Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Ichecked in with Michah,” Icarus says. “Zoe is fine. In fact, she is being spoiled by the entire staff who are implementing my plans to give them the best Christmas that I could. Also, the guests with Bird called down for room service: grapes, Gatorade, and Bird’s favorite brand of chocolate.
So, there is hope that he is okay. You don’t need to worry. ”
Icarus is leaning against the mint green wall of the presidential suite bathroom, which is painted with snowflakes, the Frost’s signature style.
Crescent moonlight shines through the window over the large marble bathroom, lighting the black and white tiled floor, piles of warm towels, and mirrors shaped like fans.
The only other lighting is cathedral style candles, which flicker in clusters of threes on the surfaces.
In the room’s corners stand high vases, which are filled with lilies and orange roses.
I recline in the deep, claw-foot bath, submerged in water, which is silky with intoxicating sandalwood oils. Rose petals float on the surface.
My aching muscles feel better than they have in years.
I relax, allowing myself to enjoy this treat.
This has been an incredible day.
Lying here in Piper’s naked arms, allowing the heated water to ease aches out of my joints as he gently washes me with rose scented soap on a soft sponge, is the perfect end to it.
The Omega dorms only have showers with cold water.
I had forgotten how good a bath could feel.
I don’t know that I have ever felt what it was like to be cared for by someone and for it to be not about sex. Yet Piper has shown me that all day.
My shoulders slump with relief. “Thanks. Your brother is a great uncle.”
Icarus glances down. “Ollie has been through a lot but he’s the most cheerful person I know. He never lets the bullying and humiliations from the elite get him down. He stays upbeat, no matter how hard he has been forced to work. Plus, he loves Zoe. She’s brightened all our lives.”
I’m aware how much our new pack members are listening to this, even though Zero and Lionzio are currently bent over the marble pedestal sink, brushing their teeth.
“You’ve raised him well,” I reply.
“He’s the only family I had, until Zoe and you.
” Icarus’ electric gaze catches mine. “I’m not his parent but I did my best to fill the aching void where they should have been, after we were abandoned.
He felt our parents’ neglect and then rejection more than I did.
He’s going to be over the moon that you… I mean that we’re…”
“That I’ve finally admitted I’ve fallen in love with you?”
Icarus takes a step toward me across the bathroom, as if he can’t stop himself. “Do you know how many nights I’ve lain awake, fantasizing that one day you would say that back to me?”
Piper pauses in his careful washing of my stomach, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Sweet.”
“So, our new Chief Alpha is a romantic?” Zero whistles. “I’m going to expect candlelight, rose petals, and a whole orchestra when you confess to me.”
Icarus turns to Zero, prowling back across the bathroom to pin the beautiful Beta against the sink. “You’re a brat who should expect spankings.”
“That works,” Zero says, breathlessly.
Icarus merely reaches around to wipe a smear of toothpaste off Zero’s lip.
“And a lot of love,” he adds.
I smile.
Zero tries to hide how pleased he is but can’t.
Instead, he snatches up a towel and attempts to snap Icarus with it, as if to hide from the emotion of the moment.
Icarus merely catches the end of the towel and wraps it around his fist. Then he yanks Zero into his arms.
Zero yelps like he is hunted prey but opens his lips in invitation.
Well played, Beta.
Icarus’ eyes twinkle.
But who could resist kissing Zero?
I watch in delight, as Icarus kisses Zero with the emotion of love that Zero appeared to be running from.
Deep and lingering.
Zero’s eyes flutter shut, allowing the Alpha to dominate him.
Lionzio watches the two of them together with a closed off expression, clasping his toothbrush so hard that I think it may crack.
“Is this okay, Gracie?” Piper runs the sponge in massaging circles over my shoulders, at the same time that he wraps his legs more closely around me in the bath. “Your muscles are tight. Are you stressed?”
He has no idea.
I lean further back against him, indulging in his relaxing touch.
The ends of his silk scarf, which he still hasn’t removed, float against me in the water like seaweed.
Worry shoots through me.
Why is he so traumatized about his bond mark? Did something bad happen to him with a previous pack?
What happened?
I focus back on Icarus and Zero. “Seeing those two together is helping me.”
“They look good together, don’t they? Plus,” Piper leans to whisper in my ear, “they’re good for each other. Wings can give our Beta the steady hand that he craves, and Zero is such fun that he can make even Wings remove that stick from his ass.”
Icarus breaks away from the kiss to shoot a glare at Piper. “I can hear you.”
“I know,” Piper replies with a sunny smile. “Why do you think I said it?”
I thought that I was a brave Omega.
I’ve never met anyone like Piper. I’m so fucking lucky.
All day, I’ve been adapting to this pack and growing to know them better.
Icarus took Lionzio away to the study for an intense conversation, which I was worried would be further questioning but by the way that they came out with their arms around each other and Lionzio’s choosing to sit next to his fellow Alpha for the rest of the day, was probably more like an apology followed by a heart to heart.
The pack themselves are noisy and joyful.
They ordered Icarus and my favorite food and drink, checked in that we were okay at regular intervals, asked us what movie we would like to watch, and filled the suite with their raucous banter.
Piper also made me the best cup of coffee that I have ever had. I’ve learned that not only does he smell of coffee cake, but he’s a coffee obsessive.
Win for me.
Despite their clashing personalities, they’re deeply in love. They don’t need to say it to each other for it to be obvious.
It’s based on a close friendship. Lionzio worships Piper, and Zero and Piper worship each other.
It’s authentic and feels like the greatest gift that I have received to be invited into a pack like this. Actually, that a pack is being courted by Icarus and me.
If we can pull off the hotel heist, then they will become our bonded pack.
Hell, I want that in a way I never thought I would.
“Get changed into your pajamas,” Icarus commands Zero, smoothing his hands down the Beta’s sides.
“What pajamas? I sleep naked.” Zero wriggles athletically out of Icarus’ grasp, before pushing down his simple white trousers and yanking off his ivory cashmere jumper.
“You’ll be freezing,” I say with great difficulty because a naked Zero is fast becoming one of my favorite things.
“You can warm me up,” Zero offers, looking hopeful.
“When will you stop being impulsive, stella mia?” Lionzio’s face scrunches in worry.
“You’re already shivering. Do you want to catch a cold just at this crucial…
? I mean, just before Christmas? You’re the worst patient, always insisting that you shouldn’t stay in bed or let anyone take care of you.
Please remember that you now have people around you who will be made miserable if you’re sick.
Don’t ruin our holidays.” He yanks off his own suit jacket and stalks to roughly slip it over Zero’s naked shoulders, pulling it closed to cover him.
“There. Keep that on until you’re under the warm bedding. ”
My brows rise.
Lionzio is the caretaker of the pack, although he hides his genuine concern under fake scolding, while making sure everyone has enough to eat, drink, and are warm enough.
Maybe he’s trying to make up for that Beta in his past who he feels he let down.
Lionzio grabs Zero by the shoulders, stealing him from Icarus, before pushing him to the side of the bathroom to sit on a stool in front of the vintage mirror in a move that looks practiced and familiar.
Then he snatches up a comb and begins to gently brush through Zero’s long, silky hair, as if it’s a soothing ritual for him.
As if Zero is as precious to him as any elite Omega.
To my surprise, Zero sits still for the Alpha to brush his hair for him, giving a happy sigh.
“Feels amazing, handsome.” He meets Lionzio’s eyes in the mirror.
Zero’s shoulders relax. He smiles at Lionzio.
“Just keep still, stella mia,” Lionzio replies.
The tips of Lionzio’s ears glow red, however, and he gives a small smile back.
The moment seems too private for me to have glimpsed.
Zero is wrong that his own Alpha hates him. Lionzio loves Zero as much as he adores everyone in his pack. After all, Icarus and I have danced around our true feelings for each other for years.
Icarus leans back against the sink, crossing his arms.
“I’ve been thinking about the matching ball on Christmas Eve.
” Piper places the sponge on the side. “Do you already have outfits for it? Or would you like me to adapt something? My sis could lend you a dress, Gracie, and one of her pack is close to Wings’ size.
I would like to make something punky and unique.
I design my own outfits. It’s one of my talents. ”
“He’s bloody brilliant.” Zero meets my gaze in the mirror. “If there was a Grammy for punk fashion design that Omega would win it. I can play rock guitar like a fiend but I prick my finger the moment that I pick up a needle.”
Piper purrs happily.
What Omega doesn’t like to be praised?
I turn in the bath, and water sloshes up the side.
I flick a rose petal off Piper’s nose, before rubbing our noses together.
“But this is why we’re not the same. You call yourself staff but here you are, stationed in the presidential suite and not in the basement dorms. We were stuffing our faces with steak and cheesecake earlier. Dinner for the staff was—”