“If you don’t want pups, make sure you have plenty of condoms before she goes into heat. There’s no stopping once it starts.”
“You have pups already?” Ko swung around to stare at Alpha Jace, who we had found out was a year younger than us.
“Nah, not yet. Lani wants to finish her PhD in marine biology first.” Alpha Jace stretched his arms up and laced his fingers behind his head, his eyes glancing off of each of ours before he added, “In all seriousness, make love to her with more than just your dick and more often than just in bed. Shaking the sheets satisfies her body, but it’s the daily touches and kisses and I love yous that feed her heart and soul.”
“Rock her world at night, treasure her during the day.” Zane nodded once, as if branding the thought in his brain. “Got that, Ko?”
“Ko’s already a natural at that.” I rolled my eyes. “It’s you and I who have to step up our game.”
“Speak for yourself, bro. I play piano and sing for her! What do you do? Clean her shoes every morning? And while we’re on the subject, you need to tone down some of that drill sergeant bullshit when you talk to our beloved.”
“I’ll work on that, but what’s wrong with cleaning her shoes? It shows I care about her,” I growled, suddenly self-conscious. I was well aware that I was weak in wooing skills. “Doesn’t it?”
“Itdoes.” Ko came over and laid a hand on my shoulder, then leaned down and kissed Seri’s cheek. “She notices and appreciates it.”
I gave him a curt nod. I’d thought so, but it was good to get affirmation that my instincts were on target.
Carrying Seri to our room, I stopped to acquire Brumous from the garden on the way, then settled them both in our bed. I took off her shoes, dropped a kiss on her slightly parted lips, and reminded the wolf of his duty as I tucked her under the covers.
“Stay. Guard.”
He sneezed violently, which I took as agreement.
Although he and I both knew it was what he was going to do, anyway.
#
Two days later, we finished loading up the SUV as Seri stood on Evermere’s front porch in the gathering dusk. Ko reached for her first, cupping her face reverently. Their kiss was a language I’d never learned, all slow vowels and lingering consonants.
Zane swooped in the second their lips parted, spinning her until her laughter fractured something inside me. When he finally set her down, her cheeks flushed and breathless, she stumbled into my waiting arms.
I lifted her without conscious thought, my nose buried where her neck met her shoulder. Dragon fruit dew. Impossibly soft skin. Steel underneath.
Mylife.
Her legs locked around my waist, her fingers threading through my loose hair and her lips brushing my cheek.
“Simmy.” The word trembled against my skin.
I kissed her once, hard and brief, before setting her down. Anything more, and I wouldn’t be able to leave.
“Until Father and Seb arrive—”
“Stay behind the wards. Keep Brumous at my side. If he needs out, ask one of the staff to take him.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I remember the rules.”
“I’m sorry we can’t wait until they get here, but—”
“You can’t have your prey arrive before you do,” she finished.
Zane revved the engine. Koa already sat shotgun, obsessively checking his arsenal of blades, while Alpha Jace sprawled out in the back seat.
I made it three steps before turning. The evening breeze carried her whisper to my ears.
“Come home.”
Words lodged in my throat like broken glass. My raised fingers touched my lips, then angled toward her.
Climbing into the SUV, I told Zane to go, and we left her standing there, so small and strong, knowing she’d be there when we returned. It was a motivation like nothing we’d ever known before.
