Rowan
In my half-asleep state, I turned over, my arm finding and grasping at a wall of muscle.
Mate.
I didn’t remember what I’d been doing, but I also didn’t care much at present. Humming happily to myself, I snuggled into the warm skin, my eyes still closed as I sucked in a deep breath of his scent.
My nose twitched. I knew all my mates pretty well by this point—and it definitely wasn’t Orsen I was wrapped around like a vine.
“Morning,” a rumbly voice said.
My eyes shot open, meeting Bastian’s as he gazed at me with a content, sleepy expression.
“Good morning.” I shot him a small smile, unsure of what to say or do.
When it came to Bastian, my emotions were all over the place. I loved this man, and I knew that, but I was still kind of peeved at how he’d treated me, if also understanding of the why. So, yeah, a total mess of emotions was apt.
“You know, we—oof!” He was cut off when I threw a pillow directly in his face, and he gaped at me in utter shock. “What was that for?”
“I just felt like it.” I shrugged. “After all, you have treated me like ass for several months. You were owed a bit of retaliation.”
Bastian thought about that for a moment, looking at me intently as he cocked a brow. “I agree. Now, breakfast.”
He slipped out from under the sheets, still completely naked. I averted my eyes. Even though he’d been inside me a matter of hours ago, I couldn’t look at him with a straight face.
It didn’t help that it was the first thing in the morning, and he was very… firm.
“I… Uh…”
Bastian chuckled. “It will still be there for you to do whatever the hell you want to in a few hours, once you have eaten, mate.”
“Whatever I want?” I smirked at him.
He nodded with a wicked grin. “But first, breakfast.”
I took his hand as he led us into the bathroom. When he turned on the shower, I gave him a look that was somewhat heated. But he simply glowered at me, his jaw flexing as I fought to keep my hands to myself and my eyes above waist level.
“No funny business until you’re taken care of,” he said, tugging me under the water.
“So, in like fifteen minutes?” I teased, not hiding my grin.
“You’re lucky you have four mates.” Bastian shook his head, but there was no mistaking the smile behind his stern expression. “You would never be satisfied otherwise, would you?”
My face flushed as I leaped to defend myself. “No! I am perfectly well satiated. But I also really enjoyed yesterday and wouldn’t mind, you know, repeating it. Often.”
Bastian leaned down, cupping my face. “If we have it my way, there are going to be multiple repeats of what we did last night. But only when you are fed, showered, and well-rested.”
I looked up at him from beneath my lashes. “Then we can do it on the bathroom counter?”
Chuckling, he swept his thumb over my lip. “Yes.”
“All right, I guess I’ll comply.”
Giggling to myself, I stepped under the stream of perfectly warm water.
I wasn’t surprised when Bastian joined me, but the fact that all his hands did was lather me up with soap was quite the shock.
I had no idea where he was getting the resolve because I was ready to throw down right there against the tile.
“You’re really going to leave me hanging?” I made a pleading face at him as he reached for the showerhead to rinse me off.
An evil smile spread across his face, making those eyes of his absolutely smoldering. He leaned forward, brushing his lips across my ear as he whispered, “Yes. Deal with it.”
Growling playfully, I flicked water at his face, but Bastian just laughed and got me squeaky clean.
As I went to get out, I took a moment to admire how my dark-haired Alpha looked with the water raining down over his skin as he rinsed off, the long locks forming rivulets that ran all the way down to his long, proud erection.
“Go grab clothes, mate.” Bastian eyed me, and I swallowed hard. “Before we both get ideas and are stuck in bed all day.”
“And we’re sure we don’t want that?” I chewed on my lip.
Bastian chuckled darkly. “Shoo.”
I stepped out of the shower reluctantly, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around myself. I used another to squeeze the water out of my hair before walking to the dresser to get clothes for the day: a comfy tee and leggings. My go-to.
“Yoohoo! Breakfast is here!” a playful voice announced as Nix bounded into the room, holding a tray overloaded with food.
Bastian came out of the bathroom, with just a towel slung low over his hips, and gave him a glare.
“Good lord, Bastian, put it away. My pure, innocent, virgin eyes don’t want to see that,” Nix declared, placing one hand playfully over his eyes as he put the tray down on the bedside table.
“I’m pretty sure you guys have seen each other’s junk multiple times, given the whole shifting thing,” I pointed out
Nix nodded. “We have, but we don’t talk about it, because I don’t want my clanmates to be intimidated by how amazing my junk is.”
I snorted.
Nix gave me a look of exaggerated shock. “Are you saying that it’s not glorious?” he asked, looking at his crotch.
“I don’t need to hear this,” Bastian said, whipping off the towel and dressing in a pair of gray sweats.
Nix pouted.
I plucked a strawberry off the plate and popped it into my mouth. “Thanks for this.”
Nix leaned forward, placing a kiss on my forehead. “For you? Anytime.”
“You should spend today in bed, try to rest. You could use a day off.” Bastian frowned. “You’re overworked.”
“I could, but I need to go check on Ma.”
“How long will that take?”
I thought about it for a moment. Ma was improving by the day, and I was happy with how she was healing. “Not long; she’s doing really well. I just like to check regularly to ensure she’s not developing any infections.”
Bastian slid a T-shirt over his head. It was impossible not to admire his defined muscles as he did so, and I happily allowed myself the opportunity to ogle him.
“Well, I have to work today.” He grimaced, walking up to me and cupping my face gently, kissing me softly.
“Do you have to?” I whined, taking advantage of the fact that I was still in a towel by pressing myself to him.
“I have meetings with a few enforcers from neighboring hordes,” he explained. “But as soon as I can, I’m out of there.”
Nix nodded. “He’s who most of them have known the longest, so he’s the best at drumming up support.” He smirked. “I’ll take good care of you, though.”
“I’m sure you will.” I smiled at him, wrapping my arms around Bastian. “I’ll see you after?” I asked in a soft voice.
“Of course. You’re not getting rid of me now, mate.”
“Good. I have lots of ways you can make up for being an ass, and you need to be here for them.”
Bastian grinned, eyeing me knowingly. “Now, that’s motivation for to-the-point meetings.”
We all laughed, then Bastian had to go, leaving me with Nix. When I turned to him, I was met with the most shit-eating grin I’d ever seen.
“It looks like you guys had a good night…” He trailed off, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
“I would say we had a very good night.” I laughed, working to pull on the clothes I’d grabbed for myself.
“I can tell that by all the bruising on your neck.”
My face heated. “I… Uhh…”
“It is a good thing, don’t worry. I’m glad you’re finally dragging the grumpy bastard out of his shell.”
“I really think we may have turned a corner,” I admitted, grinning softly as I pulled up my pants.
Nix’s face was dead serious. “I think he has as well. Do you have any idea how amazing you are? Pulling that off… that’s not to be taken lightly, Rowan.”
“Nope.” I smiled, shirt going over my head as I lightened the mood. “I need to be reminded of it regularly—so, thank you!”
Nix turned to me, a bright smile on his face. “Okay, I think we would both benefit from a morning nap. What do you say?”
Before I could even voice my agreement, he was dragging me back to bed, wrapping me up in his arms. I expected him to try something, but true to his words, Nix buried his head in my hair, and we were both dozing off in no time at all.