Kai considers this, then sets his pizza down. “We could do that. We could have a very serious, very adult conversation about what it means that you one-way bonded to Noah and what that means for all of us.”
He looks at me seriously, then breaks into a grin.
“Or,” he continues, “we could curl up, stuff our faces with my incredible food, and watch Luke Skywalker whine about power converters. Your call, Hollyberry.”
The choice is easy. “Pass the chicken nuggets, please.”
“Wise decision.” Kai hands me a plate. “The sauce with the green flecks is avocado-lime ranch. The red one is sriracha honey. And the yellow one is a dijon mustard aioli that will change your life.”
I dip a nugget in the yellow sauce and take a bite, closing my eyes as flavors explode across my tongue. “Oh my god…”
“Told you,” Kai says smugly, pressing play on the remote.
As the iconic Star Wars theme fills the room, I feel myself relaxing for the first time in days. The food is incredible, the fort is cozy, and the company—despite being two alphas I barely know but somehow now live with—is surprisingly comfortable.
Halfway through the movie, Kai refills our drinks while Grayson adjusts the pillows. I notice for the first time that Grayson is shirtless, wearing only loose sweatpants that hang low on his hips. His chest and arms are a map of muscle and scars, telling stories of battles I can only imagine. Despite the bandanna still covering the lower half of his face, there’s something vulnerable about seeing him this way.
“Do you ever take that off?” I ask, the question slipping out before I can consider its appropriateness.
Grayson’s eyes find mine, unreadable in the dim light. “Never.”
The wine has loosened my tongue, making me bolder than usual. “Not even to shower?”
A glint appears in his eyes—amusement and challenge. “Easy way to find out.”
Heat floods my cheeks, and I look away quickly, focusing intently on the movie. But my awareness of Grayson’s proximity has sharpened, making it hard to concentrate on anything else. I’m suddenly conscious of the low buzz of arousal that’s been humming through me since I entered the fort—a sensation I’d attributed to lingering effects of my heat.
Now I’m not so sure.
Maybe it’s just the natural response to being in close quarters with two very attractive alphas. Maybe it’s the wine. Maybe it’s the comfort of a room literally covered in nesting materials they’ve created for me. Whatever the cause, I feel my body responding—my pulse quickening, a warmth pooling low in my belly, and the unmistakable flood of slick dampening my underwear.
Grayson’s nostrils flare, and I know he can smell it. His eyes darken, but he says nothing, returning his attention to the screen with a discipline that must have served him well in the military.
As Kai returns, I have to shove an entire slice of pizza in my mouth before I say something I might regret.
By the time we reach the Death Star trench run, Kai has fallen asleep, sprawled across his section of pillows with one arm flung dramatically over his eyes. His soft snores provide a counterpoint to the movie’s soundtrack.
“Always does this,” Grayson murmurs, his voice low enough not to wake our sleeping companion. “He never makes it to the end.”
I smile, watching Kai’s chest rise and fall peacefully. “He must have spent hours in the kitchen. It’s been a long day.”
“‘Specially for you.” Grayson shifts closer, his heat radiating against my side. “How you feeling? Physically, I mean.”
The question catches me off guard. I can’t help but notice that Grayson has spoken more words in the last five minutes than I’ve heard since we met. “Fine, I guess. A little achy.”
“Muscle soreness is common after a heat ends,” he says matter-of-factly. “Your body was in overdrive for a few days.”
I nod, suddenly aware of the tension in my shoulders and back. “I’ve read the literature, but this was my first...”
“I could help,” Grayson offers, his voice carefully neutral. “If you want.”
“Help?”
“Massage.” He gestures to my shoulders. “Hands were made this big for a reason.”
I should say no. I should thank him politely and maintain appropriate boundaries. I should remember that I’ve already made a mess of things by bonding myself to Noah, and this situation is complicated enough without adding more confusing intimacy.
Instead, I hear myself agree before my mind has caught up. “That would be nice.”
