I guess I thought Valak would be in the kitchen with everyone, being Valakish. Silently brooding and simmering away in his aloofness. Except he’s not, he’s in the shower, with the door wide open. I shut Ares up with a terse command and watch the muscles on Valak’s back squeeze and contract with whatever he is doing. He changes position, widening his legs and pressing one arm against the wall as he leans his head against it. His eyes are squeezed shut, his mouth open making him look half desperate as he runs his fist up and down his very hard cock. There’s something really, really, really hot about watching a man jack off. Watching Valak own the moment, from under the sheets that smell like him, ignites a fire in my belly, and instantly, my fresh underwear are a slippery mess.
Pushing Ares off the bed, I lie there huddled under the blankets while Valak thrusts into his hand. His knot is swollen, his cock looks thick and leaky, and I really wish I had a goddamn camera to take photo after photo to keep this moment in time forever.
He’s immersed in his own world, and even though I feel like a voyeur and never want to leave, I won’t do that to him. Not because I’m embarrassed, but if he knew I was here while he was pleasuring himself, he’d forever question himself and his abilities. He literally has no clue Ares and I are in his room, or that I nearly wet myself in his bed, and for a man so full on about security, knowing that we sneaked past his defences, he’d freak out.
Shoving Ares out the door as quietly as I can, I make the bed before slinking back to my room and changing my panties. Splashing my face with cold water kind of helps, but I don’t know, my time with Gabe and Lincoln, my unexpected run in with a frustrated Noah and watching Valak now… I’m in trouble. My omega genetics are opening up quicker than gifts on Christmas Day.
It’s definitely time for a group chat.
Ares and I walk slowly and more put together than we did a few moments ago, and when we find the others, including a freshly showered Valak, in the kitchen—all standing around the island bench—their discussion dries up.
“What?” I ask, innocently.
Gabe rolls his eyes. “Yeah, don’t you even try that. Get your patootie over here. Lincoln’s about to grill and I want you to try his creamy dip.” He pauses for effect, smirking like a cocky schmuck.
Of course, I smile in return, because it is pretty funny.
Gabe just shrugs, pretending he wasn’t insinuating anything inappropriate. “I think it’s too garlicky.”
I stop a short distance from him. “I’m not eating it then.”
“Why?” He tips his head, completely invested in our discussion.
“Personally, I’m not a fan of garlic. Plus, because of my nature, I’ve found that blander foods work better for me.”
And then he picks up the dip and drops the whole thing in the bin. Bowl and all.
“What? That was unnecessary.”
“If it’s there, I’ll eat it and then later you won’t kiss me, so problem solved.”
“Get a beer, Deuce Bigalow, we need to chat.”
I make a beeline for the doors to the patio, pointing at a spot for Ares to sit while I get his bone from the fridge, and then meeting the others at a table.
Lincoln drags a seat out for me, right at the top of the table. Once I sit, he pulls out the big guns, draping a lightweight blanket over my shoulders. His scent is ingrained in it, making me all warm and tingly.
“The storm is coming, the breeze is getting colder, dove,” he says, trailing his fingers over my shoulders.
I guess both Gabriel and Lincoln are making declarations without actually saying anything. Which makes me wonder why Noah hasn’t mentioned our earlier conversation. I’m not one for stirring up trouble, but at the same time, I want them to be fully aware of what it means for me to be sitting with them.
“We’ve clearly got a few things to sort out, and I’m happy to answer questions. But at my discretion.”
“That works,” Valak says, leaning back in his chair, stretching his arms.
Hot damn, I shouldn’t blush, but I do because I know exactly what those arms were just doing. Hiding behind my beer, I get my raging hormones under control.
“I’m a straight up person, if you want to know something, ask. If I feel okay telling you, I will. I won’t deviate from the truth and I’m not into games. Does that work?”
Gabe shuffles forward on his seat, all our fun from before falling away. And it’s not like I didn’t know he had a serious side, but I appreciate him not messing around at the same time.
“Sure does. And I also have an update, which without trying to corral you in any way, you might want to listen to before you tell us what you think we need to know. Because maybe for your safety we don’t need to know everything. As a group anyway. Me personally, I want to know everything about you, but we can do that later when we’re in bed.”
I shake my head at him, throwing a hand around the table. “So you really are trying to let everyone know that we hooked up?”
Gabe tips one of his sexy-ass half smiles at me, winking before he raises his voice. “We did more than hook up, Len, and you know it.”
“Use her full name, Gabriel, you’re pushing things too fast.”
