Page 16 of What We Don't Say: Part One

Callie’s attention shifts over my shoulder toward him, and the scent of her wakes more fully, sweetening with embarrassment and determination. “You said we didn’t have to wash everything. That doesn’t mean we don’t have to wash the things that very obviously need washing.”

I feel Idris’ thumb move once against my hip. He knows exactly what her bossiness does to me when I’m already this close to instinct, and he also knows there’s no version of me that’s going to survive her organizing us in her sleep-warm voice without wanting my hands on her. “Then we’ll wash the things that need washing,” he says, calm enough to make it sound simple. “After food.”

Callie makes a protesting noise, but Idris is already moving. I keep Callie tucked against me for one more breath before letting her go. She looks back at me from the edge of the bed, hair tangled over one shoulder, eyes still soft, and her expression gentles in a way that nearly sends me backward again.

“You okay?” she asks.

I sit up slowly because the truth needs to be shaped carefully. “Better. Still a little hot.”

Her gaze drops for half a second, then snaps back to my face with a blush that makes Idris pause beside the dresser. The air shifts immediately as Idris’ purr starts low in his chest, dragged out of him by her reaction before he can pretend at composure. I laugh under my breath, even as my body answers both of them with humiliating speed.

Callie pulls one of her sweaters from the chair and clutches it to her chest like fabric can make her less flushed. “I meant emotionally.”

“I didn’t,” I say, Idris shooting me a warning glare. I just sigh as Callie’s mouth softens with a pleased little curve she tries to hide by pulling the sweater over her head. She disappears down the stairs as Idris chucks a small bottle at my head. I twist it around to see the label.Rutilex.“I hate how these make me feel,” I grumble, even as I pop open the bottle and take two.

The rut stabilizers will keep me from falling into a full rut. However, it won’t curb the initial need or desire. And everyone around me will know exactly how much I want to stick my cock in—

“Sloane, get your ass out of bed. Think about fucking Garrett if you need to but keep your pants on.”

I snort but agree. The worst thing I could do is fall into a full rut while being introduced to our new Omega. The center would never let us hear the end of it and we’d only traumatize poor Theo forever. Blowing out a heavy sigh, I push myself toward the edge of the bed and head to the shower.

Breakfast is quick, toast and eggs and haphazardly poured coffee, Callie rushing through stuffing her face as I try not to drag her into my chest for more kisses. The only reason I don’t is Idris’ warning growls, all but telling me to keep it in my pants.

By the time we get upstairs, I stop trying to hide how on edge I am...again.Callie keeps glancing back at me as my scent deepens, my purr rattling through my chest even as she directs me to open the windows.

“Alpha? Sloane...”

“I’m fine,” I push out, my voice a few octaves deeper than usual as I flick open the first window. “The Rutilex is just working through my system.” Heat bleeds through me before disappearing completely, a sort of haze pushing itself between me and the world.

It’s the part I don’t like, the sort of detachment from my instincts.

Time passes in a blur as I agree to dragging the linens and pillows to the washroom on the main level. I’m on my second trip, bringing new linens to the room when I hear Callie’s exasperated voice. Idris is just inside the room, leaning back against the wall.

“Callie, it really doesn’t matter...”

“It does!” She spins and places her hands on her hips, the freckles across her nose almost blending into the blush on her face. “It’s better by the window here. There’s more natural light. Alpha, you don’t get it.” Her nose scrunches up, Idris just shaking his head.

I shift forward, Idris glancing back at me and reaching for the basket. His fingers brush mine around the handle, and his gaze holds for a second. “Stay with us,” he says quietly.

“I am.” This time, it’s true enough.

Callie kneels on the edge of the mattress with the fitted sheet bunched in both hands, hair slipping loose from the knot on top of her head. She has one corner hooked, one knee planted in the middle of the bed, and the kind of concentration on her face that makes me want to laugh and kiss her at the same time. “Oh my God, this bed is shaped wrong,” she says, yanking the elastic toward the far corner and getting absolutely nowhere.

Idris looks up from the laundry basket, his mouth already threatening to soften. “It’s the same mattress that’s always been in here, Callie.”

She lets out a frustrated little grunt and drops forward onto both hands, the sheet snapping loose again under her palm. “God, I hate fitted sheets.” The complaint comes out so sincere that I lose the fight with my laugh, and then she’s glaring over her shoulder at me like I’ve betrayed her while her own mouth starts twitching.

“Let me,” I say, stepping in before she can start the fight again. I catch the loose corner and pull it down over the mattress, butmy other hand lands at her waist because she’s right there, and I’m still too close to rut to pretend I don’t need the touch.

My thumb moves once through the soft fabric of her sweater before slipping beneath it to run across her skin, Callie letting out a small gasp as she leans into me. The moment is ruined by a low sound that rolls out of Idris.

Callie freezes for half a second, then looks between us with her cheeks pinking. “Fuck, right. I can’t think when he’s like this,” she says, but there’s no real warning in it. She pulls from me, walking around the other side to pull the fitted sheet.

I open my mouth to throw out a retort when Idris comes close behind me and presses two fingers beneath my jaw, turning my head just enough that I have to meet his eyes. His black tea and rain scent sharpens, mixing with the warmer drag of Callie’s sweetness, and my body answers so fast I know he feels it before I can hide it.

“Pillowcases,” Idris says, his voice low enough to scrape.

I take the pillowcase Callie shoves at my chest, and she laughs when I obey too quickly. I manage one corner before getting distracted by the way she leans across the mattress, and Idris takes the pillow from me with a look that says he expected nothing better. Callie laughs harder when I reach for her instead, batting my hand away before pointing me toward the next pillow.