Page 18 of A Hal for my Heart

“You’ll kill yourself, Briar.” I brushed my fingers against the smooth wood, imagining it was Briar’s flushed, flawless skin. My determination rose. “Let me in, Briar, or I’ll kick in the door. By all the gods, I swear I will.”

“You can’t kick it—” he screamed in agony again, and my body ached to get to him, wrap him in my arms, and comfort him.

“Can’t I? Oh, you don’t know the strength of a determined alpha, silly omega. Now, open the door.”

“I can’t,” he whimpered. “I’d rather die than—” The rest of his words drowned as I threw myself against the door. Pain shot through my shoulder, but it was nothing against the need in my soul. I needed to get to Briar.

“Hal, stop it, please!”

I lifted my leg, and with all my power, I rammed my boot against the hard wood. The door rattled and creaked, but it didn’t open. I kicked it again, once, twice, and on the third blow, the door flew open, slamming loudly against the wall as I burst into Briar’s room.

I felt it before I saw him. The pull. The bond between us. The scent of Briar’s slick, of his arousal, hung heavily in the air. My mouth watered as instinct took over. My cock pulsed in my pants, stretching the fabric. Briar was in his bed, surrounded by mountains of blankets, his pupils blown wide with lust as he stared at me. His cheeks were flushed, and he looked feverish, his wild curls surrounding his face, some clinging to his sweaty forehead. He was naked and oh so lovely. His gaze dropped to the clear outline of my hardness. His nostrils flared, and then he licked his lips.

“Please,” he whispered. “Hal…” His eyelashes fluttered with need.

“I’m here,” I rasped, then kicked the door shut behind me, fixing it in place before I prowled toward him. With a hushed whimper, he shimmied backward on the bed until he reached the headboard.

“You need to get out of here!” He held up a shaking hand. “Now. I’m in—”

“Heat. I know. That’s why I’m here. You need me, Briar.”

He shook his head, desperation in his eyes. “I don’t. I don’t need you, Hal. I don’t need anyone.”

“Of course you do.” I smiled at him, tenderness pooling in my chest. “Everyone does.”

“I’ll kill you.” Fat tears trailed down his pink cheeks.

“I don’t think so.”

“I will.”

I shook my head, my eyes feasting on his pale, peach-colored skin. He was so beautiful, and he was all mine. “You silly omega,” I tsked as I neared him. “I’m not leaving until you’re knotted safely against me. Until you are sleeping, all sated and content in my arms.”

A gasp flew from his lips, and I smelled it then, the slick that leaked from his trembling body like an endless stream of need. His green eyes swam with intoxication, pure and magnificent.

“But…” a loud moan built in his chest, and he rubbed his swollen pecs, his pointed pink nipples beckoning for my lips. He was so ready for me, for his alpha. My little Briar was made for this: to be fucked, to be bred, to be claimed. There was no fighting nature. Just look at Seb and Gus. They’d changed our fucking world.

I took a step closer, sniffing the air. “Gods, Briar. You’re so ready for me.”

“The curse,” he whispered, but I heard the resignation in his voice as his instincts took over. “What about the curse, Hal?”

“Fuck the curse!” I roared, then closed the space between us in long, determined strides.

Chapter Nine

Briar

My body trembled as I watched Hal approach, his heated gaze roaming over my nakedness. He shouldn’t be here, but I was too weak to fight him, too lost to my instincts to care. I’d tried to fight him, and the pull I felt between us. I’d forced myself to be strong, but it was all in vain. I could no longer deny how much I ached for him.

“So beautiful,” Hal purred, kneeling on my bed, careful not to touch my blankets. He clenched his fists as if he tried to hold back, searching for a sign from me that I wanted him closer.

“Please,” I begged, my voice raspy from screaming. His eyes darkened, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air, heavy with my arousal. Seeing how he reacted to me was everything. I moved onto my back, grabbing my thighs, and showed him exactly where I needed him. My hole throbbed. I’d probably feel embarrassed once my heat ended over how forward I was, showing my needy hole to my alpha, but right now, I didn’t care. I selfishly ignored the other part as well, the one where my curse would strike him. It was like my brain had shut off, and all I could think of was Hal’s cock, his touch, him.

Hal’s quick intake of breath was followed by a stuttered exhale as he watched my hole, wet with slick and ready for him.

“Briar,” he whispered, his voice shaky with awe. He unlaced his pants, fumbling with them as I lay whimpering. He didn’t bother undressing fully, just freed his huge cock, and I salivated at the glorious sight. His shaft was veiny with a huge bulbous head. Precum leaked from the slit and trickled down his length. I wanted to lick him, suck him into my mouth, and taste the most private part of him.

He fisted his cock, giving it a few slow strokes, smearing it in glistening liquid. Desire pooled in his eyes, and he looked determinedly at my quivering hole. “I’ll make the pain go away, sweet Briar. I promise.”