Page 96 of Knot my First Rodeo

He sighs, his caramel eyes dark. "We take her to the clinic. Get her the after-heat pills, because as much as I want kids someday with our omega, she's not ours. Autumn is just... passing through."

The words hit like a punch to the gut. Because he's right, she's not ours. She has a life outside of this place, a home, a future that doesn't include three cowboys who claimed her body.

But when I look at the bathroom door and hear her soft laugh mingling with Briggs' low rumble, I wonder if that's really true.

Chapter

Thirty

Briggs

The water is warm, almost too warm, as I step into the shower behind her. Steam rises around us, turning the glass hazy. Autumn leans back into me without hesitation, trusting me to hold her up. Her wet hair sticks to her cheeks, and when she glances over her shoulder, her eyes are heavy with exhaustion.

I wrap an arm around her waist, steadying her. "Easy, Princess. Let me take care of you."

She leans back against my chest, her skin slick and warm. The scent of sex clings to her, mixing with the steam, and I breathe it in like it's the only air I'll ever need. My hands move gently over her body, rinsing away the sweat and cum that coat her. I'm careful, tracing the curves of her hips, the dip of her waist, the swell of her breasts.

She sighs, her head falling back against my shoulder. "That feels nice."

"Good." I press a kiss to her temple. "You deserve to be taken care of."

I reach for the shampoo, squeezing a generous amount into my palm. Then, I work it into her hair, my fingers massaging her scalp in slow, circular motions. She melts against me, a soft moan escaping her lips.

"Your hands are so big," she murmurs. "It feels amazing."

I smile, working the suds through the length of her hair. It's soft, so fucking soft, and I take my time, making sure every strand is coated. The scent of coconut and vanilla rises from the shampoo, mingling with her own black cherry and almond. It's intoxicating.

I rinse her hair, cupping water in my hands and letting it run through the strands until the suds are gone. Then, I reach for the conditioner, work it through the ends, and let it sit while I grab a cloth and wash the rest of her. Her shoulders, her arms, the small of her back.

When I rinse out the conditioner, her hair is silky and shining. I grab a wide-tooth comb from the shelf and start working through the tangles, starting at the ends and moving up slowly, careful not to pull.

"You have pretty hair," I say, running the comb through a section. "Like spun gold."

She blushes, a pink flush spreading across her cheeks. "You're just saying that."

"I'm not. I mean it."

I finish combing through her hair, then gather it at the nape of her neck, twisting it into a loose bun. I secure it with a hair tie she must have left in here from another shower, and step back to admire my work.

"Perfect," I rumble.

She turns, her eyes soft and warm. "Thank you for taking care of me."

"No problem, Princess."

I reach for the water to rinse us both off, but before I can, she surges forward, pressing her lips to mine. It's sudden, her mouth hot and desperate against me and I realize… we haven't kissed since the feedstore, but she's making up for it now. Her tongue sliding against mine, her hands fisting in my wet hair.

I groan, pulling her closer, my arms wrapping around her waist. The water beats down on us, but I barely feel it. All I feel is her; her lips, her tongue, the way she whimpers against my mouth.

"Please," she breathes, breaking the kiss. "I need… I need more."

"Fuck, baby." My voice is rough. "What do you need?"

"I don't know." She shakes her head, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. "I just… I need you. Please."

Her whines and whimpers tear at something primal inside me. I shut off the water without a second thought, grab a towel, and wrap it around her. Then I lift her, cradling her against my chest, her legs hooked around my waist.

I carry her out of the shower, dripping water across the floor, and set her on the counter. I dry her quickly, running the towel over her skin until she's mostly dry. Then I toss the towel aside, carry her back into her room and lay down on my back, my cock already hard, already leaking.