Page 42 of Discover Me
“Like an Omega heat or something? I can’t… we didn’t talk about…”
I shush him and shake his head. “No, you’ll be way more lucid but if it pushes you over the edge again, you’ll probably drag me off into a corner and fuck me.” I don’t actually hate the idea.
He huffs a laugh, nuzzling my throat. “Do you wanna talk about…?”
“No,” I cut in, not wanting to bring up what happened earlier. “Not tonight. When your knot goes down, I want a replay. Slow this time. I want to feel every inch.”
He shoots me a sloppy grin. “I think I can get behind that.”
Micah
I wake up the next morning curled up against Kellan's chest, my good arm draped across his waist and my face pressed against his collarbone. The scent of sweet rum surrounds me, mixed with sweat and sex and something uniquely us. My body aches in ways I haven't experienced before, muscles sore from exertion and positions I didn't know I was flexible enough to achieve.
I run my fingers through Kellan's hair, the strands soft and tangled from sleep and from me gripping it during the long night we just had. Satisfying Kellan's rut was definitely an impulsivedecision, one made in the moment when he looked at me with those desperate eyes and asked if I was sure. I'd been sure then, watching him struggle with something his body demanded he couldn't control on his own.
But now, in the quiet morning light filtering through the curtains, I feel even more attached to Kellan than I did before. The physical intimacy deepened something that was already becoming too real, too complicated. We haven't had a conversation about what any of this means beyond the label's requirements, if it even can mean anything beyond the contract that has an expiration date built in.
Kellan stirs slightly under my touch but doesn't wake, his breathing deep and even. His face looks peaceful in sleep, younger somehow without the tension he carries when awake. I take a moment to just study him, memorizing the details I might not get to keep once this arrangement ends.
The tattoos that cover his arms and creep up his neck, each one probably holding meaning he's never shared. The piercings that glint in the morning light, small rebellions against whatever expectations were placed on him growing up. The strong jaw that clenches when he's frustrated, now relaxed and soft. The lips that kissed me through the night with increasing desperation until the rut finally broke and he collapsed into exhausted sleep.
I carefully extract myself from his embrace, trying not to wake him. He needs the rest after what his body just put him through. My ribs protest the movement but it's manageable, just a dull ache rather than the sharp pain from weeks ago. My cast bumps awkwardly against the mattress as I push myself up, a constant reminder of the fall and everything that came after.
I stretch, working out the kinks in my back and legs. My thighs burn slightly, muscles unused to the activity they got last night. There are marks on my skin, hickeys and bite marks that Kellanleft in the throes of his rut. Evidence of possession that probably shouldn't make me feel as satisfied as it does.
I head for the guest bedroom and take a quick shower, careful to keep my cast dry with the garbage bag and rubber band system I've perfected. The hot water soothes my aching muscles, washing away the sweat and other evidence of the night. I scrub at the marks on my neck and chest but they don't fade, will probably be visible for days. I'll need to wear high-necked shirts if we do any public appearances.
After drying off, I get changed into clean clothes from the bag I packed yesterday. The normalcy of the routine grounds me, reminds me that life continues even after nights that feel world-shifting. Jeans, a t-shirt, socks. Simple and comfortable.
I come out to find Kellan already awake and at the kitchen table, chugging a Dr Pepper like his life depends on it. He's shirtless, wearing just a pair of sweatpants that hang low on his hips. His hair sticks up in every direction and there are pillow creases on his face. He looks rumpled and tired and somehow even more attractive than usual.
I glare at him, crossing my arms. "Really? First thing in the morning?"
Kellan pauses mid-chug, guilt flashing across his face. "Fuck, I thought I could get one in before you were done in the shower."
I snort, moving to the fridge to see what actual food options exist. "Does it hurt so much to actually eat something other than carbonated bubbles? Your body just went through a rut. It needs nutrients, not sugar and caffeine."
Kellan shrugs, setting the can down but keeping it within easy reach. "I picked at the fruit while you were showering. Happy?"
I pull out the container of cut cantaloupe and check how much is left. He ate maybe three pieces, barely making a dent. "Mildly."
I grab the container and a fork, bringing both to the table. I stab a piece of cantaloupe and hold it out to him. Kellan grins but opens his mouth, letting me feed him. The intimacy of the gesture feels natural after last night, just another way we take care of each other.
"How are you feeling?" I ask, feeding him another piece before taking one for myself.
"Better than yesterday." Kellan reaches out to run his hand along my forearm, his touch light and warm. "There's still that irritability beneath the surface, that restless energy. But I don't feel like I need to bend you over the counter and fuck you right now, so that's progress."
Heat floods my face at the casual way he says it, the image his words conjure. Kellan raises an eyebrow, clearly noticing my reaction.
"Oh, is that something you're into?" His voice drops lower, takes on that rough quality that does things to me. "Fast, hard, and dirty?"
"Isn't that what everyone is into?" I deflect, eating another piece of cantaloupe to avoid looking at him.
Kellan laughs, the sound genuine and relaxed. "Touché." He finishes his Dr Pepper and sets the empty can aside. "I don't have practice until this afternoon. What are you up to today?"
"I have a physical therapy appointment at ten." I check the time on my phone. It's just past eight, giving me a couple hours. "But that's it. Should only take an hour or so."
"Is everything okay?" Kellan's expression shifts to concern. "With your injuries, I mean. Nothing got worse from last night?"
