36. Zara

Waking up with a start, I feel cool. Still hot from my heat, but the warmth of Liam's body next to mine is gone. Sitting up, I feel weird, like I should be succumbing to my heat urges again, but I'm not. Glancing around, I frown. It's still light out but getting dark, which means I haven't been out for very long. Wondering where Liam went, I don't have long to wonder when he taps lightly on the door and pushes it open, carrying a tray of sandwiches and a bottle of water.

"Hey, princess. Thought you might be hungry," Liam says, his voice carrying that gentle tone that makes my stomach flip in the best possible way. I smile at the sight of him caring for me like this.

"Do I even want to know what Ben and Henry have to say about this?" I ask, hiding my face behind my hands as he kneels and places the tray and himself on the edge of my nest, respecting my nesting boundaries.

He frowns slightly. "I wouldn't know. I didn't see either of them. I assume they're holed up in their rooms, trying not to pounce on you."

"That's sweet," I murmur, my cheeks flushing at the thought of all that pouncing. It's not a horrible thought. In fact, it's one that the omega inside me decides she likes. A lot. Clearing my throat, I reach for a sandwich.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better now," I admit. "Thank you. But it's a bit odd."

"What do you mean?" he asks with concern.

"It feels like the heat is receding slightly. I mean, more so than would be usual after a knot."

"Oh?" He arches an eyebrow and bites into a sandwich.

I do the same, just for something to do that doesn't feel awkward after my confession.

"I've heard of that happening," he says after a few chews and a swallow. "Not often, but it can happen under certain circumstances."

Snorting, I ask, "So what? You're the omega expert now?"

He chuckles. "I've had my fair share of ruts, princess. I learn stuff."

My jaw tightens at the mention of him rutting with other omegas. Not that I can say anything about it, but the green-eyed monster is trying to rear its stupid head, and I can't push it back down.

He sees my mood change and smiles darkly. "Oh, jealous, are you?"

"No," I spit out and then shove the sandwich into my mouth again to avoid more conversation. That doesn't stop him, though.

"You are, and I love it, but you have absolutely nothing to worry about, Zara." His face goes serious. "I meant what I said about us and that we're meant to be. I feel it. Do you?"

"I wouldn't be jealous if I didn't," I murmur, looking away.

"Don't be jealous," he murmurs. "They were nothing compared to you, to this. I'm not jealous of your past alphas because I know they didn't get this with you."

"Well, aren't you so bloody perfect, then?" I ask with an embarrassed giggle.

He laughs, too. "Not even close. I just know what this is."

We lock gazes, and I return his smile. "Me too. But I'm still confused about the heat."

"Maybe it was fate trying to give us a jump-start," he says.

"Maybe. Or maybe she will come back and give me another round, this one worse than the last."

"Maybe. But I'm here for you if she does."

"Thank you, Liam," I say sincerely and scoot a bit closer to him over the soaking wet blankets.

He reaches out to brush a lock of hair behind my ear, and his touch sends a thrill shooting through me. "No need to thank me, princess." His lips twitch into a half-smile, and I notice how his eyes linger on mine, warm and affectionate. "I've run you a bath," he adds.

"Oh, really? An omega could get used to this treatment."

"Please do."

Suddenly, I remember my responsibilities and exclaim, "Mia!"

"Ben's got her, I assume. She's not in the nursery."

Nodding, I feel terrible. Here's me thinking only of myself when I'm supposed to be here for her. "Okay. I'll have a bath and then see if I feel up to going to find Ben to have a conversation with him, that's going to be awkward as fuck."

"Nah,' Liam shrugs. "I think you'll find that conversation will go along just fine."

Shooting him a curious stare, I breathe in and keep eating until my hunger is satisfied. I pause, assessing if my heat is about to demand another knot, but I feel like I've gone back a step to my pre-heat, making me wonder if the entire active heat wasn't that at all, just really bad pre-heat. Oh, who knows? It's confusing and exhausting. I want that bath, to tidy up my nest, and then to have that talk with Ben.

Finishing my sandwich, I rise, feeling the room tilt slightly. Liam is on his feet in an instant and catches my arm, steady as a rock. "Easy does it, love. Your body's been through the wringer."

I nod, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, thanks." He throws my dressing gown over my naked body and supports me as we walk to the bathroom.

"It's cooler because I thought you'd be hot," he murmurs, looking unsure all of a sudden.

"It's perfect," I tell him as he helps me step into the lukewarm water, and I sink down gratefully.

He leaves with a grin and a promise to check in on me in a bit, closing the door behind him.

It's blissful, and I close my eyes for just a moment. But thoughts of Ben worm their way into my mind, and they're not unpleasant ones either.

After a good soak that leaves me feeling more human and less like an overheated mess, I wrap myself in a fluffy towel and head back to the bedroom. Getting dressed in joggers and a tee, feeling even less like my heat was only hours ago, I get to work on my nest, pulling off the soaked blankets and replacing some of them with fresh ones. I want to wash the one Henry gave me and replace it in my nest.

Grabbing the laundry bag, I shove it inside and creep out of my room and down the hallway to the stairs. As I pass Henry's room, I speed up a bit and take the stairs quickly, ducking into the kitchen. I shove the blankets and my clothes into the washer and set it on a delicate cycle.

"Hey," Ben says from behind me, startling me into straightening up.

I spin around as if I've been caught with my hand in the cookie jar. "Heyyyy."

Cringing at my tone, even more so when he smirks, I plaster a smile on my face.

"Everything okay?" he asks.

"Yep. Just doing some washing."

"I can see that. But your heat…" He trails off, looking as confused as I feel.

Feeling my cheeks flush, I shrug lightly, trying to sound nonchalant. "Oh, you know how it is. It seemed like it was the real deal, but it's calmed down now. At least for the time being."

Ben searches my eyes, "So, are you on a heat hiatus, then?"

"It looks like it," I reply, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I'm not even sure what that was all about."

He steps closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You and Liam?—"

"Yeah," I interrupt him before he can go any further. "Things have progressed. Is that okay?"

He frowns. "Why are you asking me that?"

I shrug. "It just feels like something I need to set straight. I'm here for Mia and you, not to be falling into something with Liam."

"People fall. There's not much you can do about that." The way he says that sends a tingle of desire over my skin.

"Oh?" I murmur, practically drowning in his gaze. Something seems different with him. He seems freer, lighter, like something has shifted inside him. My eyes automatically drop to his neck. It's crazy how I didn't notice it immediately, as it is right there, unhidden by the collar of his black tee.

It hasn't healed up entirely, but it looks a thousand times better than the last time I saw it, just this morning. Moving on instinct, I step into his space and brush my fingers lightly over the side of his neck. "This looks better."

"It feels better. The bond has snapped," he blurts out, staring down at me, his blue eyes sharp and stormy at the same time.

"Snapped," I murmur, shifting my gaze down to his mouth before it shoots back up to his eyes.

"Snapped."

"Are you okay?"

"Better than."

"Good."

The tension is simmering between us. I want him to drop his mouth to mine, to kiss me.

His breath hitches, and he closes the gap. His lips press gently against mine, carefully at first, as if he's testing the waters, but then it's all heat and hunger. My arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer, feeling the hard lines of his body against mine.

I'm melting into him like I was made for this moment. Our tongues tangle, and his hands slip down to grasp my hips, bringing me flush against him. I can feel every inch of him, rock solid and wanting, just like I am.

Finally, we break apart for air, gasping slightly. His forehead rests against mine, and our eyes meet, holding everything words can't express.

Mia shrieks from the lounge, demanding attention and the moment is lost.

Ben steps back hastily as if he is now the one with his hand in the cookie jar, and without another word, he darts off, leaving me alone and more than slightly confused.