Page 51 of Unhinged Omega

"Get out!" she hisses, her voice rough with need even as she glares daggers at me.

Before I can react, she's hurling something at my head. I catch it reflexively—one of the throw pillows from my couch. I can't help but inhale deeply, her scent clinging to the fabric and making my head spin.

I should leave. I know I should.

But I'm rooted to the spot, unable to tear my eyes away from her.

"Last I checked, this was my place," I drawl, forcing a cocky smirk even as my heart pounds in my temples. I take a few swaggering steps into the room, projecting a confidence I don't feel. "By all means, don't let me stop you. Looks like you were just getting to the good part."

She snatches up scraps of fabric from the nest, trying to cover herself, but it's too late. The image of her spread out and fucking herself with her fingers is burned into my retinas. I know I'll be seeing that in my dreams for the rest of my life.

As she scrambles to wrap herself in the remnants of blankets and clothes, something catches my eye.

A flash of familiar crimson fabric.

I do a double-take, but there's no mistaking it. The shredded remains of my coat are woven throughout her nest.

A savage sort of pride surges through me at the sight, matched only by a special kind of rage. She may claim to despise me, but some part of her craves my scent. Needs it close to her.

I clench my jaw so hard I'm surprised my teeth don't crack. That's my favorite fucking coat. The anger is a far less troubling emotion, so I choose to focus on it.

"What the fuck did you do to my coat?" I snarl, stalking closer to her nest.

Cosima's lips curl into a smirk, and I hate how it makes my cock twitch. "Oh, this old thing?" She runs her fingers over a scrap of the red fabric. "You can have it back if you want."

A growl rumbles in my chest. "You could have fucking warned me you were going into heat. I would have brought you proper nesting materials."

She scoffs, her violet eyes flashing with disdain. "Right. Because you've been such a generous host so far."

"You have no idea," I snap back.

We glare at each other, the air between us crackling with tension. I hate myself for how cute she looks when she's flustered, cheeks flushed and hair mussed. For how much I want to climb into that nest and join her, to fuck the attitude right out of her until she's screaming my name instead of that Azarel fucker's.

But she hates me, and I hate her.

I need to.

I clear my throat, suddenly feeling awkward. "Do you, uh... need anything?" I mutter hoarsely.

Surprise flickers across her face, quickly replaced by suspicion. "No," she says flatly. "Your obnoxious sidekick has been bringing me shitty stale food and water bottles full of microplastics. I'm just fine."

Fucking Lex. She could have warned me about the heat. Though I'm not sure I would have been able to steel myself anyway. The scent of Cosima's arousal is so thick in the air I can barely think straight.

A look comes into Cosima's eyes, something calculating. "Actually," she says slowly, "there is one thing I could use."

"What?" I ask, too eager.Fuck.

Her lips curve into a smile that's pure sin. "Bring me a toy."

I blink. "A toy?"

"For my heat," she clarifies, her tone dripping with condescension.

I bark out a laugh, but it sounds hollow even to my own ears. "This is the middle of the Outer Reaches, sweetheart. There's notexactly a sex shop around the corner." I lean in closer, lowering my voice. "But if you need relief, I'd be happy to provide it the old-fashioned way."

Her eyes narrow dangerously. "I'd rather let the monster in the pit fuck me before I let you lay a finger on me."

The image that flashes through my mind at her words makes me want to put my fist through a wall.