CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – TRISTAN #2
As Logan drags himself off the bed with a huff, I make myself scarce, only to find another worked-up alpha waiting for me just inside my bedroom door.
I’ve barely closed it behind me before Ellis pushes me up against the wood.
A groan rattles in his throat as he nuzzles my hair.
“God, it should be a crime that you smell this good.”
“Lily tastes even better,” I coo, grinning as his nostrils flare and he shoves me harder against the door. “Logan brought us breakfast in bed, and we all had a little taste.”
Ellis’ caramel scent takes on a thicker, deeper note as he studies my face. “He was in a sharing mood?”
I smirk and wave my fingers under his nose. “He said he admired my handiwork.”
My alpha’s eyes flare so bright, I’m surprised my face doesn’t burst into flames from contact heat.
Caging me in with an arm braced on either side of my head, his gaze never leaves mine as he sucks my index finger into his mouth.
Arousal flashes through me, and I can feel the effect it has on him - both through our bond and the rock-hard erection he presses against mine.
Doesn’t matter I just came my brains out less than five minutes ago, a turned-on Ellis’ is my sexy kryptonite.
A purr rattles in his chest as he sucks my fingers clean, then nuzzles my palm, soaking up the rest of Lily’s scent.
I try to catch his lips in a kiss, but he’s already sinking to his knees, his nose running down my chest and zeroing in on my crotch.
He doesn’t seem to be the least bit put off by my sticky jeans; in fact, he gives an almost painful groan as he licks over the damp fabric. “You came in your pants, sweetheart?”
“So would you if you had Lily riding your hand.”
He grunts his agreement, but as he reaches for my zipper, I push reluctantly off the door. “As much as I want to keep you on your knees, babe, I need a raincheck. I’m taking Lily back to the farm to grab a few things while I catch up with Della.”
As Ellis rises gracefully back to his feet, his pout takes on a dangerous edge. “There’s no way you’re going to see another alpha smelling like this.”
Even though it echoes Logan’s earlier sentiment, it’s hard not to do a happy dance at the possessive growl ringing in my ears. “Well, you could always come with us…” I run my damp fingers along the hard line of his jaw. “Maybe find some dark corner of the barn so we can both ravish Lily together.”
His eyes flare for a moment, but then he leans forward and presses our lips together in a quick, hungry kiss. “Don’t tempt me. I’m keeping an eye on Leo and Cody while they work on their fort, but Ot will probably want to come. Especially when he hears that Della is going to be there.”
“You’re all so ridiculously territorial,” I snort, although that warm feeling in my belly spreads as it confirms what I told Lily last night.
Things might be a little complicated right now, but we’re all here for her, if she has room for us.
And the fact that she wants to give it a try – and I have the evidence painted on my skin – puts a goofy grin on my face.
“We’re definitely picking this up later, though. ”
He groans as I wiggle my damp fingers in a teasing goodbye and scoot into the bathroom.
Stripping out of my clothes takes longer than my super-fast shower, and I waste vital minutes rummaging through my closet for my favorite casual shirt that somehow still looks like it’s runway ready.
When I’m dressed, I grab my work satchel and almost trip down the stairs I’m in such a rush.
Luckily Otley is there to meet me at the bottom, his hand gripping my waist as he leans in for a not-too-subtle sniff of my neck.
“Looking for something in particular?” I ask with an arch look.
“Don’t think I won’t strip you bare right where you’re standing,” he growls, thrusting his nose against his mating mark. “I was on a conference call when you came like a hurricane down our bond.”
His fingers tighten on my waist, and I suck in a gulp of rich, dark cherries as he slides up to my mouth and claims it in a bruising kiss.
Ellis might pout and tease, but Otley isn’t the least bit subtle about his intentions.
When he finally pulls back, my knees are weak, and I have to grab his shirt to stay upright.
He studies my flustered state with no small degree of satisfaction.
“I’m going to finish that call and then lick every inch of my greedy little mate. ”
It's now my turn to pout. “That sounds amazing, but I’ve got a meeting with Della at the farm about the campaign.”
Predictably, his eyes go stormy gray. “You can’t put him off? I’ll be done by noon and can join you.”
“Wish I could, but he’s heading back to LA straight after.” I brush a hand down his rumpled shirtfront and look at him through my lashes. “Lily’s coming with me, though, and we should only be gone a couple of hours.”
Now he’s really rumbling with displeasure, but he takes a careful step back when Lily joins us in the foyer, wearing her Rosie’s Blooms polo shirt and smelling like a bouquet of our favorite flowers.
She glances between us, her cheeks flushing an adorable shade of pink as she takes in my obvious state of arousal.
“Ah… do you want me to wait in the car?”
“No,” we reply at the same time, her blush deepening at the possessive growl in Otley’s voice. “Just a couple of hours,” I remind him, biting my lip to hold back a grin at the hungry way he watches me herd Lily towards the door.
When we settle into the back of the SUV, I ask her if Logan is coming along, and there must be a whole lot of magic in their mating bond, because her worry lines melt into a soft smile. “He’s gone to check on things at the gym.”
“So I get you all to myself?”
“Until Bloomer turns up and decides to shower us in slobbery affection.”
Which, in a roundabout kind of way, reminds me of Otley promising to lick every inch of my greedy person.
Hmm. Why is it so easy to imagine Lily as part of that scenario?
If I’m honest with myself, Lily fits neatly into every one of my fantasies.
While Otley and Ellis are my forever mates, we didn’t exactly snap together like long lost puzzle pieces.
The attraction was there from day one – because, hello, I have eyes – but we grew up too differently, and for a long time I felt like an imposter in their world.
They’ve never made me feel anything less than cherished, but being loved and knowing that you deserve that love, are not the same thing.
There were a lot of mental obstacles for me to overcome during their courtship, whereas with Lily, it feels like she’s always just been waiting around the corner from me.
Being with her, I realize, is so easy that walking away is now an impossibility.
And maybe she feels the same way, because her fingers inch forward until they tentatively thread through mine. “Um, is this okay? We don’t have to do it in public, but I feel better when you’re close.”
“There is no time or place where I won’t be one hundred percent into holding your hand,” I tell her with such sincerity, she relaxes back into the seat with another of those soft smiles.
“Now, is it okay if I walk Della through the potential shoot today? I’ve got everything detailed in a storyboard, but he’ll want to see the actual locations himself. ”
“Of course.”
“That’s great.” I give her hand a relieved squeeze. “If you’re happy with what we come up with, we can sign the contract, and you’ll get your first payment either today or tomorrow.”
She blinks at me, something complicated moving behind her eyes. “That’s fine. Like I said, I’m not going to turn down an opportunity as good as this one.”
I’m relieved to hear it, even if I’m still carrying a lot of guilt from her panic attack the other day.
Thankfully, when we arrive at the farm, Della has parked his balloon in someone else’s yard and is standing beside a shiny black Mercedes.
His gaze skips over our clasped hands before landing on Lily, and my hackles rise as he steps forward to greet her.
He might look like chocolate won’t melt in his mouth, but when a Vanity Fair reporter once asked him about his playboy reputation, he famously said that he simply has a nose for sniffing out sweet things.
Well, Lily sure as shit isn’t here to be sniffed, and I find myself muscling between them as he extends a hand in her direction.
“Della,” I say in a voice as gruff as Otley at his most insufferable. “Lily is just here to sign the contract, assuming she’s happy with what we come up with. Everything else goes through me.”
He cocks a brow at my sharp tone, the ghost of a smile playing over his lips as he tucks his hand back in his pocket. “Of course. Hopefully everything gets the Lily Percy kiss of approval.”
I grind my teeth at the teasing response, but Lily just rolls her eyes and leans in to give me a quick hug. “I’ll be back after I’ve checked in with Marion and Bloomer.”
She gives Della a polite nod, then heads towards the porch while I grab my work tablet from my satchel. I might be a little aggressive as I pull up his file, because he gives a soft chuckle. “You know, I’ve met junkyard dogs with less hackles.”
“Because there are so many junkyards in Beverley Hills?”
He rubs the side of his prominent nose with a laugh.
“Good point, but the observation still stands.” When I shoot him an irritated look, he holds up his hands, surrender-style.
“It’s okay. I’m backing off. But if your pack is really interested in her, you should do something about scaring off those vultures. ”
I follow his gaze to the farm’s parking lot, where our security team is holding the perimeter. The crowd has thinned out a little, but a news crew is already filming, with our meeting as the reporter’s backdrop. “Come on,” I tell Della. “I can point out the locations as we go.”