Chapter 22
LAUREL
Cocoa, faint traces of smoke from the fireplace, fine whiskey, chili, and pine wood.
With my eyes closed, I took deep breaths, letting the blend of scents permeate my soul.
I would remember the minutes between that phone call and Jordy barging into the bedroom as the most painful of my life. I’d been cramping, trying to hold back my sobs so I wouldn’t scare Monty.
He’d put his fingers into my ass and pumped them, but it hadn’t helped much. Deep inside, I’d been so empty it felt like a fucking fork jammed up the channel of my womb, twisting and stabbing.
I’d had to wait, though. Without Jordy, it wouldn’t have made sense.
Now he was here, in me, and I lay sandwiched between my bears, still drowsy after the knotting.
The knotting.
Holy shit.
With Jordy’s bulging dick up my ass, and Monty’s throbbing knot in my mouth, I’d been ecstatic.
In the span of minutes, I’d gone from agony to euphoria.
Their knots had gone down, the soft yet still heavy cock slipped from my loose hole, and I turned to peck Jordy on his lips.
He studied my face, looking a little surprised, but hopeful, too. I didn’t dare open my mouth. Whatever I’d say, it would be inadequate.
Monty hugged me from behind and kissed the top of my head. Jordy nuzzled my face and sighed.
“I guess I should talk to Sedric,” he said. “ ’Cause I’m not coming back to work.”
“We’ll find him help,” Monty said. “It’ll sort itself out.”
Jordy sat up but held my hand as if reluctant to tear himself away from me.
“Monty, can I borrow your phone?” he asked. “I left mine at the pub.”
Monty pushed himself up on his elbows and looked around. “It’s somewhere here.”
Phone. Where was my phone? I’d set a timer, but that wouldn’t go off until tomorrow.
Then I remembered what Hunter had said.
“Um. Guys.”
The tone of my voice made them both look at me with concern.
Here goes nothing.
“I’m in heat. Because we’re…like…mated.”
Monty gave me a small grin. “Yeah?”
“It’ll sink in for me in a bit, I hope,” Jordy said with a self-deprecating smirk.
“Since we’re already dealing with practical stuff. I’m…uh… I’m aware of how this normally goes because it happened to Calvin, right? And I’m not ready.”
Jordy frowned, and Monty tilted his head to the side, seeming confused.
I needed to elaborate.
“Pregnancy,” I blurted. “I’m not ready for that. I’m…all over the place. I can’t… Um.”
Jordy’s eyes widened comically, his expression one of raw panic. “Oh fuck!” It seemed I wasn’t the only one not feeling ready.
Monty glanced at him, then at me, looking suspiciously at ease.
“I haven’t thought of that.” Jordy’s voice rose in pitch.
Monty smiled, reached over my torso, and ran a hand down Jordy’s arm. The casual touch tugged at my heart. God, I loved seeing them being tender with each other.
“I thought about it while we waited for you,” Monty said. “I figured we’d have to call Hunter. We should do it now.”
“I do want kids,” I hurried to say. “And I’m already doubting my decision, and I know it’s the heat hormones talking. But I need time.”
“We all need time,” Monty said.
Jordy stared at us both. “Oh fuck,” he repeated.
“Chill, Orson.” Monty grinned. “We just have to get Laurel on contraceptives before the heat progresses. Let’s call Hunter.”
“I’ve already talked to him,” I said.
“You did?”
“Yeah, when the symptoms started, I freaked out and called him. I have some pills left from my last heat, and Hunter says it’s enough. I’ve taken the first one and set a timer for tomorrow. You just need to help me take them. I might forget or get confused or…too horny.”
Nodding, Jordy squeezed my hand. “Okay. Sure.” He looked relieved.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Spooked you, huh, alpha man?”
He grimaced, shaking his head. “I’m not…the best parent material. Not yet, anyway.”
“That’s bullshit,” Monty said breezily.
“Why?” I asked.
Jordy looked at Monty, his eyes pleading, and Monty smiled at him in encouragement.
Then Jordy brought my hand to his lips and kissed the palm.
“I guess we have a lot to talk about.”
The tension in him made me nervous in turn. I moved to sit up, only to realize I was going to soil the bed if I did.
“I need to shower first, I think.”
What Jordy did next had my heart skipping a beat. He smoothly moved his arms under me and lifted me from the bed. He’d carried me before, but now, as he cradled me to his chest, he pressed a small kiss to my nose.
Monty followed closely behind us.
“The door to the right,” I piped up. Monty moved to open it, and Jordy carried me inside and set me on the floor.
It had been great thinking on my part to demand an unreasonably huge shower stall. Both my bears fit.
Jordy set the temperature, and Monty began washing my back. I noticed them exchanging glances, Monty’s tender and Jordy’s still a little unsure. He seemed to be avoiding looking at Monty for too long.
But this was for keeps, right? That was what being fated meant. They could stay together while being with me.
I stood leaning against Monty’s chest, watching Jordy as he lifted his face against one of the two showerheads. He stood like that for a while, his chest heaving.
“Hey man,” Monty murmured, and reached around me to put his hand on Jordy’s shoulder. “You okay?”
Jordy rubbed his face with his hands and looked at us. His eyes seemed a little red, but it could have been because of the water.
“I’m okay,” he rasped.
Monty tugged him close, and I was trapped between their chests. It was swiftly becoming my favorite place to be.
Holding Jordy by his nape, Monty kissed him on the mouth. Hesitant at first, Jordy opened for him and let himself be devoured. Craning my head up, I watched their tongues tangle. Jordy let out a small, strangled noise. They broke off, and without pause, Jordy leaned down to kiss me.
This kiss was different than any we’d shared before. Laced with desperation, it felt almost like a plea. I tried to respond the best way I could, but it seemed like we both were a little untethered.
Overwhelmed, I sucked on Jordy’s tongue, and he thrust it deeper. I wanted to soothe him, but I had no idea how. I was all over the place, probably in love with them both, and a little pissed that love felt like this. It kinda hurt.
But then…
Strong arms wrapped around us both as we kissed, pressing us together, holding us upright.
Monty.
Jordy sighed into my mouth, and our kiss gentled. The tension melted away, washed down the drain, and a hush fell over us.
Monty held us as Jordy pressed small kisses on my cheeks and the corners of my lips.
“You’re so beautiful together.” Monty sighed the words more than he said them.
I turned my head to look at him, and Jordy did the same, his short beard brushing my cheek.
Monty was grinning ear to ear, his eyes glowing with nothing but joy, and I knew we’d be okay.
Whatever bullshit Jordy and I could conjure up in our heads, Monty wouldn’t let us fuck up.
With a mighty sigh, Jordy rested his head at the base of Monty’s throat, his cheek against my temple.
“It’s sinking in,” he whispered. “Sorry. I’ll…get better.”
“We have time,” Monty said.