On the Couch
Tansy
“That was disgusting,” Beck says, as he shifts closer to me like the movie might somehow get him. “No one bleeds that much from a head wound. And the physics made zero sense.”
I grin, still riding the excitement from the last jump scare. “It was fun,” I say. “Gory scary movies are the best ones.”
“It was stupid,” he corrects me, rolling his eyes hard enough I’m surprised they don’t get stuck.
“And it wasn’t even realistic.” He points a finger at the TV like it personally offended him.
“Hell, one guy fell into a vat of acid and didn’t even die right away.
He just clung to the edge while his skin melted off in chunks.
” He scoffs. “Whoever wrote that needs therapy.”
Warren snorts, clearly enjoying this way too much.
“I’m serious.” Beck glares at the alpha. “It wasn’t even scary. It was just excessive,” he says flatly.
Warren lets out a laugh, warm and quiet, the sound vibrating lightly against my back. “If it wasn’t scary, then why’d you scream?” he asks.
“I did not scream,” Beck says immediately.
“You absolutely did,” Warren teases him. “You grabbed Tansy like the couch was collapsing.” He chuckles again. “It looked like you were trying to crawl inside her for safety.”
Beck huffs, then grumbles, “Shut up.”
I lean in before Beck can come up with a better insult and press a quick kiss to his cheek. “Ignore him,” I murmur. “He’s just mad you have better survival instincts.”
Beck freezes for half a second, then mutters, “Damn right I do,” but his ears are pink and he doesn’t look nearly as annoyed anymore.
“Alright.” Warren reaches forward and grabs the remote off the coffee table. “What’s next?” he asks, scrolling.
“I need something cheerful,” Beck says immediately. “Bright. Optimistic. Preferably animated.”
Warren hums thoughtfully. “Akira?”
I clamp a hand over my mouth, but it’s too late. A laugh escapes anyway.
Beck turns slowly to stare at him. “You are the worst.”
Warren shrugs, face completely deadpan. “I don’t see the problem.”
“That movie is existential dread wrapped in body-horror,” Beck says flatly. “I will not be emotionally ambushed twice in one day.”
Warren chuckles again and keeps flipping through the menu, clearly enjoying himself. The remote clicks softly as the thumbnail slides by on the screen.
“Oh!” Beck sits a little taller. “The Princess Bride!”
Warren gives the beta a pointed look, clearly not in the mood for a romcom. But the second Beck’s bottom lip pops out, Warren sighs and I already know he’s going to cave.
“Fine.” The alpha shakes his head and clicks on it. “Whatever makes you happy.” He leans over me and kisses the top of Beck’s head. Then he stands. “Does anyone want a drink?”
“I want cookies,” I say immediately. “The soft ones.”
Beck perks up. “And gummy bears. The good ones. Not the sad off-brand kind that Grason keeps buying.”
“As you wish.” Warren winks at Beck then turns toward the kitchen. He takes exactly two steps when his phone buzzes on the coffee table.
Beck reaches for it automatically. “Please be Cass,” he says, hopefully. Then he frowns at the screen. “Ugh. It’s Jimmy.” He looks up at Warren.
The alpha’s expression tightens instantly. He moves back to us and takes the phone from Beck, annoyance flashing across his face. He taps the screen a few times, fast and decisive.
“Blocked,” he says, tossing the phone back onto the table like it’s nothing. “I’m done with that.”
“When will Cass and Gray be home?” I glance toward the front door. “It’s getting really late.”
Warren’s gaze flickers to the clock over the fireplace, then back to me. “Soon,” he says. “Go ahead and start the movie, and I’ll get those snacks.”
I nod and shift closer to Beck as the opening credits roll, tucking myself into his side. The beta adjusts automatically, an arm coming around my shoulders. I settle there, warm and comfortable, and then—almost absentmindedly—I search my bond with Cass.
But nothing answers.
There’s no resistance, no pain or happiness. Just…blank. I know I felt him this morning. In fact, I felt a brief flicker of anger from the alpha at one point.
He must be blocking me for some reason.
My stomach tightens a little even as I tell myself it’s fine. After all, he’s simply running a few errands with Gray. The pair probably got distracted, I think to myself. It’s not like he’s starting a turf war or bleeding out in an alley.
“It started!” Beck yells as the image of a child’s bedroom flashes on screen.
I exhale and let it go, snuggling deeper into Beck’s side.
Forty-five minutes later, I’ve eaten half a dozen cookies, and Beck has demolished almost a pound of gummy bears. We’re glued to the TV, watching Westley and Buttercup argue their way through the fire swamp, when the front door opens.
I turn on the couch just as Grason steps through the doorway.
“Alpha!” Beck practically yells, fumbling for the remote and pausing the movie.
“Sorry, we were gone so long,” he says as he crosses the room.
Cass steps inside a second later and shuts the door behind him. That’s when I realize that they're in different clothes than this morning. And the ends of Grason’s curls are damp, darker than the rest of his hair, like he rinsed off in a hurry…and he smells faintly of soap. They both do.
“How was your day?” Grason leans over the back of the couch and kisses Beck’s lips, then mine.
“It was amazing,” I say, then I look back at Cass, and my heart seizes.
There’s a dark bruise blooming along his jaw, just under his cheekbone. It’s deep purple and angry, the skin already swelling around it.
Beck is instantly on his feet. “What the hell happened?” He crosses the room, rushing to Cass. He cups the alpha’s face with both hands, thumbs gentle as they frame his jaw.
Cass barely reacts. “It’s nothing.” He gives a small shrug, like Beck just pointed out a smudge of dirt.
“It’s not nothing,” Beck snaps back, eyes wide and worried. “It looks like you got punched with a brick.”
Behind them, I see Warren and Grason share a look, then I swear I hear Grason murmur under his breath, “I’ll fill you in later.” Warren gives a curt nod.
I push myself off the couch, my heart thudding as I give all three alphas a sweeping look. My mind scrambles, rifling through everything I felt through my bond today. There was that brief flash of anger this morning, but that was it. I felt no pain or violence at all.
I look up at Grason. “What happened?”
Gray gives a little snort like he’s about to tell a funny story, but before he can say a word, Beck yelps, “Cassian!”
Cass has Beck in his arms, the beta’s legs dangling on either side of his hips.
“Put me down before you hurt your knee,” Beck demands as he holds onto Cass’s shoulders for dear life.
Cass huffs out a breath that’s almost a laugh. “No talking,” he says firmly. “It’s been a long day.” He shifts Beck easily against his chest, then looks over at me, his expression softening. “I want my mates. All of them. In Tansy’s nest.”
My chest lights up at his words, pure relief and happiness flooding through me so fast it makes me a little dizzy.
And just like that, every question I have scatters.
“Yes.” I tip my head back, grinding down on Cass’s cock. He grips my thighs as I fuck him, my hands braced on his chest for leverage. He’s so deep, filling me completely with every roll of my hips.
I'm already wrung out, my body humming from multiple orgasms, but I can't stop. I need more.
My gaze drifts past Cass to the other side of my nest.
Warren is behind Beck, his big body cradling our beta's smaller frame, while Grason is in front, his hands gripping Beck's hips. They're fucking him together, both of their cocks buried in his ass. Beck is caught between them, his head thrown back, his mouth open in a silent cry of pure pleasure.
"My sweet little cock-slut," Grason groans, his voice a low, dark rumble. "Such a good little beta, letting your alphas use you."
"Fuck, he's tight," Warren grunts from behind, his rhythm relentless. “You like that, Beck? You like being stuffed full of alpha cock while Tansy watches?”
Their filthy words send a fresh wave of heat through me. I watch as Beck shudders between them, his body a willing vessel for their pleasure. It's so beautiful, so intimate, so utterly right.
I grind down on Cass, my movements becoming more desperate, more erratic.
I can feel the change in him, the way his breath hitches, the way his hands tighten on my hips.
His knot begins to swell, a thick, hard pressure at the base of his cock that stretches me in a way that's both painful and exquisite.
"That's it, omega," he groans, his eyes locking with mine. “Grind down harder for me.” His voice drops to a low, guttural rasp. "Take that knot like a good girl."
My entire body lights up from the inside out, a current of pure electricity arcing through me at his words. The orgasm that was building low in my belly suddenly roars to life. It's no longer a gentle flutter but a tidal wave, a cresting, unstoppable force that threatens to pull me under.
My movements become frantic, my hips grinding down harder, chasing that explosive release only my alpha can give me.
And then the balloon of his knot pops into place.
Cass’s grip on my hips turns bruising, his fingers digging into my flesh as he takes control.
With a deep, guttural groan, he thrusts up into me with a powerful, final snap of his hips.
His knot pops into place, a thick, unyielding bulb that locks us together, sealing me to him.
The feeling is so intense, so absolute, that it shatters what's left of my control.
Pleasure erupts, and my vision goes white as a scream tears from my throat.
Cass comes with a hoarse shout, his hot release flooding me, and my body instantly responds. My own orgasm doubles, crashing through me, a blinding, all-consuming wave of pleasure that leaves me limp and breathless.