Page 81 of Heat Lightning

My phone buzzed again, a follow-up to the previous messages.

You both deserve happiness, Atlas.

Yes, Max certainly deserved happiness. He deserved everything he ever wanted.

I couldn’t say the same for myself.

“You’re back!”

A big breath of air whooshed out when I walked back into Max’s apartment, only to find an armful of half-naked omega flying right at me. I dropped the totes I carried and hugged him close.

“I woke up, and you weren’t here,” he went on, voice full of tears. His arms were wrapped tightly around my middle. “You left me alone.”

Omega is crying, my alpha whined. Fix it!

“Hey, shh,” I said, scooping him up. Sitting on the couch, I held him sideways in my lap. I hooked the mask over my nose—thankfully I had spares in the car, although I did leave the one covered in his slick in its own zip-lock bag for later—and kissed his tear-soaked cheeks.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I said. “I didn’t want to; I just needed to grab your things. I won’t leave again, I promise. Not until—” I stumbled. I almost said not until this is over, but I couldn’t make the words come. “Not until you want me to,” I finished instead.

He chewed on the inside of his cheek and peered up at me through tear-soaked lashes. Wearing the hoodie I’d left behind a few days ago—and only my hoodie—he was entrancing.

My chest swelled. Fucking hell, how was he so good at that? I’d literally rend the world apart for him if he asked me to with those eyes.

“You brought me things?” he asked quietly.

My whole body puffed up. Show him, my alpha commanded. Show him how well we take care of him. How well we know him.

I knocked my forehead into his and dragged my cheek over his hair before inhaling the scent concentrated at the base of his neck. He’d settled further into heat while I was gone, and it made my mouth water. “Of course, I did. What kind of alpha would I be if I didn’t? I got all your favorite snacks and the flavor of Gatorade you like.”

He all but melted into my scenting but pulled back just enough to look at me. “I don’t remember telling you what my favorite things are.”

I paused for a beat too long. “I’ve been in your pantry, remember? Now, I wasn’t sure if you had enough blankets for a nest, so I also picked up a few of those just in case.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I know you’re deflecting, but show me these blankets.”

Honestly, I’d take the pass. “C’mon,” I said, patting him before boosting him to stand. “I got your favorite colors.”

Orange and blue, like a deep sunset contrasted against a stormy sky.

Sorting through the bags, his expression was a mix of awe and trepidation. I held my breath when he looked back at me. “These really are my favorites.”

Was it too much? Had I freaked him out? “I know I’m not who you’d choose for your first shared heat. If you want someone to pay for hurting you, I’m your man. But the rest…” I huffed, remembering Max’s words.

I wanted my first heat with a partner to be with an alpha I cared about. Someone who knew how to take care of me. I wanted it to mean something.

“I’ll take care of you,” I went on. “I’ll do everything I can to make it good for you. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll do it. I promise.”

Fire surged in his eyes. “I lied to you before,” he said, shifting closer, moving his hips like a siren luring me to my demise.

My mouth watered.

“I do want you. I think a part of me wanted you the first time I scented you in that alley. But you scared me.”

I gritted my teeth. “I would never hurt you.”

He nodded. “I believe you, Atlas.”

Close enough to kiss if the mask wasn’t between us, he stood on his tiptoes and ghosted his mouth over mine. “And the only thing that scares me now is how much I want you.”