I lift my eyes and find warmth and understanding in his gaze. This is the man who broke down right here in our arms two days ago; of course he won’t judge my failures.
I nod. “I don’t want it to be a stranger. Not this time.”
Callisto smiles and wriggles my chin like I’m a kid. “Then it’s settled. I wanted to hit the gym anyway for my own reasons, and I assume your director will have a trainer or program for me?”
“Yeah,” Rickon says, reaching over to take my hand.
“But what about your cases?” I ask, still feeling torn. He’s doing so much for us already.
Callisto smiles. “Let me worry about that. I can rest after, since I’ve booked some time off.”
Rickon gasps and clutches at his chest. “What the fuck did I just hear! Time off? Callisto? I must’ve died and gone to heaven, because this can’t be the real world.”
Callisto lunges forward and shoves my alpha. “You brat!” he cries.
Rickon giggles and kicks his covered feet up into Callisto’s belly, who responds by tickling him. Rickon shrieks and arches, gasping and slapping at his attacker’s back, right up until the sleeping bag goes flying and Callisto lands on Rickon’s bare hip. Both men freeze, Callisto blushing beet red.
I smile. This is how we were meant to be. I can picture it now—can imagine Zack tugging me backward into his lap as these two lovely alphas play and we chuckle at their antics. Trust and care all around, melting the boundaries of our worlds.
A purr slips from my throat.
Arms locked in a wrestling embrace, Rickon and Callisto turn to stare at me. I slap my hands over my lips and gulp, equally as shocked. When’s the last time I made a noise like that?
Callisto leans close, sliding his hand up my arm to lock us together. When he speaks, he’s breathless and vibrating with alpha intensity. “Use the broken pieces of me however you like, Red Jones. I won’t run away ever again.”
He remembers the conversation we had the day we met.
I climb into Callisto’s lap, tracing his jawline under his beard as I stare down into his earnest black eyes. My trust blossomsonce more, and all the boundaries between us dissolve, leaving nothing but me and my alpha.
I lean in and press my mouth to his.
Cherry wood tones explode around me like a forest. I imagine he’ll smell like a rich cherry liqueur when he goes into rut. Callisto splays his hands across my back in a silent plea not to pull away as his lips explore mine, touching and retouching like a starved man. I sweep my tongue over his lip, and he shivers. Fuck, he’s so warm and close, lapels brushing my chest, and yet he’s respectfully holding back his extremes.
Letting me use him.
I deepen the kiss, tasting chocolate and coffee on his tongue. His hands tighten, fingers threading into my shirt. How much time we’ve wasted, being prickly with each other. But even now, it’s not the right moment for more. I’m not the only one with a choice to make.
With a shuddery exhale, I lean back.
Callisto gazes up at me, the night sky shining in his eyes. He reaches up slowly and cups my cheek, staring at me like I’m his deity. “What was that for?” he whispers, chest heaving.
“Practice,” I murmur.
He smiles, thumb sweeping across my damp lips. “Practice,” he echoes. “I love this acting gig already.”
Rickon sighs happily and slumps. “Yep, totally died and gone to heaven.”
His theatrics break the tension, and Callisto and I both chuckle. “Not yet, babe,” I say, reaching over to grab his leg. “I need you right here for a whole lifetime.”
Rickon grins at me and flexes his calf muscle under my grip.
“So,” Callisto says, loosening his hold on me. “Do I need to learn some lines or something?” He arches his brows and smirks. “And does anyone know where I can find a good manager? I’ve never come across one.”
Rickon kicks his back, and Calli chokes on a laugh.
“On a more serious note,” the lawyer says, turning his attention back to me. “There’s something I need to ask you in return, but I’m not sure you’ll want to do it.”
I sit up straighter, fingers tightening automatically on his shoulders. “What is it?”
