“Ava,” he forces out. “Sweetheart, your body’s in control right now, not you.”
My hands clench in the blankets as Nikolai leans in, flicking small licks across my belly and down towards my panties. Panting, I keep my eyes on my healer alpha. “I know what I want,” I push, the words coming out as a whine. “I want you, Max.”
His shoulders hunch as he stares at me. “I can’t,” he forces out, his face tortured. “Not like this, love. It’s not fair to you.”
He doesn’t want me. He lied.
Someone has taken a knife to my chest. Pushing away from Nikolai, I sit up, wrapping my arms around myself, folding over. His rejectionhurts.
“Please, Max,” my voice breaks. “Stay with me?”
Nikolai sits up, aiming a furious growl at Max. “She needs you right now. Don’t be an idiot, Max. If you’re not going to stay and help her,” he snaps, “then get out and stop upsetting her.”
“Please,” tears spill over my cheeks. The thought of him walking away from me now is agonizing. “I’ll beg if I have to.”
Max’s face creases as his voice drops. “I don’t want our first time to be because your body’s taken the choice from you.”
“This isn’t a heat, Max,” Nik grunts. “She needs care and attention. The sex is secondary to that.”
Outrage fills me as I turn to glare at him. “No, it’s not!”
Max stumbles forward as Luc nudges past him in the doorway, choking on the cloying scent of vanilla as his face swings to mine.
“Brat,” he breathes, dropping down next to me. “What trouble are you making now?”
I tug him down into a kiss, my hands moving into his hair. Luc kisses me like a starving man, his mouth devouring me until I break free from him with a moan. Bastien kneels next to me, his hands tentative until I grab his palm, drawing it directly to my heavy breast.
Having them here settles me slightly, but something is missing.Someone.
Apple pie, honey brown eyes and gentle hands.
“Max,” I whisper. “Where’s Max?”
Nikolai and Luc share a look, Luc shaking his head with a frustrated growl. “He’s not thinking clearly, sweetheart. He’d be here if he was.”
“He… left?” My breathing starts to speed up as my chest tightens and I cover my face with my hands. Nikolai pries them away, his large hand covering my cheek as panic creeps into the edge of my consciousness. “Shhh, little bird. You’re alright.”
“You don’t have to do this,” I force the words out, my body shaking at the thought of them walking away from me.I need them. I need them to stay. Max’s absence feels like a weight in my chest. But I don’t want to force them into being here.
“You’re not forcing us into anything, little bird,” Nik reassures me. “We want to be here. And so does Max. He’s only staying away because he’s worried you’ll regret it.”
My tears flow faster, and Nik rubs them away, his face distressed.
“Ava,” he murmurs. “If this wasn’t happening, would you still want us?”
My body might be in the driving seat, but I’m aware enough to know my own mind. And Iwouldchoose them, this group of kind alphas who saved my life and didn’t ask for anything in return.
“Yes,” I breathe in realization. “Yes, I want you. All of you.”
Nik’s full lips twist up into a smile. Luc leans in to run his tongue down my neck, making me gasp. “And we intend to make it very, very clear to you how much we want you, brat.”
Nikolai nudges me down onto my back, his hands tracing over my body as Luc and Bastien follow his lead. Touching, petting, stroking, until I’m a shaking, trembling mess for them.
“Need more,” I whine, trying to tug Nik forward. Sinking my fingers beneath my shorts, I drag them down my hips, hands brushing mine out of the way and taking over as Nik leans over me. “Are you sure, little bird?”
His clothes are off, the delicious warmth of his length brushing my empty, aching core, soaking his tip.
“Yes!” I cry. I’m done with them asking for permission. Now, I just need them to take.
