“Are you okay?” he asks as he moves over me. I nod in agreement. One side of my neck has been bare this entire time. Keelan claimed the other side but I wonder if everyone thought this spot was for Micah. Angling my neck to give him the most space, I eye his neck in return. I want my mark where he and everyone can see it.
He leans down, his warm coffee scent getting deeper, placing kisses on his intended spot, making goosebumps rise along my skin. His teeth graze my skin like a tease, making me groan in frustration. He chuckles at that. Well, two can play that game. Reaching up, I put slight pressure on his back, pushing him lower so I can kiss his exposed neck. As soon as my lips make contact, he strikes—biting and marking me. It feels amazing. Instinctually, I return by marking him and the bond forms between us. It feels like a rush, different from any of the other times, like a network connecting its last piece. I can feel that last jagged rough piece of my heart melding into the rest. It’s so rough and abrasive with all the little scars from being broken and put back together again. It almost reminded me of thatrugged wooden heart I carved. These men have put these pieces back together and made a new one I never thought I’d ever have.
I flood our bond with so much love, and Micah’s surprise is distinct. But so is his love. After tending to our marks, he rests his forehead against mine, just like at the hospital. Only now, I can feel all the emotions that are swimming in his eyes.
“I love you so much, Wildcat.” He kisses me so softly on the lips, the brush of his beard against my skin lighting me up from the inside.
“I love you too.”
48
THEA
It’s family dinner tonight and everyone can finally make it. Eli’s been traveling, catching up on work that got backed up from my heat and then everything afterwards. He got back yesterday and crashed immediately. He had to go to three different cities in the last two weeks. Tonight is the first time everyone will be home for dinner in a while. Jake’s schedule also aligned with ours and it’s Friday and since most of the guys don’t work the weekends, it’s the perfect time for my plan.
I insisted on cooking tonight’s dinner. I’m nowhere near as good as Ben or Micah but I want to do something for them all. They’ve been amazing since I met them and through everything that’s happened. I’ve officially been in therapy for six weeks now, and I’ve been starting to feel more like myself lately. Up until now, I haven’t had sex with any of my mates. But that’s going to change tonight. I wanted to wait until everyone was home so I can be with all of them. I need to reconnect with all of them at once. I’ve done all the exercises my therapist had me do, which included lots of visualizing and journaling to better understand how I feel about different situations. I know now I can’tcompletely predict my triggers but based on what happened, there are a few things I know we can avoid and I should be okay.
Duke is keeping me company in the kitchen, eagerly waiting for any food scraps. Eli shuffles in, looking like he just woke up, still in a faded T-shirt and sweatpants. I smile to myself as I continue chopping the vegetables. “Slept the day away, huh?”
He walks over to the island where I’m currently working on dinner and sits in the chair opposite me. “Yeah, I’m so glad to be home. Video calls weren’t enough. I need to see you in person to get my daily dose of sunshine.” He slumps over the counter, clearly still tired.
I shake my head. “You are the corniest person I’ve ever met.”
He smiles, his head tilting up at me. I always love his smile. “But you love it right?” When I don’t say anything, he repeats, “Right?”
I shrug, trying to keep a straight face and continue my task. I hear him get up and scent him next to me in no time. He stretches his top half across the counter next to me, angling his head. “Rightttt?”
I smile in spite of myself, unable to keep it up. “Fine, I give up. Yes.” He jumps up with more energy than he’s shown since coming downstairs.
“Aha, I knew it,” he declares and then kisses me on the cheek.
I push him away lightly. “Go back to your seat so I can finish cooking. And before you say anything, we both know you should absolutely not help.”
He pouts but does as I say. He hangs out with me while I continue cooking and we catch up on how his trip was. Then one by one the guys start coming home—Jake and Liam with Ben and Micah being the last two. Parker and Keelan are still working in their respective spaces. I give a fifteen-minute warning before the food is done. Eli starts setting the table, while Ben goes to get Parker and Jake gets Keelan. I’m sure they bothgot sucked into whatever they’re working on and lost track of time.
I’m so happy to see all my mates here. Connor pops into my head at the thought. I’m sure he’s lingering around here, at least that’s what I like to continue to think. He did say in his letter he’d haunt me, so I’m just taking him at his word.
Micah is sitting opposite me and shivers suddenly. “You okay?” I ask.
His brows are furrowed as he rubs the back of his neck. “Yes, just a sudden chill.”
“Oh, Thea did you hear whether Mateo got that job?” Ben asks.
Not long after Sophie came over that day, she and her pack left to go back home to Florida. On one of our weekly calls, she told me they were planning to move up here. Well not here, since they don’t prefer such a small town. They’re planning to move to a city about five hours downstate. Max is selling his gym. James already got a job at a financial firm near where they’re moving. Mateo’s job as a professor is a little trickier. However, they’re moving near Albany and there are a lot of universities in the area, but only a handful with programs he liked to join. “He moved on to a second interview. I guess it can be a lengthy process, but it’s moving in the right direction.”
“That’s great, I’m excited for them to be closer!” Parker says excitedly. I am too. They said nothing was really keeping them in Florida and with me firmly in New York, they wanted to be closer. I’m so lucky to have them as my bonus parents.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you guys. Taz texted that his pack will be coming up this summer for a vacation. Do you think they can stay in the rental again?” I ask and a chorus of groans sounds.
“Why did he have to latch onto you?” Jake says, exasperated, his head falling back to stare at the ceiling.
“He’s really not that bad and you all like his pack mates. Even River will be coming, though I have to stay away from him, Taz said. They want a break and to enjoy the lake,” I explain.
“It’ll be fine, we’ll make sure the house is ready for them. I was thinking we should furnish it so when Sophie’s pack comes, they can stay there instead of a hotel,” Eli says.
“That’s a great idea, thank you Eli!” I say excitedly.
Dinner continues on with us all talking and having a good time. The bonds are singing with everyone’s peace, contentment, happiness. I clear my throat to get everyone’s attention, which quickly cuts off the discussions.
