Chapter 7 #2
“Carl doesn’t care. He’s shown me his wedding pictures of him and his handsome husband. And the other men in this place are too well paid to care about any of that.”
“Oh.”
Bel could feel some of River’s fear recede, but not nearly enough. “River, please look at me,” he begged. River lifted his lovely hazel eyes to Bel’s face and tried to give him a little smile. “I’m sorry. I wanted this to be a nice gift, but if you feel that uncomfortable, we will leave right now.”
“But you went to all this trouble. And these people…”
“All this trouble was one phone call to Carl. And these people will be more than adequately compensated for their time, whether we stay another second or four hours. I just want you and Wyatt to be happy.”
River’s face clouded for a second, his brow wrinkling. “Really?”
“Yes, really. It’s that simple. I want you happy and comfortable. For me, I’ve always felt that I could conquer anything with a nice bow tie in place.”
Reaching up, River ran the tip of his finger across Bel’s bow tie. The smile that blossomed on his lips was real this time, and Bel almost sighed at the soft pleasure he felt ripple through the wolf. “This one is my favorite.”
His bow tie tonight had a little more flair than usual. It was an electric blue that almost matched his eyes, covered in a black paisley design.
Bel smiled in response, but he swore he could feel himself falling.
There was something almost magical about River’s smile and tentative touch.
For the first time since they’d met, Bel could actually feel River’s trust, and it stole Bel’s breath away.
He wanted more moments just like this one.
A lifetime of smiles, touches, and joy that showed Bel was important to River.
But even if there weren’t more, Bel knew he’d treasure this moment for the rest of his life.
“Then this one is now my favorite,” Bel replied in a rough voice.
River nodded. “You’re right. I could use a few things. Maybe something nice if we ever go out one evening.” To Bel’s further shock, River lifted their joined hands and brushed the lightest kiss across Bel’s knuckles.
The vampire could only stare after him as he released Bel’s hand and crossed the elegant shop to where Wyatt was waiting for him near the dressing rooms. Another clerk quietly ushered Bel over to a set of comfortable chairs, offering him a whiskey and some magazines while he waited for Wyatt and River to return.
Bel could only nod through it all. That moment, the little touch on his bow tie, the faint brush of his lips, they were burned into his memory now.
No, River didn’t trust him completely, not yet. It was going to be a long time before River trusted him as he did Wyatt, assuming it ever happened at all. But he could feel it in his bones; they’d made a baby step forward, and it felt so good.
Time blurred for a bit. He wasn’t sure how long he waited in the store until Wyatt stepped out of the dressing room, and Bel nearly swallowed his goddamn tongue.
Yes, he’d seen the man naked, but this was different.
Wyatt was a ruggedly handsome man, with more muscles than Bel had ever seen on a person, but wrap it all in a heather-gray cashmere V-neck sweater and black slacks, and Bel couldn’t breathe.
Dear God, it should be illegal to be that good-looking.
Or at least he needed to be preceded by a warning from the Surgeon General.
But beyond the clothes, there was something new, a sexual confidence in the man Bel had never seen before.
It was as intoxicating as his body. Wyatt was clearly a man who knew how good-looking he was, knew how to please his mate in bed—if the sounds from the bathroom that first night were any indication—and Bel longed to have all that confidence and knowledge turned on him.
“What do you think?” Wyatt asked with the tiniest of smirks, like the gasping noises Bel had made when he first stepped out weren’t a dead giveaway.
Bel swallowed hard and nodded. “Yes, that looks quite nice. Do you like it? Are you comfortable?”
“Yes. It’s definitely the softest thing I’ve ever put on.” As he spoke, Wyatt stroked his hand down his chest, caressing the cashmere while pressing it to his flat stomach. Bel had never wanted to be a shirt so badly in his life.
“Excellent,” Bel said when he could get his lungs working properly.
Wyatt’s smirk grew, and he turned to disappear into the dressing room again.
This had backfired brilliantly. Oh, both wolves ended up properly attired, from basic jeans and casual shirts to even a couple of suits as well as any necessary undergarments.
They grew more confident each time they stepped out of the dressing room to show off a new outfit.
Bloody River even had Bel alternating between blushing and laughing so damn hard as the shifter turned the empty floor into his own personal catwalk, complete with sassy strut and pouty lips.
And the man could move. It was as if he were more liquid than bone as he crossed the floor in smooth motions.
But it reminded Bel of exactly how physically beautiful they both were. He noticed it that first night, but he had been able to push it all down in the face of their suffering and desperation. After that night, Bel had been able to concentrate on their happiness, safety, and general well-being.
With smiles on their faces and dressed in sharply tailored clothes, they were once again physical temptations as well, forcing Bel to brutally remind himself that River and Wyatt were the happy couple. He was the outsider. The unwanted intruder.
If he were lucky, one day he would be regarded the same as Ozzie saw him—a friend. And that would just have to be enough.
River felt completely and truly spoiled.
He still wanted to giggle over the way Bel had declared at the end of three hours of fittings that they were simply going to take everything they’d tried on.
Only he and Wyatt had blinked at that statement; the clerks just rushed to make it happen without a word.
It all felt like a dream, like he was going to wake up back at the MacPherson compound, but that certainty was growing dimmer by the day. Bel had made them feel welcome in his home, and now he was making sure they were comfortable in his life.
Even now, as they pulled into the driveway of Bel’s house, River couldn’t shed the goofy grin on his lips.
But more than the clothes had been Bel’s support and understanding throughout the whole night.
When the vampire had pulled him aside, he hadn’t been quite sure what to expect, but Bel’s gentleness and compassion had nearly pushed River to tears.
Only Wyatt had ever showed such concern.
River believed every word Bel told him: he wouldn’t have thought poorly of him if River had asked to leave without trying on a single thing.
When Bel said he only wanted River’s happiness, it was the truth.
After such a perfect evening, River wasn’t ready for the day to end.
Bel had given him and Wyatt a gift, a taste of the kind of life they would have while living with Bel.
It overflowed with laughter, kindness, and security.
Now River wanted to return the favor. He wanted to show Bel the kind of happiness that came with being part of a pack.
“Bel?” River started as they climbed out of the car.
“Yes?” The vampire stood with his left hand on the car door while he shoved the keys into his pocket.
“Do you have to work tonight?”
Bel’s mouth bobbed open for a moment as if River’s question had temporarily broken his brain. “I-I guess I don’t. Why?”
“There’s this movie Wyatt and I were planning to watch. It’s supposed to be a great spy conspiracy thriller chase across Europe. We could order some pizza, pop some popcorn, and make a night of it. Would you join us?”
“Really?” Bel replied, the single word catching in his throat.
“Yes, please.”
The smile that lit up Bel’s features nearly knocked out River’s knees.
It was like he’d just offered Bel the key to all of his dreams. As it was, he was struggling to not pull the vampire into the tightest hug of his entire life.
With every touch, every word, every action, Bel was proving himself to be pack.
He belonged to River and Wyatt whether he realized it or not.
“Then, yes. I’d love to.”
“There’s one condition,” Wyatt added, shutting his car door with a heavy thud. “You have to change out of your fancy clothes into something you can lounge in.” His mate looked at River, and his smile grew. Yes! He should have known Wyatt would be on the same page.
“It’s true,” River agreed. “Movie watching requires puppy piles, and you can’t do that in non-loungey clothes.”
Bel’s nose wrinkled a little, but he looked more confused than anything. “I’m not sure what that is, but I’m sure you’ll explain it. You order the pizza, and I’ll find the appropriate attire.”
After Bel disappeared up to his bedroom, Wyatt pulled River into his lap on the couch while he ordered a couple of pizzas on Bel’s tablet.
The clothes shopping had been far more fun than River expected, but there was something so much better about being safe at home with Wyatt’s arms wrapped around him.
River stiffened at the thought, his finger hovering over the X to close the screen he was on.
“Should I ask what evil thought is passing through your brain?” Wyatt said before nibbling on his earlobe. Pleasure skimmed through River and he shook, loving how Wyatt instantly tightened his arms.
“I just thought how nice it is to be safe at home again.”
Wyatt hummed in his ear. “It is starting to feel like home, isn’t it?”
“Slowly.” River snorted. “Though it’s been so long, I’m not sure I’d recognize the feeling.”
“And Bel?”
River groaned playfully, turning his head to rub his nose against Wyatt’s.
He was wrapped in his wonderful woodsy scent.
If anything felt like home, it was Wyatt, but he knew that he was starting to feel something more for the adorable vampire with the wild hair, sparkling blue eyes, and extensive bow tie collection.
“Just gotta hear that you’re right, don’t you?”
“I don’t mind it every once in a while.”
“Yes, you sexy bastard, you were right. I like Bel. He belongs in our little pack. He needs our pack.”
Wyatt nipped at River’s lip, then caressed it with his tongue. “He needs us. The way he reached out to you tonight…”
“I know.”
Wyatt closed his eyes, and River pressed gentle kisses to each of his eyelids.
Wyatt’s entire being was too focused on protecting River, but that hadn’t always been possible when they’d been with the MacPherson clan.
There were times he’d had to stand back and allow River to suffer through painful moments if they were to retain their protection from the other werewolves.
It had killed Wyatt by little bits each time, but tonight, Wyatt had been able to relax.
For the first time, he hadn’t needed to worry about River’s safety because it was clear Bel would never do anything to hurt River.
The smallest whisper of noise had both of them pulling apart to see Bel standing at the bottom of the stairs, wearing a comfortable pair of pale-blue pajama bottoms and a dark-blue T-shirt. He looked unsure and was even starting to turn toward the stairs.
“Are you ready for the movie?” River asked, letting his earlier joy flow into his voice. Tonight had been about making steps forward, and he wanted to celebrate that and not think about the past.
“If you’d rather…just you and Wyatt…” Bel said with a wave of his hand toward the couch.
“Nope!” River climbed off Wyatt’s lap and quickly crossed the room to grab Bel’s hand. He half dragged the vampire over to the couch while he instructed Wyatt to set up the movie on Bel’s giant TV.
When Bel moved toward the single chair, River pulled him over and forced him to take the seat in the center of the couch close enough to Wyatt that they were touching from hip to knee.
Bel flashed Wyatt an awkward grin, and Wyatt warmly smiled while stretching his arm across the back of the sofa behind Bel’s head.
River immediately snuggled in on the other side, resting his head on Bel’s shoulder.
River released a happy sigh. “Pizza should be here in about thirty minutes, but I figured we could at least start the movie. If it’s good, we can totally cram in the sequel tonight.”
“Okay,” Bel said softly. He was stiff under River as if he wasn’t sure about their arrangement. “Is this…is this what you meant by a puppy pile? Us sitting close?”
“Yeah.” River tilted his head up so he could see Bel’s eyes. “Is this okay? Are you comfortable?”
Bel’s gaze darted over to Wyatt and back to River. His smile returned, and River could feel him relax against him. He shifted for a second; then his arm wrapped around River’s shoulders, pulling him in closer while he leaned a little more on Wyatt. “This is perfect,” Bel said on a sigh.
The movie started, but River’s mind was only partially paying attention to the action on the screen. He was too aware of the warmth of Bel’s body, the mingling scents of Bel and Wyatt, the sense of peace that came from having a place where he finally felt safe. Maybe this could be home.