“I want to try being a pack, bonds and everything, but temporarily. It hasn’t even been a week!” Shifting to face Nathan, I stretch out a pleading hand. “You said something about knowing immediately with your mates—did you bite them right off?”
“Renee, yes. As for Lawrence, we barely saw him until his divorce was final, but then, we bit him right in.” Nathan’s lips quirk; something trickles through his bond to Dan, who suddenly sits bolt upright and swallows hard. “But there was something of a learning curve afterward. We kept tripping over each other until we learned that we still had to talk, that assuming things based on what we felt through the bond tended to lead to hurt feelings and arguments.”
“You’re willing to have temporary bonds?” Dan lifts his arm and touches the cloth over the mark.
“I think so. I’m willing to try—to let you bite me.” That doesn’t unnerve me quite as much anymore, particularly if the biting happens when I’m full of endorphins
“I understand why you’re hesitant to form permanent bonds with me and Dan, at least, I can see your reasons and accept that.” Nathan leans forward, glancing between me and Corin. “But you’ve known Corin for longer, been pack with him, albeit without bonds?—”
Corin interrupts. “I don’t need?—”
“You don’t need her to bite you back, but youwanta permanent bond with her. You’ve wanted it for years.” Nathan shrugs. “Might as well get that out on the table as an incentive.”
“Honesty works better when you’re sharing yourownsecrets, not other people’s.” Despite his stern tone, Dan’s lips are twitching.
“Enough.” Corin claps his hands. His throat works as he turns to me and shakes his head. “Only bite any of us back when you’re ready.”
Rising from my chair, I look at Corin as I walk back to his side. Reallylookat him. Drink him in. Smell him. Settle back on his lap and cuddle him.
Instincts war with caution again. I’m leaning toward the cautious side with Nathan and Dan, preferring to wait longer before committing all of me.
Time to lean on the instincts side?
Even before Max’s death, Corin mattered as much to me as Max, in his own way.
Business partner.
Friend.
Beloved.
And now, lover.
“I want to bite you back.” I lay finger across his lips before he can say anything in response. This close, it’s impossible to miss the way his pupils blow out at the notion. It doesn’t matter that I can’t smell the full extent of his scent, because it obviously overwhelms Nathan and Dan, and their sharp indrawn breaths suggest he’s exuding lust, or other notes I’ll never notice. “I’ll try.
“But I’m going to need some help.”
Chapter 41
The Smell of Them
CORIN
Watching others make love was never on my radar before. It didn’t rank in fantasies, nor dreams. If anyone asked, I’d have returned a polite non-answer and moved on.
Maybe it’s different when one cares about the others involved? I can’t say I love Dan yet, but the potential exists. My love for Johanna has never been in doubt, buthowI love her has changed and expanded over the years, to the point that it’s unmeasurable.
The two of them together epitomize beauty.
I lean against the far wall of the bedroom that currently houses Johanna’s belongings, though she hasn’t slept here in days. She chose this room because it’s where Nathan bit Dan all of a day ago. Thirty hours? Twenty-eight? I’ve lost count, except it’s early evening; we spent hours just being together, getting more comfortable in twos and fours. The rest of us didn’t care which bed, so here we are.
Heretheyare. On the bed, still clothed, though Johanna’s silly slippers slid off the counterpane early on. They’re all kissesand gentle touches over clothes, and soft murmured “do you remember?”
But gods, the smell of them. Johanna’s lust-tinged cranberry forms a muted counterpoint in the glorious, woodsy aroma invisibly billowing from Dan. Nathan’s and my scents barely register in comparison.
My sweatpants leave little to the imagination regarding my reaction to the sights and scents. The same is true of Nathan, though he’s sitting on a chair, which lets him hide it better. Why he’s trying, I don’t know.
Well, perhaps I do, but I’m leaving the matter for him to decide.
