41. Nils

41

Nils

I never thought being bonded would be like this. I don't just feel what McQuinn's feeling. I feel him. He's as bright and dynamic as his sunny citrus scent. His fierce passion pummels me like a wave, pulling me into an undertow. He's so much more than I ever realized. His feelings are so much more intense and layered than I knew.

Tears spring to his eyes, and he discreetly tries to wipe them away while he pulls his emotions back into himself, trying to keep me from seeing how soft this surly man really is.

"Hey," I take his face in my hands, "Don't do that."

He knows exactly what I mean. A shallow sob parts his lips, and I see a side of him I never knew existed. It's vulnerable and beautiful. Gorgeous. He's gorgeous.

Aware that we have an audience, I drag him into the bathroom for a moment alone and turn on the shower. We spend a long time talking under the water with an openness we've never had between us before. Whispered confessions wash away any lingering doubts as we scrub each other clean, and then with a new sense of us and who we are, I take control and fuck his mouth like I did the first time we were together.

We're just drying off when Harrison and Dante step into the bathroom.

"We need a plan," Harrison says without preamble.

I wrap the towel around my waist, sigh, and lean against the counter. "I don't think there's much to plan. We're already doing everything we can to speed things along. If she's still in heat when it's time for the game, we'll have to forfeit. It's the only option."

"So if her fever doesn't break, we're screwed." Dante crosses his arms over his chest.

"Oh, we're definitely gonna be screwed." McQuinn laughs. I can feel his amusement through the bond. He's lighter than I've ever seen him. Practically floating. He doesn't even seem phased that we might not make it to the final game.

"What will we tell them?" Dante asks.

"Illness," I suggest. "Injury."

"Pussy-induced coma," McQuinn teases.

Dante glares at him. "How will we know if it's over?"

Ellis appears in the doorway before I can answer. "Um, guys, we're gonna need some help in here."

Beyond him, I can see Meggie riding Oz's cock, reverse cowgirl style. She's squeezing her own breasts, and it's clear she wants more than Oz alone. The combination of my arousal and McQuinn's blends inside me like a chemical experiment about to blow. The tension in the room skyrockets.

Forcing my eyes away from our beautiful omega, I answer Dante's question, "It's over when her fever breaks, but she might still be extra horny for a cooling-off period after that."

Harrison's staring at Meggie like she's a gooey chocolate cake he wants to devour, and I'm not sure any of them are really paying attention to me anymore. But there's one more thing we need to check in on before we completely give ourselves over to the heat that could end in hours or days. "Any word from Emily or Declan about Glenn?"

"No." Ellis scrapes his hands through his already messy hair. "I just tried getting ahold of them and neither answered."

"It'll be fine, babr. Declan will get the bastard." Dante pulls his bonded into a reassuring hug. For the first time, the jealousy I usually feel seeing how free they are with each other isn't there. In its place, McQuinn's fierce love shines. I grab him and pull him close, my arms wrapping around his middle as he presses his back into my chest.

Oz grunts and it's clear he's coming. A moaning mewl comes from Meggie, and we all turn to look at her beautiful face as she falls apart. Hair thrown back, delicious skin of her neck bared, she screams her pleasure.

"So gorgeous," I whisper, and I can feel McQuinn's agreement through the bond. Stronger than any previous jealousy.

"Alphas!" Meggie yells as if she's in excruciating pain, the pleasure of one man not nearly enough to satiate her long overdue heat. I wonder if she even knows our names in this hazy mental state, or if she's slipped to a place too elemental for that.

"We have an omega to take care of," Harrison says.

"Damn right we do." McQuinn is nearly giddy in the bond, his feelings so much brighter than the smile on his face.

I've heard about the way an omega's heat can affect an alpha, but I never thought it would be quite like this. Even though I just came minutes ago, I'm ready to go again.

"So we're agreed?" I ask, eyes glued to Meggie, who's already slamming herself up and down Oz's thick length again. "We forfeit if her heat's not over in time?"

"Guys," Oz hollers. "A little help!"

"Pack first," Dante says.

I recall Harrison's words from when we were trying to decide if we would pick Meggie for the team. He said we should make the choice based on what's best for the pack, not just the team. We didn't realize then how truly good for the pack that choice would be.

We all look at each other. There's not really anything to say. We're gonna take care of her, whether it's one day or ten. Even if it means giving up the gold.

But for just a moment, we all let ourselves acknowledge the cost. Then Ellis breaks into a wide grin. "Let's go knot the hell out of our omega."

"Fuck, yes." McQuinn grabs me by the towel at my waist and pulls me past the other guys, charging towards our girl. Our gorgeous, needy girl.