Happiness is Earned (Second Chances Book 3), page 35
Nora’s movements with my dick are erratic, not truly enough to take me over any kind of edge, but that doesn’t mean they don’t feel good. Watching her work her way towards her peak, knowing she’s going to come undone with my cock in her mouth...
Voss was right. A vibrator truly can be your friend in the bedroom.
“I’m close,” Nora garbles around me.
“Then cum, pretty girl,” I murmur, holding her head in place. The tip of my dick is throbbing, and seeing her this feral underneath me is perfection.
“Micah,” Fin begs. “I want to watch.”
I shake my head. “You can hear us. Just use your imagination.”
And that seems to be the catalyst. Nora launches herself off the edge and lands in the pool of pleasure. She screams my name, and, somehow, my own release bursts forth. The pair of us ride out the wave together, and it’s only when Nora’s orgasm subsides that I pull myself out of her mouth.
I sit back on my heels, tugging the toy away from Nora, and give her a big smile. She returns it before leaning over and turning the camera on.
Fin’s eyes are wild, and he glares at me.
“Lay back down, pretty girl,” I say with a smile. “I want one more orgasm from you before I fill you with my cum.”
“Well, at least the dirty talk has improved,” Fin mutters. “Let me watch.”
I nod, not bothering to hide my smirk. If he ruins it for me, I’ll just hang up on him. Sure, I’ll pay for all of this once I get back to the pride, but, for now, it’s been sweet fucking vengeance.
Nora lays on her back, her long brown hair sprawled out on the bed. I move to lie between her legs, and she spreads them wide. I grab her vibrator back and power it on, causing her eyes to widen.
I press it in place, but she flinches away from it.
“Hold it where it should be, baby girl,” Fin says before I could. I hand her the toy and watch as she centres it, taking note for next time.
“Hold it in place,” I say before lowering my head to her pussy. The aroma of her juices causes my mouth to water, the tangy, tart smell combined with the sweetness of her is a heady combination.
She feels the electrically charged air as I flick my tongue out and lap at her slick. One hand holds the vibrator in place, the other holding my head, pulling me closer.
The vibrator presses against my nose, the vibrations strong and annoying as they rattle my entire fucking head, but oh, my god is it worth it to hear the whimpers and mewls that escape her.
I alternate between her slit and her thighs, lathering her in attention.
“Oh, my god,” she utters through gasps. “I’m going to cum.”
I pull back from her ever so slightly, meeting her eyes over the gorgeous lines of her body. It’s barely been two minutes.
“I’m not done playing with you yet. I’m going to play with this pretty little pussy of yours until I get my fill, and only then do you get to cum.”
She groans, and I knock the toy away.
“Take a breath,” Fin commands as I continue licking her. He coaches her through calming down, showing his use, and then commands her to get the toy back.
“Don’t stop.” Her tone is laced with need, the smell of her desperation nearly as strong as her arousal.
It only turns me on more.
My tongue slides along her folds before driving in and out of her. Nora moans, her thighs quivering, as she trembles beneath me before she clamps them to hold me in place.
“Please,” she shrieks.
It’s only the feral demand that causes me to allow it.
Oh, who the fuck am I trying to kid?
I don’t have the restraint that Fin does to edge her properly. I just want to taste every inch of her.
She hums in pleasure and rocks against me and her vibrator, pushing for more.
I can feel the beginnings of her orgasm, and I quicken my speed with my tongue, drawing out every last bit of pleasure from her body with the vibrator. Her breathing speeds up, and she pushes herself against me harder and harder until, finally, she crashes over the edge into blissful oblivion.
Fin joins her, his cum spurting all over his hand, and I pull the toy away. I continue lapping at her gently until she turns floppy.
I sit back, enjoying the satisfied smile on her face.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.”
She grins.
“You’re a cunt,” Griffin says, directing his words to me. “But that was quite the show, baby girl. I’ll leave you two to whatever comes next and go clean myself up.”
“I love you,” Nora says. “But, um, please change my sheets.”
“Love you more,” he replies with a laugh before hanging up.
I move from the bottom of the bed to the top and tug her into my arms. It’s pretty clear she’s exhausted, satisfied, and done. That’s absolutely fine with me.
“Holy fuck,” Nora murmurs, cuddling into me. She rests her head on my chest, both of us slightly clammy and sweaty, but neither of us caring. “That dominance thing? Fucking hot.”
I smile and kiss her neck, enjoying being entwined with her. “Are you going to think less of me if I tell you I have no idea where it came from?”
“I’ll think much much more of you if you can do it again,” she says huskily.
“Now?” I gasp, pulling back a little to look at her face. It’s dark, but when I shift my eyes and borrow my tiger’s sight, it’s clear how exhausted she is. Giving her the out, I murmur, “Fuck, Nora, you’ve drained me.”
She laughs, but a yawn overtakes it. “Not now,” she says. “But soon. Definitely soon.”
I laugh and get comfortable in the bed with her. Despite my protests, my cock twitches against her leg, and I just know the fucker would try and go for a round two.
“Anything for you, pretty girl,” I say, but I think she’s already asleep.
Powerful orgasms will do that to you.
Nora
“I’m exhausted,” I murmur, cuddling into Atticus. I had a late night last night with Micah and Fin, after being out with Cevon, and, so, this morning, I was not ready to wake up.
Atty kisses the top of my head, doing his best to adjust his seat so that I’m more comfortable, but it doesn’t really help. He’s massive and takes up too much of my space, so I can’t spread out like I want to.
“Why don’t you try and get some sleep, little warrior?” Malachi asks from the front seat. He’s driving us home, with Micah in the front seat.
Cevon and Devoss are in the other car, and Voss is driving—finally. I was banned from being in that car, since Voss doesn’t drive safely enough, and, unsurprisingly, he would rather drive than have me keep him company.
“Because Atticus is taking up all of my seat, and I can’t get comfortable,” I snap before regret fills me. Atticus gasps, looking down at me with a genuine shocked look on his face.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. This weekend has been crazy, and I’m just an emotional wreck.
There’s no need to take it out on my Alpha though.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, nuzzling into his chest, and he smiles, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m really sorry for snapping at you.”
“It’s fine,” Atticus says gently. “I’m sorry I take up so much space.”
Micah snorts from the passenger seat before trying to disguise it, and Malachi doesn’t even try. He’s laughing away as we cruise down the empty roads. Atticus’s apology was sincere, even if unnecessary. It just makes me a little more crazy for him needing to act that way.
“Do you want us to pull over, and I can swap with Atticus, pretty girl?” Micah asks, turning around so I can see him from the passenger seat. “I’m a little smaller than he is.”
“I’ll pull over,” Malachi says, signalling to the car behind us with my other mates in and moving over into the lay-by on the side of the road. It’s super deserted, but I’d put my foot down and refused to get into a helicopter again, so we’re driving like peasants—according to Atticus, who has pouted a lot.
Within the first thirty minutes, I told him to get a helicopter, and we’d meet him there. He refused. I then threatened to kick him into the other car if he didn’t stop with the pouting, and he’s silently pouted instead.
Works for me.
“You don’t have to,” I say, once the car has stopped. Micah laughs before getting out of the car, and Atticus kisses me sweetly before swapping with my tiger mate. He’ll be more comfortable in the front with more space anyway. He’s a big guy. They all are.
“There we go,” Micah says.
“See if you can get comfortable,” Malachi adds. “I don’t want you miserable for the entire ride. We can always kick one of them into the other car so you’ve got the backseats to yourself.”
“Please, don’t send me there,” Micah pleads, giving me a grin. “I do not want to spend the entire car ride with them and their scheming.”
I giggle, and the three of them grin at me. Atticus passes me a blanket from his footwell, and Micah works with me so that we’re both comfortable. Mal doesn’t even whine about me not having a seatbelt on, which is a first.
The blanket gets wrapped around me, and I’m genuinely comfortable when we get back onto the road. The whole vibe is just relaxing and serene, with Micah running his hand through my hair in a super soothing way.
And, yet, I’m stuck awake with no chance of sleep coming my way.
“Nora, baby, I can hear your thoughts ticking away,” Mal says, sounding a little frustrated. “What happened to sleep?”
“Ugh.”
“So eloquent,” Atticus teases. “What’s wrong, little queen?”
“I’m tired and hungry, and my boobs hurt, and I’m pretty sure I still have cum dripping out of me, which is making my panties wet, and I—”
“Fucking hell,” Malachi groans with humour lacing his tone. “What can we do? I’d tell my brother to clean you up, but only Voss would use his tongue and bring you some pleasure in that state. Micah would probably cry if he had to taste any cum.”
“Fin would probably do it,” Atticus says with a shrug as Mal and Micah laugh.
Well, my panties were wet because of the sex with Atticus and Malachi before coming out, but now they’re fucking soaked at the idea of Griffin and Voss taking turns. Damn, am I horny.
“Let’s pull over again,” Malachi says. “We can get you a change of underwear, and maybe you can take your bra off.”
“No.” I sigh, feeling very pathetic.
“You sound so pitiful, pretty girl,” Micah says sadly.
“I’m doing it,” Malachi says. “There’s another lay-by in a few minutes.”
His phone rings, and Atticus grabs it from the cup holder before putting it on speaker.
“What’s going on?” Devoss demands. “Why are we pulling over again?”
“We’ve just got some shit to sort out,” Malachi says. “And Atticus is moving into that car.”
“Why me?” Atticus demands.
“Because Micah’s going to get dragged into whatever shit they’re planning, and I can’t let that happen,” Malachi says.
“There’s not enough space,” Cevon whines. “At least give us Nora. You keep those fucks, and Voss and I will take her.”
“If Voss shifts into his fox, he could come snuggle with me,” I offer, and Voss’s smugness is felt over the bond. It makes me very happy.
“Of course, he can,” Atticus mutters. “I’m too fat to cuddle my mate, but Voss gets to.”
“I did not—”
“She called you fat?” Cevon asks before roaring with laughter. “Fucking hell.
“Why wasn’t I the cute fox that could be snuggled?” Atticus continues, his tone sounding very dramatic right now. “Instead, I’m powerful and strong—”
“Fuck me,” Malachi groans, cutting Atticus off.
“You’re more than welcome to snuggle me, Atty, baby,” Voss says with an exaggerated cute tone of voice. “Maybe I’ll use the real thing on you. Fin never got it, but you can. I’ve got to reward that strong—”
“Enough,” Malachi demands. “I swear to fucking god, you’re all getting kicked out of my car.”
“There’s definitely not enough room for us all in Voss’s car,” I say sadly.
Malachi pulls the car over, slamming his car door when he gets out from behind the wheel. Devoss pulls in behind us, and Malachi storms over to the window of that car. I snicker, and Micah shakes his head.
“Okay, can I at least have a kiss before I’m kicked out the car?” Atticus asks, turning around to look at me. “This game of musical chairs is a little draining.”
“What’s your deal?” Micah asks with a laugh. He undoes his seat belt and kisses my forehead before getting out.
Atticus grumbles and gets out of the passenger seat. He crouches down in the doorway, and I turn to look at him.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Are you sure that I can’t stay in the car with you?”
“I’m sure,” Malachi says, and his tone is so serious that I start laughing. Atticus grumbles and kisses me sweetly.
“I’m the fucking King, and I get relegated to a passenger princess,” he mutters, stomping over to Devoss’s car. Voss gets out of the car and hops into mine, already in his shifted form.
“So, do we think they’re going to be okay?” I ask as Malachi slams my door.
“I think it’s the best thing for them both, pretty girl,” Micah says.
Malachi gets back into the driver’s seat, hands me a pillow, and leans between the two seats to arrange my blanket.
“No more pulling over. You’ve got your pillow, blanket, a personal pussy licker, and all the space. Go to sleep.”
I bite my lip to try and hide the giggles, but it doesn’t work. I roll to my side, tears dripping down my face as the hysterics take me over.
Voss nestles in close, and, somehow, sleep does overcome me.
27
ATTICUS
“What’s that grouchy look for?” Cevon asks, eyeing me up with disdain as I look out of the window.
“What look?” I can’t help the defensive tone of my voice, but it only seems to amuse my brother even further.
“You’ve glared at me four times, and you’ve only been in this car for ten minutes.”
I sigh before muttering. “I normally like to drive.”
“You’re a terrible driver.”
I gape at him. “You’re speeding right now.”
He rolls his eyes. “Grow up, Atticus.”
“You grow up,” I retort.
Rather than picking a fight, which just annoys me even further, he changes the topic to one of neutral territory. “Is Nora okay?”
If he argued with me, it would finally let him get all his shit off his chest. He could open up, and if he’s angry, he might even drop some extra insight because he’ll have lost all of his inhibitions. Plus, it would help me get out of my funk.
“Yeah, she’s fine. Just grouchy and hormonal and still not fully sure of why. Looks like this is going to be our future for the next few months.” Weirdly enough, I’m excited about it.
Cevon laughs, and there’s genuine happiness radiating from his face. Even if the smile isn’t that wide or his eyes don’t fully crinkle. He’s hardened in the time we’ve been apart, but I’m so fucking grateful to fate for bringing him back to me.
This is one of the times that I’m really grateful that he also bonded with Nora. Because it means when I’m worried, I can use their connection to assess his feelings.
The bond gives me insight into my mate’s mind. I get to experience every single emotion that she feels, the moment that she feels it should I choose, and the bond is such an important and priceless feature.
But it goes beyond just her. Nora has six other mates, and her bonds with them, the thing that ties their souls to hers, strengthen our bonds with each other. We can bond on a deeper level, using our status as metamours to be closer.
It’ll benefit our relationship, our pack, but, also, since these men are now the inner circle of the Phoenix Pride, it’ll benefit our pride, too. Being this in tune to each other will be the biggest asset we’ve got.
Well, it will be if we start using the bonds properly. If we start making sure we’re a unit and not just a group of men who fuck the same girl.
“Did she really call you fat?” Cevon asks, indicating to go right and stealing the conversation from me before I can talk to him about his mental health. Dick.
I laugh but shake my head. “No, she just couldn’t get to sleep because I took up too much space.”
“Ah,” Cevon says with a little laugh. But then he falls silent and doesn’t say anything more.
The air turns stale, a weird tension floating between us both. It’s clear we’ve got to clear the air, and I’m not sure who wants to talk first. It’s not often I’m this unsettled, but lately, it feels like it’s been happening all of the time.
This trip to Riverstone has fucked my equilibrium, and I need to get back on track.
Cevon keeps eyeing me every so often as he drives, and I know he wants to talk. He’s trying to figure out the words to say. I’m content to wait it out and let him start this because then he’ll be the one in control, and it should help him feel better about being vulnerable.
But if he doesn’t start in the next five minutes, I’m going to.
He’s my baby brother. I’m the one to blame for all the tension between us, and I’m also the one to blame for not protecting him better as a child—for not protecting him at all when we were younger. I failed him.
But I’ve got a second chance now, and I won’t let it go amiss.
“Why don’t you just ask me what you want to ask me?” I say, not even giving him the five minutes I set out. In my business, I have more patience, but it seems with my brother, I don’t want to have to put on a show. I want to be open and honest.
I don’t need to posture or try and do this diplomatically. Cevon’s my brother, and he’s struggling. I’m not going to let him leave this car without figuring out how I can help.
Voss was right. A vibrator truly can be your friend in the bedroom.
“I’m close,” Nora garbles around me.
“Then cum, pretty girl,” I murmur, holding her head in place. The tip of my dick is throbbing, and seeing her this feral underneath me is perfection.
“Micah,” Fin begs. “I want to watch.”
I shake my head. “You can hear us. Just use your imagination.”
And that seems to be the catalyst. Nora launches herself off the edge and lands in the pool of pleasure. She screams my name, and, somehow, my own release bursts forth. The pair of us ride out the wave together, and it’s only when Nora’s orgasm subsides that I pull myself out of her mouth.
I sit back on my heels, tugging the toy away from Nora, and give her a big smile. She returns it before leaning over and turning the camera on.
Fin’s eyes are wild, and he glares at me.
“Lay back down, pretty girl,” I say with a smile. “I want one more orgasm from you before I fill you with my cum.”
“Well, at least the dirty talk has improved,” Fin mutters. “Let me watch.”
I nod, not bothering to hide my smirk. If he ruins it for me, I’ll just hang up on him. Sure, I’ll pay for all of this once I get back to the pride, but, for now, it’s been sweet fucking vengeance.
Nora lays on her back, her long brown hair sprawled out on the bed. I move to lie between her legs, and she spreads them wide. I grab her vibrator back and power it on, causing her eyes to widen.
I press it in place, but she flinches away from it.
“Hold it where it should be, baby girl,” Fin says before I could. I hand her the toy and watch as she centres it, taking note for next time.
“Hold it in place,” I say before lowering my head to her pussy. The aroma of her juices causes my mouth to water, the tangy, tart smell combined with the sweetness of her is a heady combination.
She feels the electrically charged air as I flick my tongue out and lap at her slick. One hand holds the vibrator in place, the other holding my head, pulling me closer.
The vibrator presses against my nose, the vibrations strong and annoying as they rattle my entire fucking head, but oh, my god is it worth it to hear the whimpers and mewls that escape her.
I alternate between her slit and her thighs, lathering her in attention.
“Oh, my god,” she utters through gasps. “I’m going to cum.”
I pull back from her ever so slightly, meeting her eyes over the gorgeous lines of her body. It’s barely been two minutes.
“I’m not done playing with you yet. I’m going to play with this pretty little pussy of yours until I get my fill, and only then do you get to cum.”
She groans, and I knock the toy away.
“Take a breath,” Fin commands as I continue licking her. He coaches her through calming down, showing his use, and then commands her to get the toy back.
“Don’t stop.” Her tone is laced with need, the smell of her desperation nearly as strong as her arousal.
It only turns me on more.
My tongue slides along her folds before driving in and out of her. Nora moans, her thighs quivering, as she trembles beneath me before she clamps them to hold me in place.
“Please,” she shrieks.
It’s only the feral demand that causes me to allow it.
Oh, who the fuck am I trying to kid?
I don’t have the restraint that Fin does to edge her properly. I just want to taste every inch of her.
She hums in pleasure and rocks against me and her vibrator, pushing for more.
I can feel the beginnings of her orgasm, and I quicken my speed with my tongue, drawing out every last bit of pleasure from her body with the vibrator. Her breathing speeds up, and she pushes herself against me harder and harder until, finally, she crashes over the edge into blissful oblivion.
Fin joins her, his cum spurting all over his hand, and I pull the toy away. I continue lapping at her gently until she turns floppy.
I sit back, enjoying the satisfied smile on her face.
“You’re so fucking beautiful.”
She grins.
“You’re a cunt,” Griffin says, directing his words to me. “But that was quite the show, baby girl. I’ll leave you two to whatever comes next and go clean myself up.”
“I love you,” Nora says. “But, um, please change my sheets.”
“Love you more,” he replies with a laugh before hanging up.
I move from the bottom of the bed to the top and tug her into my arms. It’s pretty clear she’s exhausted, satisfied, and done. That’s absolutely fine with me.
“Holy fuck,” Nora murmurs, cuddling into me. She rests her head on my chest, both of us slightly clammy and sweaty, but neither of us caring. “That dominance thing? Fucking hot.”
I smile and kiss her neck, enjoying being entwined with her. “Are you going to think less of me if I tell you I have no idea where it came from?”
“I’ll think much much more of you if you can do it again,” she says huskily.
“Now?” I gasp, pulling back a little to look at her face. It’s dark, but when I shift my eyes and borrow my tiger’s sight, it’s clear how exhausted she is. Giving her the out, I murmur, “Fuck, Nora, you’ve drained me.”
She laughs, but a yawn overtakes it. “Not now,” she says. “But soon. Definitely soon.”
I laugh and get comfortable in the bed with her. Despite my protests, my cock twitches against her leg, and I just know the fucker would try and go for a round two.
“Anything for you, pretty girl,” I say, but I think she’s already asleep.
Powerful orgasms will do that to you.
Nora
“I’m exhausted,” I murmur, cuddling into Atticus. I had a late night last night with Micah and Fin, after being out with Cevon, and, so, this morning, I was not ready to wake up.
Atty kisses the top of my head, doing his best to adjust his seat so that I’m more comfortable, but it doesn’t really help. He’s massive and takes up too much of my space, so I can’t spread out like I want to.
“Why don’t you try and get some sleep, little warrior?” Malachi asks from the front seat. He’s driving us home, with Micah in the front seat.
Cevon and Devoss are in the other car, and Voss is driving—finally. I was banned from being in that car, since Voss doesn’t drive safely enough, and, unsurprisingly, he would rather drive than have me keep him company.
“Because Atticus is taking up all of my seat, and I can’t get comfortable,” I snap before regret fills me. Atticus gasps, looking down at me with a genuine shocked look on his face.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. This weekend has been crazy, and I’m just an emotional wreck.
There’s no need to take it out on my Alpha though.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, nuzzling into his chest, and he smiles, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “I’m really sorry for snapping at you.”
“It’s fine,” Atticus says gently. “I’m sorry I take up so much space.”
Micah snorts from the passenger seat before trying to disguise it, and Malachi doesn’t even try. He’s laughing away as we cruise down the empty roads. Atticus’s apology was sincere, even if unnecessary. It just makes me a little more crazy for him needing to act that way.
“Do you want us to pull over, and I can swap with Atticus, pretty girl?” Micah asks, turning around so I can see him from the passenger seat. “I’m a little smaller than he is.”
“I’ll pull over,” Malachi says, signalling to the car behind us with my other mates in and moving over into the lay-by on the side of the road. It’s super deserted, but I’d put my foot down and refused to get into a helicopter again, so we’re driving like peasants—according to Atticus, who has pouted a lot.
Within the first thirty minutes, I told him to get a helicopter, and we’d meet him there. He refused. I then threatened to kick him into the other car if he didn’t stop with the pouting, and he’s silently pouted instead.
Works for me.
“You don’t have to,” I say, once the car has stopped. Micah laughs before getting out of the car, and Atticus kisses me sweetly before swapping with my tiger mate. He’ll be more comfortable in the front with more space anyway. He’s a big guy. They all are.
“There we go,” Micah says.
“See if you can get comfortable,” Malachi adds. “I don’t want you miserable for the entire ride. We can always kick one of them into the other car so you’ve got the backseats to yourself.”
“Please, don’t send me there,” Micah pleads, giving me a grin. “I do not want to spend the entire car ride with them and their scheming.”
I giggle, and the three of them grin at me. Atticus passes me a blanket from his footwell, and Micah works with me so that we’re both comfortable. Mal doesn’t even whine about me not having a seatbelt on, which is a first.
The blanket gets wrapped around me, and I’m genuinely comfortable when we get back onto the road. The whole vibe is just relaxing and serene, with Micah running his hand through my hair in a super soothing way.
And, yet, I’m stuck awake with no chance of sleep coming my way.
“Nora, baby, I can hear your thoughts ticking away,” Mal says, sounding a little frustrated. “What happened to sleep?”
“Ugh.”
“So eloquent,” Atticus teases. “What’s wrong, little queen?”
“I’m tired and hungry, and my boobs hurt, and I’m pretty sure I still have cum dripping out of me, which is making my panties wet, and I—”
“Fucking hell,” Malachi groans with humour lacing his tone. “What can we do? I’d tell my brother to clean you up, but only Voss would use his tongue and bring you some pleasure in that state. Micah would probably cry if he had to taste any cum.”
“Fin would probably do it,” Atticus says with a shrug as Mal and Micah laugh.
Well, my panties were wet because of the sex with Atticus and Malachi before coming out, but now they’re fucking soaked at the idea of Griffin and Voss taking turns. Damn, am I horny.
“Let’s pull over again,” Malachi says. “We can get you a change of underwear, and maybe you can take your bra off.”
“No.” I sigh, feeling very pathetic.
“You sound so pitiful, pretty girl,” Micah says sadly.
“I’m doing it,” Malachi says. “There’s another lay-by in a few minutes.”
His phone rings, and Atticus grabs it from the cup holder before putting it on speaker.
“What’s going on?” Devoss demands. “Why are we pulling over again?”
“We’ve just got some shit to sort out,” Malachi says. “And Atticus is moving into that car.”
“Why me?” Atticus demands.
“Because Micah’s going to get dragged into whatever shit they’re planning, and I can’t let that happen,” Malachi says.
“There’s not enough space,” Cevon whines. “At least give us Nora. You keep those fucks, and Voss and I will take her.”
“If Voss shifts into his fox, he could come snuggle with me,” I offer, and Voss’s smugness is felt over the bond. It makes me very happy.
“Of course, he can,” Atticus mutters. “I’m too fat to cuddle my mate, but Voss gets to.”
“I did not—”
“She called you fat?” Cevon asks before roaring with laughter. “Fucking hell.
“Why wasn’t I the cute fox that could be snuggled?” Atticus continues, his tone sounding very dramatic right now. “Instead, I’m powerful and strong—”
“Fuck me,” Malachi groans, cutting Atticus off.
“You’re more than welcome to snuggle me, Atty, baby,” Voss says with an exaggerated cute tone of voice. “Maybe I’ll use the real thing on you. Fin never got it, but you can. I’ve got to reward that strong—”
“Enough,” Malachi demands. “I swear to fucking god, you’re all getting kicked out of my car.”
“There’s definitely not enough room for us all in Voss’s car,” I say sadly.
Malachi pulls the car over, slamming his car door when he gets out from behind the wheel. Devoss pulls in behind us, and Malachi storms over to the window of that car. I snicker, and Micah shakes his head.
“Okay, can I at least have a kiss before I’m kicked out the car?” Atticus asks, turning around to look at me. “This game of musical chairs is a little draining.”
“What’s your deal?” Micah asks with a laugh. He undoes his seat belt and kisses my forehead before getting out.
Atticus grumbles and gets out of the passenger seat. He crouches down in the doorway, and I turn to look at him.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Are you sure that I can’t stay in the car with you?”
“I’m sure,” Malachi says, and his tone is so serious that I start laughing. Atticus grumbles and kisses me sweetly.
“I’m the fucking King, and I get relegated to a passenger princess,” he mutters, stomping over to Devoss’s car. Voss gets out of the car and hops into mine, already in his shifted form.
“So, do we think they’re going to be okay?” I ask as Malachi slams my door.
“I think it’s the best thing for them both, pretty girl,” Micah says.
Malachi gets back into the driver’s seat, hands me a pillow, and leans between the two seats to arrange my blanket.
“No more pulling over. You’ve got your pillow, blanket, a personal pussy licker, and all the space. Go to sleep.”
I bite my lip to try and hide the giggles, but it doesn’t work. I roll to my side, tears dripping down my face as the hysterics take me over.
Voss nestles in close, and, somehow, sleep does overcome me.
27
ATTICUS
“What’s that grouchy look for?” Cevon asks, eyeing me up with disdain as I look out of the window.
“What look?” I can’t help the defensive tone of my voice, but it only seems to amuse my brother even further.
“You’ve glared at me four times, and you’ve only been in this car for ten minutes.”
I sigh before muttering. “I normally like to drive.”
“You’re a terrible driver.”
I gape at him. “You’re speeding right now.”
He rolls his eyes. “Grow up, Atticus.”
“You grow up,” I retort.
Rather than picking a fight, which just annoys me even further, he changes the topic to one of neutral territory. “Is Nora okay?”
If he argued with me, it would finally let him get all his shit off his chest. He could open up, and if he’s angry, he might even drop some extra insight because he’ll have lost all of his inhibitions. Plus, it would help me get out of my funk.
“Yeah, she’s fine. Just grouchy and hormonal and still not fully sure of why. Looks like this is going to be our future for the next few months.” Weirdly enough, I’m excited about it.
Cevon laughs, and there’s genuine happiness radiating from his face. Even if the smile isn’t that wide or his eyes don’t fully crinkle. He’s hardened in the time we’ve been apart, but I’m so fucking grateful to fate for bringing him back to me.
This is one of the times that I’m really grateful that he also bonded with Nora. Because it means when I’m worried, I can use their connection to assess his feelings.
The bond gives me insight into my mate’s mind. I get to experience every single emotion that she feels, the moment that she feels it should I choose, and the bond is such an important and priceless feature.
But it goes beyond just her. Nora has six other mates, and her bonds with them, the thing that ties their souls to hers, strengthen our bonds with each other. We can bond on a deeper level, using our status as metamours to be closer.
It’ll benefit our relationship, our pack, but, also, since these men are now the inner circle of the Phoenix Pride, it’ll benefit our pride, too. Being this in tune to each other will be the biggest asset we’ve got.
Well, it will be if we start using the bonds properly. If we start making sure we’re a unit and not just a group of men who fuck the same girl.
“Did she really call you fat?” Cevon asks, indicating to go right and stealing the conversation from me before I can talk to him about his mental health. Dick.
I laugh but shake my head. “No, she just couldn’t get to sleep because I took up too much space.”
“Ah,” Cevon says with a little laugh. But then he falls silent and doesn’t say anything more.
The air turns stale, a weird tension floating between us both. It’s clear we’ve got to clear the air, and I’m not sure who wants to talk first. It’s not often I’m this unsettled, but lately, it feels like it’s been happening all of the time.
This trip to Riverstone has fucked my equilibrium, and I need to get back on track.
Cevon keeps eyeing me every so often as he drives, and I know he wants to talk. He’s trying to figure out the words to say. I’m content to wait it out and let him start this because then he’ll be the one in control, and it should help him feel better about being vulnerable.
But if he doesn’t start in the next five minutes, I’m going to.
He’s my baby brother. I’m the one to blame for all the tension between us, and I’m also the one to blame for not protecting him better as a child—for not protecting him at all when we were younger. I failed him.
But I’ve got a second chance now, and I won’t let it go amiss.
“Why don’t you just ask me what you want to ask me?” I say, not even giving him the five minutes I set out. In my business, I have more patience, but it seems with my brother, I don’t want to have to put on a show. I want to be open and honest.
I don’t need to posture or try and do this diplomatically. Cevon’s my brother, and he’s struggling. I’m not going to let him leave this car without figuring out how I can help.
