His forehead presses to mine. He slowly lifts his hand from my mouth.
My breathing is heavy and erratic. Everything below my waist feels molten and weak.
“Are you okay?” he asks, kissing the tip of my nose.
I nod, still not ready to break the quiet. The truth is, that was more than okay. I’ve never experienced anything like it, and I’m more than ready to do it again.
Rafe
We’re all milling around the suite’s common room, thinking about getting started for the day, when Eli’s door cracks open. But Eli doesn’t come out. At least, he doesn’t come out first.
Winnie steps out barefoot, wearing a pair of Eli’s boxers and a tank top. Her floral scent has twined with cloves and god I don't need to be this hard this early in the morning. When she sees that we’re all up, she freezes. Gage is sitting on the couch holding a cup of coffee. Zeke is leaning against the mini bar. I’m halfway through shoveling a croissant into my mouth. We’re all in various states of undress.
I whistle low. “Well good morning, Dulzura. Did you sleep well?” I tease, throwing her a half smile. She blushes prettily, and it’s probably pathetic how much that makes my entire day. But right now, I don’t give a fuck.
Eli finally emerges. Shirt on, pants being buttoned. He’s unfairly handsome in the mornings without his mask.
His blue eyes meet mine, and there’s something there that usually isn’t. A kind of peace. My heart slams into my chest. Eli and I’ve always thought there could be something between us, but life always got in the way. Maybe not so much anymore.
My Dulzura is looking between us with a knowing smile. She plucks the coffee out of my hands and takes a sip, then bumps my shoulder lightly. I raise an eyebrow at her, but she doesn’t say anything.
Gage rolls his eyes.
“What are you doing today, Blossom?” Zeke asks, sauntering up and planting a kiss at the crown of her head, one hand settling on the plane of her stomach.
“Working,” she says, glancing at the clock. She nearly chokes on her sip of coffee when she sees the time. “Oh my gosh! That’s the real time?”
“All day,” Gage says.
She vanishes back into Eli’s room. We hear rustling for a few minutes, then she emerges mostly dressed in the floral number she had on yesterday, hopping as she crams on her flats.
“Do you need a ride?” Eli asks.
“No, my car’s downstairs. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I slept in that late,” she mutters, voice muffled as she pulls half her hair into space buns using one of the ties clenched between her teeth. Then the other. It doesn’t look anything like her usual care. To be honest, she looks a little like a crazy cat lady. None of us comment.
I think she’s going to bolt out the door, but instead she turns and launches into my arms. She scent marks along my throat and kisses my cheek. She starts to turn, but I catch her by the waist and nuzzle down hard into her shoulder and neck, making sure to leave my scent all over her.
When I pull back, she’s wearing a dazed, crooked little smile.
She turns away again, and this time I let her. She makes her way around the room, scent marking each alpha. Even grumpy-ass Gage gets up so she doesn’t have to bend all the way down to the couch. He doesn’t smile, but he scent marks into her hair first, and she along his jaw.
“Okay. I’ll see you guys later,” she calls.
“Hurry up! Your boss is gonna be pissed,” I shout after her.
She turns to stick her tongue out at me before closing the door behind her.
Winnie
Stella is glaring at me.
“We definitely should have gone into Traverse City,” Sunny stage-whispers.
“You said you didn’t have time,” I remind her. I haven’t had time to see the guys since I stayed over with Eli a few nights ago, and I likely won’t before the family dinner on Friday. So Sunny asked me to help her find a dress for my sister’s wedding.
“I don’t. I have to make sure all of the queens in each box are properly brooding. It’s a super crucial time for bees.”
I peer over, and Stella’s milky brown eyes watch me from above an oxygen tube. Despite her age, I can feel hot resentment rolling off her in thick omega waves.
