My hand falls to her backside, caressing the skin of her hip. “Did I hurt you?”
Her eyes shine, and she bites her lip. “You chase away the sting in a very effective way, big guy. Just makes me want to be naughty again.”
I groan, my head falling into hers, and I’m ready for round two, but we need to move to a more comfortable spot if I’m going to fuck her through the night. I let the tension roll off me and keep myself from kissing her until my knot weans enough that I can take it out.
It’s not my favorite thing to do.
I wasn’t lying when I said I’d be happy to live inside her for the rest of my days. I tuck myself in as Veda takes a step away from me. She’s unsteady on her feet like a baby deer. I smirk, all too pleased that I was the one to make her knees wobbly, but before she tries to walk away, I take her in my arms.
“Hey! I can walk.”
“But you don’t have to.” I huff and bring her down the hallway, back to her bedroom.
Jesse and Derrick are still there. Derrick is by the window watching the world outside, while Jesse is still in the nest, his hands on the back of his head. Neither are surprised when I arrive with her in my arms. I’m not sure if it's because of the scent, the echo of moans around the house, or because they know too well it’s impossible to say no to this woman.
“About damn time,” my brother says.
“Shut up.”
Veda giggles. “Don’t be hard on him. He learned his lesson.”
“What’s the lesson here, sweetheart?”
Jesse opens his arms, waiting for me to hand her to him. I’m not ready, but he’s my pack mate. There’s no refusal between us. Veda falls into him, and in a second, she finds a comfortable place over his chest.
“That he can run but he can’t hide,” she explains as if it’s obvious. Her smile falls, and she takes me in with a serious tone. “Are you sleeping here?”
I chuckle and start removing the boots from my feet. “I’m not letting you go.”
She seems happy with herself, even more so when I find space behind her, my nose to her hair as she keeps her hand over Jesse’s chest.
“Come to bed, Derrick,” she calls him.
As if he could stay away. My brother isn’t an idiot like me. Derrick crawls in, finding a comfortable place for himself. When I bought her a nest, I didn’t think we would use it. My initial intentions don’t matter. She’s here, and she feels right.
The silence feels good between us, but I can’t let everyone sleep before I tell them everything. The note still weighs on my conscience.
I clear my throat. “The reason I came over was to tell you all something that happened.”
“It wasn’t to be a Peeping Tom?” Jesse chuckles.
He catches my expression, and the smile dies on his lips. The mood shifts, and Veda feels it. She sits up and turns to me, worry creasing her brow.
“What happened?”
“You don’t need to worry,” I say. “But I got a note this morning, and I think it was delivered from your grandpa.”
“What did it say?” Derrick asks, raising on his elbow and piercing me with a look.
I know they’re thinking I received it this morning and am only now letting them know, but I stand behind my decision. They needed time without this hanging over their heads.
“I believe he wants us to make an offer on Veda.”
“What?” she screams in outrage.
“Any Alpha would be able to tell what you are. So he let us learn, and now he’s looking for payment.”
“He asked for money for you to keep me?” she asks, disgusted.
