21. Claire
“What’s that sound?” We all froze as the echo of music filtered inside. It was quiet at first but growing by the second.
“Trumpets?” Riley questioned as he went to the front window and stealthily peeked through the curtains. “Oh my god. Are those your parents?”
“What?” Adrien gasped and rushed over to join him. Vance took my hand and pulled me with him, so we could all see. The curtains made it impossible so I reached up and opened them wide. This was our home, no need to hide. “Yes.”
Adrien’s confirmation wasn’t needed. He looked a lot like his father, from the strong cheekbones and serious expression to the shock of dark hair, though his dad was graying now.
Both were dressed to impress. A full suit on his father despite supposedly traveling here, and his mom wore a satin shirt with a pencil skirt and a blazer.
They stuck out in this town.
But they weren’t able to approach the house, a literal wall of residents standing between them and us. Trumpets sounded off from a few of the older residents and the local marching band had abandoned practice for this apparently.
Every time the couple would speak, an instrument would sound off. It was almost impressive the shades of red their faces reached before they walked away. The crowd herding them back to the center of town.
“This is crazy,” Vance mused before a full belly laugh echoed out.
“Blaire wasn’t joking,” Adrien said in shock. “She told me the town had my back. I just never expected… this.”
“They’re just getting started. Tell me I can treat you all to dinner tonight in town so we can flaunt those rings and watch the show?” Riley begged.
My eyes went right for Adrien, expecting him to back down from the idea. Instead, his eyes lit up, and a smile spread across his face. It was as if something changed in him today. His parents came for control, and instead they gave him closure.
Along with that closure, the stress and tension he always carried, even if under the surface, had melted away.
From a brighter smile to the mischief in his vibrant green eyes, he took my breath away.
“Let’s do it,” Adrien agreed.
“And I can pay?” Riley questioned with one perfectly manicured eyebrow raised.
“Absolutely not,” Vance laughed. “I don’t even get to pay.”
“Fine, then we get to pick the restaurant,” Riley relented. “And don’t think this fight will end so easily every time.”
“Which restaurant would have the best view?” I wondered out loud. “The diner has a view of the inn. But Al Forno has those huge windows. I bet I can trade some pastries to Aria for a reserved table.”
“Yes!” Riley gasped. “That’s genius. Everyone go get ready, dinner is about to be amazing. And they have some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had.”
“And I get to show off my pack,” Adrien said proudly. “Is it petty of me to do this?” He sounded more amused than truly worried.
“Petty is my favorite color,” I said with a wink before disappearing into the guest room. Riley and I had started to move stuff in here, but Adrien and Vance wanted us all in the same bed. He even talked about ordering a bigger one if we needed it. I happened to enjoy the four of us in the California King. It was guaranteed snuggle time.
So this room was more of a second closet, as we couldn’t fit half of our stuff in theirs, not to mention all the courting gifts the two seemed to have for us every single day. Moving in wasn’t the full intention, but somehow it had turned out that way. It was a slow, ongoing process, but thankfully I had enough clothes that I had nearly a full closet here.
“Wear the black dress,” Riley suggested. “We’ll look sexy as hell together with my black, button-down.”
My brain broke for a moment as I watched him rip off his tee and start changing. It didn’t matter how many times I’d seen him half naked or how long we’d been friends, he was just as gorgeous each and every time. Between the three of them, I was turned on at least seventy-five percent of my day, if not more.
“Come on, a show is waiting,” he teased.
“There’s a show right here, beta,” I said, with a smirk.
I had to force myself to turn away so I could think again. Of course, the moment it was my turn to change his eyes were back on me, burning into me as I pulled on the dress he’d chosen for me.
Riley was right, though, the idea of seeing this spectacle first hand was far too enticing. Once I was ready, I slid on my boots and pulled out my phone, calling Aria.
“Al Forno, how can I help you?” Aria’s thick accent was easy to distinguish.
“Aria, it’s Claire. Do you have a window seat you can save for me tonight?” I asked. “If you do, there’s an entire box of cookies and those danishes you love in it for you.”
“Oh, you naughty girl,” she laughed. “Bribery will get you everywhere. A couple is finishing up then I’ll block it from the list just for you. Will you be coming soon?”
“Heading out in a few minutes, so we could be there in about fifteen minutes?”
“Perfect.” She didn’t bother with goodbyes as she hung up, but the moment I gave Riley the thumbs up, he let out a whoop and ran from the room. His energy chased away any sleepiness from my day that lingered, and the prospect of seeing Adrien get justice had me grabbing my purse and following him out.
“You look beautiful, Peach,” Vance practically purred when he saw me, pulling me in and breathing deep.
“Stand down until after dinner,” I warned him. “We’ve got a reservation.”
“Just a little taste,” he said before bending down and stealing my breath.
Damn, I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of his taste or his cherry and lime scent wrapping around me. When he pulled his lips from mine and rubbed his head against me, scent marking me, a whine left my mouth.
“Alpha.”
“Don’t worry, omega, we’ll take care of you,” Vance promised. “Let’s feed you first. You’re going to need your strength for tonight.”
He linked his hand with mine, leading me to the garage where Adrien and Riley were already waiting, the two of them locked in a kiss of their own.
“Do I want to know whose car he has him pressed against?” I asked, pulling their attention to me.
“It turns out their rings aren’t the only shiny thing making an appearance today,” Riley said, leveling a haughty look at Vance before giving Adrien one more peck and coming towards me.
Quickly it set in that the cobalt blue SUV parked in their garage was now theirs, a vehicle that was big enough that we could all ride together comfortably.
“Tell me you didn’t buy an entire car as a courting present,” I whispered.
“Technically, Peach. The car is for me,” Vance said, running his hands down my arms soothingly. “I didn’t have a vehicle, and it was past time I got one.”
“You bought this for us, though,” I pointed out.
Adrien let out a small laugh, the joy on his face still clear to see. “There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for you both, nothing at all. That might drive you both crazy sometimes, but the simple fact of the matter is that you”re ours.”
“We take care of what’s ours,” Vance agreed. “Now if it’s alright with you, I’d like to go out to dinner with my pack for once.”
For Hollow’s sake, I loved when they called us a pack. I knew that’s exactly where we were headed, and each passing day that dream I once had was becoming the most glorious reality.
I half expected Adrien to get nervous the closer we got to the center of town. But he was the opposite now. He truly had let go of his parents’ expectations and the resentment he held.
The town was fairly quiet when we walked into Al Forno and claimed our table. I wasn’t even that hungry, but with the prospect of garlic bread and lasagna, I couldn’t resist.
“There they are,” Aria greeted. She was barely five feet, an older woman who’d taken over the restaurant from her own parents, and full of feisty energy. Aria was also one of my regulars at the coffee shop so she greeted me with a hug before clapping the guys on their shoulders.
“Thank you for the table,” I said.
She winked at me. “Of course, for my favorite girl. Not to mention a little bird told me about the town drama today. I’ll be over often to check on you.” She rushed off to let the wait staff take over.
“Which means she’ll be over to check in on the drama,” I clarified.
We didn’t have to wait long for the next round of Holiday Hollow versus entitled French parents to begin. The front doors of the inn opened. They were both cautious as they stepped on the sidewalk and looked around for the impending crowd. The front desk worker must have alerted some sort of phone chain because people started coming out of the woodwork.
The couple rushed across the street to the restaurant, letting out a smug grin at the sight of their son before freezing in place.
Sirens filled the air, and laughter burst out of me at the sight of Hunter stepping out and approaching them.
When I saw him point at the crosswalk down the street, I knew he was citing them for jaywalking. That gave the rest of the town just enough time to settle into place on the sidewalk, blocking our view but keeping them away.
At least without the music we could hear their tirade this time.
“He’s our son, you have no right to do this!” his father thundered. The crowd was oddly silent as they fought with Hunter.
“Sir, if you cause a scene, I’ll arrest you for disturbing the peace,” Hunter warned him. There was an inhuman screech that I realized was his mom when she joined in. She stepped into Hunter’s face, shoving him back as she started ranting. It was a bold move and one I didn’t expect our sheriff to take kindly.
“This town is absolutely deplorable!” Her English cut off into a slew of French words. Adrien’s mouth thinned at her rant.
“She’s showing her true colors, huh?” Riley asked gently. Adrien nodded, but the show was interrupted by our food arriving.
Not one of us touched it until Hunter had successfully loaded them into the back of his cop car. At least we could finish our meal in peace.
“Maybe a night in jail will give them reason enough to leave,” Vance mused. “Eat. I have plans after this that you’ll need to keep your energy up for.”
“Yes, sir,” I teased, laughing softly as his eyes darkened at the moniker. Adrien could definitely use a night of stress relief after all the drama, and I, for one, was happy to provide him with that.
The rest of our meal was peaceful, and the food was amazing, as always. Riley excused himself near the end, and I had to keep my face neutral, knowing exactly what he was doing.
“That fight was way too easy earlier, wasn’t it,” Vance remarked, turning to see if the beta could be spotted.
“Too bad for him, he won’t succeed. I handed over my card to the hostess,” Adrien hummed as he sipped his drink proudly.
Riley stomped back over and took his seat, giving Adrien a dry look. “Touché, alpha. You’re learning already. I’m unsure if I’m impressed or annoyed.”
“Why don’t you save that judgment until you see what I have waiting for us at home,” Adrien said, the grin on his face damn near salacious.
“I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt that it’s something fun,” Riley said. “But we’re going to have a conversation about letting us contribute soon.”
“Oh you contribute,” Vance said, standing and helping me into my jacket. “Both of you contribute more and more each day that you let us into your lives.”
I damn near swooned at his words. The entire ride home Riley and I kept shooting each other looks, trying to stealthily discern what might be in store for us, while Adrien and Vance simply held hands in the front seat. Of course, they kept making innuendo after innuendo that by the time we’d pulled into the driveway, I was high on Vance and Riley’s scents and so damn slick.
“Actually, we all have Claire to thank for our little treat tonight,” Adrien said once we’d taken off our coats.
“Me?”
“Yes, mon chou,” Adrien confirmed. “You are the one who took me to that megastore. It turns out some of that domestic chocolate with the higher sugar content was perfect for something I wanted to make.”
Anticipation pooled in my core at the way his emerald eyes sparked.
“What exactly did you make, alpha?”
He opened a drawer pulling out a beautiful oval container with a gold lid, the insides a rich brown. At first, I thought the brown was the color of the vessel, but I quickly realized it was glass, and when Vance produced two paintbrushes and came to sit in front of us as well, I realized exactly what our sexy chef had made.
Edible chocolate body paint.
“Forget years of school learning to temper and make chocolate sculptures,” I said, licking my lips. “Sign me up for this any day. You just let me know anytime you need to go back to that store, and I’ll take you in a jiffy.”
“You’re cute when you’re excited and ramble,” Riley said affectionately. “Someone want to clue me in?”
“We want to paint you with chocolate and devour you whole.”
My beta flushed, raising a hand to fan himself. “When do we start?”
“Now,” Vance said. “Go up to our room and strip. We’ll be right behind you.”
Without another word, Riley and I raced for the stairs and up to the master bedroom. Fuck, this was going to be so damn fun. I hope they let us paint them too. I was desperate for another taste.
“Turn around, Claire Bear,” Riley muttered, his hands coming to the zipper on my dress. “You’ve been absolutely killing me in this tonight.”
“You’re the one who picked it out,” I countered as his lips trailed down my newly exposed skin before he slid the dress off my shoulders and helped me step out.
“Best kind of torture, bestie,” he said with a groan as I turned around. “I’m so damn lucky to have you.”
My hands went to his dress shirt, quickly undoing the rest of the buttons and pulling it off of him before my hands slid down to the buckle on his pants. “We’re lucky to have each other.”
He stepped out of his pants, leaving him in some obscenely tight boxer briefs, and I couldn’t help but run my hand over his hardness. His hips bucked against me, and a second later, I felt hands at the claps of my bra as he undid it and threw it to the side before sliding his hands down my body and cupping my core.
“You’re drenched,” he said. His fingers slipped under the side of my underwear as I widened my stance.
Desperate to touch him further, I pulled him out, stroking him between us as he took my lips, kissing me thoroughly.
“It looks like we have a greedy little omega and beta here, alpha,” Vance spoke a few moments later.
Riley and I broke apart to look at our alphas, only for my knees to almost buckle at the sight. We’d definitely gotten lost in our own little world.
They’d draped a cloth over the bed, the chocolate paint and paintbrushes sitting perfectly in the middle of where the two of them stood at the foot of the bed. Absolutely naked. Their cocks hard and basically all but glistening in the light, just begging me to come have a taste.
“Maybe we should give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe we just need to give them something to whet their appetite first,” Adrien said magnanimously.
“We are pretty ravenous,” Riley agreed, both of our eyes still locked on those damn cocks of art.
Vance picked up a paintbrush and slowly dipped it into the chocolate before turning to face his husband. He painted a line from just below his hips down the length of his cock. Which I swear twitched when the bristles hit the tip.
A whimper left Riley’s mouth, and I was damn near there with him.
“Riley,” Adrien said, the man in question all but diving onto his knees in front of him, which pulled a chuckle from the alpha. “Why don’t you help our omega out and paint her a small taste on our other alpha?”
Riley took the brush excitedly, shooting me a wink over his shoulder before he grabbed a healthy dose of the chocolate paint and accidentally brushed over Vance’s nipple and down his toned torso before following the line of his V and down his cock.
“He said small taste,” Vance said, raising his eyebrow at Riley.
“I said we were ravenous, and you already know we’re both greedy when it comes to you both. I was just being a great mate and helping our girl out,” Riley said, shooting the three of us a cheeky grin.
Not wanting to wait a single second more, I leaned in, swirling my tongue around Vance’s nipple and pulling a moan from him.
“Absolutely ravenous, alpha,” I agreed. “I think you may have to help us both so we stay on track.”
“Let’s put this hair up,” Vance said, gathering my curls in his fist. “We plan to make you an absolute mess.”
I offered him the hair tie I had around my wrist, all while I licked and sucked my way down the generous path Riley had made me. Every time Vance’s muscles contracted or a groan left his lips, a rush of pleasure shot through me, and from the sounds coming to my side, Riley was doing a damn fine job too.
By the time I’d made my way down Vance’s length, his hands were buried in my hair as I enjoyed the taste of him on my tongue. I wanted more, wanted him thrusting down my throat and filling me like he did the other day, but he tightened his grip on my hair and all but pulled me off of him.
“No fair,” I said, looking up at him.
“It was just a taste, omega. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you,” Vance assured, his hand coming to cup my cheek.
“But first, we need a taste, too,” Adrien said, his hand wrapped around his knot as Riley sat back on his heels, looking pleased as punch.
“Oh no,” I said, looking towards Riley. “I think you missed a spot, let me help you with that.”
“Oh, I think you did too,” he said quickly, the two of us swapping places before the alphas had a chance to stop us.
I’d been dreaming of tasting Adrien, and while his scent still hadn’t come back, he definitely didn’t disappoint. The feel of him on my tongue was heady, and I sucked him hard, needing at least one drop of him on my tongue.
One minute I was tonsils deep, and the next minute he was gone and I was being lifted and laid out on the bed. Which for a lush girl like me, was still something I was getting used to. Though with the way the three of them stared at my bouncing boobs, made me feel pretty fucking spectacular.
“I don’t think they want to play, mon chéri,” Adrien said with mock sadness. “How are we supposed to take care of them if they don’t listen?”
“I guess we’ll just have to take care of each other and make them watch, Ady,” Vance said, taking off his glasses and reaching over a sprawled out Riley to set them down on the nightstand.
“Hell yes I want to watch,” Riley murmured under his breath.
“But we’ll be good!” I added. “So good that you’ll let us watch you together whenever we want.”
“Excellent idea, bestie,” Riley agreed, spreading out his arms to lay like a starfish and taking my hand in his.
I could barely contain my smile as I mirrored his position, and from the looks of it neither could our alphas.
“You’re both lucky you’re so cute,” Adrien said, shaking his head as he handed Vance a paintbrush and picked up another. “But you can watch us together some other time. Now, it’s our turn to devour you.”
I watched with bated breath as Adrien gathered chocolate on the end of the paintbrush, taking his time to paint swirls against my nipples. The chocolate felt wet and cool against the air, sending a chill through me, but Adrien was there in no time, his warm mouth lavishing attention on one side before switching to the other.
He took his time tracing a line down my chest and stomach, the reverence in his touch almost doing me in as his hand trailed down my sides as he worked closer and closer to where I wanted him the most.
“Spread those pretty lips for me, mon chou,” Adrien said. “I want to paint them.”
I knew there was no hiding the absolute mess I was as I braced my heels on the bed and opened myself to him.
His nostrils flared, a growl slipping from his mouth as he stared up the length of my body. I could see him struggling for control, could see how much he desperately wanted me in that moment. It made my heart beat faster, and all my damn instincts preen.
“Alpha,” I whispered, opening myself even wider.
He snapped out of it, the brush making quick strokes over the lips of my sex before he was there, his tongue stroking up and down like a man possessed. A moment after he had me crying out on his tongue, he pulled up, and I felt him pressing at my entrance.
He didn’t stop, didn’t second guess. He just sank into me, stealing my breath and stealing my heart all over again as he leaned over me.
Adrien was just as much a mess as I was, and the smears of chocolate on his face only heightened how much damn love I was feeling in the moment.
“Claire,” he said, the awe in his voice washing over me.
“All, Adrien,” I said, reaching my free hand to touch his cheek. “I want all of it.”
Ever since I’d taken Vance’s knot I couldn’t stop thinking of what Adrien’s would be like, what both of them could be like together.
I knew the alpha understood what I meant when he let out another groan, rising onto his knees as his hands went around my waist, the movement causing him to stroke in and out of me, hitting that sweet spot deep inside of me.
Riley’s hand tightened on mine as a tortured groan escaped him, and I looked just in time to see Vance sink into him, their position a mirror of ours.
For Hollows’ sake, this moment was better than any of my wildest dreams.
Vance gave him a moment and Riley’s head rolled towards me, the look in his eyes blissed out and happy.
When we looked back at the alphas they were in their own embrace, lips pressed against each other. As if they could feel our attention they turned back to us as one, the wicked smiles on their faces a guarantee that we were in for it.
And man did they deliver, Adrien had me a writhing mess within a matter of minutes, my hand slipping from Riley’s as I clung to him, desperate.
“You feel so good clenching around me,” Adrien groaned into my ear. “Are you ready for my knot omega?”
“Please,” I begged, desperately needing him.
The pressure around my entrance grew as he fed me his knot, the sheer amount of slick I was producing, making both of us groan as it slipped inside.
“Parfait. Such a good girl,” Adrien praised as he fucked his knot into me, stealing my breath with the stretch.
From nowhere, he painted a stripe on my neck, his tongue following the line. As his knot swelled inside of me and his cock hit deeper, I felt myself shatter.
I couldn’t do anything but gasp his name, and when he sucked hard on my pulse point, I almost begged him to bite then and there.
“Soon,” Adrien promised, his forehead resting against mine. “Need to fill you first, omega. Want to paint your insides like you let me paint your precious body.”
His hips snapped then, sending me tumbling into another aftershock as he filled me with his warm release, the dual sounds of our mates next to us only heightening the pleasure.
It must have been too much, because the next thing I knew I was being set into a warm bath where Riley and Vance were already waiting. Adrien sunk down behind me, the purr in his chest making me want to fall back asleep.
“How long was I out?” I asked with a yawn.
“Enough time for my knot to go down,” Adrien said. “You scared me there for a minute.”
“Must have been crashing from that sugar high,” I said, cuddling closer to him. “Don’t worry, alpha. I’m perfectly fine.”
“I tried to tell him that you like to take naps where you can,” Riley said. “Although now I’m just wondering if all those times you were taking naps in the cottage, you were just up to more delicious things.”
“I’ll never tell,” I said, blowing a kiss at him. “Love you, Ri.”
He melted into Vance’s embrace, and it filled my heart to see the two of them together and finding their own way together. “Love you too, Claire Bear.”
I couldn’t see Adrien, but Vance’s blue eyes burned into mine as his tongue darted out to wet his lip before looking down at Riley.
The emotion in his eyes was as clear as day, the same one Riley had for me, and even though no further words were spoken as our alphas cleaned us and tucked us into bed, I knew in my heart that I wasn’t just falling for them anymore.
I was absolutely in love with them.