“Your nose is broken,” Lukas called back.
Max chewed on the inside of his cheek as he lingered at the bottom of the stairs. A few moments later, Aradia sailed down and landed on his shoulder with a soft chirp, nuzzling into his cheek. “I’m fine,” he murmured, stroking her soft fur.
He took a breath and headed up to the kitchen. Quinn was digging through food containers, and Lukas was hauling large pieces of what looked like a metal fence upstairs, but his attention zeroed in on Caius setting several bags on the table. Max froze when Caius turned and gray eyes focused on him. He didn’t miss the quick glance to his neck or the way his nostrils flared as if scenting Max from all the way across the room.
Which he probably was. He could probably smell the grilled cheese Max had eaten for lunch.
Fuck, did he smell different since Quinn bit him? Did he smell bad? They hadn’t showered; he must still smell like sex. Fucking hell, Caius could probably smell Quinn on him. Who in their right mind wanted to smell someone else on their…. What were they? Lovers, boyfriends? Bound and master?
He opened his mouth to say he needed to go shower, but all that came out was a strangled gurgle.
Both Caius and Quinn moved towards him, Caius gripping his shoulders as Quinn wrapped arms around his stomach from behind. Caius slid his hands up until they wrapped around the sides of Max’s neck, tipping his head up with thumbs under his jaw.
“There’s nothing wrong.”
Max sagged against Quinn and nearly choked on a relieved gasp, latching on to Caius’ wrists. “Really?”
Caius leaned down, claiming Max’s lips and kissing him as thoroughly as he had the night before, leaving Max momentarily dazed. He lingered with another kiss before stroking his thumb against Quinn’s mark. His nod of approval was the last bit of reassurance Max needed to relax into Quinn’s hold with a shaky exhale.
“What’s all this?” he asked, nodding to the bags.
“Supplies.” Caius stepped away and pulled out boxes of pet food, treats, and toys.
Max’s eyebrows inched up a bit farther with each one, until Caius had emptied all four bags.
Aradia launched off Max’s shoulder and glided to the table, sniffing at the boxes until she found one she wanted and pawed at it.
Caius immediately opened it and shook what looked like bugs and small pieces of dehydrated fruit onto the top of another box.
“Oh gross,” Max muttered, pushing back into Quinn. “I don’t do bugs.”
Quinn laughed and propped his chin on top of Max’s head. “I think Cap can handle the bugs.” He patted Max’s stomach before he went back to sorting the containers with their dinner.
Max picked through the toys and supplies, finding a hammock, a hanging tent, hanging jungle gym, and various swinging toys, several forage toys and treat dispensers, and a giant chew toy. He turned an incredulous look on Caius. “You didn’t need to get all this.”
“I wanted to. Your familiar is part of the pack, just like you.”
He blinked against the stinging in his eyes and reached out to rub one of Aradia’s ears. “Thank you.”
“Of course. If you want to have any say on where the cage goes, you should catch Lukas before he finishes setting it up.”
Max hurried up the stairs and found Lukas putting together a large cage, tucked against the wall in Caius’ room by the bookcase. “Shouldn’t this go in my room?”
When Lukas glanced at him, Max got the distinct impression he was annoyed.
“This is your room.”
He could have argued that, considering all his clothes and possessions were in the room he’d first woken up in, but he decided against it. He hesitated near the bed, wondering what he could have possibly done to make Lukas mad, or if it was only his imagination. “I can finish,” he offered.
“I’m almost done.”
Max nodded even though Lukas wasn’t looking at him. “Okay. Thanks.” He backed out of the room and headed back downstairs.
Caius was clearing off the table while Quinn set out their dinner.
Max desperately wished one of them could learn to cook, but at least sushi wasn’t grilled cheese or greasy. Maybe after his finals, he’d look up some recipes. It couldn’t be that hard to follow some directions, right? So long as he didn’t have a hot guy dancing naked and distracting him from paying attention.
When he reached the table, Aradia raced up his arm to settle against his neck, thankfully no longer munching on bugs.
