Page 135 of Knot Her Cowboys
Dakota’s kiss against my hair was gentle, and I reveled in the way he cupped my head to draw me close enough to reach. “Next question, do you need anything specific for your heat? Any trips into town will have to be soon.”
“Besides birth control, not really.” I shuddered over the idea that I could’ve gotten knocked up with Darrell’s baby. I had always quietly liked the idea of a baby Cooper, even if I had also been terrified I would magically transform into my mother once I had a kid. Now a mini version of any of my pack made me warm and fuzzy inside, though it was far too early to entertain the idea.
“That was a very confusing set of emotions in the bond,” said Cash.
I barked a laugh. “It was a lot of thoughts one after the other.” I told them what had run through my head, receiving a myriad of expressions that had matched my thoughts as I said each one. “In a few years, maybe I won’t need it.”
Cooper hugged me tighter around the waist, the rest of my pack inching closer.
“Sweetheart.” Levi kissed my cheek, brushing my temple with his nose. “You’re feeling confident enough in the pack you’re thinking about babies?”
“Hard thought to avoid. You’re all so good to me, and it would be cute as hell to see you guys with a baby.” I sniffled hard, a surge of emotion crashing into me. “They would have a way better childhood than I did.”
No matter how scared I might be, these alphas were good men and they were steady. I would be able to heal with them justbecause of their nature. Now that Darrell and Darlene were out of the picture, the whole world was my oyster, and paths I hadn’t let myself look down before were suddenly open.
“Let’s start with bonds, though. If you’ll have me.”
I wasn’t prepared for all four of them to fight over who got to kiss me first, or for the unique sensation of being passed from one mouth to the next until they had all gotten their fill.
“Should I take that as meaning you guys are into the idea of bonding during this heat?” I laughed, lightheaded from the rush of desire that burned hot, pooling in my belly, and the overflow of affection in my chest that warmed me from the inside out.
“So long as you want us to keep you, we’re going to,” said Cooper, kissing me again with a ferocity that had my toes curling. “I’ll sink my teeth into you the hot second you give me the word.”
“Kind of making me wish I was already in heat so you could do that right now. I’m tired of not officially being yours.”
“Let’s get ready to go into town,” said Dakota. “We want this heat to go smoothly so we should be prepared.”
“Soak first,” Levi demanded, scooping me off the bed. “Your muscles will thank you, and we want you in as little pain as possible going into a heat.”
I wasn’t going to complain about a nice bath. Levi lowered me into the water while the others ran around, getting ready. I sipped the coffee he made me and by the time the cup was empty I was irked at being alone in the water.
“Bath buddy?” I asked when he popped his head in to check on me.
Levi stripped out of what little clothing he was wearing and climbed in with me, drawing me onto his lap. “You’re sure you’re okay bonding with me this early? Some omegas hold off for years to be certain.”
“Like I told Dakota, I have two speeds: zero and maximum. If you want to wait on a bond, we’ll wait, but if you don’t, I’ll be yours.” He opened his mouth to respond, but I pressed my fingertip to his lips. “I’m sure. You’ve been amazing from the first second we met, and the fact that Cooper and Cash formed a pack with you gives me some pretty good confidence that’s going to continue. Even if we weren’t scent matches, I’d have still fallen for you. Don’t be worried aboutmewantingyouwhen I’m the one who rolled in here as the hot mess express.”
Levi tugged my hand down. “You weren’t a hot mess express. You were trapped in a situation that didn’t suit you, and you had a lot of vengeful ghosts. Being afraid isn’t the same as being a mess.”
When I tried to respond, he pulled the same move on me. The brush of his finger on my lips had my whole body tingling.
“I’ve been curious about you since I figured out the depths of Cooper’s obsession, and I’m not embarrassed to say I completely understand it now. More than obsession, though, I understand why Cooper and Cash love you so much, because I’ve fallen into that far more quickly than I thought possible. I already know I’d lay down my life for you if it came down to it, whether that’s a river or an asshole coming for you, but beyond that, I want to liveforyou. I want the day to come that we know each other as well as you know Cooper and Cash.”
A knot tied itself up in my chest. Did I actually deserve these men? What right did I have to tie myself to them when they were so wonderful?
“Stop,” Levi whispered, brushing his lips against mine. “Whatever is going through your head doesn’t have to follow you into the future. You said you’re sure. Well, I am, too. I can’t let you go now that you’re here, and I want to share the same connection with you that you have with Cash.”
My lip wobbled. I wanted to bury myself in the comfort this pack offered to me.
“It’s okay if you’re scared. You can’t be brave if you’re not, and I’m going to be brave now, all right? I don’t know what else to call what I’m feeling, so I’m going to call it love. I love you, and I want to share a life with you. I want to wake up next to you, ride horses, swim in lakes, have you by my side bringing baby horses into the world, and feeding me burnt marshmallows off sticks.”
The knot in my chest unraveled, but with it came a flood of tears. Oh, good. Sobbing in the bath was a fabulous look after someone confessed their love to me.
“What’s going on, honey bun?” Cash popped his head into the bathroom.
“Levilovesme?” I choked on the words, like saying them out loud might evaporate his confession. “And…andyoulove me. And Cooper…”
“I do, too,” said Dakota as he joined Cash at the door to see what the fuss was. “Iwasgoing to say that a little more privately, but I don’t want you to think I’m the odd one out in this case.”
