Page 59 of Where There's Smoke
“I’m so sorry about this,” Elliot muttered as he dried off after his shower.
“Don’t be,” I said, shaking my head. “You need to be back at work. You already took several days off while I was in heat.”
“I know, but we wanted to be here to help you after,” Samson said, running his hand through my hair.
I hummed at his touch. “I’ll just be napping and snacking, honestly I’ll be fine.”
And maybe spiraling, but I wasn’t going to mention that part.
Samson kissed the top of my head, his scent clinging to me in the best way, and I wanted to melt into him. He looked down at me, swiping his thumb across my cheek. “Stay in the nest, okay?”
“If you do leave… maybe shower first.” Elliot smirked.
“Or don’t!” Fitz cackled from the bathroom. “I happen to like you smelling like us!”
Elliot glowered in the direction of his overenthusiastic pack mate. “She can’t hang around other guys stinking of sex,” he growled, but instead of being intimidated, it made me shiver excitedly.
Clearly, the heat had turned my brain upside down.
Samson laughed as Fitz stuck his head around the door. His blond hair was sticking up in all directions. “No! Actually, firecracker, I think a shower is an excellent idea. Hygiene is king, after all!”
Snorting, I snuggled deeper into Samson.
I had always assumed that post-heat would be an awkward time, but I was simply basking in their presence. Though I was sad they were leaving, I couldn't realistically demand more of their time after the last few days. They had lives to get back to.
“We need to take our girl nest shopping,” Samson said, his words slightly muddled by the fact his face was pressed into my hair.
“Nest shopping?” I asked, looking between the alphas as a wave of gratitude and embarrassment hit me. “Why would I need that?”
Elliot ignored my words, nodding absentmindedly as he folded one of his T-shirts. “That isn’t a bad idea. I need to checkwhen we're going to be off shift, but how about we go nest shopping together?”
“But I have a nest!” I declared, clutching at the blankets around me like I was terrified he was going to rip them away.
Next to me, Samson chuckled and gently pried my hands away from the blankets. “Never fear, little omega. We're not taking your nest away. We simply want to help you make iteven better.”
“You should see these stores. The kinds of nests they make are insane. This, while beautiful and you did an amazing job, is so simple compared to some of the things you can do with the nest,” Fitz explained as he came out of the bathroom.
I pouted. My nest was perfect; it had all their scents in it.
Then again…I wouldn’t say no to a few more throw pillows.
The urge to nest was a new one to me, and confusing. I was irrationally attached to the nest I had, and if the guys said anything negative about it, I was sure I was going to break down and have a good cry…maybe get a little violent.
On the other hand, now I was thinking about new, pretty, fluffy blankets. Squishy throw pillows. Soft curtains. Dimmer lamps. Diffusers and those things that could hold your Kindle or book for you. Chair pillows for reading and watching TV. Down pillows for sleeping.
Deep down, the thought of going hog wild and making a nest with all those pretties? It was titillating.
Sighing, I snuggled deeper into Samson and let my mind wander. I really needed to learn more about being an omega. Maybe while the guys were gone, I could give Sunny a call, as she was the only omega I knew. She’d been incredibly helpful before. I was sure she would be doubly so now.
There wasn’t even an omega in my family I could call. My family members were all betas, and even if that wasn’t the case, the last thing I wanted to deal with was the judgment thatwould come from my parents. Nothing I had ever done was good enough for them. And I knew my brothers would jump right on that bandwagon. Hell, they’d probably all deny it, say I was making it up.
“Okay, I think I like that idea. But it’ll have to wait until you all are back. Which, you know, I’m not saying hurry or anything, but maybe let me know when you are on your way back?”
Elliot chuckled, shaking his head with this smirk that had my insides twisting. “We can do that. Just get your rest, recuperate. Heats put a lot of strain on an omega’s body. You’ll need to treat it nicely. Pamper it.”
“I’m pretty surewecould treat it nicely,” Fitz added, and I laughed, even as said body warmed at the thought.
“We certainly can, and I’ll be sure to text you.” Samson kissed the top of my head, and I reluctantly let him up now that it was his turn to shower.
