Cassidy #4
It’s probably crossing the line, though.
“It’s not,” Evander says, winking at me. “But I’ll not embarrass Harl here by showing him my superior goods.”
“What?” Harlan asks, confused.
“He’s on about his tiny jewels,” Isaac teases. “I’ll bring you my trousers up soon, shortcake. Since someone is already practically naked, I’ll have to grab our bags from the car.”
Harlan laughs. “Let me finish these, and I’ll bring you the rest, too, okay?”
“Too afraid to wash dishes in your birthday suit, Mercer?” Evander says, raising a brow.
I gasp, my heart thudding, as strawberry cream spills into the room before I can stop it.
Fuck, well, this is awkward.
I back out of the room, as the two alphas give me a heated stare, and turn tail, running up the stairs and along the corridor.
I slam the door behind me, the laughter downstairs immediately muffled, as I lock Si and me in here together.
I lean against the door, breathing heavily.
“What happened?” he demands, the growl in his words nearly undoing me.
His eyes flash with anger.
“I ran,” I say, giggling breathlessly.
He lets out a slow breath, cocking a brow. “Hm. And was this running of yours the reason you smell so… delicious?”
“No.” I whimper as he advances towards me, the clothes dropping at my feet, as he cages me in place.
He’s so warm, even standing here in nothing but a different pair of boxer shorts, coffee and honeyed citrus still clinging to the clothes pooled at my feet.
He gave me the boxers he was wearing before, too.
“I love you,” I blurt out again, and he smiles, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“I love you, too,” he says softly.
Emotion catches painfully in my throat, and the arousal in my scent settles a little.
“Thank you.”
He brushes a kiss against my temple. “You never have to thank me for giving you what you need. Put your hoard in your nest, little omega,” he says firmly, stepping back.
I don’t fight the command. I couldn’t even if I wanted to.
Instead, I grab the clothes and arrange them around my section of the nest.
The whole nest feels different the moment I do.
Their scents settle into the blankets almost immediately.
It’s no longer wrong.
No longer empty.
Now, it’s safe. Perfect.
My fingers smooth over each piece of fabric as I sit back, pride swelling in my chest.
I look around the space I’d instinctively created. It’s the biggest nest I’ve ever created, and there’s plenty of space for us all.
Now it’s safe.
Perfect.
The door opens quietly behind me. I don’t turn around.
I don’t need to.
I can smell that the other three have come to join us. Isaac approaches wearing a pair of boxers that I’m not sure he had on earlier because he took his trousers off out of sight of my eager eyes.
“Here you are, shortcake,” he says softly.
Under their watchful gazes, I add my new trophies into our nest, making sure they’re layered correctly to give the best combinations of scent.
I don’t hesitate. Don’t second guess, even with the audience.
I just follow my instincts.
Once I’m done, I turn, my mouth watering as I see the four of them waiting patiently in nothing but a pair of boxer shorts.
Evander’s are now a tad small, and I get the feeling he didn’t bring clean ones in his bag, instead stealing a pair of Isaac’s.
I swallow, my nerves somehow making an appearance now. I twist my fingers together in my lap, not sure how to broach my question.
“Would you all…” I laugh once under my breath.
Honestly, Cass. Just ask.
I’ve already stolen their entire attire. How can this be worse?
“Would you stay in my nest with me tonight?”
Harlan walks straight past the others, approaching my nest.
“Shift over, luxury.”
“W-what?” I ask, confused.
“I’d like to claim my spot,” he says with a grin. “You’ve made a beautiful nest, and I’m not waiting a second before getting in.”
Evander barks out a laugh as he climbs in behind Harlan. Isaac lays where I motion, the most careful out of the three, before he gets comfortable against the pillows.
Silas quietly closes the door before crossing the room and lowering himself into the final space beside me.
There was no discussion. No arguments. No bribing. They all just… climbed in, and picked their spot.
It feels like there was never any other way tonight could have ended.
Warm arms gather me close, blankets shifting around us as everyone settles into place. Isaac’s fingers lace through mine, his hand resting over Silas’s hip. My alpha doesn’t seem to care, tucking his head into my neck.
Evander tucks me against his side, wrapping around me how he best can, his face pressed against the mark he left, each breath causing it to tingle.
Harlan grumbles something about blanket thieves while carefully pulling one over my legs, and entangling ours together.
I don’t want to think about the disaster him and Evander sharing the same side will be.
Surrounded by their scents, their warmth, and their heartbeats, I let my eyes drift closed.
I’ve spent my whole life trying to make myself small enough to fit inside other people’s spaces.
Tonight, I got to build a space big enough for us all.