Chapter 28
Nesting
Geo
Liora was softening toward the other men. I could see it in the way she didn't avoid looking at them anymore, in the way she actually started conversations with them.
"I think the paint smell is gone enough that we can start setting stuff up," Finn announced one morning.
I nodded. My back was killing me from sleeping on the stupid couch.
It might be comfy for a couple of nights, but we'd been there for a week now.
The paint they'd used was noxious and had taken far longer than expected to evaporate from the room, even with the window open and fans going.
But when I walked in, the air smelled fresh and like the outdoors.
"Oh, good!" Liora bounced up from the table. "I want to get things settled."
The alphas exchanged hopeful looks. A settled omega was a happy omega. One who might stick around. I'd given them a six week deadline, but they were already well on the way to winning our omega back. This was just another sign.
We spent the morning sorting through the nesting boxes from Swan's Nest. When Liora wasn't looking, I'd swiped a lot of things she'd hesitated over, so there were plenty of pillows and sheets in black and purple for her to sort through.
"I didn't order most of this," she stated, staring at all the items spread out through the hallway. "I picked like ten things, tops."
"But you liked more," Mace said. "We decided to buy what you liked, not what you felt obligated to choose."
She shook her head, smiling. "Geo, you did this didn't you?"
"I swiped some things. They added colors and went back to swipe more after we left," I said smoothly. "You thought we weren't going to spoil the hell out of you?"
"Well, I appreciate it, but this is way too much," she sighed. "I can't actually use 20 blankets, guys."
"Not all at once," I told her. "We'll store them and when you need something new or are missing that perfect piece to your nest, we'll grab another one and swap them out."
"Okay, you win." She grinned and grabbed the dark purple sheets I'd selected when she asked for black ones. The black sheets were there, too, but I knew she'd like the purple ones, so I'd ordered all four shades.
"We'll do that. You pick the blankets." Aiden grabbed the sheets from her. He and Mace headed into the room to put them on the bed.
Liora paced the hall, touching all the blankets before settling on one that was a medium purple hue with silver stars and moons embroidered all over it.
"I saw you admiring it when we were walking around," I told her, picking up the comforter to take in to the others.
"You're so observant," Liora said. "I literally didn't even touch this one, I just looked at it."
"Several times. Walking by each time," I reminded her. "It's my job to be observant though, both as your alpha and as an omega protection agent."
"Speaking of, I thought you only had a week off?"
"I asked for more. I have plenty of vacation time saved up. But I do have to go back next week."
"In three days?"
When I nodded, she sighed. "I really like having you around. And not just for sex, though that's really good. I like you."
"I like you, too." I gave her a kiss on top of her head. "Now, choose some accent blankets."
It took nearly two hours before we were finally able to pack away all the rejected items. The bedroom felt like a nest now and Liora was happy as a clam.
The room had heavy curtains over gauzy ones depending on how much light we wanted to come in.
Tiny fairy lights in the shape of little flowers twined around the bed's headboard, adding a whimsical look to a room that was full of varied shades of purple, with the occasional cream or black accent.
Wall hangings depicted wooded scenes and full moons and magic and the bed was piled so high with cushions and pillows, I wasn't sure where we were going to sleep.
She had scented candles and massage oils and the hammock chair we'd sat in was hanging in the corner of the room so we could swing any time we liked.
"It's perfect!" Liora climbed up onto the bed and flopped backwards on it. "Don't you love it?"
"I love that it makes you happy," I told her honestly.
"So you're not happy in here?" She looked concerned. "We could give you the old nest, but I won't go in there."
"Liora, I'm happy anywhere you are," I told her. "This is exactly what it should be, a safe space for you."
"It smells like all of you," she said suddenly. "I can smell Finn, Aiden, Mace . . . and you."
"Well, everyone was working in here."
"Their scents don't bother me as much anymore," she confessed. "I kind of like it."
"That's good. Maybe they're starting to earn your trust back."
"I could sell their entire business out from under them. I could run it into the ground and make them poor again." She looked up at the ceiling. "I have the power now."
"You certainly do," Mace said from the doorway. "And I wanted to formally request that you allow us to court you."
"Court me?" She sat up, looking grumpy. "Why?"
"Because we love you and we want to see if we can make this work," Finn said from behind Mace.
Liora raised her eyebrows. "Honestly, you're still a long way from being trustworthy. Especially you, Mace."
"I know."
She stared at them for a long while before finally sighing. "Finn can court me. If he does well, Aiden can. And Mace, you might be allowed someday."
"That's all I ask."
I knew he was disappointed, but he tried not to show it. Not with Liora watching him so closely. He turned and left.
Finn walked up to the bed. "Liora. My first courting gift." He held out a small jewelry box that she carefully opened. Inside was a silver necklace with a tiny moon on it and three diamond stars on either side.
"It's beautiful." She smiled at him and I felt a small pang of jealousy.
I knew she needed these men, but part of me still wanted her for myself.
Liora turned on her knees and let Finn fasten the necklace around her neck. Then she turned to me, her fingers dancing over the silver moon and the stars. "Do you like it, Geo?"
"It suits your beauty." I leaned forward to capture her lips in a kiss. "I love you, baby."
"I love you, too." She kissed me back and a little satisfaction flowed through me, knowing the others couldn't do this yet. Not yet, but soon.