Chapter 19
Brielle
I jump into Maverick’s truck, heart pounding. “I just lied my ass off to my best friend.”
He looks over, confused, and glances back to where Kinsey and Brooks are walking to the café. “About what?”
“About everything,” I say, frazzled. “She just looked so happy, and I realize I haven’t shared anything. I didn’t want to burst her postheat bubble. Hell, I even pretended that I didn’t know who Cooper was."
I slump back into the seat with a groan.
Maverick is silent for a moment, and then parks over on the side of the road and reaches over to squeeze my thigh. “I don’t know her well enough, but I don’t think Kinsey would have cared. She would have been happy for you.”
My teeth dig into my bottom lip, and I nod. “Yeah… I just—is it selfish to want to keep you guys a secret a little longer?”
He smiles, his knuckle coming up to rub against my cheek before he tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. “No, but I have to wonder why.”
I swallow roughly, coating my drying throat. “It feels a little too good to be true, like I’m waiting for it to all go to shit.”
Maverick raises an eyebrow. “I know all about waiting for the other shoe to drop, but the three of us, we’re a sure thing. We’re not leaving. We’re waiting for you to want us.”
I roll my eyes, swatting his hand. “I want you. Isn’t that obvious, Cowboy?”
He shakes his head, moving to tap the center of my chest. “Want us, Princess.” He pulls away with a wink and heads back onto the road. My heart and mind are a mess, but something warms inside me that they can see I need a little time to get it right.
“You tell her you're going on the road?”
I smack my forehead. “Ugh, no. Of course not. I was too busy lying because I’m a nutcase.”
He reaches over, grabbing my hand and entwining our fingers. “Hey, don’t talk about my omega like that. I’ll have Colt tell her.”
Kinsey will probably wonder why, but she has a lot more on her plate to worry about. I debate telling Maverick about the pregnancy, but it doesn’t sit right with me. Most of the time we’ve avoided talking about their relationship, or connection. It’s something they need to work through themselves.
“Thanks,” I mutter, my stomach still fluttering with nerves.
He squeezes my hand. “Everything will work out. I believe it.”
“You good, Princess?” Duke asks, his hands tapping the roof of the truck as he leans down into the open door. His biceps flex under the white t-shirt, and I bite my lip to keep my arousal down. He’s so fucking hot.
I nod, holding up my water bottle. “Still good.”
He smirks. “You don’t want any snacks? We got about two more hours before the next stop.”
I glance at the box full of candy, jerky, and chips to my side, and look back up at him with a raised eyebrow. “I think you’ve already bought out the first store.”
He shrugs. “We’re all growing boys. We’ll eat it.”
Reaching over, I tap his solid stomach. “I don’t know how. All of you are like sculpted gods.”
“Ugh, you are so good for a man’s ego. Feel what you do to me.” Duke grabs my wrist, trailing my hand down to his buckle with a groan before I yank my hand away with a smile.
I tsk. “I don’t think Cooper would appreciate us stinking up his truck.”
His grin turns a little wicked. “I don’t think he’d mind. After all, he still wears the hoodie that smells deliciously like you.”
My eyes widen, while something primal preens inside of me, and then I lean toward him. “You sound a little jealous? You want a sweatshirt of your own?”
Duke’s tongue sweeps across his lips, and I watch the movement, heat coiling in my belly. He moves closer so our noses brush. “Desperately, Princess.”
I kiss him, and he moans into my mouth, his hand curling into my hair as he deepens our kiss.
He tastes like sin, one I’d happily lose myself in.
When we pull away, our breathing is a little shaky as our chests rise and fall in erratic patterns.
He reaches down, adjusting himself in his jeans while his eyes stare at me with a deep, dark desire.
“Let me stay with you tonight.”
My teeth dig into my bottom lip. “We’re not all sharing a room?”
He winces and stands straighter to scratch the back of his neck. “Not sure. We, uh… we usually rent out a few rooms and kind of—” His nose wrinkles, and it clicks in my mind.
“You guys trade off rooms to fuck in and use one strictly for sleep and to keep all your personal items in.”
His eyes widen and his cheeks pinken. “Damn, you’re quick.”
A giggle bubbles out of my chest. “I mean… I’ve heard a few of the stories.”
Duke groans, rubbing down his face. “I swear it’s not as bad as they make it seem, okay? Some women I just helped get home because they were plastered.”
I raise an eyebrow. “And then stayed the whole night?”
He swallows. “Yeah, to make sure they didn’t puke and choke on it.”
My smile drops, and I stare at him intently because that’s something I’ve never thought about. And I’m reminded of the rose-smelling beta that he helped carry back into her home when she was trembling in fear from her nightmare.
“What?” he asks when I don’t say anything further.
“You’re a good guy, Duke. Even if you try to hide it.”
His lips quirk and then he winks at me. “Don’t be going around shouting that. No one will believe ya anyway.”
The door across from us flings open, and we turn to stare at Cooper, who glances between us with a raised eyebrow.
“Ready to go? We’re making good time with Mav and Wyatt pulling the horses.
” He climbs in, setting his oversized gas station soda in the console and tossing more candy on the floorboards.
I snort, fixing myself back into my seat. “I’ve never seen people consume as much sugar as you two.”
Duke throws me a grin, settling into his seat and grabbing a bag of Hi-Chews. My jaw hurts just looking at them, those sweet little candies are not worth the pain that comes after. Thanks, braces.