The room explodes.
Laughter billows in hot bursts, and as I giggle, I drink in the different ways each man laughs.
Ridge’s chuckles are low and restrained, and I don’t quite know if that’s because the alpha’s always thinking two steps ahead, so only half his mind is on the present moment—or if it's because of his bandages. I’ll have to make him laugh again once he’s out of here so I can see.
Luka’s nearly silent, but his shoulders shake. In contrast, Kylian’s laugh blasts out, his mouth wide open as he points a finger that’s either amused or accusatory over at Colter. Maybe both.
Colter wore a smaller mask today, and a full smile stretches wide across his cheeks. His laugh ends with a contented sigh.
I’m so distracted that I almost forget the gelatin cubes until a blue one goes sailing across the room. Colter dives expertly for it, hand flying out to catch himself before he hits the ground. He gulps down his prize.
“Hey! I said it wasmyfault,” Kylian pouts.
“Yeah, but it was funnier that he blamed you too,” Luka responds with a shrug. “I liked that better.”
Kylian’s middle finger flies up, but the next category gets picked, and there’s no more time for arguing.
“I Scream,” the woman in the middle calls out. “Let’s go with four hundred.”
The host reads, “InScream, one of the rules to survive is to ensure you never say these four words.”
“Live long and prosper,” Luka quips immediately.
“No guts, no glory,” Colter calls.
“You talkin’ to me?” Kylian includes the full-on accent with his line.
Ridge counters with, “Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker.”
“That’s two words!” Luka argues.
I collapse in fluttering giggles, clutching my bowl to my stomach. They are so intensely serious and ridiculous at the same time.
Who knew Alpha Team X could be this way? When I walked into Eros, I certainly didn’t. A sugary warmth spreads through my chest at the fact that I get to witness this moment. That they invited me to join their game.
They’re revealing a side of themselves that very few people get to see. The soft underbelly of the beast.
There’s something magically vulnerable about being silly.
My eyes start to prick with tears again.
Dammit! I need sleep.
Clearing my throat, I pluck a cube from my bowl and hold it up until all their eyes shine with anticipation. I swivel my gaze from man to man, teasing just a little, giving each alpha a moment to think he’s going to be the one.
Then I turn and press my orange cube to Ridge’s lips.
The alpha’s eyes burn through me as he opens his mouth. I glide the cube in, and he leans forward at the same time, lips closing around my fingers just past the cube. Hot warmth surrounds me as he lingers for a second, his expression screaming all the things he wants to do to me once he’s healed.
My lower belly heats, and I start to perfume a little.
Another category is chosen on screen, but I don’t hear it as Ridge’s tongue traces a slow retreat toward my fingertips.
A hot blush stamps my cheeks red, and I glance down at the sheets as Kylian says, “God, you smell even better than normal.”
“It’s because she doesn’t have panties,” Colter replies, his voice monotone, almost as if he’s in a trance.
“Mmm.” Luka has a dreamy expression on his face.
