Chapter 10
Iwoke up feeling more rested than I had in years. It would have been even better if my men were here.
Honestly, I was a mess of conflicts. My heart was already theirs, but my brain was telling me to slow down. Then there was my omega who was ready to fall to her knees and worship them.
As much as they’d love that, I needed time to feel safe in this relationship.
A beep from my coffee pot told me that my lovely liquid caffeine was ready and waiting.
With a yawn, I forced myself to get out of my cozy bed and head to the kitchen. I snagged a mug from the shelf and poured my coffee before making my way out to the deck.
This was my favorite part of the morning and my usual routine before getting ready for the day.
Even with my mates next door, I walked out in my pajamas and all. It was just a thin tank top and shorts, but I added my fluffy slippers to complete the look.
My morning ritual wasn't going to change because I found my pack. At least not yet. If I was lucky, they might even join me and get a glimpse of their future, bed head and all. They’d have to see this hot mess all natural sooner or later.
If that didn't scare them away then they were keepers for sure.
When I opened my backdoor the sun was already glinting off the lake. It blinded me a little but I took my seat and sipped the hot goodness in my mug.
It was quiet and calm out here. I took a deep breath and soaked it all in before the hustle and bustle of the bookstore.
"Hey, Peach," Cy's voice called to me from next door.
I turned my head just in time to see him stretch and his pants slid down just enough for that V to peek out. Fuck. I returned my eyes to the lake and ignored his snicker.
"Like the view?" he questioned, his voice getting closer. Cy was a brat.
"Yes. I told you that I loved the lake in the morning," I said, not admitting that he was the better view of the two.
He laughed again as he stepped onto my deck. I only had one chair but he just sat on the last step. "What is up with that hair?"
"This?" I asked, bouncing some of my red locks and grinned. "Just freshly styled by my bed."
"I can't wait to wake up next to it," he said, his voice serious enough it made my chest ache. "Please don't strangle me in my sleep with your hair, though."
"Only because you said please, but I can’t promise anything, it’s got a mind of its own sometimes," I said as I took another sip and shook my wild curls.
Some of them fell into place, but honestly pre-shower morning curls were a lost cause.
"I'd offer you a cup, but I only have a one cup machine and I need to hit the store.
It might be time to upgrade and buy some new mugs. "
"No worries. Jackson and Griff already ran out to get us some, so I have you all to myself for a few more minutes," he said smugly. That cocky grin might be the death of me.
When he was this close I could scent him. It was like a cozy blanket, fresh, clean, and all alpha. My omega was practically purring.
"Should I be scared?" I teased him. It was far easier to joke around than consider how attached I was getting already.
How was it this easy to tease and flirt with the man I’d had a crush on for as long as I’ve watched the Knockouts?
"Not yet, Peach. We won't push you into anything you aren’t ready for. We have big personalities and that can be a lot to take in," he admitted sheepishly. “We want you to feel comfortable with us first.”
He wasn't wrong. I'd seen their videos and watched them play. Not to mention our impromptu date last night. Together the three of them were a lot to take in, but I loved it.
"Am I intruding? I can go back to my cabin," Cy asked as he rose from where he was seated and brushed dirt off of his sweatpants. He looked worried now and I didn’t like it.
"What? No, don't go. It just takes me a minute to truly wake up. Hence the coffee," I answered as I raised the cup.
"So, you just sit out here and stare at the lake?" he questioned, glancing out at the view then back at me. His face was the picture of open curiosity. It felt kind of nice to have someone so eager to learn all your little quirks.
"Pretty much. The bookstore is crazy busy these days and I help with the twins. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but this is when I take a moment and just exist," I explained. “The quiet is nice. It’s always been a comfortable place for me.”
"Are you sure I shouldn’t go?" he asked, wincing as he realized him being here took away that quiet.
"Stop it, I already told you to stay," I told him with an eye roll. "Would you come sit in front of me and stop worrying? I know it's stupid but I want to make sure you're real and I'm not hallucinating."
"Anything for you, Peach," Cy said as he sat in front of me, only after flashing me a grin and a wink, of course.
I placed a hand on his shoulder and the warmth that radiated off of him soothed my doubts. This wasn’t just some elaborate, amazing dream.
They were truly mine.
"You can touch any part of me you'd like," he commented as he grazed my leg with one of his fingers.
I couldn't control the shiver that racked my body at his touch. Shit, if one finger could do that to me, what would a whole hand do?
"Cold?" Cy asked.
"Just a little," I lied. I didn't want him to know what effect he had on me, just yet.
"Do you want me to grab you a blanket?" he asked.
"That's sweet, but no. I only have a few minutes before I need to get in the shower and get ready for work," I admitted.
"Want me to wash your back?" he smirked up at me.
Always the flirt.
"If anyone is doing that, it'll be me," Griff grumbled, startling me. Where the hell had he even come from?!
I jumped a little, cheeks heating like we were caught doing something wrong. Which was silly.
Jackson stepped up behind him, smiling gently at us. He was sporting a superhero shirt today. I loved seeing the little pieces of their personalities falling into place, and Jackson? He was definitely an undercover nerd.
"We got coffee and doughnuts," Jackson said, holding them up to tempt me.
I raised my glass. “I’m good.”
A flicker of disappointment took over his face but he fixed it easily.
"What are you three up to today?" I asked as Jackson passed a drink to Cy and Griff took one.
"We are going to meet the camp director and get the ins-and-outs of the camp before we head to practice," Griff answered. “Apparently, there’s a new dance the team wants to try out, so we have to go learn it. We weren’t supposed to have to head back so soon.” The disappointment was written all over his face.
"So, you guys aren't going to be around tonight?" I questioned. Now it was my turn to hide my disappointment.
"We can be if we have a reason," Griff told me. Just like that they’d drive home to me?
My chest warmed at the way they were always trying to make sure I was happy.
"Dinner? Here?" I asked. "I'm not a five star chef but I have some skills."
"It's a date," Jackson told me without hesitation.
"Do we need to bring anything?" Cy asked.
"Dessert? I'm a baker but there’s no time for me to get it all done," I admitted.
"I know what I'd like for dessert," Griff stated, licking his lips as his eyes slowly roamed over me, lingering on my thick thighs and chest before meeting my gaze. The midnight blue of his eyes was even darker now and I was finding it hard to breathe.
Heat filled my cheeks as Jackson punched him in the shoulder, hissing out a warning.
"Dude, you promised not to scare her off," Cy reminded him as he stood and turned to hold out a hand to me.
Like he wasn’t flirting openly before they got here.
I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet.
I almost fell into his bare chest. "Let me just make it very clear because we haven’t done it well enough.
There is no pressure to do anything, with any of us, that you aren't ready for. We might flirt because you’re sexy as hell, but we can be gentlemen for as long as you need. "
“Speak for yourself,” Griff grumbled but when I glanced I saw the smirk on his lips. “Kidding, kidding. I agree. We want you comfortable. Because when I finally get a real taste of you, there’s no promise I’ll be able to hold back.”
Fuck, he had to stop.
Cy gently tugged my chin so that I was looking back at him. I kept my gaze on his intense stare, but all I could do was nod. He was too close and his scent was overwhelming my senses. The sharp citrus, clean rain, and earthy sage was making my head swim.
"Are you okay, Dani?" Jackson asked when I swayed on my feet.
"What? Yeah. I just need to take a cold shower and get ready for work," I answered in a shaky voice. Cy bit back a laugh as he backed up to let me by. "So, dinner tonight?"
"We wouldn't miss it for anything. First, put your number in my phone so we can text you or call," Griff said as he climbed up the few steps to get closer to me. “My alpha needs to know you’re safe, gorgeous.”
I took his phone, entered it in and still couldn't believe that the three hottest Knuckleball Knockouts were mine.
True to my word, as soon as they walked away, I hurried to the shower, trying to not think about how good they looked this morning.
Once I was clean and the curls were tamed, I put on a cute summer outfit of fitted denim shorts and a white tank top that had cute little bows at the top of the shoulders. I slid on my white sneakers and hurried to the shop feeling lighter than I had in… years, maybe longer.
It was later than I usually walked in thanks to my pack, but I couldn’t find it in me to feel bad.
“There she is! The local celeb!” Taryn called out when I entered. They let out whistles that had my cheeks burning.
“What are you talking about?” I asked as I put my things behind the counter. When I turned around, Taryn was pointing to the laptop screen where they had a gossip site open. It was Knockouts specific, and, apparently, someone other than the teenagers had found us.