23.2

“If you can keep your composure while I’m inside of you,” Kalmin growled, wrapping an arm around her waist, “then I’m doing something wrong.”
“Do you want me to wake her up?” Nuri teased, her voice high and breathless.
Kalmin didn’t answer with words. He flipped her onto her stomach with one powerful motion, pulling her hips back as he entered her from behind. A gasp escaped her lips, her fingers gripping the sheets. His hand found the back of her neck, holding her steady, guiding her movements.
The sensation was overwhelming. Pleasure, pain, pressure—all of it fused into something wild and primal. She couldn’t hold it back any longer.
Nuri cried out, her body trembling as her orgasm hit her like a wave. Kalmin groaned, thrusting deeper before collapsing beside her.
She lay there, breathing hard, her body still buzzing. Kalmin pulled her close, arm wrapping securely around her waist as he pressed a kiss to her temple.
“Did she wake?” he asked quietly.
“No,” Nuri giggled, still dazed. “I stopped fighting it... and suddenly, it wasn’t an issue anymore.”
“Thank god,” Kalmin murmured, his body relaxing against hers. “So... what made you decide tonight was the night?”
“Hm?” she mumbled, her hand drifting across his chest. “I was just... ready.” She looked up at him with a shy smile. “And I’m pretty sure you were too.”
“Very much so,” he chuckled, groaning as he sat up. His gaze drifted to the corner of the room—and paused on the discarded purple dress. His brow lifted.
“I couldn’t decide what to wear when I greeted you,” Nuri admitted, blushing. “Temp suggested naked, but... I couldn’t do that.”
Kalmin smirked. “Peculiarly off-put by nudity for a wolf.”
He stood and headed to the bathroom. As he passed the mirror, he caught sight of her reflection—naked, glowing, golden. Her hair cascaded over her breasts, her smile bashful and soft. He grinned, heart catching.
“Am I peculiarly off-put,” she teased, stepping in behind him, “or are you peculiarly comfortable?”
Kalmin turned to face her, voice husky. “Our dinner is probably ice cold.”
“I forgot all about it,” Nuri responded with a slight laugh, stepping under the spray to wash herself, then moved quickly away. "What did you get?"
Kalmin moved to stand under the water, closing his eyes and tilting his head back to let the water run over his face. He had a moment of peace, but it was short-lived as Nuri closed the distance between them, her soft body pressing close, the heat between them undeniable.
"Alan's brisket, but I'd be more than glad to eat you if that's what you're trying to say," Kalmin said, a coy smile playing at the corner of his lips as he glanced over his shoulder at her. "Don't worry, I'll play nice."
Nuri raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. "Name one time in your entire life that you have ever played nice."
Kalmin's grin widened, and he shrugged nonchalantly. "Not ten minutes ago, I played nice. To name just a single time."
Nuri let out a quiet laugh as she moved to the side to give him space. She stepped out of the shower, drying her feet quickly on the mat before hurrying to her closet to grab a towel. Kalmin was already heading for the kitchen, the soft clink of metal as he opened the oven, revealing his impatience with the cold food.
"How were you playing nice?" Nuri asked, sitting down at the table, still chuckling as she cracked open a can of soda. "I don’t know who Alan is, but his brisket smells amazing. Funny, considering I don’t even know what brisket tastes like."
Kalmin smirked, but his voice was soft as he explained. "I played nice when I didn’t give in to my urge to hold you down and… Excuse me?" He cut himself off, staring across the kitchen as his eyes widened in surprise. "Your parents didn’t let you have burgers or brisket, but you were allowed Chinese food? What the hell did you eat?"
"I was only allowed to eat things that came out of, or from, the earth," Nuri said with a half-hearted shrug, trying to play it off. "But I had friends who’d let me try their lunches."
Kalmin stared at her for a beat, then shook his head slowly. "I am so sorry. Alan is an omega, one of my closest friends."
Nuri's eyes widened. "You’re still friends with an omega?" She clasped a hand over her mouth when she realized what she’d said. "I didn’t mean that to sound bad."
Kalmin waved dismissively. "Yes, but only with Alan. I don’t like other omegas because they didn’t try to achieve higher within the pack out of laziness. Alan is still an omega because he wants to be one."
Nuri tilted her head, intrigued. "Why would anyone want to stay an omega?"
"I've known Alan my entire life," Kalmin began, his voice quieter now, as he sat beside her. "He’s always wanted a restaurant, and if he became a beta, his dreams would have to take a backseat. Betas are expected to serve the alpha first." He smiled wistfully, leaning back. "We made a pact when we were kids. He’d help me become the alpha, and I’d help him get his restaurant."
Nuri smiled, squeezing his hand gently. "Did you both hold up your end?"
"He did," Kalmin replied, but his voice softened, and the smile faded. "I’ve almost completed mine. The owner of the space Alan wants is a Sikstone, and I’m not sure if you know this, but they’re notorious for being extremely prejudiced against omegas. They’ve been killing omegas for generations, but they’ve always covered their tracks."
Nuri blinked, surprised by the gravity of Kalmin’s words. "There’s no other place he wants to open?"
Kalmin sighed, taking Nuri’s can before stealing a drink. "Sikstones are the builders of the pack. Everything goes through them. But I’ve made a deal with the head of the family. I help him with a legal issue, and Alan gets his space."
Nuri took a deep breath, her heart aching for Kalmin. She saw the pain in his eyes, the weight of his promise to his childhood friend. "You’re doing so much for him."
Kalmin’s smile returned, though it was faint. "I made a promise, and I plan to keep it."
Nuri smiled back and leaned over to kiss his cheek, brushing his face gently with her fingertips. "Well, if this brisket is any indication of how you keep promises, I think he’ll get what he wants."
Kalmin laughed, standing and offering her his hand. "Speaking of promises... There’s something I’ve wanted to do for weeks now." He grinned mischievously, his eyes dancing with excitement. "And now that our food will take a while to heat, I think we have plenty of time."
Nuri’s eyebrow arched in playful suspicion. "What is it?"
Kalmin’s grin grew wider. "That pelt on Rian’s bed. I’ve been fantasizing about having you on it."
Nuri’s eyes flickered toward the den hidden under the staircase. She held his gaze for a moment before pulling him by the hand, her heart racing as she led him toward the room. "As long as you promise to play nice again."
"Fine," Kalmin groaned playfully, rolling his eyes as he scooped her up into his arms. "At least I can have a snack while I wait for my meal."