Chapter 19 Lark
CHAPTER NINETEEN
LARK
Where am I? I wonder, lost in a sea of masculine intensity.
I heard them talking while I slept. None of it was coherent, just… deep murmurs and subtle growls.
They were arguing about something.
But I couldn’t focus long enough to understand what or why. And I was too exhausted to care.
Now, though, I’m alert and very aware of the hot chest at my back. As well as the firm pec I appear to be sleeping on.
And the warm presence by my legs.
I’m surrounded by alphas.
That thought should startle me. However, the familiar scents… calm me.
These men intimidate me. Yet they’re… they’re mine.
I feel it in my soul. Know it in my heart. Like we’re fated mates or some supernatural craziness.
Maybe I’m insane to accept our intertwined destinies. But those orgasms last night surely make it easier to embrace.
First with Johan.
Then with Lazarus.
Neither of them used me for pleasure. They only provided it.
And Lazarus helped calm me down.
I thought I was going into heat. Now I know it was all driven by hormones.
Which means my next estrus is going to be explosive.
It’s also coming soon. I sense that I’m on the cusp of losing myself to that dreaded cycle. Early, as I feared.
Yet I’m not as scared now.
Because I don’t think these alphas will hurt me. In fact, I’m rather certain they will ensure I experience the best heat of my life.
I shiver at the thought of having a real knot inside me.
No. Not a knot, but knots.
Can I take them all at once? I wonder, my thighs clenching.
Which is when I belatedly realize there’s a leg lodged there, one that belongs to whoever is at my back.
“Morning, pet,” a slightly accented voice greets me, telling me Noah is behind me. “Sleep well?” He presses his nose to my neck, his lips ghosting across my pulse. “Any good dreams you’d like to share? Perhaps one that led to that delicious scent blossoming between your thighs?”
Heat threatens to swallow me whole. Yet somehow I manage to ask, “Why are you in my bed?”
“Because Laz said we were having a cuddle party,” he murmurs.
A rumble of disagreement sounds from the male in front of me, but it’s the one near my legs that says, “Noah’s jealous that he hasn’t experienced a first with you yet. So now he’s going to cling to you like a puppy dog until he gets what he wants.”
I blink. “What?”
“I’m knotting you first,” Noah tells me, causing my eyes to widen.
“Excuse me?”
“Hey, it’s only fair.” He moves and pulls me so I’m on my back and staring up at him. “I confessed my love, and I proposed. Yet somehow the first kiss went to Johan and the first lick went to Laz.”
First lick? I repeat to myself, frowning.
Then I realize what he means, and I’m even hotter than before.
“So I’m claiming first knot,” Noah goes on, clearly oblivious to my mortification. “Unless… unless you don’t want me to knot you. In which case, I won’t.” His expression falls. “Do you not want my knot, little bee? Did I scare you last night? Because I promise I would never hurt you. I…”
Uncertainty taints his handsome features, causing my heart to ache.
This beautiful, psychotic male thinks I don’t want his knot?
He thinks I’m scared of him?
Intimidated, maybe.
But scared? No. “No, I’m not scared of you,” I say out loud. “Though, you are…” I trail off, considering how to phrase what I’m feeling. “You’re very direct. Which is actually why I believe you when you say you won’t hurt me.”
Because he’s been upfront about how he feels.
Even if he’s a bit off-kilter.
Or a lot off-kilter.
“You can’t love me, though. We barely know each other. And your proposal wasn’t real.”
His gaze narrows. “I do love you, and my proposal was very real. But I’ll do it right next time. Get a ring and everything.”
“You can’t love—”
“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, little bee.
Well, unless it pertains to your limits.
That you’re allowed to dictate. But my capacity for love is my own to manage.
And we’ve been stalking you for years. So trust me, I know you more than well enough to be in love.
” He leans down and kisses me on the cheek.
“Now, what would you like for breakfast?”
I blink at him, struggling to process everything he just said.
What does he mean by “limits”? I wonder.
“Please say cock,” he murmurs, making me blink again.
“What?” That’s obviously my favorite word of the day.
“For breakfast—I’m asking if you would like my seed. I’ll happily feed it to you.” His hazel eyes glitter as they widen with excitement. “Oh. I can be your first blow job.” He cants his head. “Unless you’ve sucked cock before?” His gaze goes to my mouth. “I’m guessing you have.”
Murderous rage colors his expression in the next moment, making me wince.
“Give me names, little bee. I’ll chop their dicks off and—”
“Noah,” Johan interjects, cutting him off before he can tell me what he plans to do with these figment dicks.
Because no, I haven’t done that with a man yet.
I’ve had sex.
But… but it’s been pretty superficial stuff. Mostly to experiment and take the edge off. No oral.
Until last night, anyway.
“Let’s give Lark a minute to finish waking up before we dive into personal questions, yeah?” Johan continues.
“So you’re suggesting these previous experiences mean something to her? That they’re personal?” Noah sounds furious. “I’m doing more than cutting off—”
“No,” I force out. “No. There’s no need for that. I… I haven’t… I mean… No.” I shake my head. Because this is insanity. “You can’t just chop off dicks for me, Noah.”
He gives me an affronted look. “I assure you that I can and will, little bee. Feel free to give me a name so I can prove it.”
“I would give you Gideon Henderson’s name, but that’s already done.”
“You gave Gideon Henderson a blow job?” he demands. “Willingly?”
“No!” I shout. “I’ve never done that with anyone!” God, ugh, why am I yelling? “Noah, I’m saying…” Fuck, I don’t even know what I was saying.
This alpha is certifiably insane.
And confusing.
And hot.
And… and… Is he purring? I gape at him, then swoon as I realize that, yes, he is indeed purring for me.
He also has a really goofy grin on his face. “See, little bee? I love you.”
I just… I just stare. Because how am I supposed to even begin to respond to that? One second he’s talking about chopping off dicks, then confessing his love in the next, and lastly emitting that hypnotic sound from his chest.
Yeah, I’m screwed.
How was I ever meant to say no to this pack? Why did I ever want to?
“Even though I really want to say the words, I won’t ask you to marry me again yet. I’ll get a nice ring first. Maybe some flowers or chocolate. Then I’ll do it.”
“I don’t need a ring,” I mumble. There’s no point in commenting on anything else, so I don’t.
“I’ll also take you somewhere really nice,” he adds, ignoring my comment. “Like on a proper date. Oh!” He looks at Lazarus, who is lounging alongside me with an arm tucked beneath his head.
Then he shifts his focus to the male lying longways across the bed near my feet. He currently has his head propped up on his hand, his naked form stretched out like he’s waiting to be drawn on a canvas.
“Let’s go out and show our pet a good time,” he says, sounding boyish and hopeful. “Maybe a picnic at the park? Or one of those posh places Laz fancies?” He turns thoughtful. “I wouldn’t mind going for a swim. We could fly down to the islands for a day or five?”
I gape at him. “How about a movie?”
His nose wrinkles. “You want us to buy a theater?” He glances at Lazarus. “Our girl wants a theater chain. You and tech boy genius should get to work.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I sputter, a bit floored by his interpretation.
“Noah doesn’t know how to do normal,” Johan murmurs, his hand finding my ankle through the blankets and giving it a little squeeze. “He would give you the world if he could. As in, the entire planet.”
“We’re not acquiring a movie chain, and we can’t fly to the Caribbean right now,” Lazarus says, his tone underlined with finality.
“Stefano’s people reached out this morning, and he’s demanding to know what happened to his brother.
We need to address it and get to the bottom of why Johan was targeted. ”
I look down at the hacker lounging near my legs. I can’t believe he slept there all night.
Or however long we slept, anyway.
He looks rumpled, his hair a mess on his head. Something tells me that’s not his usual state of appearance. He seems too organized for it. But I like seeing him like this—vulnerable and unkempt.
I suspect I look the same since I’m naked under the sheets. But I don’t feel exposed or nervous by it. Just… comfortable.
Which is a little crazy, given that I have three alphas in bed with me.
Three virile alphas.
Three scent-match alphas.
Three very dominant alphas.
My tummy does a somersault, my mind wandering as Noah responds to Lazarus. I don’t catch the words, too focused on my thoughts to hear him.
Johan’s ice-blue eyes capture mine, his lashes thick and abundant. I’m not sure which way I prefer him—with or without glasses. He looks good as both versions.
Handsome.
Sexy.
Mine.
Well, not mine yet. But… but soon, I think.
“Keep looking at me like that, Lark, and I’m going to make you my breakfast,” he warns.
“Is no one listening to me?” Lazarus demands.
“Nope,” Noah replies instantly, his face suddenly in front of mine. “May I kiss you, please?”
The request takes me off guard. Noah seems like the type to just do what he wants, not ask permission first.
So I blink at him.
Then give a little nod.
But Lazarus’s hand on Noah’s throat stops him before he can lean all the way down. “First of all, I was saying something important. Second of all, we don’t do anything to our omega unless she verbalizes consent. A nod doesn’t count.” Dark eyes meet mine. “If you want Noah to kiss you, ask him.”
This male and his need to force me to speak.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to issue a sassy retort instead.