Her lip twitches. “Is that what you meant that first night when I asked about your job? You do whatever needs done?”
I simply shrug, not embarrassed about it. “I like having a clear sense of direction, a list of problems with solutions that I can chip away at. This part of the hot mess? Easy for me. Get a certificate, appropriate signatures and things filed, paperwork so we can update your ID and social security card, etcetera. It’s mundane, but in a soothing way. I like helping, and this is something I can actuallydothat will make life easier for you.” Leaning down, I crane my neck to kiss the top of her head. “And I like that you aren’t embarrassed to claim us as yours.”
She scoffs. “Ah yes, woe is me. Married off to hot, rich, sweet guys that fight over who gets to eat me out. So embarrassing.”
I waggle my eyebrows playfully and pull her closer, well aware we’re actually both about two minutes away from passing out. “Not much of a fight if I have a head start.”
Chuckling, she shoves my shoulder before settling her head on my chest. “You’re way too hard on yourself. Though I do have a question. Does that mean on paper, I’m only married to one of you?”
With a sad smile, I stroke a hand over her hair as she closes her eyes. “Unfortunately. Most packs don’t even bother attempting to go through the formalities, or if they do, it’s to the head of the family. It doesn’t matter on our end; mates are mates. We don’t need a piece of paper with some random person’s permission toallowus to claim our mate.” Beaming, I add, “But since I’m filing the paperwork before the others think of it, I get the honor, so they can suck it.”
She barks out a laugh, and the pressure in my chest tightens with longing. “So I should probably keep my hands to myself at work then so rumors don’t start flying about me sleeping with your brother, huh?”
“Woah, hold on, isthatwhy you two are holed up in that place pulling fourteen hour days?”
Chuckling, she gently smacks my stomach. “No, we really are working, but I’d be lying if I said we weren’t flirting or stealing a kiss here and there, too.”
Huffing a breath out of my nose, I shake my head. “You sound so sweet and innocent when you say shit like that. It’s hard to remember you’re the same girl that had me whipping it out in Victor’s house.”
Her cheeks turn scarlet. “You started it, shut up.”
We slide down the pillows with as hard as I’m laughing. Eventually, I manage to gasp out, “Pretty girl, don’t worry about the rumors. Hell, if you want, you can tell people at work that you married Reid if it makes it easier on you. We genuinely don’t care about the opinions of random, irrelevant humans.”
She narrows her eyes. “I was a random, irrelevant human when we met, thank you very much.”
“Random, maybe, but the farthest thing from irrelevant,” I counter instantly. “You were the human that saved our sister. The others will happily tell you that the first night I brought you here, the second you went upstairs with Emmy, we all started fighting about the best way to convince you to stick around. Trust me, Sabrina, your approval is the only one we’re all desperate to earn. Especially Cin, though he’d never admit it.”
She tilts her head, surprised. “He specifically told me he stopped seeking anyone’s approval when he was a kid, didn’t look back, and has never been happier.”
Humming in agreement, I resituate us again so that we might actually get some semblance of sleep tonight. “We all say a lot of things. Guess you’re going to have to look beyond the words and watch him to see for yourself. But, Sabrina?” She looks up at me and I swallow. “We’re terrified you’re going to be the death of us, pretty girl, and it’s going to make us do some stupid shit sometimes. So I need you to be better than us, okay? Ignore us when we say everything’s fine, because we only know how to tread water, not how to ask for help to keep us from drowning.”
Chapter 3
Sabrina
––––––––
