Page 153 of Unhinged
Something twists in my chest—tight, hot, terrifying in the best kind of way. I rise up on my toes and kiss him, and he meets me there, deep and solid, making me whimper into his mouth.
When we break apart, I glance back at the other two. “Alright. Arrow, you’re up first. Gears, since you threw a tantrum—and well, let’s be honest, you’ve been an asshole the longest—you get to go last.”
“Fuck,” Gears mutters. “You’re gonna give us hell forever, aren’t you, Omega?”
“Sure am.”
“I can’t wait,” Acid says, pulling me close and nuzzling my neck.
“Oh—and one more thing,” I add, giving them both a hard look. “I’m not gonna stop killing. Don’t ask. Don’t try. It’s not up for debate.”
Arrow chuckles. “Like we could.” He stands up slow, like he’s not sure if he should. His boxer briefs hang low on his hips, and he looks at me like I’m something he’s scared to reach for.
“You really want this?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah. I do.”
He takes a step forward, and the scent of him rolls over me. Plum and sandalwood. His scent’s already laced into the nest, but now it wraps around me in full force.
Acid steps away, giving us space, but I feel his presence still, heavy and warm just behind me. Gears doesn’t move. He watches like he’s holding his breath, eyes locked on me like he’s afraid he’ll miss something.
Arrow stops in front of me, so close I feel the heat radiating off him. He brushes a strand of damp hair off my cheek and cups my jaw in one hand. His thumb traces the edge of my mouth, then drops to my throat. His fingers rest right over my pulse.
“I’ve never claimed anyone,” he murmurs. “You’ll be my first. My only. It’s you I’ve been waiting for.”
I swallow. My throat works against his hand. “Then make it count.”
He leans in slowly, giving me time, his lips brushing over mine before he moves lower. He presses a kiss to my shoulder, then my collarbone, right below the mark Acid left.
He finds the spot between Acid’s claim and the base of my neck—right at the junction where it’s soft and vulnerable—and that’s where his mouth lingers.
I tilt my head without even thinking, giving him access. Just opening up for him. That’s all it takes. He bites me. Right there between Acid’s mark and my neck. His teeth sink in deep, not rushed, just solid and sure. I gasp and grab onto his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as my whole body shudders. It doesn’t feel like it did with Acid. This one’s different. Calmer. Butstrong in this quiet way. It settles into me slowly, almost like a heartbeat in my bones.
My legs go weak, like jelly, and I start to fall, but Arrow catches me before I can. He holds me close like he’s afraid I’ll slip through his fingers.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers into my skin. “I’ve always got you.”
I pull back just enough to look him in the eyes.
“Now, you hold still.”
He goes wide-eyed, and then Ilunge.
I sink my teeth into his neck right where I marked Acid; just above his collarbone, where it’ll show. Deep enough tolast. My scent floods the air again, mixing with his, thick and heady and complete. When I pull away, I lick over the mark, sealing it like instinct demands.
It’s done. Bond locked. Two out of three.
Arrow’s pupils are blown wide, his chest rising and falling fast. He stares at me like I just broke open something inside him.
“You okay?” I ask, brushing my thumb across the edge of my bite.
He swallows hard. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m okay. I just—” He laughs once, soft and shaky. “I didn’t think it would feel like this.”
“Welcome to the club,” Acid mutters from behind us, but there’s no edge in his voice. Just pride.
I take a breath, chest full of heat and something bigger than heat.
“I meant what I said,” I tell them both. “This isn’t just instinct. This is choice. You’ve protected me. You’veseenme. And now you’re mine.”
