He pulls me out of the car with a strength and playfulness that leave me grinning. But his smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, and his gaze darts out the open barn door toward the castle more than once.
That's when I realize even my sleek, debonair alpha is nervous at the prospect of facing my mother. But he's also sweet enough to try and ensure that I'm in a good mood.
What I ever did to deserve such selfless males, I have no idea.
I'm simply glad they're mine.
Reaching out, I button the formal jacket he's donned. Then I smooth it down before I slide my hand up and brush his hairwith my fingers, the tendrils soft against my skin. I fuss over him even though everything's already perfect. Even thoughhe'salready perfect. Those tiny touches dry my throat and heat my lower belly.
A hint of perfume drifts from me as I stare up at his dark eyes from beneath my lashes. "You'll impress her."
"There's only one woman I worry about impressing," he murmurs in a low tone that makes my kneecaps quiver.
"Well, consider me impressed," I reply, brain fizzling when his pupils dilate.
Tiny flames begin to flicker along my inner thighs as I stare up at his intense expression.
He slides in closer and grips my hips. The rest of the world fades to speckles and daubs of color as his Adam's apple bobs. As my pulse electrifies until every nerve is sparking.
"Let's get inside," Colter interjects, slicing apart the moment.
Shaking my head, I clear my throat and paste on a smile.
"The others are waiting," Colter reminds me, and I wonder if there's a trace of jealousy in the huge man's gaze.
It's hard to tell with the mask, but I'd never want him to feel that way. So, after we leave the garage and make our way through a series of archways covered in flowering vines, I reach for Colter's hand and intertwine our fingers. His scarred grip closes tightly over mine. Protectively. Possessively.
My nipples grow taut and breasts heavy when his arm brushes across them as we turn.
Oh my god, I need to reel it in and get myself under control.
I'm not exactly certain what's going on with me right now, or why I'm reacting so intensely to my guys this morning, but my body needs to cut it out. I'm about to see my mother. And even worse, my brother.
Ted and Caran will never let me live it down if they can scent me perfuming all over my mates.
Inhaling, I detach my hands and step back from both my men, who pause on the path and tilt their heads to look at me.
I flap my hands, trying to shake off the trembling need to clasp one of them to me and rub my scent all over him.
"Don't look at me. Don't look at me," I repeat, pacing. "In fact, go stand over there so I can't smell you."
Luka's brow furrows, but they both glide to a side path as I fight off a sweeping fever.
God, I'm light-headed.
Inhaling a deep pull of clean air, I try to clear my mind. I recall how Alpha Jameson said that a clear mind is the best weapon when you head into combat. And any meeting with my mother is combat.
This will be the first time she'll see me with my scent matches after I rejected the alpha group she chose.
I can't be a simpering idiot.
After a minute of internal struggle, I get lucky because someone's using a leaf blower in the gardens. The scent of my guys is replaced by papery, pulpy, decayed leaves, and I gulp down huge breaths until I've cleared out any remaining trace of my alphas.
I wish I could ask that gardener to follow me in. It would be stupendous to have him rev that thing each time my mother speaks. Alas, I'll just have to imagine that.
After a quick wriggle to straighten out my dress, I turn to my men. "Okay, I'm better. But you need to walk behind me."
I don't explain further, but my cheeks are as hot as an oven's electric coils, and Luka's smirk tells me he suspects why.
