but it had felt extremely satisfying to work on something after being on leave for so long.

“All good?” Kit asked, his scent laced with anxiety. It had been present nearly all day, only fading a bit after he’d gone on his break. I nodded, giving him an encouraging smile. His shoulders sagged, and he took a seat on a nearby couch, taking off his glasses and cleaning them on his shirt.

He’d worked so hard today, despite being obviously out of his element. I could see how much he cared about doing this right, double and triple checking almost everything we’d done, albeit in a scattered way.

Mentally, I’d already claimed him. The moment I’d accepted him as our mate, he was as good as pack. I was ready to protect him, to care for him, and right now, I desperately wanted to tell him I was proud of his work. Trouble was, I often messed up by being ‘mega intense’, as Ezra put it.

“Here, you should sit down,” he said, patting the seat next to him, and giving me a sweet smile that made my heart ache. “You worked really hard today.”

I sank awkwardly down next to him, folding my hands on my lap.

“You did, too. You did a good job,” I told him. I didn’t think that wastoointense. He shrugged, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze.

He gave me that sweet smile again. He was blushing a bit, but moved closer, his warmth and scent covering me. He called to me, and I wanted to snatch him and bite himnow, claim him so he’d be close and safe. I wouldn’t, of course, but the urge was there.

“Just, um…" His face hovered in front of mine, and I could see every freckle, each eyelash as he blinked up at me. I was hypnotized as he leaned up and pressed a single, gentle kiss to my lips.

I was in awe. A gift. It had been such a long time since I’d felt a gentle touch like this, and then this last week had been full of so much. His cheeks were furiously pink as he pulled back.

“Thanks for helping me today." His voice was so quiet. “For making sure I didn’t… that everything went well.”

I blinked, unsure what to say.

“It was nothing,” I finally replied, trying to dismiss it, but Kit shook his head.

“It wasn’tnothing.It meant a lot to me.”

He was so precious. His gratitude caused a single, pure bubble of happiness to swell within me, and I pulled him close, so his head was resting on my chest. Such a gift.

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