“Fucking hell,” Luke groaned, burying his knot and collapsing onto Genesis. “Woman, you are a goddamn sorceress.”
Gabriel burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room, filling it with light. Orlando smiled. The room smelled better now—it smelled right, like pack—and their bond hummed with pure pleasure. Everything felt right.
It felt even better when, a few hours later, Genesis began to nest.
Luke and Genesis had gone into the ensuite bathroom to shower, so Orlando thought it would be a good time to change the bedding. Though the special sheets absorbed the bulk of the moisture, the bedding was still damp with cum and slick. He’d just begun to strip the bed when Luke and Genesis reentered the room, wrapped in fluffy towels, skin rosy and fresh. Luke looked more relaxed and content than Orlando had seen him in ages. Genesis looked just as happy, until she glanced around the loft and saw the partially stripped bed.
Genesis took one look at what Orlando was doing and growled. He froze, surprised by the sound. The omega stalked toward him, snatching the comforter from his hands and tucking it back into place.
Realizing what was happening, Orlando stepped back to give her space. His chest swelled with pride as she began rearranging the pillows and blankets, muttering quietly to herself the whole while. Gabriel, who’d been downstairs grabbing a bite to eat, walked back into the room and stopped beside Luke, his face filled with wonder. Luke’s expression was more difficult to parse.
Genesis growled in frustration when she ran out of pillows to stack. Orlando moved carefully to the piles of new bedding he’d brought in, grabbing a couple and holding them out to her. She cocked her head before taking one, tossing it aside, then inspecting the other. She gave it a tentative sniff before rubbing it against her face and squeezing it a few times. Apparently deeming it worthy of her nest, she found a spot for it with the others she’s positioned around the bed.
After that, she really got to work. The three alphas watched in silence as she dug through the many piles and bags, pulling things out to inspect, selecting some and discarding others decisively, often nodding or grunting to herself. Occasionally, she would claim an article of Pack Rossi’s discarded clothing and tuck it in among the pillows and blankets, purring in satisfaction.
Orlando tried to quell the unbridled happiness he felt watching her make her first nest and fill it with the scent of his pack. He knew she wasn’t theirs—not yet—but dammit she sure felt like it. Orlando never thought he’d feel this way again. It was scary and wonderful, and he didn’t want it to end.
When Genesis was satisfied, she curled up in bed, turning her doe eyes toward him and reaching for him in invitation. Orlando climbed in beside her, Gabriel following immediately to press himself against her other side. Luke stood alone in the middle of the room looking heartbreakingly helpless. His indecision writhed through the pack bond. For a moment, Orlandowondered if his packmate was going to ruin this perfect moment by running away. If he rejected her again, refusing the invitation into her first nest, Orlando would have to murder him.
“Alpha,” Genesis whimpered, extending a hand toward Luke.
Luke Wyatt shivered, his face twisting into an expression full of raw emotion. Just when Orlando thought the idiot might actually turn away, Luke dropped his towel and took a tentative step forward, then another, before climbing into bed, settling himself near its foot and resting a hand on Genesis’s shin. She purred.
They lay that way for a long while, listening to her purr and breathing in the scent of peace and home and pack, pack, pack.
Genesis’s heat lasted for eight days. By the end, Orlando’s balls were empty and his back ached (getting old was a bitch) but he felt more relaxed and content than he had in years. He rose early on the ninth day, prepared to order a huge breakfast for them all, and knowing Marco would be happy to oblige. It’d seemed physically painful for the chef to prepare sandwiches and other easy-to-grab meals during Genesis’s heat. They’d all appreciate a home-cooked meal after the exertions of the last week and a half. Orlando most certainly would.
Luke disappeared before Orlando had even made coffee, grunting something about neglected chores before practically running from the cottage. Orlando sighed, disappointed but unsurprised. By the time Gabriel bounded into the kitchenette with more pep in his step than he should’ve had after the intensity of the past eight days, Orlando was seated at the island, sipping coffee and catching up on his email. Gabriel grabbed a cup for himself and plopped down on the sofa, scrolling his cell.
Genesis emerged from the loft bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, taking her cup of coffee straight to her laptop. Orlando couldn’t help but smile. Her ambition was unbelievably sexy, as was her brilliant mind. And from what she’d shared of her work so far, Orlando was sure she was working on the piece that would take her career to the next level. He hoped they got to be at her side, cheering her on while she took the world by storm.
“Holy shit!” Genesis exclaimed, pulling Orlando from his reverie. “Serenity Rhodes emailed me back to schedule an interview!”
“That’s wonderful, Cariño!” Gabriel’s smile was wide, as it was so often these days. “With Serenity’s interview and mine, and whatever you find out about your mother, this piece is going to be epic.”
Genesis beamed at him. Gabriel had mentioned that she’d decided to feature Evie as a part of her investigation into omega health and safety, and Orlando had approved. Luke had only grunted, keeping his opinion to himself.
“I’m happy to answer any questions you have as well,” Orlando offered. “Whatever you need. We’re so proud of you, Tesoro.”
Genesis turned her smile on him and Orlando thought it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. The sun could completely disappear, as long as he had the light of that smile.
“A representative from my mother’s family replied as well,” Genesis snorted. “No comment. Surprise, surprise. Their loss. I didn’t care about their side of the story anyway. I hope they’re ready for the world to hear the truth.”
Orlando watched in awe as Genesis dove back into her work. He had to drag her away from her computer when the staff arrived with a massive breakfast for four. They piled the cottage’s little table with French toast and scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, potatoes and biscuits and gravy.
“I’m starving,” Genesis declared, filling her plate immediately. “I guess a water and cum diet will do that to you.”
She smirked at him and Orlando was shocked when his dick stirred to life in response. For the love of god, would he ever get enough of this woman?
“Take it slow,” he warned her. “Just because last night’s soup stayed down, doesn’t mean your stomach is ready for a feast.”
“Where’s Luke?” Genesis asked, taking a small bite of French toast. She moaned in delight, licking syrup from her lips. “Holy cow, he’s missing out. This is delicious.”
“Fuck if we know. Somewhere being a jackass.” Gabriel shrugged, saving Orlando from having to respond when he was trying not to bend Genesis over the table and earn a few more of those throaty moans.
Genesis’s lips quirked in a knowing smile. “Somewhere freaking the fuck out, you mean.”
“Most likely,” Orlando agreed, glad that she seemed amused rather than hurt. “He’s a stubborn bastard but he’ll come around.”
