“We don’t apologize for it!” Skylar yells from the kitchen, making me roll my eyes.
“No, not for that part,” I grunt. “We are sorry we hurt you. That wasn’t something we wanted.”
“How do I know I’m not going to get kidnapped every time we fight?” Koen asks, raising his foot to the mattress to lay his chin on his knee.
It’s almost a vulnerable position, one that speaks of bone deep exhaustion. His cycle of fighting, screaming at us, and now searching for what comes next has happened with rapid progress. I suppose that’s what happens when you’re kidnapped by your alphas.
“You don’t, though I doubt you’ll run away from us again with such enthusiasm,” I say wryly. “The circumstances are going to determine a lot of things. Seeing you react the way you did made me safe word my entire fucking existence. I haven’t used that word in years. ‘Peanuts’ is meant for when something is too much. The world fell off its axis for me because you walked away.”
“Throw a punch, scream at us, do what you need to, but stay and figure it out with us,” Skylar says, coming out of the kitchen with three plates balanced in his arms.
Standing smoothly, I help him as soon as he’s close enough before getting back into my squat. It’s comfortable, and keeps me close to Koen.
Skylar made us steak with a sweet potato, and it smells amazing. Leaning back until my ass is on the ground so I can balance my plate, I begin to cut up my food. I may have overestimated my ability to multitask.
“Giving the prisoner a knife is a bold choice,” Koen grunts.
Ah, now he’s just being a brat, and I watch as Skylar sets his plate aside and gets into Koen’s space.
“Please, cut me,” he says, lifting the hand holding the knife in Koen’s hand until the sharp edge is against his throat. “You’ve had sex while a man breathes his last breath, so you know what it sounds like. You already rejected me, take the next step and end my life. God knows I’m walking around with my soul splintered without my scent match.”
I say nothing as I chew my food, knowing they need to figure this out themselves. If blood gets into the steak, then so be it.
Koen watches the blood bead onto Skylar’s skin as he presses down with the blade. Skylar’s face doesn’t change at all, even when our omega moves the knife away and laps at the blood with his tongue. Koen’s eyes narrow with anger before he sucks hard on Sky’s skin, creating his own mark.
I suppose it’s fair since Skylar gave Koen his own love bite.
“Feel better?” I ask, hiding my smile as I serenely continue to eat.
“No, I’m actually pissed his blood tastes so good. Thanks for asking,” Koen grumbles.
“Aww,” Skylar chuckles, dropping to the ground beside me to eat. “I like making you bleed too, baby.”
“That’s not what I said,” Koen says, cutting up his steak. As he takes a bite, his eyelashes flutter, moaning as the juices of the meat flood his mouth. “This has no business tasting this good.”
“Much like me,” Skylar says, shrugging as I bark out a laugh. God, he’s so fucking ridiculous. “Look, Rhodes and I are not perfect, and we don’t pretend to be. However, you’ll be safe with us. We also won’t make any more life changing decisions without consulting you first.”
“The time frame of that discussion may not be yours though,” I say honestly. “We tend to be a little spontaneous. However, weare stable enough to build a life worth living. I don’t want to be without you.”
“The bond hates it,” Koen sighs.
“And you?” I ask.
“Also hate it,” he grunts. “The timing of finding out what you did was undesirable. I twisted everything in my head.”
“I could feel it. It felt like being hit with freezing water over my head,” I mutter. “Everything we’ve done has been to keep you safe and close. Our methods may be different from what others would use.”
“The snow is going to keep falling for a couple of days. We can use this time to make amends, hang out, and take a break from the craziness of life,” Skylar says.
“Okay,” Koen says, his brows knitting.
“You don’t have to take back your rejection until you’re absolutely sure,” Skylar adds.
“How does that even work though? I can’t live in your house like this.”
“Our house,”I growl. “Say it with me. Come on. Fuck. We’re putting you on the goddamned deed when we get back.”
“I like that idea,” Skylar says. “It works as if we’re dating without being scent matched. We’ll just see how it goes.”
