Chapter 11 Lark
CHAPTER ELEVEN
LARK
The scent of leather, paper, and coffee surrounds me, causing my nose to twitch. Did I fall asleep in a bookstore?
And why am I so warm?
I force one eye open, peering at the masculine wall I’m currently snuggled up against.
A naked chest.
A very toned, very sexy male chest.
And it’s purring…
My lashes flutter, the events of last night slamming into me with a start.
Only for my body to relax instinctually as the vibrating sound rolls through me.
Did Johan hold me all night?
And when did he lose his shirt?
Is he wearing pants?
I subtly move my leg, which I now realize is intertwined with his, and freeze at the hardness I feel against my upper thigh.
Because yep.
Yep. I’m not just snuggling his purring chest—I’m touching his knot.
Cool. This is fine. Everything’s fine.
Actually, everything’s hot. Like, really hot.
“When did you lose your clothes?” I mumble, certain he’s awake. Because there’s no way he’s sleeping with an erection like that.
“Shortly after you started trying to rip them off in your sleep,” he murmurs back to me.
I freeze. “What?”
He chuckles. “You’re a very active dreamer, Lark.”
And now my face is on fire. “It’s the scent match,” I mutter.
He hums, and I’m not sure if that’s a sound of agreement or something else. But suddenly I’m on my back with him hovering over me. Electricity zips through me as his cock settles right against my core, his size and presence overwhelming my every instinct.
“Don’t worry, little hacker. I’ve been a perfect gentleman all night. Even when you tried to grab my knot.”
My eyes widen. “You’re lying.”
“I’d never lie about you trying to touch me. Nor would I lie to you about anything else.” He balances on his forearms, effectively caging me beneath him. “Maybe I can make rule number four be about honesty. Think Laz will approve?”
“I thought rule four was about ensuring I can take care of myself… or whatever Noah said.”
“Hmm, I suppose you’re right. Rule number four can be us ensuring you’re safe. Rule number five will be about honesty—no lying between any of us.”
“Seems like a rather bold rule to be making without consulting the other members of our pack,” a deep voice says from far too close to the bed.
I shiver and look over to find Lazarus standing there in a freshly pressed all-black suit. His eyes are on Johan, though. And they’re narrowed into a glare.
“Are you saying you don’t value honesty, Laz?” Johan asks silkily, his body seeming to settle even more intensely on mine. “Because I have some truths I wouldn’t mind voicing.”
“You know I value honesty,” Lazarus returns, finally looking at me. “Would you like that to be rule five, Ms. Bianchi? Honesty between all pack members?”
I swallow, unsure how to answer that.
Because I… I don’t know if I want to be honest with him. Or any of them, really.
“Honesty can be so refreshing, sweetheart,” Johan says, his nose skimming my cheek to go to my ear. “For example, do you have any idea how badly I want to kiss you right now, Lark?”
My breath catches in my throat as he presses himself more firmly into my center.
“It’s all I can think about,” he goes on, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “Kissing you. Using my tongue between your pretty thighs. Licking your cunt. Nibbling your clit. Tasting your slick.”
Oh God… I’m fairly certain there are flames dancing across my skin.
At some point, my eyes closed while he was speaking, so I open them now to check my arms, yet I get caught in Lazarus’s stare again. He’s watching me intently, his nostrils flaring. “Is Johan breaking rule number two? Did you ask him to touch you?”
The male on top of me stiffens ever so slightly, his purr diminishing.
There’s a lethal edge to Lazarus’s tone, one that makes me shiver despite the warmth flooding my veins.
“Aurora.” Lazarus says my name with authority, causing my stomach to flutter in response. “I need to know if my second has broken rule number two.”
Johan slowly pulls back, his expression flashing with something akin to hurt, yet his tone is all quiet fury as he says, “How long have you known me?”
“I’m not speaking to you right now. I’m speaking to our omega.” His dark gaze holds mine without flinching. “Answer my question, Aurora.”
“With honesty because of rule four or five or whatever we’re on?” I ask, arching a brow and feeling a little irritated that he’s ruined my moment with Johan. “No, I didn’t verbally ask him to touch me. But I touched him first.”
Something ticks in Lazarus’s jaw.
“No one has broken any rules, boss,” I go on, purposely calling him that since Noah mentioned he doesn’t like it. “In fact, if Johan wants to kiss me, he absolutely has my permission.”
Okay, that might be a bit far.
But I’m annoyed.
And I really didn’t like the way he stiffened and stopped purring because of Lazarus’s question. While I appreciate him checking in to make sure I’m okay, he should trust his second-in-command.
Yet clearly he doesn’t.
I stare Lazarus Ferraro down as I utter the words, “Please kiss me, Johan.”
He rumbles on top of me, his purr reigniting. “Was that enough begging for you, Laz?”
“No.” Lazarus grabs Johan and yanks him out of the bed so quickly that I yelp. “Sparring room. Now.”
Johan glares at him. “You’re going to make me deny our omega?”
“Yes, I am. Because she’s not asking for the right reasons. She just wants to piss me off. And I won’t let her use you to achieve her goal.”
My lips part. “Excuse me?”
“You’re not excused,” Lazarus bites back at me. “But you are.” Those three words are directed at his second.
I look at Johan, expecting him to tell Lazarus to go to hell. But then I catch the hint of sadness in his crystal eyes. It’s accompanied by a look of understanding.
Wait, he believes Lazarus? I realize. “Johan—”
“It’s okay, little hacker,” he says, reaching for something on the nightstand.
His glasses, I think as he slips them onto his face. They don’t mask the emotions rolling through his features, though.
Regret.
Disappointment.
Acceptance.
That last one bothers me. Because I… I don’t want him to accept what Lazarus said. Even if he was partially right. I was trying to piss him off. But I… I do want Johan to kiss me.
I think, anyway.
His purr soothed me all night.
And his scent… it’s intoxicating.
I actually think I want Johan to do a lot more than just kiss me. Which is terrifying because I shouldn’t want him. Or them. Or any of this.
I should want to go home.
Back to Widows Peak.
Where I’m safe and alone.
“I’ll be there in five minutes to spar,” Lazarus says, still glaring at me. “Go, Johan.”
The other man gives me one last longing look and heads for the door.
Then he disappears, leaving me alone with a furious Lazarus Ferraro.
“Rule number six.” He annunciates each syllable a little too clearly. “You will not lead my men on. I don’t care how pissed off you are with me; you will not use Johan or Noah as a tool for revenge. Ever.”
I gape at him. “That’s not—”
“Yes, Aurora, it is.” He moves forward, his knee hitting the mattress.
I attempt to scoot back, or away, or something.
But his murderous gaze holds me captive, forcing me to stare up at him as he continues speaking.
“You wanted to prove a point by kissing Johan, not realizing that my second would shoot himself in the foot if you so much as asked. Fuck, I’m pretty sure Noah would stab himself in the heart if you desired it.”
“I would never—”
“Which means,” he goes on, cutting me off, “you wield power unlike anyone else in this house. And I will not let you use that to hurt them.” He grabs my chin and leans down until we’re almost nose to nose. “Do you understand me, Ms. Bianchi?”
His fury is so palpable that I’m shaking. “I would never hurt them,” I whisper.
“Not purposely, perhaps,” he growls back at me. “But you just hurt Johan.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“And that excuses it?” he demands.
My throat works, my insides suddenly icing over with the realization that, no, it doesn’t excuse it at all. But I… I’m pretty sure I want to kiss Johan. So it wasn’t a lie. However, I… I was annoyed with Lazarus when I voiced the request.
Therefore, he’s right.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“It’s not me you owe an apology to, Ms. Bianchi,” he replies just as quietly.
Those words settle between us, his lips scant inches from mine. This close, I can see the brown flakes in his otherwise dark eyes. They’re not as black as I thought, just really dark brown. Intense. Beautiful. Decorated with thick, long lashes.
I swallow for a completely different reason now as his scent overwhelms me. Chocolate and cherries. My own aroma joins his, and together we smell like dessert.
His gaze goes to my lips, then slowly trails back upward. “I need to go tend to Johan. Feel free to roam today. But don’t leave the property. If you try, I’ll know. And I won’t be pleased.” He pushes away from me and leaves the room without another word.
I lie there for a long time, staring at the closed door, struggling to breathe.
So much has happened.
So much has changed.
How was I just in Widows Peak yesterday? I wonder, dizzy from the last twenty hours or so of my life. And how the hell am I going to survive here with all these intimidatingly gorgeous alphas?
“Ugh,” I groan, rolling over to bury my face in a pillow.
It’s the wrong decision.
Because the linen smells like leather and paper. Books. Underlined with a sweet scent that’s all me.
My combined aroma with Johan.
It’s addictive. Perfect. Ours.
Which can mean only one thing.
I’m so fucking screwed…