“We want to date you. As in, be in a fully committed relationship.”
“Yeah,” Rowan adds, as the kittens climb all over him. He winces when Josie digs her nails into his shirt and climbs up hischest. “We want to ‘court’ you or whatever the fuck it’s called. Be your boyfriends and do fun boyfriend stuff.”
“What they mean,” Travis says, and I turn to face him, meeting his earnest expression. “Is that we’re in this for the long haul. You’re the one, Blair. And it’s not because you’re a scent match. It’s because of who you are.”
The vulnerability in his dark brown eyes makes my heart beat rapidly.
“Oh,” I murmur. “Well, when you put it likethat.”
“And that means letting us spoil you, babe,” Rowan adds.
“I’m fine spoiling myself,” I say.
“Too bad. I get hard when I dote on you. Deal with it.”
Ryland puts his face in his hands and sighs. “What thehell, Rowan.”
But I laugh, and suddenly, I’m lighter.
I wonder if this is what it’s like to be happy.
The whispers of guilt fade into background noise.
Fuck Annette.
Fuck those ghosts of my past that show up when I experience the tiniest bit of joy.
“Hey.” Ryland tilts my chin up gently. “We’re not going anywhere, ever. Do you understand? We’ll go at your pace, as long as it takes. And anytime you want to talk through anything, I’m here. Nothing is ever off limits. If you ever want to talk about…them, we can.”
How Ryland saw it on my face, I’ll never know.
But I simply nod and bury my face in his shoulder.
Rainwater and moss swirl around me, calming my heart.
Everything will be okay.
I just know it.
Marlin and Mervinreceive all the kisses in the world before I go to work.
Piper fed them too many treats, though, and they beg for the ones that sit on the top shelf of my pantry.
“They’re almost as loud as the girls,” Rowan observes, lounging on my couch.
After arguing this morning with his packmates, he was the one that got to take me back to my apartment. My car is parked in its usual spot, thanks to Ryland, who handled it the other night at Scents.
Yet Rowan insists on driving me to the rescue today, which I’m fine with. The three of them will pick me up tonight for dinner.
My after-Heat effects are still there, and the thought of being away from them for almost a day makes my inner Omega panic.
So, we have a reservation at a gastropub where we can have a few drinks and enjoy each other’s company.
Even Travis is off work tonight.
“They’re very food driven. A lot of cats are,” I say, nodding to Mervin and Marlin. “It’s hard to rewire their brains once they’ve gotten a taste of something they really like.”
Rowan smirks and a wicked glint shines in his eyes. “I know the feeling.”
