39. Quinn
Chapter 39
Quinn
D ane walks past the open living room and doubles back, his arm frozen mid-drink. He stares for a moment, his bond curious, before coming to sit on the wooden coffee table in front of me. Setting down his smoothie, he reaches for my face. I nuzzle his palm, sighing at the way his cool fingers feel against my skin.
“You’re a little warm, babe. Are you sure yesterday was a random spike and not the start of your preheat?”
I close my eyes, taking in a whiff of his comforting scent. “It was a spike, and a drop afterward is typical.”
I sound as if I’m summarizing one of my textbooks, but Dane feels the uncertainty in my bond. Mood swings and cramps are common symptoms after a spike, but these are more intense than usual. My instincts are all out of whack. I’m not due for a heat for another several months. My body needs to get with the schedule because now would be awful timing. We’ve barely begun to court Rosie, and with everything going on, the last thing we need is to pause for a heat. Is Rosie even ready for that?
Don’t borrow trouble. This is a little flare followed by a drop. Period.
Dane lifts me off the couch and takes my spot, plopping me back on his lap. He’s sweaty from his morning workout, and I give in to the urge to lick his neck.A surprised laugh slips out of him when I brush past a ticklish spot behind his ear. I sigh into his neck, rubbing against him like a puppy until I’m covered in his scent.
“Maybe you need to build your nest?” Dane asks.
This isn’t the first time he or Nash have hinted at that this week. Despite juggling visits with Rosie at the nursing home, I’ve been able to get everything in the house set up. Omega nesting comes with serious bursts of energy, and I’ve been riding them in waves since I scented Rosie. Most of the boxes are unpacked, and it’s starting to feel like our space. Except this itch along my neck won’t let me settle.
“I’ve tried to build it,” I admit. “But it’s not right yet.”
Dane rubs my back, his deep purr vibrating between us.
“I don’t know what the problem is. I’ve been so happy the last few days I could fuel solar panels…”
His steady presence doesn’t falter. He just holds me while I sit with the sensations in my body, trying to process them.
A creak on the old wooden floor alerts me that we’re not alone. Rosie sneaks past, her eyes squeezed shut and her shoulders hunched.
“You’re a horrible spy in real life, Raven Nightshade.”
She practically jumps out of her skin. “Sorry! I was in the kitchen. Then when I realized, I didn’t want to interrupt. And now it’s awkward and?—”
Dane’s chest rumbles with laughter. “Put her out of her misery, babe.”
I elbow him playfully. “Never! I live to see her squirm.” I wave her over, opening my arms. “Get over here where you belong.”
Rosie chews that lip, and I swear I’m gonna break her of the habit. “One minute. I think I can help, if you want?”
“Okay,” I agree easily.
Dane and I watch with amusement as she throws on Nash’s sweatshirt and boots by the door and hurries in the other direction.
“What is she up to?” I ask Dane, not really expecting an answer.
Nash stumbles in, scrubbing his face while he yawns. He pauses when he gets a whiff of the room, and his brows furrow. “What’s wrong?”
I don’t say anything, but I don’t have to. He looks me over before walking from the room, only to return a moment later with the shirt he wore last night.
He leans in and kisses me good morning before pulling back to study my face. “Put this on for me, and you’ll feel better. Have you eaten?”
The way I yank that shirt from his grasp indicates I’m a little more on edge than I thought. I huff the fabric, and it’s immediately better. I ball it up and put it under my head, returning to Dane’s shoulder.
“He hasn’t. We may want to stock up though. I think we need to anticipate an early heat,” Dane says.
“I’m fine. It’s just a drop after a tiny spike,” I reassure them. I start my career on Monday. A heat is not happening.
“Let’s be ready just in case,” Dane says, his hand squeezing my neck.
The pressure helps to ease the tension there, and I compromise. “Fine. But not today. Today, I want snacks and game night with Rosie.”
“Done,” Nash says.
Rosie breezes in carrying a steaming mug, looking adorable in Nash’s too-big boots, his gaping sweatshirt, and her sleep-wild hair. She brings me the cup, and I chuckle when I realize the mug features a compilation of horror movie icons.The tea is warm, and the first sip is floral and spicy. It also smells a little like Rosie, and I let the warmth seep in, taking another sip.
“It’s a tea I use. It’s herbal from this nursery nearby. It’s made for preheats, but my doctor recommended I use it because my periods suck,” Rosie explains.When I thank her, she smiles, her face full of compassion. “What blanket would feel good right now? Anything specific that would be comfy?”
Taking another few sips before setting the cup on the table, I open my arms. “I want snuggles. And snacks. And a nap.”
“You’re in good hands.” Nash gets up, kissing my forehead. “I’ll start on the food.”
We shift as Rosie joins us. I nudge my way off Dane’s lap and rest my head on his thigh, scooting to the back of the couch so Rosie can slip into the space in front of me.
“Before you start cooking, can you grab my laptop?” Dane calls to Nash, who grunts in return.
I wiggle around until I’m comfortable, basically making myself a pretzel around Rosie. When I finally settle, I kiss her neck. “Thank you for the tea. You’re very thoughtful.”
“I hope it works for you. It always helps my cramps go away so I’m sleepy and relaxed.”
Nash and Dane jostle us a little while they set Dane up to work on studying game film of last year’s team, casting the footage to the TV.
Rosie twists, looking at me over her shoulder, her face full of questions.
“I’m so into you it caused a hormone spike,” I say.
She lifts her face to mine, lips brushing, but it’s more of a smile than a kiss. “There was definitely heat.”
I hum in agreement, nuzzling into her neck and closing my eyes.
When I blink them open again, I’m covered in a mound of blankets, all drenched in the scents of the pack. They’re Rosie’s quilts from her bed—but that’s where we’ve been sleeping. I wonder how she’s going to feel about the fact that they’re mine now. It’s omega rules; unfortunately, my gremlin side has claimed them.
I’m comfy, surrounded by their body heat and scents. Not to mention, it smells like Nash is making my favorites. I try to focus on the conversation taking place around me. Rosie is talking football with Dane, something about the number-fifteen player.
“Look at the pressure he’s putting on seven!” Dane argues.
Rosie scoffs. “And watch the end of the play! Look at how he pulls back. He’s too afraid to take the hit.”
They go back and forth, heat sparking and crackling between them. My purr blooms in response. The way she’s going head-to-head with Dane, challenging his thinking, is making my alpha’s bond light up like a fireworks show. I was in love with Raven, but seeing Rosie with our other mates makes me fall in love with her all over again.
I don’t know why I’m not ready to build my nest—my omega instincts are singing from the rightness of this moment—but I think that’s okay because even if I’m out of whack, we’re gonna find a new groove.