Killian's glare could strip paint. "Best of three."
"That doesn't even make sense," Regina says flatly, still desperate to apply some logic to this.
"Nope," I insist. "House rules. You lost, you cook."
"Man," Sean grumbles, rolling out of the nest with surprising energy for someone who was comatose a minute ago. "I think you guys cheated."
"That's literally not possible," Rowan says. "Besides, someone has to make sure Killian doesn't burn the bacon."
"I don't burn bacon," Killian growls.
"You burned it last Thursday."
"That was intentional. I like it crispy."
"There's crispy and then there's atomized, bro," Sean counters.
Their bickering fades as they head toward the kitchen, leaving me and Rowan alone with Regina in the nest. She's watching them go with an expression somewhere between bewildered and entertained. Maybe even both.
"Is every morning with you guys like this?" she asks.
"Pretty much," I admit with a dry laugh. "I mean, other than the sleeping in the same bed thing. That's new. But we're not exactly what you'd call… refined."
"I'm gathering that." She stretches, wincing slightly at the movement. "I should probably shower. I feel like I've been marinating in magic."
Among other things,I think with another grin tugging at my lips, but I don't say it.
"We could help with that," Rowan offers, trying very hard not to sound eager.
Regina's cheeks flush pink. "Help me shower?"
"If you'd like." I keep my tone light, giving her an easy out. "No pressure. We can just wait out here if you prefer privacy."
She's quiet for a moment. "Can we shower without it getting... you know?" She gestures vaguely. "Sexy?"
My grin widens. I can't help myself. "I mean, it's going to be very sexy by default. Have you seen us?" I flex my bicep, just to make her laugh. "But we can resist coming onto you if that's what you mean."
Regina laughs. "Okay, yeah. That would actually be nice."
We help her up from the bed, and I notice the way she moves—careful, tender in places that make my wolf practically preen with pride.
Wedid that.
We claimed her so fucking thoroughly, she's still feeling it the morning after.
I scoop her into my arms so she doesn't have to walk and she lets out a startled yelp, her arms wrapping around my neck. "I'm notthatsore."
"Princess treatment," I say pointedly. "Get used to it."
She rolls her eyes, but I feel her relax against me. "You're ridiculous. All of you."
"Guilty," Rowan agrees.
The bathroom attached to the master suite is almost as huge as Sean's ego. Rowan gets the shower started while I gently set Regina down on the plush bathmat.
"Water pressure's good today," Rowan reports, testing the temperature with his hand. "Should be warm enough in a minute."
Regina stands between us, suddenly looking smaller than usual. When I realize she's let her hair fall like a curtain over her scars, it hits me that maybe it's about the bright lighting. It's kind of intense in here, and while she let her glamour drop yesterday, it was considerably darker.
