Chapter 27 #2
He’s right, of course. It would be highly inappropriate to mess around with Cici upstairs, but my body doesn’t seem quick to get the message.
Slick coats my panties, and my lower belly feels hollow with need.
So I do the only thing I can. I pick a movie that looks like it promises maximum violence and press play.
All of them chuckle knowingly.
It takes me at least twenty minutes to get my desire under control, but eventually, my scent evens out and I’m able to enjoy the movie and the casual touches of my alphas and beta.
We’re all pressed close together. As I play with Liam’s hair, Sawyer traces circles over my hip as my head rests on his shoulder, Wilder runs his fingertips over my thighs, and Hayes is still gently rubbing my feet.
The longer we sit like this, the more right it feels.
This is where I belong. With them. No one has ever made me feel so accepted, cherished, and at peace.
I’m lost in my head, envisioning a future where we spend every night like this, when the front door opens behind us and a voice I know all too well rings out over the loud explosions happening in the movie.
“I love this movie. You guys should have called me. I would have come watch it with you.”
Wide-eyed, I lift my head and meet my brother’s surprised gaze.
Oh no. No, no, no. Why is he here? He shouldn’t be.
“What the hell?” Henry’s attention bounces between me, the guys, and every place on my body where they touch me.
Sawyer’s fingers tighten on my hip. “Henry? What are you doing here?”
My brother holds up a six-pack of beer, his face hardening. “After you stopped by the other day, I realized it had been a while since we hung out, and I wanted to fix that. I guess I can see why, now. Looks like you’ve been busy. With my sister, no less.”
“Henry.” I start to sit up, but the guys wrap protective arms around me, not letting me stand.
“My sister, Sawyer? Listen, I’ve never judged you for who you’ve dated in the past, but those women are like you. They’re not looking for anything deeper. They understand the game. But Liv?”
My alphas and beta stiffen around me, and hurt lances through my chest at Henry’s words.
Hurt, because he could think his best friend capable of fucking around with me, and because he obviously thinks I’m completely incapable of understanding complex social cues.
Sure, maybe I’m not as effortlessly adept at navigating certain social dynamics as some people, but I’m not a fool.
“That’s not fair, Henry.” Sawyer’s voice is tight. He’s just as hurt by my brother’s judgment as I am.
Henry scoffs. “No? So you’re not sitting here with your pack and your hands all over my sister?”
“It’s not like that,” Hayes growls.
“Are you or are you not FUCKING my sister?” His voice raises.
Oh, heck no. He better not wake up Cici. “Henry! Liam’s little sister is trying to sleep.” I start to move, ready to launch myself off the couch, but Sawyer wraps his arms around me.
“It’s okay, baby. I’ve got this.” Sawyer’s words are soft for me, but they harden when he turns back to my brother, growing cold. Dominance drips from his tone. “First of all, Henry, it’s none of your business who I fuck, or who Liv fucks.”
Henry growls, but Sawyer ignores him and pushes on.
“Secondly, I would never treat Liv like she’s disposable. I’m well aware of what she deserves, and I would never hurt her. I’m sorry you found out about us this way, but I won’t apologize for this relationship.”
“Relationship?” Henry’s jaw grinds.
“Yeah, asshole. Relationship. Like the one you have.”
“I have a mate. What are you trying to say? You’re dating my sister?”
Sawyer chuckles. “No, man, I’m telling you we’re courting your sister.
I’m telling you she’s ours, and we’re hers.
I’m telling you we’re head-over-fucking-heels for her, and you’d better get used to this real quick, because she deserves to have her brother be supportive of her, especially since you know your mom won’t be. ”
Henry deflates at that. Setting the six-pack down, he flops onto the armchair beside the couch and runs his hands through his hair. “Fuck, man. You’re courting Liv?”
“We’re courting Liv,” Sawyer confirms.
“Is that why you two were being so weird when you stopped by my house that night?” Henry’s lips twitch.
The rest of the guys chuckle, because we’d told them all about my dinner with Henry’s pack, and they’d been thoroughly entertained.
“We hadn’t figured out how to tell you,” I offer. “We weren’t trying to hide anything from you, though. I promise.”
My brother turns to me and leans forward. He’s in protective older brother mode, with his flashing eyes and deep voice. “And you’re happy? They’re treating you right?”
“I’m happy,” I assure him. “Really happy.”
He nods, like that’s all he needs to hear. “Are you going to tell Mom soon? She’s going to keep trying to set you up. You know that, right?”
That makes me groan, and I let my head fall back against Sawyer’s shoulder. “Ugh. I know. I’m going to tell her, I just . . . I’m not ready to deal with her yet. She doesn’t care about what I want, only what she thinks is best. But I’m not like her, Henry.”
“I know, Liv. Just give me a heads-up before you tell her and I’ll be there. I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks, Henry. Love you.”
“Love you too.” Henry pushes up from his seat, rubbing the back of his neck and suddenly looking a little awkward.
“I, uh, I guess I’ll go and leave you all to it.
” He winces. “This is going to take some getting used to. For the record, I never want to know anything about your sex lives. That goes without saying.”
Wilder chuckles. “Obviously, bro.”
“Right. Well, I’m gonna . . .” Henry hooks his thumb in the direction of the door and hightails it out of the guys’ house. As soon as the door clicks shut, we all break out into, albeit quiet, laughter. All of us mindful not to wake Cici.
“Well, that was awkward,” Liam says.
“Very.” I’m no stranger to awkward moments, but having your older brother ask his best friend if he’s fucking you is definitely one of the top ten most awkward moments of my life.
At least he took it well. I’m not surprised he didn’t pitch a bigger fit.
He genuinely loves me and Sawyer, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he wasn’t mad.
“Hey, vixen?” Hayes asks. “You know we’re all in, right? We may never have been serious about an omega, but that was before you.”
I reach over Wilder’s lap and squeeze Hayes's hand. “I know, big guy.”
The four of them share a look, some unspoken conversation passing between them.
Hayes clears his throat. “Can we show you how serious we are about you?”
My scent spikes, because that sure sounds like an offer for sex, and slick floods my panties. They all groan.
“Fuck, gorgeous.” Liam shakes his head. “Who knew that big brain was so naughty?”
“Sorry?”
Wilder’s deep chuckle vibrates through me. “We’re not talking about sex, smarty-pants. Though as soon as Cici’s not around, we are definitely having some fun.”
My core tightens at the throaty promise. “But if you’re not talking about sex, what are you talking about?”
Liam stands and offers me his hand. “Come on. We’ll show you.”
Lacing my fingers through Liam’s, I let him lead me up the stairs and down the hall.
He stops at the farthest door, where he shares another loaded look with his packmates, then turns the knob.
The room is perfectly dark as he leads me in.
We stop in what I can only assume is the middle of the space, then one of the other men flicks a switch.
The gasp I let out is loud in the quiet stillness of the beautiful space.
It’s like a dream. A thick, plush rug covers the hardwood floors, and fairy lights twinkle around the gray-purple room, giving the space a cozy, romantic vibe.
Velvet curtains line an entire wall, while gorgeous peonies are painted along another.
The massive bed in the center of the room is piled high with thick, soft-looking blankets and pillows, and there are lamps and plants that can thrive in low light strategically placed throughout.
I immediately feel at home. I want to climb into the center of the huge bed and cover myself with blankets. And as the scents of my alphas and beta surround me, I realize I’ve never felt safer or more at peace than I do right now, here in this gorgeous room.
“What is this?” I whisper, my voice shaking.
“A nest,” Sawyer says from behind me. “Your nest. If you want it.”
If I want it? I’ve never wanted anything more. “You did this for me?”
Wilder’s tone is deeper and more serious than I’ve ever heard it when he speaks. “We know it’s probably too soon to ask you to move in, but this is yours when you’re ready. Whether that’s today, tomorrow, or months from now.”
“I . . .” My brain is struggling to compute everything I’m feeling. There’s a sensation in my chest that feels a whole lot like joy wrapped in a blanket of warmth.
“Is it okay?” Liam asks gently.
“Okay?” I turn to face the men who have made me happier than I’ve ever been. I need them to see how much this means to me. “It’s perfect. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful. But when did you have the time?”
Suddenly, they’re surrounding me, closing me between them, their hard bodies pressed flush against mine. Hands caress my arms, my face, my hair. They overwhelm my body with stimuli to the point that even my overactive mind quiets.
“We made the time,” Sawyer says. His palm cups my cheek as he uses his thumb to tilt my head back. “We’d do anything for you, baby. I hope you know that now.”
I was starting to understand before this. Now I have no doubts.
“You’re ours, omega. You belong with us.” Hayes leans in and presses a kiss to the juncture of my neck, and I imagine what it will be like when he marks me there.
“I do,” I murmur, blissfully happy. “I really do.”
For the first time in my life, I finally belong somewhere. And it’s better than I ever could have imagined.