Page 208 of Filthy Royal

“Omega.” His amused command pulled her from her lustful thoughts. “Filthy thoughts later. For now, tell me how you feel.”

“Damien!” Her gaze flickered to his grinning brothers.

He leaned in close. “My brothers understand. They have omegas of their own. Plus, we might as well get them used to us and how we’re going to be pawing at each other all the time. Start as we mean to go on.”

Outrageous as ever.

But his brothers had to know there was no reeling Damien in.

And since she loved that about him, she decided simply to power through, focusing instead on his question.

“Better,” she said at last. “I feel much better.” Even inhaling hurt less. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this good.

She sat up straighter in the bed. “Excellent, in fact.”

Unexpectedly, Damien’s scowl returned. “Yeah, that’s probably because you had several bruised ribs, and now you don’t.”

She started. “Really?”

“Yes, the doc healed them.” The deep V between his brows grew more pronounced. “I should have thought to check for internal injuries too.”

“Why would you?” Scarlett raised a finger to smooth away the lines on his forehead. “It never even once crossed my mind either.” She caught sight of her arm and yelped excitedly. “My bruises. Damien, look! They’re practically gone too.”

This, finally, produced a smile. “Doc gave you some accelerated-healing gel for that as well.” Damien gestured across the room and she noticed the beta from earlier.

He’d been concealed by the broad shoulders and commanding presences of Damien and his brothers, but he was unmissable now. His furry white arm moved at a frantic pace as he scribbled notes into a journal while observing her and Damien, his expression oddly intent.

She refused to let that deter her. “Amazing.” She smiled at him. “I can’t thank you enough.”

Gray-and-pink streaked eyes blinked back at her several times before the doc gave a quick nod. Then his gaze shifted to Damien, and he swallowed hard.

“Dr. Toth Randalff,” Damien announced. “Our family’s expert on omega gifts and the fated-mate bond.”

She was suddenly nervous. A glance at her wrists revealed there were still no marks.

“Doc’s going to look you over.” Damien’s voice drew her attention back to him. “Now that he’s made you feel better, he’s going to figure out what’s going on and how we can prevent you from getting hurt again.” He winked at her. “And he assures me the fated-mate marks are not the only way to express that bond, so I was right all along.”

“Wonderful.” Scarlett gave the beta scientist another big smile, so relieved to hear the pronouncement that she forgot to give Damien grief about his unbelievable arrogance.

“Just one thing to do before that.” Damien was back to sounding agitated.

“What’s that?”

“Maxheim needs your help to access any additional accounts Darvish had you manage for him. My brother thinks he can mine them for useful intel.”

“Excellent. I’m glad some good can come from it.” She sat up straighter against the headboard. “Now?”

“Now.” But Damien didn’t sound happy.

Then she got it. Scarlett squeezed his hand. “It will be over in a flash,” she assured him. “And if you kiss me while it happens, I won’t feel a thing.”

That was all the invitation he needed. He growled, fingers threading through her hair and tipping her head back. His mouth slammed over hers.Paradise.She barely remembered to hold out her finger.

The sting was there and gone before she even realized it, Damien’s pull far more potent.

Her tongue tangled with his.

A loud cough had them both stilling, mouths pressed together, their breaths coming fast.

---