“Yeah, well I like it when we fuck.”
“It was never just physical. I’m sorry I made you think that.”
I wink at him, “You can make it up to me.”
“I can, can I?” He looks up and grins at me. And the look on his face is something I want to see more of.
“You and I are solid.”
“Never thought we’d find someone who fit us so well,” he admits. “And it’s not weird?”
“Me and you being together and me, you, and Tris being together, and me, you, Tris, and Ty being together? Nah, baby, that’s living the fucking dream. And I do expect flowers, and for you to tell me you love me. Weekly.”
“Don’t fucking push it. You’re going soft on me now?”
“Me soft? You know I’d have your face pressed against the cage any fucking day. Being in love with you, Steel, doesn’t take any of my masculinity away. If anything, it makes me stronger, more determined to succeed. And if you don’t feel that too…”
“Yeah, yeah, no fucking flowers though,” he mumbles, pulling me down to kiss me so fucking gently, I nearly tap out on him.
All too soon he puts distance between us, his hand cups my face, his eyes aren’t so conflicted anymore but there’s still a fuck tonne of worry in them. “I think I’ve got an idea how to deal with Rex, but it’s a fucking risk.”
“Everything is a fuckin’ risk with him,” I offer, rolling to my side to pass over his clothes. I wait to dress, choosing instead to watch him but then he does the same, biting his lip while I tuck myself into a pair of training shorts.
“Don’t think you get all this whenever you want”—I wave down my body—“just cause you came out.”
He laughs shoving at me, but he grabs my hand before opening the door. And if that isn’t a fucking declaration of us, I don’t know what is.
Chapter
Forty-Three
TRISTAN
The door swings open and Tyson’s conversation about transferring hospitals stops mid-sentence as his attention moves to his brother. I follow his gaze and let out a sweet sigh at the sight.
“I gather you two hooking up is more than a heat thing then?” King flicks his chin at Steel and Maverick’s interlinked hands, and I squeeze my eyes shut for a second at King’s usual subtlety.
“That a problem?” Steel bristles, swiping his hair off his face like he’s getting ready to argue.
And Steel’s knee-jerk reaction has King laughing harder. He pretends it takes a while to get himself together even holding on to the bench. Of course, it’s an act but it’s a lesson too. “Steel, you need thicker fucking skin than that if you’re gonna start telling people you like to take it up the ass.”
“Oh my god, King.” I close my eyes and shake my head, letting him know to take a fucking chill-pill.
“Just used to people being pricks is all. Nothing out of the ordinary here,” Steel deadpans. “If anything, I’m waiting for you to come gunning at me ’cause of who I’m with.”
King looks at Steel like he’s impressed with his confidence for a second before winking at him, “Come on, Steel. Use a bitof conviction in your voice, stand fucking taller, when you talk about swallowing cock. You’re an Alpha, right?”
Steel’s feet shuffle as King keeps winding him up. “That’s what pack does; you know. They let you know when you’re doing good in life and they also tell you when you need to lift ya fucking game. I got nothing but respect, but you’re still doubting your own decision by the way you’re acting. I’d have stabbed you in the chest for disrespect by now.”
“King!” I climb off Tyson’s lap on my way to shove my hand over my Alpha’s mouth to stop him talking, “You clearly forgot the first part, there was no lead in, nothing. Just you being…”
I lose track of what I was going to say when King gives methelook. But he’s also on a roll so he keeps drawing me into his trap, “Just me being what, killer?”
Stomping my foot, I jab my finger at him. “You!”
Weirdly I do get where he is coming from, and it’s actually a good place but he needs to learn a little bit of… ah, who am I kidding, it is King. He’ll always be his over-the-top dominant, not so charming self.
King winks at me, a big smile on his face growing the more he watches me. “All I was saying is he’s gotta be more convincing in his delivery and not let people’s judgement make him doubt who he is.” King swings around to face Steel again, “I don’t give a shit. Good on you for manning up but grow a fucking set. Jesus, in the real world all someone needs to do is rib you just a bit and you’re going to water all the while someone is ripping my Omega from under your nose.”
