He made the introductions—the Alpha of Bleake Isle, his omega and half-brother, and the Alpha of the Craven Sea, who winked as he bent over my fingers and kissed them until Torion let out a growl.
"We'll do our best to make sure our visit isn't too taxing for you," Alpha de Roche said, eyeing me carefully, ignoring Torion's glare.
I ignored the warmth in my cheeks and tried to think of something kind to say, but Torion snorted and turned us away. "You're the only one she needs to worry about, so just mind your manners, de Roche."
"I imagine they're harder to come by when you're spending all your time on a ship with a bunch of unruly men," Alpha Cadogan said, following us in our wake, his omega tucked against his side.
At the back of the group, Niall Cadogan's voice was just barely heard above our steps. "Look, you've given them something to bond over."
"What's that?" Alpha de Roche asked.
"Wanting you to keep your eyes off their women."
"I hope the lot of you find something to do today besides bicker," Omega Cadogan murmured.
Torion waggled his eyebrows at me, and I realized I could take my time finding my footing amongst this group. They managed the conversation fine on their own.
We met a group of servants at the top of the stairs, splitting off from one another in the direction of private rooms. I tried notto be pleased by the way Torion's hand tightened around mine, pulling me urgently in the direction of his bedroom.
"I didn't mean to stay the extra night away," Torion said, his voice low as he shouldered open the door. "Oh!"
I inched closer to his back, eyeing the curtains of the nest over his shoulder, rising on my toes for a peek of his arrested expression. And then he was tugging me inside, pushing me back against the door until it clicked shut, and I was trapped between it and his large frame. My breath hitched as his hands mapped my hips and waist, urging me onto my toes so his hips could better fit between my thighs.
"Little witch," Torion growled, bowing his head. I raised my mouth, expecting his kiss, and then moaned as he settled against my throat instead, nipping and kissing, suckling over the fading bruise he'd left behind. "How did you magic us up a nest so quickly? If I'd known it would be ready, I never would've invited guests over. Oh, the things I will do to you in our bed, Brigid. I can't even speak of them, or I might just start now. Let's tell the others to leave. They can finish their flight home today."
I arched in Torion's warm hands, trying to remember the short speech—an apology, really—I'd prepared. Not that Torion seemed to require one. His welcome of me waswarmto say the least. Instead, all I managed was a garbled, "Diplomacy."
Torion snorted, softly kissing his way along my jaw, almost sweetly if not for the way his hands were groping my ass, spreading the cheeks suggestively as he nestled the ridge of his cock against my sex. "They're allies, but they're friends. Cadogan only just made it through his rut, and he still can't keep his hands off Mairwen. He'll understand."
But his arms circled around my waist and his weight pressed still and comforting against me, our faces cheek to cheek so his breath teased warmth against my ear. I realized too late that my own hands were cupping his ass through his kilt, as if to urgehim to move against me, inside me. I cleared my throat and moved them up to rest beneath his wing roots.
"I should've gone with you. I'm sorry I balked," I said, relieved at how much easier it was to say when I didn't have to look him in the eye.
Of course, that didn't last long. Torion leaned back, one hand reaching between us to lift my chin and force my gaze to his. "I like you," he said.
I jerked in his arms, the words striking me like a sharp arrow.
His lip quirked up in the left corner and he ducked, grazing a kiss over my lips. "I prefer you telling me when you don't approve of something, or don't want to do something. Even if I may not take it very well at first."
I couldn't speak, a small, strange sound rising in my throat, and Torion released me, let me hide my face as he stood straight and led us over to the opening of the nest. I winced at the sight inside—the bath I'd had waiting, now cooled, and the covered platters of food ready. Torion took it all in, purring and approaching the linen around the bed. He parted it and stilled. His wings shrouded him from my view.
"Is it…all right?"
His wings spread briefly, and Torion let out a low groan, bending forward and bracing his hands on the built up mattress I'd fashioned. "Come here, omega."
Wisely, I backed up.
Torion glanced over his shoulder, his grin feral, his laugh low. "It only needs one thing," he said.
That made me pause, my brow furrowing. "What?"
"The scent of your release all over the sheets."
My face went hot and I ducked out of the tent, fighting my own smile as Torion let out another laugh.
By unspoken agreement,Torion and I didn't touch again, each taking our turn out of sight of one another to dress, not lingering in the bedroom together when we were done. After a brief luncheon as a group, Torion left the keep with the other men to give them a tour of the Hills. I didn't mind sitting the expedition out, but I'd forgotten what it was like with these sorts of social situations. I was the lady of the house. I had another woman to entertain.
Thankfully, that woman was Omega Cadogan.
