But where I’m looking ready to trek across the Arctic Circle, Mav looks like the poster boy for snow pants. He’s even got suspenders on, baseball cap on backwards and only a Henley.
“I think I have to go change,” I whisper as he pulls me out the window and onto a weird ledge on the side of the hut.
“Nah, it’s actually cold out here,” he mumbles until he gets close enough to smell what I meant. He clasps his hands on my hips from behind, nuzzling into my neck. “Tristan Cameron you’re a fucking whore for me aren’t you.”
His stubble tickles and does nothing for my case. I wasn’t going to deny how hot he got me in a few moments. Maverick is a fucking gorgeous man, and it looks like my pussy is reminding me of that fact, in case I forgot. He bites against the back of my neck before my panties get completely ruined because Steel is looking almost the same, except he’s got a beanie pulled down low, his hair hanging loose and his snow pants look like black jeans.
“Hello, there,” he grins, “Mav get you all worked up?”
“God, you have no idea,” I growl playfully because he does, the smirk on his face tells me Steel knows exactly what he’s doing to me.
“Pretty sure Mav and I can help your,” he wiggles his fingers at me, “predicament. If we can get away from King, I mean.”
“Not fucking happening out here. I like all her fingers and toes in place,” King growls. Steel laughs as he lets go of my arms and I drop the small distance into King’s waiting arms. But he just drops me into the soft snow, following me down before kissing any argument off my lips.
The next few hours pass easily, with shovelling in between a snowball fight or two and icy cold kisses from each of them. It’s frightening how simple life seems and how seamlessly perfect the five of us are together. By the time King wanders outside with a box of beer, the stairs are clear, the hot tub is bubbling away, and we’ve got a place to eat under the stars.
It is no longer frigid. It’s cold but nothing like the last few nights have been.
Which is sad in a way because it also means our time away, hidden from the world and responsibility is coming to an end.
King sits on the top stair and pulls me to sit on his lap, passing beers around once everyone finds somewhere to sit. The radio is on in the background, and in between updates on road closures the easy tunes of country rock float out. He rolls a couple of blunts and we sit and smoke them until we’re all heavy lidded and ultra-relaxed.
“All right, let’s sort out how this is gonna roll,” King starts, but before anyone can open their mouth, all our phones start pinging and buzzing. “Looks like we got service again.”
Maverick hops up and collects everyone’s phones, and the next little while is spent checking texts, messages, and emails. My stomach drops. No one has heard from Heidi Ho. Seeing Simona’s active online, I send through an audio request via Messenger and she picks up before the second ring. But she makes it a FaceTime call too which is not going to work for me, considering how red my eyes probably are now.
“Any news?” I ask, ripping my hat off and fluffing my hair out.
“Hello, I’m well, thanks for asking,” Simona snarks, but she’s smiling sweetly at me too.
The funniest thing is we both ignore the very strange backgrounds we share. Well, more accurately I don’t make mention the almost Bridgerton themed room she’s in, complete with lush furnishings, sky high windows and drapes, but I most certainly notice. Being as subtle as possible, I rid myself of any snow looking attire and walk into the bathroom. Bathrooms are mostly nondescript, and if Sim pushes for an explanation, it’s an easy little lie about being out in a remote location for work. Which if I word it exactly like that, is not really a lie.
“Are you okay, Sim? I knew you would be which is why I’ve left you alone, not bothering you too much but the other not exciting news is that I got caught in a storm! And… I may have just smoked, so go easy.”
“Sounds like fun,” she answers back softly. And to Sim it would be fun, she’d be happy in the solitude and the quiet. I guess I didn’t have too much issue enjoying my time without any electronics or devices either for a few days. Heidi would lose her shit in an hour but fair enough too, she’s our career woman working on taking over the family company. After we deal with the deadshits currently in charge of Verdune.
“Wow! Hang on,” Simona says, her voice staying quiet, her mood calm as always. “I think I got through to her.”
“Put her through!” I holler but all I see is Simona waving a hand my way as she turns slightly to talk on her mobile. And I hustle. I nearly break a leg getting my hair done, throwing on some make-up over my throat and grabbing one of Tyson’s long sleeved work shirts to hang around my shoulders, very boyfriend style chic. I look good. And lucky I put in the effort because all of a sudden it’s a group chat, complete with cameras and microphones.
And fucking speakers. Heidi, yelling at Raney, stops King in his tracks. He was dead set going to come in, and giving the press of his cock in his pants I’m pretty sure I know what his plans were. Instead, he sinks on his butt out of camera and locks a hand around my foot in support.
The both of us feel like shit lying to Raney particularly, but the both of us are stupid in love too. And freshly claimed. I dodge bullets like a pro.
“Did you keep the kittens?” I interrupt the girls gossiping about Raney and her Alphas. If it was just me and the girls I’d push for details, but I doubt King wants to hear how much cock Raney’s getting.
Raney’s face twists when Heidi lifts up one of the kittens I was talking about, a hairless variety with ears, legs, and tail way too big. Sphinxes are not for the faint hearted. Me? I’d get one of those old English Sheepdogs, all fur and super cuddly. Well,I would have, now I have hairy Alphas to snuggle up to instead. Staying in the conversation is hard when I’m bent and it’s made better or worse because King keeps trailing his hand up and down my leg. It feels too good, like every time his skin is on mine it feels good, but him relaxed like this, yeah I’m not missing out on the opportunity of riding my blitzed-out Alpha.
Pulling my head back into the conversation I figure a quick chat is a good chat. And thankfully the girls are still talking cats. “I’m ordering you some matching sweater sets from Giddy Geisha,” I offer but then I look at Raney and she still hasn’t managed to school her reaction to the cats, and I start laughing until I’ve got tears in my eyes.
The funniest thing is Raney doesn’t even try to defend her dislike of them. Not that it would matter to Heidi, I’m pretty sure we could all give her shit about how ugly/cute they are and Ho would not care one bit, considering they’re a gift from Kai.
Our conversation goes from laughing to not making any sense as we get caught up in a whole heap of banter until Ho declares she’s got news. In a couple of words, we’re all back to being gossipy bitches waiting for the smallest titbit.
“Good news?” Raney presses, and no shit her, me, and Sim all lean into the camera expectantly.
“It’s getting better.” Heidi looks all dreamy eyed, which is the point at which she freaks me out, ’cause Ho is rarely dreamy eyed.
