17. Luca
Chapter 17
Luca
I climbed into bed, and spooned Logan.
“Sunshine was happy.” Logan rolled over, and I flipped onto my back.
I didn’t consider myself dominant but compared to Logan and Julian I was definitely more the top. Julian liked being a bottom, and Logan didn’t care much one way or another.
“She was. I tried to flirt some more.” I put an arm behind my head. “I could have sworn she was going to ask me something personal, but then she lost her nerve.”
“Events stress her out.”
“Really?” I frowned. “She always seems so calm.”
“She’s like Julian. Calm on the outside, panicking on the inside.
“Hmmm.” I tried to analyze the situation, but there was nothing more I could do. Not without just asking her out directly. I’d bring it up and ask Julian what he thought. I ran my hands through Logan’s hair, the strands soft against my skin.
I must have drifted off then, because I woke up when Julian came through the door.
I sat up at the same time as Logan, blinking myself awake.
Julian crawled into bed, Logan scooting over to make room so we could cuddle from both sides. Usually, he only smelled faintly of omega, due to all the scent canceling stuff he used at work, but this morning his scent was burnt.
Alarmed, I wrapped my arms around him, Logan doing the same from Julian’s other side.
“I’m okay. Just tired.” Julian buried his face into my neck and took a deep breath in.
He was still wearing his pants and t-shirt from work, an obvious sign he was exhausted if he didn’t even want to change.
I tugged off his t-shirt, and he chuckled. “I love you too, Luca, but I’m too tired for you to rail me. Give me a couple of hours for a nap.”
“I’m trying to give you skin on skin contact.” I kissed his temple. “And then I promise I’ll rail you after your nap.”
Logan helped lift up Julian’s arms and wiggle him out of his t-shirt. Logan pressed a kiss to Julian’s shoulder and then curled against him.
I didn’t have to ask how the call out had gone. If Julian’s scent was burnt, it had been bad.
“You want something to eat? Or you want to sleep?” Logan caressed his hand down our omega’s arm.
Julian chuckled, not opening his eyes. “No food yet. Just alpha snuggles.”
We lay together for a long while. I ran my hand through Julian’s hand, rubbed the back of his neck. His scent slowly calmed down, the acrid burn fading.
“I saw Sunshine’s thing went well.” Julian’s voice was thick with sleep. I wanted to tell him we’d talk about it after his nap, but he was clearly too wound up to sleep just yet.
I looked at Logan who gave a quick nod.
This was the other reason I usually jumped Julian and gave him so many orgasms he went to sleep straight away. He did better with our scent on him, and the endorphins from coming so much relaxed him.
“She did really well. Calm, professional. Mrs. Cullen ate it all up.”
“Especially the balloon room.” Logan added, patting Julian’s shoulder. “Good idea.”
Julian took a deep breath in and let it out. Slowly some of the tension left him.
I told him about Sunshine on the balcony.
He laughed. “Look at you, being suave.”
“I’m trying.” I adjusted the blanket higher so it covered Julian’s shoulders. It was perfectly fine where it was, but I itched to do something to make him feel better. “I don’t know, I think Logan’s right. We’ve missed something. She acted like she was going to ask me out and then lost her nerve.”
“She’s still shy, I guess.” Julian shifted again, wriggling so his head was on my shoulder. “Her last pack hurt her.”
“They did.” I played with Julian’s hair. I’d never been one for long hair until I met my omega. Now I couldn’t imagine not having something to run my fingers through.
“She said something about when I went over there last week.” A thought tickled the back of my mind. “She’d seemed really open and then she shut down again.”
“She’s probably worried about what happens if it doesn’t work out.” Julian sighed. “I know I am. I can’t imagine not having her in my life.”
“Maybe.” I frowned. “She mentioned the matchmaking service at Cosmic Bonds. Why would she be trying to get us to date other people?”
“She told me that too, years ago.” Logan muttered. “When we first started working together. I told her we weren’t dating, so we didn’t need it.”
“Maybe she’s upset? Thinks we think her New Age methods are stupid?” I frowned. Maybe I should read up on crystals.
Julian froze and lifted his head. “What did you say? Last week when she mentioned matchmaking again?”
I racked my brain trying to remember my exact words. “Uhhh we were set in our ways? We wouldn’t be good for matchmaking.”
Julian slapped his hand to his forehead. “Oh my God, we’re idiots. She thinks we’re not dating anyone.”
“We’re not dating anyone,” Logan said. “People are hard.”
“Which means she thinks we don’t want to date her ,” Julian said.
“Oh.”
“She’s not going to understand that just because we’re not dating around doesn’t mean we don’t want her .” Julian laughed. “No wonder she’s holding back. We’re sending mixed signals.”
“Oh, crap.” I felt terrible. Of course Sunshine was skittish. She’d probably been trying to assess her chances at dating us and then like an idiot I’d basically told her we weren’t dating anyone.
“Even Chuck gave me shit about the pack being closed when I introduced Sunshine. I told him it wasn’t closed, we were just picky as hell. She looked surprised.”
“I’m sorry. I screwed that up. I’ll talk to her.”
“Don’t be sorry.” Julian gave me a quick kiss. “You weren’t lying. We don’t want to date a bunch of people. Just Sunshine. She’s just insecure and isn’t going to assume she’s the exception.”
I sighed. “I was trying to make her feel good. Special.”
Instead I’d just been confusing her.
“Hey.” Julian put his face close to mine. “Stop. Timing’s been off for four years, too. It’s fine. I’ll just flirt with her and bring up the matchmaking thing. And ask her on a date.”
Julian settled back on my chest, sounding pleased. “It’s time to just be blunt. I should have been blunt months ago, but I didn’t want her to feel rushed.”
“Especially with those assholes that broke her heart still poking around,” Logan growled.
I wanted to text her right away, ask her over. But it was only eight or so in the morning, and she was either sleeping or getting ready for work. Julian had a good plan, and he wanted to see her for more than just dating. She would comfort him too, a sure sign she belonged in our pack. If Julian wanted her around when he was feeling his most drained, we wouldn’t have any problems.
“When are you going to see her?”
Julian laughed. “I know, I want to go right now. But I’m exhausted and I’ll make a mess of things. Maybe after a nap. Or tomorrow. I’m off.”
I shifted the blanket around Julian again and tried to calm my mind. Julian knew how to handle this. And when he asked her on a date, and she said yes, Logan and I could explain exactly what we meant when we’d turned her down for the matchmaking services.
It was hard to focus, but Julian finally fell asleep. I made myself rest too.
Our lives were about to change for the better, and I didn’t want to make another mistake like that. No matter how small.