Page 84 of The Rogues

Despite knowing I should be annoyed—I was looking for that shirt all fucking day—something flutters in my core. My scent blossoms and I move forward to place my hand over his.

“You don’t have to apologize,” I tell him. “I understand. In fact, it makes me feel so good that you needed something from me that badly, that your alpha needs my scent as much as my omega needs yours. Fuck, if I knew that was an option, I would have been stealing stuff from you guys a long time ago.”

Cyrus’s eyes flash with surprise. “You can steal anything from me anytime you want.”

“Even this shirt?” I ask, my hand going over the black material.

Cyrus’s hand clutches it a bit tighter, a rumble going through his chest.

I bite my lip. This alpha is adorable.

“I’ll let you keep it,” I decide, and he gives me an embarrassed look. “But you have to wear and sleep with my clothes so I can take something back.”

“Deal,” he says.

I look around at the others. “So… what do we do now?”

“Should we watch a movie?” Jamie suggests.

We all get cozy on the ground in a picnic nest, the overhead lights finally turned off in favor of the lamp in the corner. The guys fill the space with my clothes, making sure they’re close enough to pick up some of their aromas. The gesture makes my heart skip. Jamie picks a romantic comedy that’s light and happy and makes my omega relax further into the sheets.

“Where’s Flo?” I ask them as I notice the omega’s absence.

“Well, her room is down the hall,” Malaki tells me. “But right now, she’s out shopping.”

“Unfortunately,” Cyrus grumbles, which causes me to snort.

Jamie laughs. “A bodyguard is shadowing her, so she’s good. Cyrus is just being overprotective as always.”

“Do you have any close family, Josie?” Malaki asks.

Cyrus and I share a quick understanding glance before I respond. “I had an uncle that I loved, but he died when I was ten.”

“I’m so sorry, little vicious,” Lennon says.

I wave it off. “It’s okay. He was sick for a long time. It felt like he was gone way before he actually passed away.”

“What was he sick with?” Jamie asks.

“Addiction.”

There’s a loud silence following my answer. I know what they’re all thinking; it’s the same thing I’ve thought about since things first started going off the rails with Cleo. My past with my uncle is definitely the reason why her spiral is so hurtful to me, why it’s so important for me to be there for her no matter how much she tries to push me away.

I wasn’t able to help my uncle. I was too young, and my parents were too selfish. Maybe if I do everything I possibly can, Cleo won’t end up having the same fate.

But I don’t want to focus on that right now. All I want is to enjoy this time with my pack.

After the movie is over, I realize just how late it is. If I show up at my hotel now, the girls might hear and question where I’ve been, but that’s not what I care about. More than anything, I want to stay here with my matches, be surrounded by their scents and sleep beside them. It sounds like the best comfort right now, the biggest security.

And I couldn’t give a single fuck about all the reasons why it’s a bad idea right now. I just want them, so I ask, “Can I spend the night?” My voice is so low that I’m worried they won’t hear and I’ll have to repeat myself, but they all turn their gazes to me, their brows lifted with delighted surprise.

“Of course,” Cyrus answers, his eyes shining with something akin to adoration. “We have to be on the buses early so I can set an alarm to make sure we get up so you can get back.”

“Is there any way—” I halt my words and bite my lip, embarrassed by the proposition I’m laying out for them. I know it’s not a lot to ask as an omega, but something inside of me still feels shame from seeking out what I need.

The guys aren’t having my silence, though. They each look at me intently, waiting for me to finish my question patiently. When I finally get up the courage, I continue, “I know I asked if you could put your scents on my clothes, but is there any way I can take an item from each of you until I get them back? I know that’s asking a lot because we’re only allowed to bring so much of our own stuff on tour, but I really think it’ll settle my omega while we’re apart.”

They all smile, a new burst of their scents coursing through the air as they all nod in agreement. Someone starts to purr, but I can’t tell who because they all immediately get up from their spots and then chaos ensues.