We look at each other for a long moment. My omega is practically doing backflips.
Yes,she says. So I go with it.
“I’m riding with Eli.”
No one argues.
I put my hands on Eli’s shoulders to balance myself, but the bike is so freaking tall. Hands settle on my waist from behind, warm and steady, and Zeke’s scent of citrus and steel melds with Eli’s, making my mouth water.
“Mind if I help?” Zeke asks. I nod, and he lifts me easily so I can swing my leg over and settle onto the small seat behind Eli. I grasp the handlebars on either side of the seat as Zeke heads back to his bike.
Eli glances over his shoulder at me. He sees my grip and gently but firmly takes my hands, wrapping my arms around his waist until I'm very close to his back. His scent, gunmetal and clove, surrounds me, subtle but overwhelming.
“This will be safer,” he explains, and I definitely don’t mind.
He leans forward, grabs the handles, and starts the motorcycle. It revs, vibrating through both of us. He moves slowly at first. Probably slower than necessary. Rafe and Gage glide up the street first, far too elegant for such large machines. Eli follows behind them, putting us in the middle as Corbin and Zeke take up the rear.
I feel surrounded by steel and leather and power on all sides. Eli takes the road a bit faster, and I squeeze him tighter on instinct. One of his large hands comes back to cover mine on his abdomen.
“Human beings are not meant to travel this way,” I mutter and I’m rewarded with Eli’s low chuckle through the helmet speaker. His hand reaches back to cup my thigh, giving it a small squeeze.
“You’re safe with me, Softness,” he promises and the nickname makes me smile. Considering I’ve never once seen his face, I believe him far faster than I probably should.
I take a chance and lean fully into him. My front presses to his back, and I rest the side of my helmet against his shoulder blades. He stiffens for a moment, and I start to pull back until he intertwines his fingers with mine and his thumb ghosts over my palm.
Mate,my omega purrs and I can’t help but agree.
Eli is steady and cautious at first, but once we hit M22, all bets are off. He revs the engine and speeds up. My instinctual reaction is to squeal and press myself harder into his back. That’s when I feel something. It's faint but unmistakable, vibrating against my chest, where I’m pressed to his lower back. I can even feel it through the helmet, humming up into my cheek.
An alpha purr.
My whole being melts into him, and I perfume, immediately whipped away by the spring air rushing around us. But he must sense something because his right hand comes back to rub large circles over my thigh before squeezing and taking the handles again.
Corbin slows down in the lead as we approach a small hole-in-the-wall diner on the edge of the Traverse City Bay. Edison bulbs are strung along the outside. The inside looks crowded. I don’t even want to know what my hair looks like. Corbin guides us to a tabletucked away from the noise. Picnic tables are spread around the place, giving the illusion of privacy and keeping the loudest sounds at bay.
I glance at Eli. His shoulders are looser and his posture is more relaxed than it was at Bee Haven.
“I’ll go get the menus. This place is pretty hands-off,” Corbin says before heading into the bustle inside.
There’s a long, awkward silence between me and the four alphas. Eventually, I decide to break it in the most direct way possible. It has to happen sooner or later, anyway.
I pick up my phone, tap a few buttons, and take a deep breath before hitting send.
All four phones ping. The alphas look confused as they check their screens.
“What’s this, Princess?” Gage asks.
Heat climbs my cheeks—no use trying to fight it.
“My boundaries list.” Corbin returns with the menus and instantly senses the shift. “I’ve started having heat spikes. Probably because of the bond and being closer to scent-sensitive alphas. So, I thought it would be better to fill this out sooner rather than later.”
The guys are staring at their phones now, and I’m left fiddling with the edge of my top.
“This is—” Gage starts.
“Not what I expected,” Eli finishes.
“But very welcome,” Rafe teases, flashing white teeth. I resist the urge to bury my face in my hands.
