35. Dane
Chapter 35
Dane
I hoist myself from the water and plop down on the pool deck, grabbing the towel I stashed to wipe my face. Throwing my head back, I catch my breath. The morning sun is warm, and the neighborhood is quiet. Something about morning laps always helps me find my center. After the talk with my dad, I skipped the weights for the pool, needing an outlet for my heightened instincts.
A burst of muffled laughter alerts me that I’ve got an audience. Not moving, I peer through half-closed eyes across the pool deck. There’s a bundle of blankets and two steaming mugs on the ancient lounge chair that came with the house. I can’t see their faces from here, but I have no doubt it’s Quinn and Rosie. Whatever the two of them are whispering about makes Quinn laugh, bringing a smile to my face.
I’ve never seen him like this with anyone. It’s different from how he is with me or even Nash. He’s always commanding, but with Rosie, it’s more. When he worked her over the other night, I was so fucking hard from the way he unraveled her. It’s always hot between us, but this was off the charts. I still can’t get the sound of his voice or the look on her face out of my head.
Jumping up and wiping off with the towel, I cross the pool deck to join them. “What has you two laughing this morning?”
Quinn takes a sip from his mug, a devilish look on his face. “Just admiring the view.”
“And remarking on your aversion to clothing,” Rosie adds, her smile loose.
I like that we already have a thing, and I really like how she looks at me.
I didn’t lie that we have killer chemistry. If physical attraction is my way to get behind her defenses, I’m not above using it. And humor—I’m not as uptight as she seems to think.
To prove my point, I flex my chest, making my pec jump, while I give them the model face I learned to use for photo shoots.
My mates dissolve into giggles, Rosie crying out, “He has a flex pose!”
Quinn meets my eye and shoots a straight shot of love to my chest through his bond.
“Scoot over,” I say, giving myself one more towel off before sitting at the edge.
The old thing wobbles under my weight, and Rosie squeaks before I shift enough that it settles.I lean over the two of them, bracing myself on the metal sides.
Quinn tilts his face so our lips brush in a soft kiss. “Good morning, alpha.”
When I turn to Rosie, she looks unsure, nibbling on that bottom lip she likes to abuse.
I swipe a curl from her face. “Can I kiss you?”
Heat spikes in her eyes, and she gives a slight nod. I lean in and coax her into the kiss until she’s chasing my lips. Even though it’s slow, it sizzles and sparks.
I pull away before I’m ready, forcing myself to back off my intensity. “I was thinking that technically, since tonight starts the weekend, we could quit repairs early and do something fun. We can celebrate Quinn passing his exam and have our first pack date.”
Rosie lifts a brow. “Depends on your definition of fun.”
“I’m pretty easy.” I shrug.
“Yeah, you are,” Quinn teases. “Play with the man’s nipples, and he’s putty in your hands.” He gives me a good pinch, making my dick go from interested to completely rock hard.
My neck heats, and I shake my head at my naughty omega, narrowing my eyes. “Totally true, but maybe not first-date material,” I playfully scold him.
The surprised snort Rosie gives is totally worth Quinn’s teasing. My omega smirks, his gaze shifting between the two of us.
“I didn’t see that one coming. Maybe I’ll let you borrow my clamps,” Rosie throws out with a challenging lift of her brow. Gods, it makes me want to pounce on her.
Her voice is raspy in the morning, and the sound sends my imagination running wild thinking of having her nipples bound in clamps while her pretty lips are occupied.
“Deal,” I say, letting the tension build between us until she breaks from my gaze, her cheeks splotched pink.I shake my head, sitting back enough to try to clear the pheromone fog we’ve created. Gathering all my control, I get my head back in the long game. “What are we feeling about beer and live music? Maybe some dancing?”
“If you give me beer, I may fall asleep,” Rosie admits with a shrug. “But I’m down as long as it’s on this side of town.”
Nash lumbers down the porch steps, two mugs of coffee in hand. He passes one to me and runs a hand over his beard. “What’s with the morning meeting?”
“We’re trying to pick a place to go out tonight,” I explain.
“You’re the local. You pick the spot,” Quinn offers Rosie.
Nash folds himself into the chair next to the lounger. “What if we go out to the place your friend’s pack owns?”
“The Barn Owl?” Rosie nods in excitement. “It’s got live music and a pretty view of the wild part of the river.”
“It’s settled then,” I say, stretching as I stand.
This is perfect. Her friends own the place, and they’re good people. All I have to do is show her that her world can be ours too.
* * *
Rosie does a little twirl, skipping ahead on the gravel and holding out her arm. “This is it!”
The Barn Owl is out on the highway at the turnoff to the coast and hidden back among the trees by the river. A large crowd is already spilling onto the outer decks, and live music floats over with the watery breeze. It has a laid-back vibe for a biker bar, but that makes sense for the pack who owns it. Back in the day, Vance used to skip school for the beach and only managed to show up for weight training and football practice.
“Do you want to sit inside or go out to the deck?”Rosie bites her lip as she looks around our group, hoping for a response.
Quinn drapes his arm around her shoulder, the two of them discussing the options as we head up the deck stairs to the line gathered to get in. I get preoccupied by these intricate lacy tights Rosie is wearing. They stop a little above her knee, and each has two straps that disappear under the edge of her black dress, drawing attention to her shapely legs and the swell of her ass. Her dress is no less distracting. It’s short with belts around her waist that make me want to devour her curves.
Together with Quinn, who’s in a pair of tight jeans that accentuate his ass, I’m practically drooling after the two of them.
We fall into line by the entrance, and Nash smirks at me from his place a few steps ahead in line, clearly having seen me checking them out. I can’t seem to help it. I’m riled up like an alpha nearing my first rut.
A guy in front of Nash looks over his shoulder, and his eyes go wide. “Number forty-three is in the house! What are you doing here, man?”
The group he’s with turns. People start talking at once, and welcomes get tossed around. He gives me the assist, mentioning his name and reminding me we went to school together.
“You should sit with us, man. Our pack is already inside, but there’s a group of us that would love to catch up,” the guy, Derrick, throws out.
Rosie tenses in front of me. It’s the slightest lifting of her shoulders, but it’s enough to know I need to shut this down.
“Actually, I’m here with my pack tonight.” I scoot closer to Quinn and Rosie, snaking my arm around her hip.
Derrick is undeterred, throwing up his arms as if this is the best news he’s heard instead of a brush-off. “Yeah, man, we’ll grab chairs. The more the?—”
Nash’s gruff voice cuts the guy off. “That won’t be necessary.”
Just in time, Rosie’s friend Bambi appears from around the corner, dancing excitedly as she waves her arm. “Come on, guys! We’ve got a table inside.”
Nash nods to the guy, effectively dismissing him.
I nudge Quinn and Rosie, my hands on their backs as we follow Nash through the parting line to get in.
Rosie turns her face up at me, saying quietly, “You can go if?—”
I don’t even need her to finish that. “Sweetheart, I’m here for you and our pack. I don’t give a fuck about them.”
Quinn backs me up. “Honestly, he hates when that happens.”
“Okay.” She gives me a small smile and a shrug.
Leaning in, I nip her ear. “I’m exactly where I wanna be.”