Page 82 of For All My Effort
The anticipation from my run, the feel of his cock hitting that perfect spot, had me already close to my orgasm. Then one of his hands went to my nape, the spot where he’d claimed me, his fingers tightening around his mark. His other hand wrapped around my front, seeking out my clit to rub gentle circles on the nub.
“Fuck yourself on my cock, Hannah,” Jackson told me. “I want you to make me come, beg me to knot you here.”
My body instantly obeyed, moving myself back and forth over his cock, forcing my already exhausted muscles to ignore the burn, ignore the shake. I needed my orgasm more than I needed rest. Needed his knot more than I needed water.
“Please knot me, Jackson. Fucking, please. I want to feel the pressure from your knot. I want to come, please, alpha.”
He groaned, both of his hands tightening, working harder to drive me crazy. I was moving as best as I could, caught between his hands, using my pussy to jerk him off. So close, my orgasm was so close, and I was crying, begging him and my body to both give in.
Then he squeezed my clit, pinching the bud between his fingers and making me scream through an orgasm. It was so strong, my muscles finally gave in to the fatigue, giving up holding my weight. Jackson caught me, pulling my chest back toward his until I winced from the pressure on my knees. I was definitely feeling those scrapes.
I felt more than heard him chuckle, purring loudly as he worked one-handed to zip himself up and then somehow manage to stand, from his knees, while holding me like I was a front backpack.
This type of multi-week workout I could get behind.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Two weeks and six days later
I was a fucking bundle of nerves.
It didn’t matter that Eve had me wait as long as possible to shower in the hope that I could wash off the clinging scent of emotions. I couldn’t hide what I was feeling, and I wasn’t able to distract myself from what was about to happen.
My interview with Presley was in less than an hour. Eve was doing all the tactics that the OC taught her to calm omegas down, except I wasn’t stressed about anything that could be easily soothed with a sarape and my favorite smoothie. Not that I didn’t appreciate her attempts to help me.
“That’s it,” Eve said, standing up from the little metal chair she deemed was good enough for her. “I’m getting one of your mates.”
Words were impossible to get out, but I was looking in a mirror, and I watched my head nod. Then I was alone.
The room that the studio gave me to prep for the interview was small yet filled with every necessity. A tiny shower with complimentary bottles to wash. A couch with a back-up sarape that Eve had told the company I preferred. A vanity where I could do my hair and makeup. There was also a small cabinet of dry foods and a tiny fridge with cold drinks. The thermostat was for just this room so I could make it any temperature I wanted. There was even a little gift when I arrived, and that I tore into seconds after I saw it.
My mates were in my room in seconds considering they were simply outside the door, waiting for the opportunity to be let in. They’d started the afternoon in here with me, but then Adam had wanted a word, thanking me for showing up and my emotions had gone haywire. That meant they were forced to wait outside the room so no one could have another excuse to come in and bother me. However, Eve was right—I needed them more than I needed everyone else to leave me the fuck alone.
It was Sebastian that reached me first, turning me around and pulling me into a hug. I heard the door shut again, only this time, Eve was on the other side, hopefully able to keep anyone else away. It was harder for a beta since the alphas didn’t seem to respect her at all. Still, I appreciated the effort.
“Do you think I’m ready?” I mumbled against Seb’s neck.
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in his confirmation. “Despite her personal opinions, Presley is an expert interviewer. In some ways, that’ll help because she isn’t going to be led into topics we haven’t covered.”
Han came up behind me, rubbing his hand over my back, as he said, “She’ll no doubt start you off easy. Once she realizes she isn’t getting the responses she wants, she’ll throw out the script.”
“Her omega’s here,” Zeke added. “Hopefully that’ll be enough to keep her scent in check.”
“She brought her omega?” I asked. To me, it felt weird, like she’d brought her omega in to watch his doom unfold. Maybe he was one of those rare omegas that was content with the way things were. He had mated Presley and her pack after all.
My alphas did their best to stay close to me, all of us in a huddle. This close to my mates, I was finally able to calm down, my thoughts not able to permeate beyond the loud purring coming from them.
At least until someone softly knocked and Eve stuck her head in the room. “Are you almost ready, Hannah? They want you to get seated so they can mic you up.”
I nodded. Still, I hesitated to leave my mates, to finally commit to this act that had consumed so much of our lives lately.
All the exercising and mock interviews had led to this moment. All the research Seb tried to explain to me, and the stories Eve had told me.
My tongue felt heavy in my mouth. Would I even be able to get the words out? Any words at this point?
“Should I do this? I know we’ve been working toward it and planning on it, but this is it. Our last chance to stop it before we’ve gone too far. We’re going to have to face the OC’s wrath, we’ll have to deal with Adam, his pack, and every other employee in this building just to leave, and that doesn’t even consider the social ramifications—”
“You’re spiraling, rebel.” Jackson cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs caressing my cheekbones. His gaze was intent on mine, not letting me look away from his brown eyes. “All of this is your choice. You know that. We tried behind the scenes and that didn’t work. Now we’re trying out front. If that doesn’t work, we’ll try something else.”