Chapter 14 Dinner & Getting High
Dinner & Getting High
Holding my head high, I walked into the living room and headed straight for the kitchen, grabbing two slices on a plate.
Our never-used third and fourth kitchen chairs were pulled out from the table, and once I took my normal seat, all three men loaded up their own plates and settled around me.
Their knees were crowded in the small space.
To my left, Sawyer sat in his usual seat, and to my right, Thorne leaned over his stack of pizza slices, his eyes dark. Swallowing nervously, I looked across the table to Cole. He’d shoved his chair back so no one touched him.
From under his mess of dark hair, his gray eyes narrowed, and his mouth pulled into a smug smile. “So, where are those pineapple pizzas you promised us?”
“Sorry,” I muttered, feeling the blood rising in my cheeks. Sawyer was right. Cole was handsome, and it made me flustered.
His smile widened into a grin, and my lips parted. His face went from cold and detached to warm and inviting with that one change.
Sawyer huffed. “I’m sure we could find some canned pineapple in the back of the pantry if you’re desperate. Autumn spent last summer trying to bake a hummingbird cake, and we went through a lot of pineapple. I’m sure there's a can or two left.”
“Hummingbird cake?” Thorne asked.
Clearing my throat, I set my first slice down. “It’s similar to carrot cake, with pecans, but instead of carrots, you add banana and pineapple. But it’s still a spice cake with cream cheese frosting.”
“I’ve never even had carrot cake, so I’m not sure what hummingbird cake would be like,” Thorne admitted, rubbing at the back of his neck with his free hand.
I’ll make it for you. The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I held them back. Soon, Cole and Thorne would be leaving, and inexplicitly, that thought left a sense of dread in my gut.
Strange.
“Sounds good,” Cole said, leaning back in his seat with his smug smirk back in place. He took a vicious bite of pizza, flashing fangs that had me swallowing and shifting in my seat.
Beside me, Sawyer stared at Cole, and I swear he was drooling a tiny bit. Jostling his shoulder, I shook him out of his trance. He coughed and shoved more pizza into his mouth.
“This pizza is so good,” Thorne said between slices. “Who would have thought of mushrooms and bacon together?”
Frowning, I cocked my head. “That’s not that strange of a combo.”
Thorne shrugged.
“We haven’t had a lot of pizza, to be honest,” Cole said quietly.
“Your pack doesn’t get pizza?” Sawyer asked, frowning as he studied Cole.
Cole shook his head.
I cocked my head, trying to think things through. “Oh, that’s right, you lived in a pack of werewolves. So you guys don’t live in a town like normal?”
“They’re usually remote,” Sawyer said, his eyes flitting over Cole’s hand on the table, up his chest to land on his face.
“It’s about two hours west of here,” Cole explained, raising an eyebrow as he met Sawyer’s gaze.
“We have all the same amenities. Even a little movie theater,” Thorne said defensively.
“But now we can go to a real theater,” Cole said, measured.
The strained expression on Thorne’s face eased. Did he really want to leave his pack? Or did he just do it to protect Cole? Biting my lip, I watched them as the three men discussed pizza and movies and nothing at all.
After dinner, Thorne and Sawyer did dishes together and Cole went onto our balcony. Both had a strong desire to take care of me, and they wouldn’t let me even pick up my own plate.
For a while, I watched Thorne and Sawyer pass dishes between them as they washed and dried, but the idea of being with both of them had worked its way into my consciousness, and I couldn’t help imaging them passing me back and forth, and it was making me way too horny.
Not to mention, being close to Thorne had the fated mate bond going crazy.
To stem the feeling of spontaneous combustion rising in my chest, I slid open our glass door and slipped out, joining Cole. Instantly, I regretted not grabbing a jacket, but the cool air took care of my arousal, at least.
“Autumn?” Cole said. He motioned for me to sit beside him on the small outdoor sofa.
Shivering, I lowered myself, grateful the sofa was small because his hip and arm brushed against mine, lending me warmth. Pale gray eyes flicked over me, and Cole reached up, tugging his hoodie off. My mouth fell open at the slice of pale muscled torso as his shirt rode up.
“Here,” he said, pulling it over my head.
“You really don’t need to,” I said, feeling sheepish as I pushed my hands through the hoodie’s arms.
“I’m a full-blooded werewolf. I run hot,” Cole said.
I bit back an inappropriate comment.
“You need it more than I do.”
“Do you really think I’m half? Like one of my parents was a werewolf?” The question escaped me before I thought better of it.
“Your father,” Cole said, with the tone of someone saying something stupidly obvious.
“What?” I said, pressing my palm to my chest.
“If your mother was one of us, you’d be able to shift.”
“And as far as I know, I’ve never turned into a wolf,” I said, laughing humorlessly. “So why are you out here? Too crowded in our tiny apartment?”
“Yes,” he said. “I’m not a huge fan of being around a lot of people all the time.”
“Introvert?” I asked. “I can leave you alone if you want.”
He laughed sharply. “No. It’s fine. It’s because being around people can trigger a vision, and honestly, they’re not fun. I’m sure you’ll see eventually,” he said dryly.
Cole tipped his head back, his eyes shut. His throat worked.
“Does anything help?”
He exhaled harshly. “It’s fine. The only thing that helps is this,” he said, pulling out a bag from his pocket. “Harder drugs might block them too, but I’m not stupid enough to try. Although if there was ever a time…”
Huffing a laugh at his own joke, he popped the seal and selected a sugar-coated gummy. “Do you want one?”
Frowning, I picked up the bag and read the label.
I’d never tried them before, but the idea of relaxing and letting go of the stress of Thorne and the entire situation was appealing.
Cole might not be a friend necessarily, but his bark was definitely worse than his bite.
And Thorne obviously trusted him. Besides, Sawyer was right on the other side of the glass door.
“Half of one is the right dose for you. You’re a lightweight.”
Scowling, I squinted at him. “You can see all of that?”
Another rough laugh, and Cole was shaking his head. “No. It’s just obvious. Am I wrong?”
Pulling my bottom lip through my teeth, I thought it through, and then pinched one of the gummies between my fingers and bit it in half.
Smiling, Cole plucked the other half and popped it in his mouth, followed by two whole ones. As we chewed, he sealed the bag and tucked it away.
“So tell me about being a werewolf,” I said, nestling back into my seat.
His lush mouth curved into another smirk, his onyx hair falling over his brow. “It’s fucking fantastic. Howl at the moon, run around in the woods naked, eating rabbits and shit.”
Arching an eyebrow, I stared at him. “Are you serious?”
“No,” he said, grinning. “I’m not the best werewolf to ask. I avoid the pack as much as possible.”
A beat of silence passed.
“That sounds lonely.”
“If you’re needy, I guess. But I’m good. I’ve got Thorne, and now you and—” He broke off, his gaze skating to the sliding door.
“Sawyer’s a pretty good friend,” I said with a wry grin.
“Does he fuck all his friends?” Cole said darkly.
Pressing the sleeve of his hoodie to my mouth, I hid my awkward smile. “Um, no, that’s a pretty recent development in our relationship. But he is really loyal and kind.”
Cole turned his head away from the door and looked out into the darkness. “Good to know he’s not a total dick.”
A light, warm feeling was working its way through my limbs. It felt like the sleepy, happy feeling when you first wake up after sleeping in, when you aren't quite sure the world is real yet.
“He was such a fucking nerd in high school. He’s gorgeous, obviously, so he was still popular, but he spent all his time in the computer lab.
Which makes sense. I mean, he works in IT now.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of work in a small town like this.
He picks up remote jobs sometimes, but they don’t pay as well. Sorry, I’m going to shut up now.”
Cole was watching me again, his face relaxed. It softened the sharp lines of his features, making him look a little more human. “You guys have been friends since then?”
“Yes. What about you and Thorne?”
“We grew up together. Hunter’s always been an asshole, so we avoided his family too. And I’ve got three sisters, so as soon as my visions started, I had to get the fuck out of that house.”
“How old were you?”
Cole paused, shadows carving out under his cheeks as he rested his head back, exposing an expanse of ivory throat.
“Eleven when I shifted for the first time. I had my first vision a few days later. They thought it was a fucking seizure at first, but as soon as the alpha realized I was a seer, they moved me into the main pack house.”
The hand resting on his thigh clenched into a fist and a flush painted his cheeks.
“It was the worst. Thorne was the only reason I survived. He convinced his grandma to let us move into a small cabin away from everyone else, and swore to guard me with his life.”
“He was the alpha’s grandson, so shouldn’t you have guarded him?”
Cole shrugged. “Seers are rare.”
Sitting back, my thoughts swirled through my head, slowly aligning. It was a big deal that Thorne and Cole left. No wonder Hunter was coming after them.
“So if you can see the future, don’t you know if things turn out okay?”
“Not exactly how it works.”
Slowly, the tension in Cole’s shoulders loosened. His breathing deepened, and I wondered if he was falling asleep. Time seemed to slow, and I was so comfortable on the sofa, a nap seemed like a good idea.
You know what seemed like a better idea? Being sandwiched between Sawyer and Thorne. I could picture it clearly, Sawyer hauling me up against him, kissing down my throat. Thorne grinding against my ass, pulling my hair to yank my head back so he could kiss me.
Squirming in my seat, I pressed my thighs together. I was getting so turned on, it was starting to sound like a good idea to go back in there and jump Sawyer. Or both of them.
“I’ve seen you with both of them,” Cole said softly.
Eyes widening, I gaped at him. “What are you talking about?”
He gave a soft, breathy chuckle. “You know exactly what I mean. I can smell you. It’s not hard to guess what you’re thinking about.”
Pressing my palms to my heated face, I stared at Cole. My thoughts felt sluggish and mushy, but I was pretty sure I understood his meaning.
“Remember, it was one of my visions that led Thorne to you,” he said, finally turning his head to face me. “But that vision was you, Thorne, and Sawyer.” He trailed off like he was leaving something out. Perhaps something he couldn’t tell me.
I wanted to argue, to fight back, but being between those two men was really appealing, especially in this state.
Scooting over, I tucked myself against him. “You look cold,” I whispered. “I’m sorry I stole your jacket.”
His arms looped around me lazily. “I’m okay, but this is nice.”
“You’re nice,” I said. “But if they’re both my boyfriends, you’ll be alone.”
My hand smoothed over his torn, black jeans, patting him sympathetically on the thigh.
Tipping his head sideways, Cole spoke into my ear. “Don’t worry about me. I’m patient.”
Goosebumps prickled over my skin, and the ache between my legs throbbed. Maybe I shouldn’t be cuddling with Cole, but I was too floaty and relaxed to care.
The sliding door squeaked, and Thorne leaned out. “It’s getting late. You guys good?”
“I’m tired!” I declared. “Too tired to walk. I need to be carried like the princess I am.”
Thorne frowned, and I giggled. It was a joke, but he took it seriously. Taking three steps across the small space, he looped an arm under my thighs and another around my back and lifted me to his chest.
“At least this time, I’m not naked,” I said. Letting my feet dangle and my head fall back, I giggled again.
Cole must have followed us, because I heard the door slide shut and lock behind us as Thorne carried me across the living room to my room.
He laid me on my bed. I grinned at him. “You’re not so bad, I guess. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. The wrong knot? Cause I got off on your knot, and it was freaky.”
Leaning over, Thorne kissed me on the forehead. “Good night, Vixen.”
Sawyer appeared in my vision, scowling.
“Who pissed in your Cheerios?” I teased.
“You let him kiss you,” he said.
“I’ll let you do way more than that to me.” Trying my best to look seductive, I wiggled on the bed.
His jaw flexed. “You’re not in any condition for that.”
“Please?” I begged, pushing myself to sit up. The room blurred, and I focused on my wolfy boyfriend. “I’m just a bit, you know, floaty. Please fuck me. I need it. I was thinking about you and Thorne, and it was so hot. Please, I need it.”
Sighing, Sawyer sat on the bed at my feet. “You’re ridiculous. Ask me again in the morning, and I’ll happily fuck you. Right now, you need sleep.”
With a defiant huff, I threw myself back down and rolled over. If he wouldn’t help me, I’d help myself. Grumbling, I stretched out across the bed, reaching for my bedside drawer. It was really far, and I got tired in the middle and gave up. I didn’t even wake up when Sawyer came to bed.