I’m such an idiot. I can’t believe I thought they might be happy to hear me say it.
I can’t believe I thought it would make a difference.
A soft knock on the door startles me, and I jump. Before I can snap at whoever it is, a wave of sympathy and concern flows through me.
It’s Nik.
“Mags? Hon, let me in.”
“Are they out there?” I don’t want to see Kip or Kaden right now, not after that fiasco. I’ll let my mate in, but that’s it.
“It’s just me.”
I open the door for Nik, and he shuts it the second he’s inside. He perches on the edge of my bed, but I’m not ready to sit yet. I need to pace and seethe and rant, so that’s what I do.
“Best friends! I poured my fucking heart out, and that’s all they can say?”
Nik sits silently, watching me.
“I’ve never been so humiliated in my life. I mean, how could they think I was talking about ‘best friends’? Especiallyafter what happened in the mansion—for fuck’s sake, I was all over them!”
I stop to catch my breath, and Nik leans forward.
“Mags, before your heat, did you ever show any kind of romantic interest in either twin? Be honest.”
“Well, no … I mean, of course not, but—Look, they had to know after that; who wouldn’t know after we—But wait, that’s not fair! They didn’t show interest either!” I whirl around and turn on Nik. “Yousaid Kip is in love with me. You lied!”
Exasperation sparks through the bond. “Kip has looked at you with puppy-dog eyes every day since I met you guys. He’s so obvious. I meant it when I said he’d follow you straight into Hell without a single complaint. That’s not just ‘best friend’ energy; he loves you. Same as I do. Maybe even more, honestly.”
I blink in surprise. More than Nik? The strength of emotion I feel through the bond is so intense … What would a stronger love feel like?
“Come here.” He holds his arms out to me, and I crawl into bed next to him. “Look, if it’s any consolation, they did eventually realize what you meant. I saw it in their faces when you walked out. Just give them some time.”
While he talks, Nik rubs and massages my lower back. It starts out as a simple act of affection, but soon his fingers slow and press deeper. I let out a soft moan, and I sense his hardening cock through the bond. His hands move higher, kneading up my spine until they reach my neck, which at this point is as loose as jelly.
Nik brushes my hair off my neck and runs his hands back down my sides. He kisses the back of my neck softly, then pulls me into his lap in one swift motion.
Now I feel his cock through more than just the bond.
“I know this isn’t your nest,” he whispers, “but you’re not in heat anymore, either.”
My lips part, and I sigh as he moves those firm hands of his around to the front of my waist.
“Is this okay?” he asks as he slides his fingertips under the waistband of my panties.
“Mm-hm …”
Those hands move farther down, pushing the fabric with them, but because I’m sitting on him, my pants and underwear get stuck.
“Lift those hips.”
I do as I’m told, and Nik shoves my clothes around the globe of my ass, exposing me partially—but it’s not enough.
“Now shimmy out of these like a good girl, m’kay?”
I wiggle and kick, struggling to get out of the damn clothes. It doesn’t help that Nik still has a grip on my hips, which makes it harder to move. I’d mouth off about it, but then I get a shockwave of pleasure through the bond as my butt rubs his cock through his pants. My struggle is turning him on, and the sensations coursing through the bond open a floodgate of desire in my body.
Finally, the pants come off and land in a pile on the floor. I lean back into Nik, and he rewards me with gentle pressure on my clit. His other hand glides up my stomach, pushing my shirt up, and he kisses my mark, licking and sucking on the spot. My eyes drift closed, and I focus on the sensations.
