“I’d be honored to see your nest,” Beau adds, so genuine and sweet it makes my chest squeeze.
The nerves are still there, but there’s a deep, primal understanding that they’re going to take care of me. That I can finally have what I’ve wanted, and that there’s no need to be afraid.
chapter 12
. . .
RUBY
Out of all theomegas I’ve had the pleasure of being with, nothing has compared to the desire and excitement I experience as Archer shyly leads us to his nest. Add in the handsome, cinnamon roll of an alpha trailing behind me, and I’m melting into a puddle.
The mixture of their pheromones is intoxicating. If I hadn’t had my own heat a few weeks ago, I’d probably be joining Archer in his fevered state and poor Beau would be in for a rough time.
I smile to myself, the thought of this kind, gentle alpha trying to handle two omegas in heat on his own far too enticing. Him sweaty and panting as we demand more and more from him, pushing him to his limit.
Yes, I like that idea a lot.
After we’ve draped our coats over the arm of a chair and taken off our shoes, Archer rakes a hand through his hair and turns toward the door to his nest.
“It’s not much, sorry it’s such a mess…” Archer mumbles as he pulls the door open.
I can’t resist soothing a hand across his back as his spine stiffens with trepidation, going up onto my toes to press a soft kiss to his neck and letting his berry-sweet scent fill my nose.
He sucks in a shaky breath, leaning back against me.
“I’m sure it’s perfect,” I whisper.
I’m curious how my omega is going to feel stepping into a nest that isn’t mine. Because for as much content as I’ve made with other omegas, it’s always been in a staged nest I use for filming, with bedding, pillows, and blankets that are cleaned and rotated after every session.
Archer snorts and shakes his head, but relaxes and steps into the room, flicking on the lights.
It’s surprisingly big compared to how tightly packed everything else is in his apartment, and I realize he dedicated the single bedroom in his place entirely to his nest. Shimmering, semi-sheer forest green curtains line each wall of the space and drape across the ceiling, with fairy lights placed between layers of the diaphanous fabric. In the center of the room, there’s a slightly raised mattress large enough to fit at least the three of us comfortably, with a plethora of pillows and blankets, many of which are piled around the perimeter. Everything is in shades of green and cream, giving the effect of some kind of forest glen, with Archer the beautiful fae prince to whom the domain belongs.
It’s magical and lovely, and my chest squeezes at how much care he’s put into making the space. It’s like his omega has been building it for years, making it just right for when he finally finds someone he trusts to let inside his sacred space.
“May we come in?” I ask, voice a little rough with the gravity of what us stepping inside must mean to Archer.
He nods, moving back to make space for us. “Yes! Come in, please.”
It’s so earnest and sweet I giggle, moving into the space so I can take his hand in mine again.
Beau trails behind, and I turn to see how he’s handling all this.
Not great, if the fact that he’s barely one foot in the door is any indication.
It can’t be easy for him either. From what he said—and didn’t say—during dinner, I don’t think he’s been part of a heat since he was with his previous pack.
I reach a hand out to him, giving him a meaningful look that I hope conveys both my empathy for his struggles and the need for him to be strong so Archer doesn’t think that his alpha is rejecting his nest.
Beau swallows hard and takes my hand, letting me guide him the rest of the way into the nest. He squeezes my hand, not too hard, but enough to tell me he needs my hold on him to keep him grounded.
“Your nest is perfect, omega,” Beau rasps as he looks around the space.
Archer flushes prettily and looks down at the mattress strewn with blankets. “Oh, thank you.”
“Almostperfect,” I correct, and both men look at me with twin expressions of concern. I giggle, tickled by their worry about me. “It’ll be perfect once you have our scents mixed in with yours.”
Archer purrs, clearly agreeing. “Yes. Please. I wish I could smell you both more; your scents are so muted.”
