Then I lead everyone to the living room. It’s evening by now, almost dinner time, but I want to get some bonding time in before we settle back in the kitchen for a meal.
I sink onto the couch, then stretch one arm along the back cushion and pat the spot next to me.
“Come here, sweet Sage.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sage
This has to be a trick. I’m dreaming, maybe hallucinating. Did Josh drug me or something? To create such a realistic, yet unattainable daydream such as this?
I walk over to the intimidatingly beautiful alpha holding her arm out and automatically tuck myself into her side. I draw my legs up to my chest, curling into her strong frame.
She hums under her breath, adjusting us both slightly so she can comfortably fit her arm around me. Goosebumps run up and down my arms while a shiver ripples down my spine. I’ve never been touched so much in one day, but it seems like the more affection they give me, the more I want. My body instinctively presses into Vee’s, soaking in her warmth as my bare skin seeks out hers.
When she rests her hand on my thigh, holding me close, it’s like a shot of summer sunshine straight to my soul. Everything feels lighter, less intense, more attainable with her next to me. Then she clicks the TV on with her other hand and starts scrolling through options.
Is this snuggling? Is she sure she wants to cuddle me? I’mnot good at omega things, so I don’t know. But then Vee starts purring, her entire chest vibrating against me, and it sinks through my skin, all the way down to my bones.
“Relax, Sage,” she murmurs into my ear. “You’re safe here.”
The tension melts from my muscles, and Brooks rumbles his agreement from where he’s sitting a few feet away in an armchair. Riley initially sat down on the other side of the couch, but he’s been steadily inching closer to me and Vee, shooting not-very-subtle looks my way. I don’t have any idea what to do about it though, or if I’m even supposed to.
Eventually, Neveah widens her legs and gives Riley a pointed look. I think he’s been silently pouting or pleading with her, because he jumps up and scrambles in front of her, then slides to the floor to sit sideways against the couch. He rests his head against one of her legs and winds his arm around the other, a look of calm contentment drifting across his features.
It’s sweet. A perfectly domestic picture, and a hard ball of emotion catches in my throat when I glance up to see a soft smile on her face. She sets the remote down, then runs her fingers through his bright blue hair. I can’t stop looking at the color of it, so vibrant and unique.
“What do you like to watch, Sage?”
I shrug. I’m never allowed to watch anything. “I don’t know.”
“Riley?” she asks.
He glances at me, then suggests a movie.
“It’s a fun musical,” he says. “A kids movie actually, about demon hunting.”
That doesn’t sound super kid-friendly to me, but he’s excited, turning to face the TV as he presses into Vee’s touch. I want to share in his joy, so I’m determined to love it, too.
Spoiler alert: It was incredible.
I must have fallen asleep while we were all talking after the movie. At some point, Brooks had ordered food, and we ate in the living room while the women on screen slashed demons apart with their glowing weapons.
I wake up when it’s dark out, the muted TV casting a soft glow over the room. I’m laying down, half on top of Neveah who is stretched out on the couch next to me. Riley has tipped over sideways and is nearly buried in pillows on the floor beside us, and Brooks’ chair is reclined, with him softly snoring.
As my mind catches up to where I am, my body slowly tenses. Is this okay? Surely, they’d all rather be in their beds. Is this my fault? Did Neveah want to be snuggling with me for so long? I should probably let her get up?—
“You’re thinking too hard,” a soft voice says, inches from my ear.
I startle so hard I bite my tongue. But when I twist to look up at her in the dark, Vee smiles, then carefully reaches up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.
“What’s going through that head of yours?” she whispers.
“Nothing—”
She makes a muffled noise of protest, and I freeze.
“Please, Sage. I want to know.”
