Page 32 of Broken Pregnant Mate
Dorian turns to her, and he—along with Oren—starts to talk about the political implications of this trip, how easy it was for us to get the leaves, and how soon they might replenish, where we can find more.
I bite my tongue, wanting to ask if I’m free to leave, but not wanting to interrupt their discussion. As they go on, something sours in my stomach, and I have to resist the urge to back away from them slowly, like this entire conversation is a massive beast I’m terrified to approach.
Over Claire’s shoulder, Oren catches my eye, and I hate the way it feels like he’s seeing right through me—he can tell how little I care about this stuff, how my impending role as leader of the Grayhide pack feels like a death sentence heading my way.
It’s time to go home and see Emaline, who’s surely out of her heat by now.
“I’ll see you all later,” I get out, throwing a haphazard wave in their general direction before darting out the door, sucking air in quickly, more winded now than I was on the run back from the Hysopp territory.
Chapter 14 - Emaline
When I hear the key turning in the lock, I don’t jump or worry about who it might be.
I know who it is. Aidan, coming home—I know it in my bones, and discover I’m right when I catch the scent of him pushing through the space, warm and sure, like the fresh pine trees near the Llewelyn border.
Of course, I’ve never seen the trees myself, but I’ve smelled the oils brought back from the region. Vern used to dab them on himself, a crude recreation of the real smell I loved from Aidan.
“Emaline.”
Aidan’s voice is pained when he comes around the corner, and I sit up in his bed, his sheets tangled around my waist. He must know what I’ve done—at least half a dozen times—in this bed. In my heat, it barely does anything to take the edge off, but I have to do something.
Being in heat is like starving, and no matter how much you eat, that hunger is still there. It’s like hunger ravishing your body, not accepting anything except one specific food. And for most omegas, you either don’t know what the food is, or there’s no way you’re going to get your hands on it.
“Aidan.” I know my hair is wild, and I watch his eyes skip down to the sheet, where I’m holding it just above my bare chest, covering it.
Outside, the sun is beginning to set.
“I thought—” he starts, then runs his hand over his face roughly. “I thought your heat only lasted a few days?”
“It didn’t start right away.” I can hear the words, know that I’m speaking them, but I can’t actually feel my mouth moving. Everything around me feels like a dream right now, and I start to think that it actually might be a dream. Maybe this is a hyper-realistic fantasy for me to enjoy right now.
“I’ll sleep out here,” Aidan says, stepping back from the doorway, his eyes cast to the ground, his jaw ticking.
So, not a fantasy, then.
“Aidan.” I know my voice is pleading, but I don’t know how to moderate it. “Will you…come here?”
The words are out before I can consider them, change them, or not say them at all.
Aidan turns, his eyes flashing in the golden light spilling across the room. Slowly, as though he’s taking a mental picture, he drags his gaze from the bed to my feet under the sheets, then over the full length of my body, right to the top of my head.
“Emaline,” Aidan says, voice rough. He manages to crack a lopsided grin in my direction. “You know—it’s probably not a good idea for us to be around each other right now.”
“I know. But I—I want you around me.” I can’t believe I’m doing this, but with each word, I start to believe it more and more.
Maybe it’s ridiculous, but it could be worth it. If Aidan is willing, maybe it would be worth it for me to have him even once. Before he goes off to claim the Grayhide pack, before he goes off to claim his other mate.
Before his real life begins, I might be able to have a moment with him, my own little memory to tuck away and keep just for myself.
“Emaline.” He’s said my name too many times, and I just want to hear him growl it. I want his breath over my skin, his lips next to my ear.
“Aidan,” I return, shifting in the bed, locking my eyes on his. “Please.”
“You’re in heat.” He shakes his head, takes a step backward like that extra foot of space might save him from coming straight to this bed.
I laugh. “I’m aware of that. It’s hard to ignore.”
“No,” he laughs, too, runs his hand through his hair. The tension between us is a cord that could snap any minute, and I’m willing it to, waiting for the moment it does. It’s all I want. “I know…what you’re asking of me. But you’re in heat, and I’m not positive you can actually consent to that right now.”
