Page 78 of Altius
Cal leaned closer, trying his best to look me in the eye, not check out my naked and willing body, and caressed my cheek. “Want me to recite the plan—yourplan—in detail?”
“No,” I sighed, covering myself with a chenille throw. “I’m the one who asked you to wait until later, in case one of the other three doesn’t work out.”
“Exactly. And don’t forget, it’s still early.” Cal inched closer, resting a small but reassuring amount of his body weight against me. “You’re speedrunning through pre-heat right now. The real thing won’t hit for another few hours.”
“You’re right. At least this feels better than I remember.”
Cal tapped his finger against the tip of my nose. Then he traced a meandering path along my cheeks and lips, down to the hollow at the base of my throat, fingers lingering on my fluttering pulse.
“Well,” he asked. “Does Wyatt still sound good?”
A second later, Cal’s eyes flashed gold.
My pheromones had answered for me.
Nineteen
Wyatt
Heats were supposed to be a frantic mess of passion driven by instinct. Raw, mindless fucking. Not that I’d ever participated in one before, but I wasn’t stupid. I knew how this was supposed to go down.
But with Owen involved, the proceedings were as erotic as a pre-flight safety drill.
“…numerous toys and positioning pillows are available, as well as a variety of lubricating agents…”
Sitting in Morgan’s reading chair with my hands shoved deep in the pockets of my gym shorts, I desperately tried to pretend that I couldn’t smell a faint hint of her blossoming scent as Tenny slipped through the cat flap. I looked at the mated pair, hoping they were equally miserable.
If only.
Alijah sat at attention in his wrinkle-free khaki pants and preppy polo shirt, nodding along as Owen reviewed Morgan’s list of requirements—again—as if we hadn’t already done this whole song and dance last night.
Joaquin was on the verge of nodding off, arms splayed across the back of the couch, with his head tipped back and eyes closed.
“…adhere to the stoplight system for consent. If you are unable to obtain verbal confirmation, notify me immediately…”
My phone buzzed on the end table. A simple thumbs-up emoji from Cal sent me rocketing to my feet.
I didn’t spare a glance at my brother or the others. Just took my phone and charged into her suite.
The door to her nest stood open a few inches. Cal’s scent was strong, heading toward her office, but I didn’t care about him.
Every thought was fixated on Morgan. Helping her, easing her, comforting her, kissing her, touching her, claiming her…
Reaching for the molded panel, fingers trembling from a surge of adrenaline, my hindbrain cooled, reminding me that this wasMorgan. I couldn’t afford to fuck things up again.
Nerves crept in on the backs of my second guesses.
Should we be doing this—going all the way—without having fixed our relationship?
At least we’d kissed. That had to count for something.
Or was I going first because she wanted to get me out of the way?
Oh god, what if she expected me to be a one-pump chump?
Fuck, what if I was one when it came to her?
The door opened a few inches, almost hitting my nose.
