Page 127

“Okay, that’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” I admit.

Dane smiles, brushing his hand along my thigh in a way that feels far more intimate than a casual touch. “Good.”

“You wound me, omega,” Blaise quips.

It takes me a second to realise what he means and when it sinks in, my entire bodyblazeswith mortification.

Thankfully I’m saved from having to reply by Xar coming back down, towelling off his damp hair. He’s shirtless, a towel slung over one shoulder and his jeans riding low on his hips. Everything about him – from his scent, to his bare skin, and the glistening water droplets that I feel compelled to lick from his chest – hits me hard. Strong. Grounding.

Everything tightens low in my belly.

A soft, involuntary sound slips from my throat – barely audible, but the guys hear it.

My perfume floods the nest before I can stop it, curling sweet and heavy into the air like the slow bloom of honeysuckle in summer heat. Blaise groans.

“Mate,” he mutters. “Put the bloody shirt on.”

Xar pauses, then smirks, amused and entirely unbothered. “What, this old thing?” he asks innocently, holding up the shirt and tossing it on anyway.

I bury my face in my mug somehow even more mortified than before he arrived. My cheeks areburning. Blaise sniggers beside me, but his arm tightens around my waist.

“It’s alright, sweetness,” he murmurs. “Happens to the best of us. I’m hard as fucking steel smelling you perfume like that.”

We stay there like that for a while – warm bodies, soft pillows, the low murmur of lazy conversation – until Blaise reaches for his phone.

“Evie,” he says, tone deceptively casual, “have you ever slow danced before?”

I blink. “No. I mean…not properly. Only messing around with my sisters.”

Three heads turn at once.

“Oh,thatwon’t do,” Blaise announces, already queuing up a playlist.

A mellow, old-school soul track trickles through the air. He’s up first, of course, standing and offering me a hand with an over-the-top flourish. “May I have this dance, my lady?”

I shake my head but place my hand in his anyway. He pulls me to my feet, his other hand settling lightly on my waist. His touch is warm, confident, but careful. Not pushing. Just present.

We sway gently to the music, and I relish the way Blaise holds me like I’m something rare. His forehead brushes mine, and I find myself smiling without thinking.

“See?” he murmurs. “Easy.”

When the song shifts, Xar steps forward, silent but with intent. He doesn’t ask, just cups my waist and pulls me in slowly. His touch is firmer, more possessive. I breathe him in and try not to fall too far into it. But the way he looks at me? Like I’ve already undone him? Itruinsme in the best possible way.

Then Dane’s turn. I get the feeling that he doesn’t dance often, but when he does, like now, it’s all in the way he leads. Strong. Sure. Thoroughlyalpha.His hand is splayed against my lower back, holding me close enough to feel the thud of his heart.

It’s heaven.

When the song ends, they don’t let me go. I’m wrapped in the arms of all three of them, the music fading into the background as they each press a kiss to a different part of me – Blaise to my temple, Xar to the corner of my mouth, Dane just below my ear.

I tremble, just a little. My omega completelyswoons.

“You alright?” Xar murmurs.

“I just…” I swallow. “This is a lot. You’re not…weirded out by all this? All ofus?”

Dane brushes a strand of hair from my cheek. “Evie. We’re alphas. We’re a pack. Weexpectto share. And we’re grateful it’syou.”

I don’t have words for that. So I just nod and lean in.