15. TATI
Chapter fifteen
TATI
Ashton’s right behind me as I enter the apartment, whistling some tune under his breath like he didn’t just kiss the life out of me ten minutes ago. He’s still hard too—an impressive package at that—and he’s made no effort to hide it or resituate himself. Lovely. Just perfect.
The smell of something mouthwateringly delicious hits me the second I step into the apartment. My stomach growls on instinct, loud enough that Ashton snorts behind me.
“Oh, they’ve been busy ,” he murmurs.
Carleen and Ryder are in the kitchen, moving in perfect harmony. It’s the kind of dance you only see in kitchens where the chefs know each other’s rhythms, where every step and reach is precise. Carleen’s focused on a sizzling pan, her brow furrowed in concentration, while Ryder is plating something that looks like it belongs in a magazine.
Both of them glance up when we walk in.
Carleen’s brown eyes flick over me briefly before landing on my very red cheeks. Her lips twitch upward, a knowing smirk creeping onto her face. “You okay there, sunshine?” she asks, a teasing edge to her voice.
I clear my throat, ignoring the way my face feels like it’s on fire. “I’m fine but I have to get ready for work. I’ve got a shift at Euphoria tonight. Where, fun fact, Ashton used to be one of my regulars.”
Silence.
Absolute silence .
I freeze, realizing what I just said. My eyes dart over to Ryder, who’s standing completely still, arms crossed over his broad chest, his gaze fixed squarely on Ashton. But Ryder doesn’t look surprised. Not even a little bit.
My mouth falls open slightly. “Wait… you knew?”
Ryder shrugs one shoulder, his lips twitching upward slightly. “We don’t police each other’s lives but every night he’d come back with that sweet melon scent lingering around him, I made sure he didn’t sleep that night or passed out from a little too much… cardio. Smelling you here, it was pretty easy to connect the dots but I wasn’t going to bring it up unless you did, little doe. ”
Yep, I need the floor to open up and swallow me whole because that means Ryder and Ashton have been licking my scent off each other every time Ashton went to the club. “Fantastic. I bet you all want to show up as well, right?” I shouldn’t have asked because now they’re all looking at each other, faint smiles being shared between the three Alphas. “Fuck.”
Ashton bursts out laughing. “Tati, you asked.”
“I did but I didn’t think—”
Ashton just continues, making it worse. “Round it up. Our Beta just asked us out on a date and I’m more than excited to share tonight together on our first official trial day as a pack.”
I groan, throwing my head back dramatically before storming off to my room to get ready. I’m in trouble.
By the time I step back out into the living room, I’m in full Tati mode. My outfit is sleek, black, and accentuates every curve. My makeup is sharp, my eyeliner winged to perfection, and my earrings glint under the warm apartment light.
But it’s not the living room that catches my attention—it’s the kitchen because the smell is heavenly .
There’s a spread on the counter—crispy catfish fillets, golden and flaky, paired with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, and some kind of sauce drizzled in perfect arcs across each plate.
Carleen catches my wide-eyed stare and smirks. “Dinner’s ready.”
I slide into one of the chairs at the counter, my stomach growling audibly. Ashton takes the seat next to me, his arm immediately draping around the back of my chair, his fingers lightly grazing my shoulder.
Carleen points a wooden spoon at Ryder. “He’s the one you can thank for the catfish.”
My gaze swings to Ryder, who looks mildly uncomfortable with the sudden attention, his gaze flicking away briefly before landing back on me. “Ryder…” I say, dragging out his name with a grin. “You spoil me already.”
Ryder huffs out a soft breath, shaking his head. “Just eat, sweetheart.”
I pick up my fork and dive in without hesitation, moaning softly as the first bite practically melts on my tongue. “Oh my goddess, I could get used to this,” I mumble around a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
Ashton chuckles beside me, his fingers still grazing my shoulder as he leans closer. “Careful, Tati. Keep moaning like that and Ryder’s gonna start blushing.”
I nearly choke on my food as Ryder levels Ashton with a sharp glare. Carleen snorts from across the counter, shaking her head as she starts wiping down a cutting board. The four of us settle into an easy rhythm—eating, laughing, Ashton making sly remarks while Ryder rolls his eyes and Carleen keeps a steady, watchful eye on us all.
But the scene becomes absolutely perfect when Ryder nudges Carleen and shoves a plate into her hands before mouthing ‘Eat’. She opens her mouth to protest, Ryder just raising a brow before she sighs and places it on the counter to take a bite. I wasn’t sure how the dynamic between us four would work but seeing Ryder so easily support Carleen has my heart in a chokehold.
The lights are low, the music thrums through the air like a living thing, and the stage is mine . The crowd is loud but distant, a buzzing backdrop as I make my way to center stage. I’ve changed into my real number—a fitted black bodysuit with sheer panels and thigh-high boots that cling to my legs like second skin.
But none of them matter.
Not the drunk groups waving dollar bills, not the occasional catcalls, not the glances from strangers.
Because they’re here.
Carleen. Ryder. Ashton.
Front row.
And holy hell , they look good .
Carleen sits in the middle, one arm slung casually over the back of the booth. She’s sipping whiskey, her sharp brown eyes glued to me like I’m the only thing worth watching in the entire building. Her expression is unreadable, but her aura screams Alpha . Possessive. Protective. Proud.
Ryder’s next to her, relaxed but still commanding. He’s got a whiskey glass too, the amber liquid swirling lazily as he leans back in his seat, his icy blue gaze watching me with unnerving focus. Like he’s cataloging every flick of my wrist, every arch of my back, every step of my heels.
And then there’s Ashton.
The man’s got a bright pink drink in front of him, complete with a little umbrella and a cherry on top. He hasn’t touched it. Instead, his chin is resting in one hand, his brown eyes fixed on me with a look that could melt steel . His grin is sharp, teasing, and when I catch his gaze, he winks.
I nearly miss my step.
Focus, Tati. Focus.
The music kicks in—a sultry beat with heavy bass—and I move.
Dancing isn’t just movement for me; it’s storytelling. It’s expression. It’s freedom.
My body sways, bends, arches. Every step, every flick of my hair, every spin feels deliberate. My gaze flickers between them—Carleen’s smirk, Ryder’s sharp focus, Ashton’s slow perusal—and it sets me on fire.
I feel seen. Not as a Beta. Not as some performer. But as me .
My hips roll in time with the music, my movements sharp but fluid. Every time I look back at them, I find the three of them devouring me with their gazes. I finish my set with one last spin, my chest heaving as the music fades. Applause erupts, dollar bills scatter at my feet, but my gaze stays locked on them until it’s time to leave the stage.
Back in the dressing room, I peel off the bodysuit and replace it with something much more comfortable—black shorts and a cropped tee that will still get me tips for the rest of the evening. My makeup’s still on point, my hair’s tousled but perfect, and my heart? Yeah, it’s still racing.
I step back into the club, weaving through the crowd until I spot them.
Carleen’s the first to notice me. She stands as I approach, and before I can say a word, her hands are on me—gripping my waist and pulling me flush against her chest and then she kisses me. She’s claiming me once again in front of everyone, letting them all know who I belong to. Her lips move against mine with purpose, her fingers digging slightly into my sides as her scent wraps around me, drowning me in it.
When she pulls back, I’m breathless, my knees weak. She smirks, brushing her thumb across my bottom lip as her brown eyes glimmer with satisfaction. “You were incredible, sunshine,” she murmurs.
Carleen turns me slightly, her hands still on my waist, and suddenly I’m facing Ryder and Ashton.
Ryder’s watching me with that steady, piercing gaze of his, his broad shoulders relaxed but imposing. Ashton, on the other hand, has that slow grin back on his face, his eyes practically dripping with heat. Ryder leans back slightly in his chair, spreading his arms across the backrest like he’s making space just for me. “Come here, sweetheart,” he says, his voice smooth and low.
My feet move before my brain catches up and suddenly I’m standing right in front of him. Ryder reaches out, his large hands settling gently on my hips as he guides me down until I’m straddling his lap. His eyes search mine, his thumbs rubbing slow circles against my hips. “You like being seen, don’t you, sweetheart?”
I bite my bottom lip, nodding slightly. “Yeah, I do.”
Ashton snorts softly, leaning in close enough that I can feel his breath against the side of my face. “You like being seen by us , don’t you, little doe?”
My face burns and I nod again as Carleen sits across from us in the booth, a smirk on her lips as she sips her whiskey. His head tilts slightly, his sharp blue eyes flicking down to my mouth and then back up again. And just like that, I lean in. My heart pounds so loudly I swear he can hear it. His lips meet mine with a soft brush, a testing slide, before Ryder cups the back of my neck and takes .
The kiss is deliberate, confident, hungry without being overwhelming. His lips move against mine in perfect rhythm, coaxing, tasting. I moan softly against him, my hands tangling into his shirt, and that’s when he moves me. With effortless strength, Ryder adjusts my position, pulling me over his lap and settling me down so I’m pressed between him and Ashton.
I’m surrounded—boxed in—and every inch of my body feels alive .
Ashton leans in from behind me, his breath warm against my neck as his lips press against the sensitive spot just below my ear. His mouth trails down, featherlight kisses along the column of my neck, his beard scratching slightly against my skin in a way that sends shivers down my spine.
I squirm between them, my body reacting on instinct as I press back against Ashton and forward against Ryder. My head falls back against Ashton’s shoulder and a soft moan escapes me before I can stop it. Ryder groans softly, his hand tightening on my thigh.
“Careful, sweetheart,” he murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re playing with fire.”
Ashton chuckles against my neck, his lips lingering on my skin for just another moment before he pulls back, leaving me buzzing. The two of them lean back, giving me just enough space to breathe, and I’m left sitting between them—flushed, breathless, and completely wrecked by two fully clothed Alphas in a crowded club. Ashton pushes his untouched pink drink with the tiny umbrella toward me across the table.
I blink at it, still trying to piece my brain back together. “Uh… what?”
Ashton smirks, his arms casually draping over the back of the booth. “Drink up, Tati. You look like you need a second to cool down.”
Ryder snorts softly beside me, shaking his head but not saying anything as he takes another sip of his whiskey. I glance over at Carleen, who’s been watching this entire exchange with amusement. She smirks, setting her glass down and leaning her elbows on the table. “We already agreed to come watch,” she muses. “But we actually wanted to spend time with you.”
I let out a breathless laugh, shaking my head as I pick up Ashton’s ridiculous pink drink and take a long sip. It’s fruity and sweet, almost offensively sugary, but it cools the burn in my throat and gives me a second to regroup. Carleen chuckles, swirling the whiskey in her glass. “It’s just a few drinks, sunshine. Then we’ll let you get back to your night.”
The words are casual, but her tone? Oh, her tone drips with something deeper. Something Alpha .
My eyes flick between the three of them—Ryder, still calm and solid as ever; Ashton, smirking like he’s got a secret; and Carleen, watching me with that slow, calculating gaze of hers.
Goddess help me.
I’m in so much trouble.
But it’s the kind of trouble I want .
Ashton leans in a little closer, his voice dropping low as he speaks just beside my ear. “Relax, little doe. Enjoy the moment. We’re not going anywhere.”
Ashton hums against my ear, one of his hands slowly moving to sit on my thigh. There’s nothing innocent about his touch as I choke on the fruity drink and still between the three of them. “What’s happening here?” I whisper, my voice strained with sudden need.
“Whatever you want to happen, little doe,” he purrs.