I’d done it again.
Denied her space.
Denied her agency.
And she’d slipped beneath every defense.
Thistle was already wrapping a hand in a cloth and dragging the hot, damp thing up my chest, readjusting so she was straddling me better. She leaned close and pressed her lips to my collarbone, her voice wobbly with joy, she whispered, “You did so good, Bunny.”
TWENTY-ONE
ROGUE
Thistle was glowing as she waltzed into the kitchen the next morning with Ace.
“How are you, Kitten?” I asked as she scrambled up onto my lap and plucked a piece of toast from my plate.
“Sogood!”
“Yeh?”
Knox peered at her, glancing between her and Ace, who was pouring himself a glass of water.
“We had sex,” Thistle declared, so fucking proud.
I snorted, watching the faintest shadow darken Ace’s expression as he leaned against the kitchen counter.
“It was—” Thistle began, but Ace cut her off.
“Give anyone the details, Omega, and it will be the last time.”
Thistle clamped her mouth shut, chewing on her lip as she peered up at me.
“Rough,” she muttered, ever so quietly. “He was rough.”
In the bond, she seemed about ready to explode with pride.
“Huh?” Knox asked.
“Nothing,” Thistle said quickly, cheeks bright pink as she crammed the toast into her mouth.
I did, however, shoot Knox a smug look. I’d been spot on about last night.
Even if I hadn’t been confident enoughnotto hover at Ace’s door for the hour after she’d vanished through it. I’d needed to make sure I felt nothing in the bond that might require me to break his arms and legs.
But still.
I glanced at Ace, this time trying not to make it too obvious. He remained still and impassive as he considered the glass of water in his hand.
I knew the issue.
“Straws are in the top drawer,” I said, nodding to it.
Ace opened it, so impassive as he ripped one out and jammed it into his cup so he could access it through the muzzle. You know, Iwasstarting to see why Knox thought that was funny.
In the bond, there was still nothing.
He was controlled. Almost unnervingly so. I dropped my eyes back down to her, smiling as I honed in on Ace.