A low growl followed by a kiss on my shoulder. “I fully intend on knotting you many, many times over in the next few days, beautiful. But in your nest. Where your Omega feels safe. Now spread your legs.” The term bark wasn’t appropriate. It’s what he used, but it wasn’t rough. It was a tug in my gut which made me obey without question, spreading my legs beneath the water.

One final ripple of pain spread through my gut, and evaporated, leaving nothing behind but need and a spinning sensation of falling and warmth.

Avery’s hand slid around my stomach, slowly tracing across my skin and distracting me. I moved, trying to turn so I could take him. I didn’t need to wait. My instincts were lying. The bath was fine and I wanted him inside me now.

“Don’t move, baby girl,” he said, banding his other arm across my chest, and falling again into the Alpha bark. “Understand? You will stay where I put you.”

Gentle fingers descended between my legs, drawing a whine from me. Sheer pleasure was all his touch was. I was so sensitive and ready I nearly came from him brushing over my clit. Thrashing against him, I begged. “I’ll present for you.” My voice was barely recognizable. “I’ll do whatever you want. Please, I need it. I need you. All of you.”

I was burning. That’s what was happening. Someone had tied me to a fiery stake and the only thing which would cool it off was getting a knot inside me.

“I want you to breathe in and hold it,” he said. “Now.”

Obeying, I did, unable to speak while I was holding my breath, and unable to think with the way he was steadily and firmly exploring me with his fingers.

“Breathe.”

I gasped in air. “You lied,” I told him. “You said none of you liked to cause pain. And this hurts.”

“Close your eyes, Esme.” Avery’s voice was dark. “Focus on my fingers and nothing else.”

They circled my clit with delicious pressure, drawing some of the fire away from my core and up to the surface. I was shaking in seconds, my arousal flooding into the bath. If I’d been out of it slick would be pouring down my legs but fuck it felt so good. “Please, Avery.”

He kept his movement even, the exact rhythm which had made me shake and it was the same one making light flare behind my eyes. Pleasure exploded through me, bringing with it a raw inferno of desire I’d never felt in my fucking life.

“Oh god.” I sagged against his chest, the pleasure fading through me quickly only to be replaced with true, feral need. I was in heat, and I was just realizing what I’d thought had been heats had been a poor comparison for the real thing.