49. Chapter Forty-Nine #2
Proof of how strong my mates are, and how hard they fought for everything we have.
Knox leaves and returns with an armful of thick wool blankets we found in the hall cupboard.
I laundered them yesterday, so they still smell clean, ready to be infused with the scent of our Pack.
He folds them at the edge of the nest with the same grave focus he uses on battle plans, as if making sure I stay warm is now one of his official duties as General of Blackgate.
After that, he brings up a small wooden side table from downstairs and sets it next to the nest so there is somewhere to keep water, snacks, and whatever else we need within reach.
I watch as he stashes a pistol in the lower drawer, tucked close enough to grab in an emergency, and my Omega goes soft at the sight of it. My mates offer protection, even when they're being sweet.
Shade is kneeling on the floor beside the wall, messing with one of the electrical outlets to get a floor lamp working.
It's a sign of our prosperity that Pack Scorch now has access to ambient lighting.
He adds a neat stack of books he's selected from Stone's personal collection to the shelf by the window, then arranges a writing pad, spare pencils, and a radio unit on the table beside the wall.
They're practical, useful things because running a fortress doesn't stop even for snuggling in the nest.
Viper hauls in the other two single cot mattresses and drops them on the bed frame without a word, his expression unreadable.
His body, however, I'm completely capable of reading.
Rut-damn, those big, bulging muscles get me hot and bothered without fail.
I love how big he is. His size allowed him to shield me completely in battle, and when he presses over me in bed, I feel small and precious.
I am a fraction of a second from reaching out and stroking Viper’s left pec when Blaise reappears after disappearing for a few minutes, barreling through the door with a ridiculous stack of pillows and quilts piled all the way to his chin.
"I bring luxury, Sparkles," he announces, like some deranged bedding merchant.
A laugh spills from me.
Of course Blaze disappears on a mission into hostile territory and somehow comes back with enough soft bedding to outfit our entire nest. There is something so very Blaze about that combination that my chest goes warm with it.
The sound of my laughter makes all four of them look at me, which does nothing to help the heat already curling low in my body. Suddenly the room feels smaller, warmer, and much too full of male bodies doing competent things with their hands.
"And where did you get those?" I ask, lifting a brow at Blaise as I reach for one of the blankets.
The fabric is thick and soft beneath my fingers, far too luxurious to have come from anywhere inside Blackgate.
He shrugs, all careless charm. "Somewhere they won’t be missed."
That makes me smile harder.
Blaze’s recon missions take him out beyond the fortress for days at a time, trailing the Human army as they retreat, tracking their movements, and occasionally dragging back someone unfortunate enough to answer our questions about the Omega Command.
It's an important role. Still, knowing that somewhere in the middle of all that he saw this stash and thought of me does dangerous things to my heart.
"I also got you some fabric," he adds, and there is a small note of uncertainty under the swagger now. "In case you want new clothes. A few pieces have flowers on them, and I imagined you'd look lovely in a dress like that."
Oh.
I look at him properly then, at the hopeful tilt of his mouth, at the way he is trying to play this off like it is nothing, and fondness floods through me.
"Blaise," I say softly. I'm certain he can hear in my voice that I'm saying the right name to the right part of him, because this is definitely my sweet Blaise rather than my protector Blaze.
He clears his throat and bounds into the room, pretending that he didn't just tell me the sweetest thing.
"Where do you want them, Sparkles?" he asks excitedly.
"There is fine, Alpha."
I love, with ever-increasing intensity, that beneath all his chaos, Blaise keeps finding new ways to take care of me.
He bends to place the pillows where I point, and I stare at the fabric of his combat trousers straining across his backside. His thick thighs fill them out so attractively.
Shade glances up at me, catches whatever is written all over my face, and his mouth curves slowly into a knowing smile. "You're enjoying this."
"Yes, I am," I say, because dignity has already left the building. "Watching my Pack build me a nest is basically every wet dream I've ever had."
Shade’s brows lift. Knox goes still for half a beat, then looks at me in that heavy, possessive way of his that sends heat rolling low through my belly.
Viper says nothing, but when he passes behind me with another armful of blankets, his hand slides over the small of my back and lingers just long enough to make my breath catch.
The smug bastard notices and smirks.
The flirting has been building with the nest, touch by touch, look by look, until the whole room feels thick with it. By the time the basics are in place, I feel hot, restless, and one teasing comment away from losing what remains of my self-control.
Blaise notices, because of course he does.
He grins at me from where he is on his knees, fluffing pillows with entirely too much enthusiasm, all golden skin and mischievous amusement, and I am suddenly done pretending I have any patience left.