It doesn’t matter whether they say it back. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t…
It fucking matters.
Joker turns to me, breaking into a wide smile. “I love you too, baby.”
The truth of that statement in the bond shines like the moon breaking through the clouds.
Joker’s emotions are complex in our bond. I can sense him, but his pain and grief are sharper than I’d imagined. He has told me some of his past, but I still hadn’t realized just how much he hid his trauma behind his jokes and seduction routines.
Now, sensing such sudden brightness and joy, I know that there is no doubt hedoeslove me and that it brings him light amidst the night of his pain.
I drop my hand from my dagger. My shoulders slump in relief.
When Joker reaches to push aside the collar of his combat shirt to touch the bond bite that I left on his throat, a wave of possessiveness washes over me.
He doesn’t only love me. He loves being marked and claimed by me.
He is my Beta.
I force myself to meet Phantom’s gaze.
Deliberately, he raises his hand over his heart,I love you.
I blush.
Then Phantom points at Bird as well, and he also blushes.
Why isn’t Bird saying anything?
I try not to show the hurt on my face.
Bird places down his cocoa, before he slowly stands.
He nuzzles against my neck, and I respond by washing my pheromones over my Omega. I stoke down his spine, resting my hand on the hollow of his back above his ass.
Bird rests against my shoulder, and I take a deep sniff of his vanilla scent. “Don’t you already know that I love you? I’ve told you that I do. I’ve still held back, wanting to go at your pace because love confessions aren’t your style. But you’ve shown mein every action since I woke up in your arms, barely alive, that you love me. No one has cherished me like you have. You’ve protected me, put me first, nursed me, and saved my life. You’ve given me equality and independence. You’ve shown me that my opinion and decisions matter. It means a lot that you’ve voiced your feelings, but I didn’t need you to because I felt your love every day. I love you for simply being you — Ro and Switch — I love all of you. You’re the best thing to ever happen to me.”
Trembling at both my own happiness, and the adoration that I sense through the bond, which is unexpected and overwhelming, I drag Bird into a kiss.
He purrs against my lips, and the vibrations send sparks of pleasure through me.
I hum in response, dragging Bird closer by his hair. Then I lick across his lower lip.
He purrs harder.
When I hear Joker moving behind Bird, however, I press a final kiss to Bird’s plush lips and pull back.
Joker crouches beside Phantom’s chair.
“Everything is set,” Joker says in a low voice.
So, it’s time.
I stiffen. “Shall we lock Bird in the bedroom?”
Instantly, Bird’s expression hardens. “No fucking way. If you allow me to make my own decisions, then I am not hiding. Phantom has been training me to fight. I may not be as skilled as you badasses. But I am not helpless anymore. Can’t I prove that?”
My eyes crease with worry. “Can you prove it in a way that doesn’t get you killed?”
