Chapter 46
Spoilsport
Olivia
Ihave to keep pinching myself when we finally make it back to Haven because I’m still not convinced this isn’t a dream.
For the past week—at least I think it’s been a week—this has been my singular goal; get to Haven with Rhys alive. So sitting on the massive leather sofa in the lounge with a fire crackling in the fireplace while surrounded by my men feels too good to be true.
I pinch my thigh, sucking in a sharp breath at the brief burst of pain, and glance around. Yup, still real.
Alex grabs my hand and yanks it away from my thigh with a frown. “Stop doing that,” he grumbles before pressing his lips against my fingertips while pulling me closer against his body. “If you need to be reminded that this is real, just ask. Don’t keep hurting yourself.”
I sigh as I relax into him, vowing never to take this feeling for granted, not when I know it can be ripped away so easily.
This has been the hardest week of my life, and as harrowing and painful as it’s been, I wouldn’t change anything that happened.
Not when it deepened my relationship with Rhys and made me realise just how much these men mean to me.
Harlow huffs at my feet and gives me a baleful look, not pleased about being disturbed before settling back down again.
Theo scoots closer on my other side, careful of his injuries, and takes my other hand.
“I still can’t believe you’re back here, safe.
” He squeezes my hand before tucking it against his chest. “Both of you.” He directs that last comment to Rhys, who’s sitting in the armchair, looking half asleep thanks to the pain meds the doctor gave him earlier.
The medical centre was the first place we went to after we stepped through the gate and were attacked by a very enthusiastic Ketchup.
Luckily, Theo hadn’t ripped out that many stitches, and so after stitching him back up, the doctor threw painkillers and antibiotics at him and Rhys and told them to rest.
“Happy to be here,” Rhys grunts as he gazes at us with half-open eyes. “Although I’m going to get some sleep. These pain meds have wiped me out. You guys should stay with Ollie tonight.” He pushes himself to his feet with a tired groan.
I frown. The idea of not sleeping next to him feels wrong, especially after spending the past week in close proximity to one another.
But just the thought of being apart from Alex and Theo makes my stomach lurch.
I need all of them tonight, not only to help chase away the nightmares I know will haunt me, but because I need to know they’re here safe with me.
Theo must see something on my face because he turns to Rhys. “You should join us,” he says, causing the other man to still. “Since I’m sure you two have cemented your relationship, right?” He flicks his gaze between us.
Alex’s eyebrows shoot upwards, and I tense, a part of me waiting for him to lose his shit just like he did with Theo. I know it’s stupid, especially since he helped push me towards Rhys with Theo, but my exhaustion has all my worst fears bubbling to the surface.
Thankfully, Alex doesn’t seem pissed. If anything, he looks pleased if the small smile on his lips is any indication. “Did you two finally get your shit together?” he asks, his smile growing wider.
Relief shudders through me and I blow out a breath.
Rhys still looks cautious as he glances between the three of us. “We did… sort of,” he says, sounding shockingly unsure considering how confident he usually is.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Theo asks with a frown.
I decide to put them out of their misery. “It means that while we’ve established a relationship, Rhys wants to talk about boundaries and limits with all of us before we make it official.”
“Exactly,” Rhys says, the approval in his voice causing a shiver of delight to dance down my spine. “There’s nothing worse than miscommunication.”
“Well, in that case, you’re not domming me,” Theo says, pointing at Rhys. “I’m perfectly happy for group play and don’t mind my dick touching you or yours touching me as long as Ollie is in the middle somewhere. No one goes near my ass, and toys are always welcome, as long as they’re for Ollie.”
I blink at him, both surprised and a little turned on by everything that just came out of his mouth. Even though he’s confirmed everything I already knew, it’s surprisingly hot to hear him say it.
Alex rolls his eyes. “Of course you’d go straight for the sexual limits.”
“Hey, I’m just making sure we’re all on the same page here; I’m only sexually attracted to Ollie.” He shoots me a playful wink, and I can’t help but smile at his antics.
“I’m pretty sure none of us were confused on that,” Rhys deadpans.
“But now you know for certain. See? Isn’t communication fun?”
Rhys lets out a long-suffering sigh and rubs his face. “I’m too damn exhausted for this shit,” he mumbles while shaking his head. “Alright, if we’re all sharing a bed, we’ll need to figure out whose bed we’re using.”
Alex and Theo share a look before blurting out, “Ollie’s!” at the same time.
My brow furrows. “Mine? But I only have a single bed up there.” It barely fits me, let alone three fully grown men. Hence why I’ve been bed-hopping between Theo's and Alex’s beds.
“Not anymore,” Theo says with a grin. “You have a wonderfully massive bed up there now.”
I do? “When did that happen?”
Alex rubs the back of his head sheepishly. “I needed something to do while you guys were missing. Mostly to keep me sane and from punching anyone who came close.”
My heart clenches at the reminder that these men suffered just as much as I did when Luke took us.
Without thinking, I throw my arms around Alex’s shoulders and slam my lips against his, pouring my gratitude and love for him into the kiss.
He groans into my mouth as he grabs the back of my head and deepens the kiss, sending sparks of pleasure straight to my clit.
Goddamn, does this man know how to kiss.
Rhys clears his throat. “As enjoyable as this is, with two out of the four of us injured and you being exhausted, Ollie, I don’t think sex is the best idea right now.”
Ugh, I hate that he’s right.
With a sigh, Alex pulls away from me, but not before delivering a sweet, playful peck to my nose that has a smile spreading across my lips. “Later,” he says, his voice filled with delicious promise.
I lick my lips, still tasting him on my tongue. “Sounds good to me.”
Theo, having laid back against the sofa, pouts. “Aw, why did you stop them? We could have watched that, Rhys!”
The ex-SAS officer rolls his eyes. “There’s no way you would have just watched, Theo.”
“You did,” he answers with a huff.
“I did, but that was before I knew how sweet that pussy tastes.” The look he gives me is so hot, I’m surprised my underwear hasn’t caught fire.
But then he blinks and it’s gone. “Come on, kids. Time for bed, where we’ll be sleeping only.
” He directs that last bit to Theo with a stern look before turning on his heels and striding towards the staircase.
“Spoilsport,” Theo mutters as he gingerly pushes himself off the sofa, hissing at the pain. “Okay, maybe he has a point.”
Alex presses a kiss to my forehead before getting up to help his friend. “Come on, Casanova. I’ll help you up the stairs.”
It takes the two of them five minutes of swearing through gritted teeth to get Theo up the stairs and into my room. Rhys has already claimed one side of the big handmade bed, and with the help of Alex, Theo gets in next to him.
“I don’t mind cuddles,” Theo says as he settles down beneath the covers, his voice slurring from exhaustion and pain. “Just don’t stick your dick into my ass.”
“Noted,” Rhys answers drily.
Harlow is the next to get on the bed, springing onto the foot of it and curls into a ball.
I give her a little scratch behind the ear before climbing into bed next to Theo, being careful of his injuries.
Alex follows me until I cuddled between them in a warm, safe cocoon.
Arms drape over me, hands settling on various points on my body, too many for me to know which one belongs to who. Not that I care.
All three men are mine and I’m theirs.
For the first time in over a week, I relax fully and easily slip into a deep, contented sleep.
The next morning comes far too soon, and as much as I want to stay in bed with my men, I know we can’t. Judging from the grumbles and groans from the others, they’re not pleased about getting up either.
Unfortunately, our problems won’t wait just because we want a couple extra hours in bed. So, we leave Harlow to continue sleeping and drag our weary bodies from our warm cocoons to get ourselves ready for the day.
First order of the day is a meeting between everyone who’s been involved with the investigation into Elsa’s betrayal.
Last night the guys told Rhys and me everything that had happened during our absence, including the thirteen other traitors they found.
All of them from various sectors of Haven, and while—much to Rhys’s relief—none were from security, nearly half of the supply teams had at least one traitor in their group.
It’s made it almost impossible for the settlement to get much-needed supplies in the interim.
Plus, with so many betrayers in our midst, a lot of Haven and its safety has been compromised, so we need to figure out how to defend against Elsa and the two gangs.
The guys and I file into one of the large rooms in the main building that’s been converted into a conference room. The security team is already in there, as are the remaining councillors and our friends and family.