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Granted, I loved those nicknames, but they didn’t need to know that.

“Okay, we’re getting off topic, Callie.” I leaned against Ryder and placed my feet on Asher’s lap. Asher immediately untied my boots and began to massage my feet. I very nearly moaned at the contact, the press of his palm against my sensitive arch.

“Where are you?” Fallon called back.

There was static before Tamson’s voice came through. I smiled slightly, envisioning my timid lover. At least to the outside perspective. In the bedroom, he was as dominant as Fallon, if not more so. More than once, he tied me up and tortured me endlessly with hints of pleasure. His hot breath against my core, whispering my name and how much he loved me. His tongue licking the thin fabric of my underwear, never touching me where I wanted to be touched.

“A few hours north of the home base,” Tamson answered Fallon, jerking me out of my reverie. I flushed when I realized where my mind had headed, my nipples sharp against my shirt. Ronan smirked at me in the rearview mirror, privy to my perverted thoughts. He, too, enjoyed foreplay with Tamson. They never did anything sexual with each other, but they both enjoyed tag teaming me and taking me to the pinnacle of pleasure: Tamson in charge of my punishment, and Ronan in charge of my reward.

It was a partnership I never knew I’d needed until it happened.

“Where are you at?” Tamson questioned.

“Forty minutes south of the home base,” Fallon answered briskly. We never revealed our exact location on the radio, on the off chance that someone would listen in. Tam had assured us numerous times that the radios were secure, but even he was cautious, especially when it came to my safety.

“Acid rain over here,” Ryder filled in, leaning towards me.

There was another long, pronounced silence. I could practically feel the tension from the others, hundreds of miles away.

“Everyone safe?” Calax asked roughly.

“I know you’re really asking if Addie’s safe,” Ryder said dryly. He clutched at his chest. “I’m wounded.”

“Everyoneis fine,” Fallon cut in, casting me a pointed look. I stuck my tongue out at him in response.

Calax let out a notable breath of relief. My gentle giant was always worrying about me, always seeking new ways to protect me. He had argued profusely when Fallon had suggested we separate - three of the guys heading in one direction and four heading in the other with me. Calax had nearly blown a nut when he discovered he was in the former group. Ever since The Announcement, he had refused to let me out of his sight.

I remembered that haunted, broken look in his eyes seconds before I left with the others. As of now, it was just a crack, but I knew from experience that the crack could turn into a fissure. From there, he would shatter, and all hell would break loose.

“I miss you so much, Baby,” Calax murmured. I imagined his face was bright red, never one to outwardly admit his feelings.

“Aw. I miss you too!” Ronan cooed, and Fallon whacked him on the back of the head.

“I would totally do some hot radio sex,” I said casually. “But the others might be a little weirded out. So when I see you guys tomorrow, I’m going to give you all blowjobs, okay?”

“Okay, Baby,” he said, humoring me.

I recognized Tamson’s sultry chuckle.

“I love you all,” I continued, my voice catching. I had never felt such raw, carnal emotion before. These men reverted me to a primal beast where all I wanted to do was love them with every fiber of my being. And fuck them. For some weird, undefinable reason, they had decided I was worthy of their love in return.

“Love you too, Baby,” Calax said gruffly.

“You already know how much I love you,” Tamson added. There was another stretch of silence. “Declan says he loves you too. And to wear the nightgown when we come home. What nightgown is he talking about?”

My lips tilted up reflexively. One caveat of having seven varying relationships was having certain things that belonged to only one of my lovers, whether that be emotional or physical. With Asher, for example, we would stay up for hours talking about anything and everything. He made me feel alive and loved, and I, in return, reminded him of his humanity. With Tamson, I allowed him to dominate me in the bedroom while he ceded his control to me outside of it.

And with Declan, my childhood best friend, I had the lacy black nightgown that showed my nipples and pussy. It was our kink.

“Nothing,” I said, smiling softly.

Ryder and Asher eyed me suspiciously, but didn’t ask me to elaborate. They knew I did certain things with only some of them. It was a way to keep our group and individual relationships separate.

“Be safe,” Calax said.

I directed my attention to the radio, wishing upon all else that I could see them. Their tender, almost reverent, expressions. The red brown curls shielding Tam’s freckled face. The muscles bulging in Calax’s arms. The intense stare Declan always wore. The way his eyes fixed intently on my lips.

“Always. You too.”