Page 78 of Bonded By Christmas
She does, however, let me scrub every inch of her skin with my bare hands, which is highly satisfying for me. It might be slightly more enjoyable if I had her locked on my knot while I soaped and rinsed her hair, but I’ll take what I can get when I know she’s frustrated.
The bottom line is, I can’t update her until one of them tells me what’s going on. Once that happens, we’ll have to determine what, if anything, is safe to share with her. There are some things business-wise that Wilder truly should keep to himself out of respect for the other families, but he’s about as whipped as Grimand I are, even if he hasn’t had the chance to sink his teeth in just yet.
“I was thinking I should get your name tattooed on my body somewhere.” I chuckle at the way her eyes cut down to mine as I squat in front of her. Brushing my fingers over her skin, I make sure to tease her when I tug up her thong.
I was going to go for the bikini-cut panties, but she grabbed this version of underwear. To avoid annoying her any further, I just went with it. See, I know how to pick my battles and adapt to her moods.
“Do you have a preference on location?” I ask conversationally. “I have some free space over my heart, but the top of my dick is unadorned too…”
“You’re trying to hide something from me, and I don’t like it,” she says, poking her lower lip out dramatically as I help her into her dress. I get it over her chest and brush down the sides. She’s beautiful, and my teeth dig into my lower lip. “Dammit, don’t look at me like that. You make my brain melty, and I’m trying to be mad at you.”
My lips push together as I do everything I can to hold back the laugh, but she’s too fucking cute. “I’m sorry, baby girl. Listen, I’m being real when I say I don’t know any more than you do. I’ve been with you the entire time since Wilder answered his phone.”
“I’m just anxious,” she whispers, huffing out a breath.
“There’s nothing to be anxious about.” I yank her into my chest with a hand on her ass. I pulled on jeans before I helped her into her clothing, but I didn’t get around to finding a shirt.
The little omega brings a hand to the main tattoo on my throat, running her fingers over the mandala pattern. “My heat felt like it was going to start, then it disappeared again. I don’t know. I guess I got my hopes up.”
“It’ll come when your body is ready. It’s not something that can be rushed,” I murmur, catching her sparkling hazel eyes. “You’re also worried about your friend, which I understand. But all that anxiety is likely signaling to your system that you aren’t in a safe enough environment to fully go into heat. Do you get what I’m saying?”
“Kinda.” She pulls her hand from my neck, and her nose scrunches.
“Being hazy and out of it during a heat is the most vulnerable you’ll ever be.” I wrap my arm around her lower back, hugging her. “Once things settle down, I think nature will take over.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
I’m proud of Grim for advocating for Lacey to be present during the conversation in which Wilder fills us in on everything he learned through multiple phone calls. It helps her feel included, and her anxiety settles, no longer spilling through the bond at such a high level.
“I can call Charlotte,” Lacey says. “I bet she’ll tell me who she’s running from.”
I frown, patting her hand. “Except, she didn’t when the two of you talked earlier.”
“You’re right,” she says, shaking her head. “I mean, I kinda get it. We were friendly at work, but more like coworkers than actual friends, if that makes sense? The festival was only the second time we’d hung out outside of work. I don’t think she’sa bad person or anything. I just think maybe we weren’t at the level for her to tell me all her secrets.”
“Each person’s history is their own to share with who they choose,” Grim says. “She probably thinks she’s protecting you by keeping you from getting involved.”
“And you’ll get to see Grim at work.” I chuckle. “He’s a beast in the ring.”
Wilder sighs, opening his mouth, but I shake my head.
We aren’t going to leave Lacey’s safety in the hands of anyone else, especially when she could have another heat spike at any time. She’s coming with us, and I can tell from the bond that Grim is in agreement.
Grim spends several hours in the gym practicing with the trainer we both use. I hop in a few times, but we know each other too well. When we fight, the other always anticipates the next move. That’s not going to do him any favors.
While he and Wilder are busy, I put in a call to Malachy O’Connor. Sure, I could call Patrick, but Malachy is more on my wavelength. I give him a few contacts that can help with our plan. Then I call those contacts to warn them that Malachy will be reaching out.
Once I know that’s handled, I put some serious thought into how likely it is Grim will be able to tap into the fog to handle two opponents of unknown sizes. That leads me to decide I have to be proactive there too. I have a little chat with our omega, making sure she understands now isn’t the time to be snuggly and cuddly.
It’s time to taunt the fucking beast.
I never worried a bit about Grim stepping into the ring, especially the closer he got to rabid. Honestly, it was embarrassing for his opponents how quickly he demolished them, but he’s bonded now, and that connection is healing his mind.
We want the more animalistic Grim in the ring tonight, and I know exactly how to achieve that, even if it puts me on his shit list for a day or two. Ultimately, I’ll handle his ire because I know myself well enough to understand that I wouldn’t be able to stand by and watch him fall. I’d break the rules if it came down to it, and that says more about me than it does him.
No, I’m not anhonorableman by any stretch of the imagination, but I am a damn good friend.
“I’m freezing my tits off,” Lacey grumbles as we walk into the warehouse. “Why did you lead me to believe I’d be warm enough in this?” She gestures to the skintight little black skirt I zipped her into before leaving the house. It matches the knit top that only has full coverage over her tits. It shows off quite a lot of skin, especially in the sexy black heels I helped her into.
