23. Avery
Avery
I t was only my second time at Cohen’s house but I was starting to love it here. The whole place was cozy and warm.
Red brick was paired with a dark roof, the lawn was kept meticulously and a multitude of flowers lined the beds out front.
The yard behind the house was fenced for the dogs, a keypad keeping it safely locked.
We had no issues parking all of our cars in the drive and not blocking each other in, the guys coordinating to pull in with enough space left to maneuver.
The moment I stepped out of the car, the headlights illuminating the front door, I could hear Lola and Molly howling for attention.
“You weren’t kidding about them being loud,” Ford said as he joined us, his hand finding mine like he did every time he stood next to me. Mason moved in on my other side and Arden stood behind us.
Cohen was already on the porch, unlocking the door and glancing back at us.
“Try not to let them out. They’ll catch a scent and we’ll be out searching these woods for hours.”
With that warning he pushed in the door, letting it close behind him and trying to distract the dogs. They weren’t having it, still barking as we all filed in, backing up a few steps, hackles raised.
“Lola, Molly,” I called as I sat on the floor. They looked ready to move in for pets but someone shifted behind me and they were worked up all over again.
“Just ignore them for now. When they realize you’re okay, they’ll chill out,” Cohen said, rolling his eyes at them and looking exasperated, but amused. “I guess I can give a tour.”
“Does this mean I’ll get to see your workshop?” I asked. He’d shown me around a bit before but we’d stuck inside.
“Sure,” he agreed. “Though it might be better in the daylight. The sunlight streaming in the windows makes it even better.”
“I’ll wait then,” I said, wanting to see it at its best so he could proudly show it off. “Lead the way, give us the grand tour.”
He started in the living room and kitchen, then moved down the hall, showing off a huge laundry room, office, cozy little sunroom, and a storage room that doubled as a pantry, ending in a mud room.
“There are two staircases leading upstairs,” he said, heading up the back stairs. “My room is this one overlooking the gardens. It was smaller than the suite but I loved the view.”
He pushed open the room and I was hit with his scent. Both Ford and I let out a soft sigh. Warmth flooded me at the reminder of their blatant flirting at the bar. Ford made it clear they were matched, too, and gods, they were beautiful together.
Cohen was confident and gentle with me, for Ford he seemed almost submissive. I couldn’t wait to explore that more, a mental image of Ford leading us both had slick pooling between my thighs. There was no hope of hiding it, the guys all groaned behind me.
“Sorry not sorry,” I muttered as Cohen cleared his throat and continued, not letting it get weird.
“The next few rooms are guest rooms and this one is where the girls like to lounge. It gives them a view of the front porch and they love the window seat.”
“Your dogs have a room?” Ford chuckled. “I honestly love that.”
Cohen shrugged. “They’re my babies.”
“I’m guessing the big door past the stairs is the suite?” Arden asked, taking a step that way. It was so strange to see them already comfortable here and around each other. They still hadn’t told me why they were hanging out here after but I wasn’t complaining.
Having them all here without the noise and filtered scents of the bar was so much better. I could scent each of them and talk without yelling.
“It is,” Cohen confirmed, following Arden into the room. When I stepped in, I immediately fell in love.
The room was gorgeous, even empty. The back wall was a dark stone accent wall, the other walls a deep emerald that complemented it. The furniture was missing but I could almost picture a huge bed against the stone wall and the light spilling in from the big window, sheer curtains letting in the morning glow.
“This is beautiful,” I said as I took it in. They all let me step ahead to explore and I opened the other doors, knowing Cohen wouldn’t mind. If we were pack, that meant this place would be a part of our dynamic, at least to some degree.
The first door was a huge bathroom. The walls were more of that stone, more rough than polished, giving it a rustic look. Vines grew from two huge decorative pots in the corners of the room and hung crawling along the edges of the room and wrapped around the showerhead. It was clean and the mix of plants and stone made it feel like a whole other world.
“This is beautiful,” I said quietly as I left it and opened the next, freezing at the small room. It was clearly a nest and my stomach churned. Someone wrapped a hand around my middle and pulled me backward, another slamming that door closed.
“We could convert it into an extra closet,” Ford mused. “Or a tiny room for the dogs when we sleep in here.”
“Lola and Molly would eat that up,” Cohen chuckled. It was genuine, even if a bit strained.
I was surprised they were being so casual about it, but as I glanced at each of them, ending on Mason who still had me in his arms, there was no judgment to be found.
“If you never want a nest, we’ll never have one. It’s about your comfort, omega, not ours,” Mason whispered, his breath fanning over my neck sending a shiver through me.
“I told you that your pack would accept it,” Arden said gently, a slight tease to his voice. He was right, they didn’t mind, and that also meant that I didn’t have to act a certain way. Sometimes it felt like I was never ‘omega enough’ for my exes. With this pack, all I had to be was happy and comfortable.
Ugh, so why did it always feel like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop? My heart was content with them and my head was telling me that the other side of them would come out eventually.
“So, what’s next?” I asked, needing to be away from this door more than anything right now.
Cohen led us back downstairs, the dogs barking all over again the moment we were back in their sights.
“Come on, outside, you two,” Cohen said, opening the back door and leading them outside. We followed them to the backdoor, Cohen hitting a button on the electric firepit so it roared to life and taking a seat.
“So, why did you guys decide to come out here?” I asked as we settled in.
“They’re moving in,” Cohen said, not bothering to hold back. I loved that they were always honest in their answers and not giving me roundabout answers and over the top explanations. It never felt like they were talking down to me.
“What?” I asked, eyebrows furrowing as I glanced around. “Didn’t you meet tonight?”
“Yes,” Arden confirmed. “But we’re a pack now and we need to make sure we’re strong and cohesive for our omega. This is an easy step in that direction.”
Saying I was stunned would be an understatement. I was fucking floored.
They were doing this for me?
This was a drastic decision, something you generally thought through and planned, not dove into.
Hell, even my exes and I didn’t move in together for a few months. Which was a long time for pack standards.
“I’m… I don’t even know what to say,” I admitted as I stared at the flames dancing in the fire pit.
“You don’t have to say anything. This is not us pressuring you, Avery,” Cohen promised. “We’re taking this leap, but we want you to know you’re welcome here any time for any reason, to stay, to visit, whatever you’re comfortable with.”
I nodded, unable to form words as emotion burned at my throat, making it hard to swallow it down.
The guys gave me space to process. Ford went to the yard to win over the beagles, Mason following to watch over them.
Arden ducked inside with Cohen, likely for snacks knowing Cohen’s love of making sure I ate.
The truth was, I loved this place. Cohen’s house was spacious, yet cozy, a good mix for an omega who couldn’t stand nesting now. I had no clue what a heat would bring, but I’d figure it out then.
Everything about this place felt like home. More so than the one I grew up in. Now it was too crowded and felt like a different life. I’d be meeting with new contractors soon to build but now I felt reluctant.
My guys were moving in here. This felt like pack. Would my new place? Would they be willing to move?
Fuck, I knew melding five lives would be complicated, but never imagined just how much.
My omega craved being around them, wanted to be close and give them everything and take what they offered.
“Hey, don’t overthink this,” Mason said. I hadn’t even realized he was coming back and jumped. He chuckled and started to sit, then changed his mind and came over, picking me up out of my seat before taking it and placing me in his lap. I shifted so I could face him, ignoring the bulge in his pants since I knew that wasn’t why he did this.
“Tell me something about yourself, omega,” Mason said, his voice low and intimate. I studied his blue-green eyes in the firelight, trying to think of something to share.
“Once when I was first coming into my designation, I was convinced everyone could scent me. I walked into class and heard someone complaining about it smelling like garlic. I was convinced that my scent was garlic and was horrified for a solid three months until my friend reassured me it wasn’t garlic,” I admitted, laughing at how silly it was. Coming into our designations early in college was a tumultuous time at best.
He let out a raspy laugh, his fingers tracing circles on my thigh as he listened.
“Definitely not. You smell like sweet cranberries and a hint of warming spices, it’s the perfect blend and when you are turned on it gets sweeter, or when you’re frustrated it gets a bit more tart. I love it,” he said, leaning in and running his nose along my neck. I groaned, head falling to the side instinctually as my alpha scent marked me, his stubble eventually teasing my sensitive skin as he nuzzled in even closer.
My pussy throbbed, the ache sharp and needy. My hips rocked against him, mind blank and riding on instinct as fire coursed through my veins.
“So responsive for me,” he teased, moving away from my neck to press his lips to mine. Mason didn’t just kiss, he devoured, taking everything he wanted and leaving me shaking and needy in his wake.
“Fuck,” I groaned as his hips met mine, our bodies connecting enough to drive me crazy but the barrier of clothing driving me insane.
I don’t think I’ve ever needed anything more than I needed Mason in that moment.
“Let me taste you?” he begged, voice breathless as he broke the kiss. A whimper escaped at the idea. Somewhere in the back of my mind I wondered about the other guys and the fact we were at Cohen’s house, but it was easily drowned out as his fingers skimmed down my sides.
“Yes,” I managed to choke out, giving him the permission he wanted.
Mason stood with us before turning and placing me in the chair. Cohen’s furniture was wide enough he was able to slide off my jeans, pulling my ass to the end of the chair so I was forced to wrap my fingers around the arms so I didn’t fall.
He groaned as he dropped to his knees, leaning in and running his nose over the lacy black thong I was wearing. Mason breathed in deep, as if he were savoring my scent.
His eyes darkened and he slid them off so fast I nearly tumbled, tucking them in his pocket before his hands ran up the back of my thighs, lifting me slightly and holding me there.
“Brace yourself, omega,” he warned, voice pure gravel and sin before he dove in.
His tongue had to be magic. Every stroke of his tongue through my slick had my body trying to buck against his mouth. His hands held me in place as he continued to savor my taste, each movement just the right amount of pressure to send me careening straight to an orgasm.
He swirled the tip of his warm tongue over my clit before sliding down and thrusting it into my core, tongue fucking me relentlessly then doing it all over again.
The rhythm was just enough to not let me come, my whimpers turning into babbling pleas before he gave in.
He let go of me with one hand, pushing two fingers into my core as he sucked hard on my clit.
I shattered for Mason, my cries loud enough I knew this wouldn’t be a secret.
My body quaked as my thighs clenched around him, pussy pulsing with the aftershocks of my orgasm.
I don’t think I’ve ever come that hard in my life and when he pulled away, I braced myself for the return favor.
Instead, he helped me back into my jeans and placed a kiss on my mouth. I could taste myself on him, my scent sweet on his skin, but he simply walked to the door, looking smug.
“It’s safe,” he called out before coming back to take the seat to my right.
“Wait, what about you?” I whispered, not really comprehending the abrupt end to our moment.
Mason frowned at that. “I can’t wait for your mouth to be on me, but not every sexual encounter needs to be an exchange. I didn’t do it to get you on your knees, Avery.”
I let it drop as Cohen, Arden, and Ford came back with a tray full of chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, and skewers for a s’mores night.
Orgasms and chocolate? I wasn’t sure if anything could get better. Maybe I was wrong about pack life.