“Fine. You can explain to Dean then why you returned his money to him.”
Tyson’s face pales and I roll my eyes. A rumble of thunder puts an end to our conversation at the same time as the front door swings open and King walks out with Maverick following close behind him.
“We’re just moving the cars,” Maverick fills me in. I clearly had questions written all over my face.
“Is Steel still alive?” I ask either of them.
“He is figuring that out for himself,” King says, winking at me.
While they moved cars, Tyson and I kept unpacking all the storm supplies.
It takes us a good hour to get the house ready, but the best thing is no one dies. Although King is the one shouting the orders before he has me giggling at him being so bossy.
It’s almost a movie moment, the instant the house and cars are locked down and secure, the first snowflake falls. And since snow is a novelty to me, I sit on the back step wrapped in hoodies and blankets and watch the flakes float down and transform the lawn area into a cloud of fluffy white snow.
“Killer,” King squats behind me, and I twist to look up at him. “I want you inside now.”
Without waiting, because he doesn’t generally anyway, he scoops me up but instead of walking straight inside I twist in his arms, and I wrap us both up in a burrito snuggle before I kiss him. And I don’t stop until he pulls away, complaining his nuts have shrivelled up inside him because of the cold.
Chapter
Thirty-Seven
MAVERICK
Howling winds smash against the tiny cabin making the walls groan under the strain. And even though we lost power an hour ago, King had us all racing around triple checking we were as safe as possible, with enough wood nearby so we can survive for days if need be. Although, you’d never know there was a major weather event bearing down on us or maybe you would if Tristan and King weren’t around. She’s always had that ability to fill my focus, and King, he demands it.
For fuck’s sake, we’re sitting around a table full of food like it’s Christmas night; all that’s missing are the carols playing in the background.
I’m not surprised by King’s hospitality. He has that undeniable pull only real Alphas do, where life is about forming good strong, healthy bonds. There’s no doubt he would do a complete personality backflip and become a dangerous threat if we stepped one inch out of line, but so far, we’re good.
King’s hard to get a proper feel for. One minute he’s outside threatening Steel, the next he’s cooking for us while doting on her. He demands constant respect and when he talks everyone is expected to listen, but at the same time if one of us speaks,he pays full attention and offers solid advice without being a condescending prick.
I came close to getting on his bad side earlier and that was intimidating enough, and considering I get in the cage with near feral Alphas every time I fight, it says a lot about his dominance. The way he fucking stood over me and all but read me the riot act is going to stick with me for a while. And he didn’t hold back either, telling me in no uncertain terms that I left Tris in a very vulnerable position by letting her walk through the crowd with the scent of my come over her. He was shaking with anger with what I did, but he was near raging that I didn’t walk her out to her car. I got it. I felt like a dick myself. When he calmed down enough, he simply stared me down and said I need to change the way I think since she’s the centre of our shared universe.
And that is another shock to the system, not that today has been full of bombshells and revelations already. First them being here? Fucking impossible. Tyson and Tristan meeting before today? Again, I would have said fucking improbable.
Her whispering in my ear the same thing I blurted out to her about being scent compatible—fucking a dream come true. But without doubt what has me the most shocked is how the living fuck he is okay with the concept of her packing us. Well, that’s not quite true. I know the reason, she’s sitting across from me looking incredible and scenting up a storm, toying with the four of us like a cat does a mouse.
I’m in so much goddamn trouble where she’s concerned.
Somehow, she’s getting more attractive the more she relaxes. Without a lick of make-up on, and her hair bundled in a knot I can’t get over how stunning she looks. And I can’t for the life of me take my eyes off her. It doesn’t help that she walked out after a quick shower in nothing but a hoodie and a pair of long socks.
I thought King would have issues in her walking around barely dressed and filling the room with her scent but if anything, he’s encouraging her.
“King, you start grace for us.” Tristan’s demure as she speaks as her eyes flutter down submissively, but when they lift, they’re shimmering and full of a mix of trouble and excitement.
He rocks back on his chair, a similar glint in his eye and it adds to the growing promise in the air… not of violence but of her heat. “The sooner you eat, killer, the sooner I do.” He smirks, and there’s a clattering of cutlery from down her end as she stands up, knocking plates and bowls in her hurry to pass the food around.
Even though the two of them are clearly a couple and have been for a while, together they’re inclusive in everything they do and say. But Tristan has another ability with a simple look or using just a handful of words she makes it seem you’re the most important thing in her world. When our hands touch, it’s intentional and she’s not hiding the way she's responding to each of us either, but I keep locking up when she turns her attention my way.
“Maverick?” Her voice hits like an arrow in my chest while her bubble-gum scent hits me right in the knot.
The closer she gets to her heat, the harder it is to think logically when all I want to do is either bend her over or spread her out over the table so we can all take turns dining on her slick.
“Maverick?” she asks again. But the cheeky witch is smiling and it’s confirmation she knows exactly what her scent and flirting is doing to me.
Before I can answer, King starts chuckling again and it has an immediate and physical effect on her; she squeezes her eyes shut, bites her lips, and squirms on her seat.
