Page 54 of A Nest of Maple & Mist

I rarely took baths, but after today, I wanted nothing more than to sink into a steaming hot tub.

The breeze kicked up, mussing the rumpled mess of hair atop my head as I pushed the front door open. A hushed quiet greeted me, yellow light spilling into the mudroom from the living room.

Shadows flickered on the wooden walls from the setting sun. My nose twitched as a thick cloud of maple and vanilla greeted me. I kicked off my boots, the thud echoing off the high ceilings.

My bath could wait; I was eager to find the beautiful creature whose scent lured me in.

Mia Birch was going to be the end of me. That girl infested every fiber of my being. It had been almost this bad the first time I saw Ty. His dimpled smile unraveled me in the best way possible.

Now I had not one, but two pretty mates.

It had been torture those last few days, keeping my distance from Mia.

As I moved into the living room, my heart swelled. Thick curls haloed Mia’s relaxed face. Long lashes brushed against her freckled cheeks, fluttering slightly in sleep.

My fingers closed around the plush throw draped over the back of the couch. I watched as her chest rose and fell, laying the blanket over her tiny frame. She stirred, a sleepy haze clouding her gorgeous eyes.

She sat up, the blanket sliding down to her hips. Tight nipples poked through her thin top. I groaned, scrubbing a hand over my beard. All the blood in my body rushed south to my cock.

“Alpha,” she whispered, her voice an intoxicating rasp.

Fuck.

If that girl only knew what she did to me. What she did to all of us.

The couch dipped under my weight as I knelt beside her. Her sleep-warmed skin slid under my palm as I cupped her cheek. My thumb traced the line of freckles trailing over the bridge of her nose.

“Go back to sleep, Mi. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Blinking, she shook her head.

“I’ve been out for a while. I was starting to wake up before you even came inside. I heard the door open.”

I ignored the desire to wrap her in that blanket and carry her into my bed and feed her from my fingers until she purred for me.

An omega purr was a rare, beautiful thing, only granted to their mates. Alphas purred regardless of a bond; omegas, however, only shared that with their bonded mate.

“How was your day?” I asked instead.

She huffed, blowing a curl off her face, stretching her arms overhead. The motion exposed a strip of creamy skin above her navel, and my mouth watered.

That was it; I was banning tight tank tops.

New packhouse rule.

“Exhausting. Who knew lounging with a bunch of omegas by the lake would be such a workout.”

The tired haze melted away, and her dark eyes glinted with flecks of gold. She held my stare, leaning into my touch. I willed my hard-on to go away. Unsurprisingly, I failed. My dick ached when she looked at me like that.

“I missed you.”

Her gentle admission made my shoulders snap into place. I took her face in both my hands, bringing her closer until our mouths were a breath apart.

“Have I neglected my omega?”

“No,” she giggled. Tiny hands slid along my thighs. Oh fuck. There was no way she didn’t see how I strained against the zipper of my jeans. “I’ve been holed up in my room the last few days. If anything, I’ve neglected you.”

Teeth gnawed at her lip. I growled, gently tugging the abused flesh free. A blush colored the swell of her cheeks as wayward curls spilled over her shoulders.