It should make me relax. It does a little. But it also stokes the heat low in my belly, this awareness of the three men who’ve circled themselves around me like planets orbiting their sun. And I am that to them.
I sit there content, ready to share more about myself with them.
When the last of the dishes are done, I sign.
I want to show them my room.
My dad raises his eyebrows. My mom has a beaming smile. Benton leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I would normally say no. But since they’re officially courting you and, well, you spent a few nights at their place, I guess it’s okay.”
I stand quickly, moving over to my father and wrapping my arms around his neck. He kisses me on my cheek, and I squeeze him harder.
I lead them up the stairs—heart pounding, mouth dry, skin buzzing.
When we get to my room, I open the door, allowing them to enter into my private space.
And everything changes.
The air thickens instantly, charged, electric. Their scents rise—not aggressive, but instinctive, responsive. Lincoln’s sandalwood scent slides around me like a blanket. Milton’s grapefruit-sweet heat presses low in my spine. Korbin, steady and grounding, stays near the door, his peach scent drifting over to me.
I swallow, throat tight as I speak out loud. “I… need to ask something.”
Lincoln steps closer, his voice soft. “Anything.”
But it’s Milton I turn to. The words shake out of me, soft but certain.
“Would you… help me through my heat? With Lincoln?”
Milton freezes.
Then his entire body reacts. His scent bursts—heavy grapefruit hits me head-on. His jaw flexes. My hearing aid catches what I think is his growl vibrating deep in his chest, the kind that curls low between my legs.
Milton steps fully into my space and kisses me, hungry, claiming. A rush of heat spirals through me, and I stumble backward right into Lincoln’s waiting chest.
Lincoln steadies me with a soft purr against my neck, lips brushing along my skin.
My perfume spikes embarrassingly fast, flooding the room, sharp and sweet and impossible to hide. I can feel my panties dampening with my slick. My cheeks burn from their attention.
He takes hold of my chin, tipping it upward so I’m looking right at him. “Hey, we'll take good care of you. Very, very good care.”
I tilt my head to the side and see Korbin still watching from the doorway, eyes warm, a small approving smile tugging at his mouth.
“I’m gonna give you three a minute,” he says when he sees me watching him. Then he slips into the hall, pulling the door mostly closed behind him.
He left. I wanted to ask him to join as well. I know we’re not as close, but he did say he wanted to court me. That he wanted to be with me.
Is he having second thoughts?
Milton regains my attention and tells me. “Don’t, Baby. He may have just needed to use the bathroom. He wants you. Let’s sit down.”
Lincoln takes hold of my hand and guides me over to the bed. We sit down, each of them taking a spot on either side of me. They’re sitting so close to me I can feel their body heat.
They shift their bodies to face me. Milton’s hand settles on my thigh, and I look up into his eyes. “There’s something we wanted to tell you.”
Lincoln’s hand finds my knee, his thumb rubbing circles. But I don’t look away from Milton.
“Also, just so you know. Korbin and I… we’ve been talking with our agents. With the league.”
