Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Briar
“ H ey, handsome.” I flutter my eyelashes, waiting for Easton to scoot his chair back enough that I can climb into his lap.
He stretches back, a dangerous smile crossing his face. “What shadiness have you and Keir been up to this fine afternoon?”
I laugh.
The bond makes subterfuge practically impossible, but I don’t mind. Being able to feel their emotions is addictive.
My favorite part of the day is when I catch them randomly thinking of me, even if I’m not around. It’s reassuring never to have to wonder where I stand, because I just know.
My hand comes to rest on Easton’s shoulder, and I stretch to kiss him. He tangles his hand in my hair, growling into the sensual kiss. It’s inevitable when he takes over.
Easton needs to be in control, even more so than Keir, but it’s not like I mind. After a lifetime of always having to look out for myself, I can finally relax knowing that they’ve got me.
He almost manages to distract me with the kiss, but I slide a hand down into the pocket of my cardigan. Snagging the ring box, I tug it free as I pull back from the meeting of our mouths.
My chest heaves, and my eyes pop open to find him studying my face.
“I love you,” I whisper before I chicken out. “Every promise you’ve made to me, you’ve honored. When you tell me something, I believe you. I hope you know how much that means to me.”
“I do,” he says, nuzzling his nose to mine. “I love you too.”
I grab his hand from where it’s tangled in my hair and pop the ring box with the other.
“I hope you don’t think I’m going to be the only one wearing a ring in this relationship. All the women you come across need to know you’re off the market too.” I laugh, unable to hold the attitude any longer. If there’s one thing I know about Easton, it’s that he has no trouble telling other women to fuck off, because he’s taken . There’s such a comfort in that, even if he can come off as a dick sometimes. “Will you wear the ring I picked for you?”
“Always,” he says, spreading his fingers to make it easier for me to slide the band on his hand.
He looks so sexy with my ring on his finger. It makes me feel a little like a cavewoman, but I don’t care.
I shove my lips to his for a tender kiss and grin as we pull back. “Now, I have some exciting news. Congratulations, you just became a stepdad to two adorable little guinea pigs.”
Easton’s eyes narrow. “No.”
“Yes.”
“No. Take them back.”
I snort, patting his chest. “Not gonna happen, so you best get used to the idea that we’re now animal parents.”
He growls, swatting my ass, and I squeak.
Keir might have been right about the sore bottom I’ll be rocking, but it’s still totally worth it to feel Calder’s happiness in the bond.
I’m pretty sure I lost Calder for the next few nights to two squeaky ladies, which is hysterically cute.
Keir and I helped him set up the enclosure in the room he used to stay in. It’s adorable that he plans to sleep in there with them just in case they need anything.
After dinner, Keir brings me up to the pack bedroom. We share a delicious bath, get into our pajamas, and I snuggle under the blanket with Chubby, trying to warm up. The team that went into my old house was able to retrieve my polar bear stuffed animal and everything else I asked for. They even grabbed a few things I didn’t request.
Keir steps away and grabs a gift bag I didn’t notice on the dresser.
Hmm.
I have a gift for him too.
And a declaration of love to make.
He comes over, handing me the bag. There’s no tissue paper, and I spot the seal head immediately.
“You bought me a seal stuffie?” I ask, pulling it out of the bag.
Keir takes a seat on the edge of the bed. “It’s more than that. It has a heating pad that you can remove from its stomach, and that part can be heated in the microwave to help with cramps during your next heat.”
“He’s almost as big as Chubby.” I laugh, comparing the two. “You went that route, so he could defend himself in a bear attack, huh?”
Keir chuckles, grabbing the bag and tossing it on the floor. “I love you, sweet girl.”
My jaw falls. “You totally stole my thunder!” Putting the stuffed animals aside, I grab the ring box. “I love you too. I was going to tell you as I asked if you’d wear my ring.”
“I knew you were up to something when you demanded I not accompany you into the jewelry store.” He holds out his hand, and I pop the box, grab the ring, and slide it on his finger.
Keir has massive hands. His ring was the one we were waiting to come in since he wears a size thirteen. I picked a much thicker band for him than I did for Easton or Calder. And it looks perfect on his finger.
He wraps his hand in my hair, pulling my mouth to his, and my heart thumps wildly.
“Stop mauling my omega,” Easton says, startling us both.
Keir snorts as he breaks from the kiss. “You can’t still be having a meltdown over the guinea pigs. He’s wanted those things for ages. Let the man enjoy his win.”
My eyes migrate to Easton as he works the buttons on his suit coat.
He tosses it on the dresser and scoffs. “Don’t remind me. Dealing with them would be a step up from my afternoon after the three of you left the office.”
“What happened?” I ask.
Easton tugs out his dress shirt, and I will my hormones to allow me to stay focused. This sounds serious. “Leo, Shaw, and Ridge are going to be inaccessible for who knows how long. One of our clients decided it was better to try to deal with a hostage negotiation on his own. He sat on the kidnapping for three days, waiting for their call, rather than bringing us in immediately. That fucking fool.”
“Who?” Keir asks.
Easton rolls his eyes, moving to undo the buttons on his sleeves. “Logan Callahan.”
“The senator?” I gasp.
“The one and only.” East nods. “They snatched his daughter from an international trip with some college friends. They’ve got a three fucking day head start.”
“Weren’t Leo and Shaw originally on Callahan’s security team?” Keir asks.
Easton strips out of his button-down and moves to work on his belt and dress pants. “Indeed, they asked for a transfer when Saylor perfumed. I’ll leave that up to your deductive reasoning skills, but despite taking Callahan’s money, I don’t have high hopes.”
I frown.
That sounds terrible for that poor woman. If she’s in college, she’s probably my age or a few years younger than me.
“It’s been kept out of the press this long, but if they have no luck, this could turn into an international incident,” Easton growls, shaking his head. “I need clients to have more brain cells. The man keeps us on retainer for kidnapping retrieval services and waits three goddamn days to bring us in? My mind can’t even comprehend that level of stupidity.”
Keir shoves himself off the mattress. “I’ll go see if I can find anything worth cooking or order something.”
Pulling the blanket back, I follow him up and aim for my grouchy alpha. He’s still in his plain cotton undershirt, and I bury my face in it as I wrap my arms around his back. “I know it’s been a crappy day, but if anyone can save that woman, it’s your team.”
He circles my back, resting his forehead against mine. “I do love being able to feel your confidence in the bond. I suppose it helps that they have a preexisting relationship with the woman. They hopped on the first flight without so much as a mission briefing, which, incidentally, I need to get Calder working on before they land.”
“I love you, Easton,” I assure him, giving him a quick peck. “Now give me a job, so I can help.”
He chuckles. “Watch over the rodents. That way Calder can actually focus on his job.”
I laugh.
Those rodents are going to win him over eventually—I can feel it.
When I walked into Shadow Security that first day, I never expected to end up here, but I’m so fucking thankful I did.
All it took was offing my shitty ex and psychopathic brother, but with our pack?
That’s the beginning of a perfect happily ever after, and now we get to work on saving that Saylor woman, so she gets hers too.