Page 23

RIVEN

I glanced at Reeve as I sat in the passenger side of the old truck we’d bought shortly after starting our new jobs. Having to shift and run to the job got old really quickly. We tried to get Brynn a car too, but he completely balked and still shifted and kept a lock box with his uniform and other necessities at the local bus station. Apparently in Pearl City, they made some allowances for shifters like keeping private places for us to change and somewhere to store belongings. It was one of the many differences between the city we all grew up in and this one.

“Calm down,” Reeve told me, sensing my nerves, even as his fingers drummed against the steering wheel. “He said everything was fine.”

“Yeah, but why do you think he didn’t go to work? Do you think he’s finally ready to show us his nest?”

Our little mate seemed to think we didn’t realize he had been slowly building his nest the past few weeks. I’m not sure how he thought we wouldn’t notice all our stuff going missing or the paint fumes coming from behind the closed door. He was keeping it from us, and while it hurt a little, I understood he had his reasons. I was trying very hard to be patient and wait for him to share it with us.

Reeve’s eyes flashed blue. “Maybe. But if it’s not, don’t push him. He’ll share when he’s ready.”

I threw my head against the headrest. “Ugh. I just wish he’d show us already. He has to know we’ll love whatever he did with it.”

Reeve put his hand on the center console, palm up. I happily took the offer, relaxing slightly when he squeezed. “It’s more than that, Riv. He explained a bit. He never had this before. Give him time.”

“Hmmmfff.” Like he wasn’t as anxious about it as I was. Reeve grinned, knowing my thoughts. Still, I tried my best to be patient. He wasn’t the only one still reeling from all this. We decided to talk to Uncle Zeke whenever he came back. If nothing else, then for closure. He hadn’t shown up though, and we were starting to get worried. If he really came once a month, he was well past due. We had been considering contacting Laurent to see if he could find him but so far hadn’t gained the courage. We also had been steadfastly avoiding the conversation of Rella. We’d get there eventually.

Being free was harder than expected. Pearl City was a lot, and I was thrilled most of our construction jobs kept us out of it. The first time Reeve and I went to visit Brynn at work I had a panic attack. There was just…too much. Reeve seemed to be handling crowds better than me, but he couldn’t keep the bedroom or bathroom door closed, as he had a hard time in tight spaces. And the first time we walked past a cop he ended up puking behind our construction site.

It would take time, for all of us. But we were patient with each other and were adjusting.

We finally arrived home. We had been slowly doing repairs outside, but we were taking our time with it. It became something of a family bonding time, especially after finding out that Brynn definitely wasn’t pregnant from his first heat. That was when we allowed him to go all out, and he seemed to really enjoy the work. Maybe once he was ready, he’d want to go into something in landscaping or gardening.

I shook the thoughts away. Now it was time to see what our mate was up to. We got out of the car and quickly hurried up to the front door and went inside.

Nothing looked different at first glance. It smelled like us and the tea Brynn really liked.

“Brynn?” Reeve called out.

There was a pause and then, “Read the damn note!”

I squinted in the direction his voice came from. Was that our room or the nest? I took a step in that direction until Reeve waved a folded piece of paper in front of my face. “The note.” He grinned, clearly amused by Brynn’s games.

He opened it, frowning slightly. “It says for us to take a shower and then wait for him in the hallway. Naked.”

My lips twitched. “Bossy.”

“You love it!’ Brynn, who was doing a terrible job hiding, called out.

“I do!” I called back.

Reeve rolled his eyes and took my hand, dragging me into our bedroom…where Brynn was nowhere to be seen.

“Fuck, Reeve.” He squeezed my nape.

“I know. C’mon. Let’s not keep the boss waiting.”

We hurried through a shower. Both of us washed quickly but well. Then we brushed our teeth also, because, well, it seemed important.

Before I knew it we were standing naked in the hallway waiting for instructions.

“Okay, sweetness,” Reeve called out when he didn’t immediately appear, “We’re ready.”

There was another pause, and then the door to the nest opened, “Come in.”

I froze. After waiting for so long for Brynn to share with us what he was doing to his nest, it was finally happening. It felt so big, way too big to walk in naked with no ceremony.

“Um, I’m kind of freaking out over here,” Brynn said from just inside the doorway, his voice unsure. “Like I understand if you’re mad I kept this from you, but can you please come in at least, and we can–”

We didn’t let him finish before we were both barrelling toward the door, and almost got stuck trying to go in at the same time.

Brynn was standing just inside the doorway, looking down at his feet, his arms crossed over his bare chest. I’d never seen our omega look so unsure, and I needed to fix it immediately. Instantly Reeve and I were there and on our knees in front of our mate. Reeve cupped his cheeks as I took his hands.

“Sweetness, what’s wrong. Why do you feel scared?” We had gotten much better at controlling the flow of emotions through the bond, but sometimes it was harder than others, and it seemed like Brynn was struggling now. The bond was a mess of contradicting feelings but scared and guilt seemed to be the strongest.

“I-I should’ve told you what I was doing with the nest earlier. I didn’t mean to keep it from you, it just felt so personal, and then I started to get insecure and then–”

Reeve stopped our mate’s babbling with a kiss. At the same time, I latched down on the spot where our bites were, and Brynn’s knees nearly gave out. But we were there to keep him from falling.

I unlatched my canines, and Brynn flashed me a look of exasperated fondness, “You gotta give me some warning, baby. Otherwise that happens.” He waved at his legs.

“That’s okay, we’ll catch you.” He rolled his eyes but also snuggled close.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “I wanted this to be a sexy surprise, but then my thoughts got the best of me and…yeah.”

“None of that. We’re not mad,” Reeve told him, his voice full of love and feeling.

Brynn wrinkled his face adorably. “You’re not?”

“No,” I repeated. “Do you feel anger through the bond?”

“Well no. But you two are way better at controlling it than I am.”

That was true. It was probably years of having to temper all our feelings during lockup, but it came in handy now.

“We’ve known you were doing something in here,” Reeve admitted, his own flash of guilt coming through the bond. “We never went in, though. We wouldn’t do that.”

“You knew!” Brynn took a step back, his legs banging against the ledge that went around his nest. It was the first time I really took in the room since we came in, too focused on our mate. I had taken a brief glimpse of it that first night, before it truly became Brynn’s, and I was amazed at all the work he did. It looked homey and peaceful. It looked like ours.

“Yeah,” I admitted, running my hands up and down his bare sides. “We wanted to wait until you were ready to tell us. We didn’t want to rush you.” My hands grazed some kind of waistband. I looked down, sort of embarrassed that I didn’t even notice what Brynn was wearing, even after he admitted this was supposed to be a sexy surprise.

I pulled away just enough to look down and nearly lost it at the royal blue briefs he was wearing. They were mostly sheer, with a darker blue floral design. The fit was snug, making the outline of his cock and balls obvious.

“Goddess, did you wear this for us?”

Brynn nodded, his cheeks red. His tongue was peaking out of his lips, and I had a strong desire to nip at it. “Yeah, but then I ruined it.”

Reeve growled. “You ruined nothing, sweetness. Fuck, you look so good. Turn around for us?”

Brynn rewarded us with a small smile, and then did a slow turn, really putting on a show. He even finished it with an awkward little shimmy.

Reeve’s canine’s extended, and my eyes flashed blue. “Come here, little rabbit,” I all but growled. I couldn’t wait to bury my face in between those cheeks.

Brynn stopped me just as my fingers dipped below the waistband to pull down the briefs, “Wait!” I froze, eyes snapping to my mate.

“Sorry! I’m all about that plan. But–in the nest.”

He gestured to the pit. I finally climbed to my feet, and Reeve followed. The nest was a smorgasbord of colors and prints, blankets, pillows, plushies that looked disconcertingly like mine and Reeve’s wolves, and all the clothes that had mysteriously gone missing over the last month. It smelled like cinnamon and vanilla, and more faintly of caramel and apples, and I could not wait to take my mate inside that.

I went to pick him up, and again he stopped me. “Hang on, big guy. Let me say what I planned to say. I got all fucked up already, but, um this feels important.” I took one hand and Reeve took the other.

“What is it, sweetness? You know you can tell us anything.”

He sighed. “Yeah, I know. I um, I’ve been thinking, and the more I put my nest together the more it felt right. I want the two of you to bite me. Again.”

I tilted my head in confusion. “We bite you all the time.” Lovingly and consensually of course.

Brynn sighed again, this time heavily, “Not like that. Like a mate bond.” Before we could question if he was okay, because his two bonds shined like a beacon on his neck for the whole shifter world to see, he started talking again, “I know it won’t be real this time. But when you did it, nothing was in our control. We were all near death and being forced by a bunch of asshole humans. While I don’t regret it at all and am thrilled how my life turned out, I want to do it again, for us. The way it should’ve been like if we had control of the situation, and we were able to choose.” Then he met my eyes, “And this time, I’d really like you to knot me, Riv. That way I have the chance to feel each of you during the most special moment of my life.”

I was too dumbstruck to speak, beyond touched at my sweet mate’s thoughtfulness. I was completely fine with Reeve being the one to officially solidify the bond with Brynn, and I still was. I never felt left out, that wasn’t me. But now that Brynn had put the thought inside my head, I wanted it more than anything.

Reeve lightly kissed Brynn’s lips, his expression filled with love. “That is an amazing and thoughtful gesture, baby. I love the idea, and I know Riven does, too.”

Hearing my name brought my brain back on line. One second I was standing a few inches away from Brynn, and the next he was in my arms, bridal style, and I was climbing the wall and into the nest. Reeve was right behind me, and by the time I had Brynn laid out like a feast for us, he was kneeling astride him, sucking on one nipple. Brynn arched his back–our omega loved nipple play both on him and sucking on ours–and since the other one was right there beautifully presented for me, I sucked it into my mouth.

“Fuck! Riven. Reeve.” Grinning, I gently teased the nipple with my teeth before licking and sucking down his body. Reeve was doing the same thing on the other side, as we worshiped our omega, giving him everything he didn’t get the first time around.

I nuzzled the soft fabric of the briefs and licked the wet spot where our omega’s dick leaked freely. The scent of slick filled the air, and one hand sliding down the back of his briefs showed that he was leaking freely from there as well.

“Fuck, you’re so ready for us.”

Brynn nodded, already a little lust drunk. “T-take them off. I have one more surprise for you.”

We didn’t need to be told twice. We almost ripped off the underwear trying to get it off him. “Let me see that pretty hole, sweetness,” Reeve said gruffly. “What other surprises do you have for us?”

With a small moan, Brynn put his hands under his knees and put them to his chest, exposing his hole for us…and the royal blue gemstone that was planted firmly in between his cheeks.

“Fuuuuck.”

“So fucking beautiful, baby,” I whispered, nearly reverently. I almost didn’t want to touch it, but also couldn’t resist. My fingers barely brushed it before Brynn was keening. How large was this plug? I needed to fucking know.

“It’s the color of your wolves’ eyes,” he admitted a little sheepishly, “So was the underwear.”

We were both kissing Brynn now, fighting each other for a chance at his mouth, covering his body and his neck with dirty kisses when the other one was controlling his mouth. It was too much. It was everything.

“This was the best surprise. We love you so much,” Reeve said, nipping at his lip.

“I love you both, too.”

At some point during the kissing fest, Brynn released his legs, so I gently brought them back up, and he held them again. Reeve was already playing with the plug, pushing it in and out, twisting it. I watched, fascinated, as slick leaked freely out every time Reeve pushed it back in.

“Ahh, fuck. Shit. Alpha!” Poor Brynn cried out, his legs shaking. He looked ready to explode already, but I wanted it to happen when he was locked on my knot.

“If you keep teasing him, he’ll come before we’re ready.” My voice was gruff, my wolf very close to the surface.

Reeve just shrugged, a sadistic smile on his face. “He’ll come again. Our omega is always ready to spill.” He wasn’t wrong.

I decided not to worry about it anymore, but I did lightly push Reeve’s hand away. I was tired of teasing. I had been imagining feasting on Brynn’s hole from the second I saw him in these briefs, and I was all out of patience.

I tugged on the base of the plug, pulling it out, likely rougher than I should, but then Brynn screamed, and he was shooting his first load untouched.

Reeve attacked, licking up our mate’s cum like it was the most delicious dessert. By the time he pulled off, Brynn was already thickening for round two.

Reeve laughed. “See, I told you we’ll get him to come more than once.”

I hummed thoughtfully as I lowered onto my elbows and spread Brynn’s gaping hole even more. “I wonder how many times we can make our little rabbit orgasm.” And then my tongue was in his hole.

“Fuck,” Reeve cursed quietly. He leaned over me, kissing our omega, who could probably taste his own release. So fucking hot. Then his finger was tracing the rim, so close to my tongue I could probably taste it…

“Ahhh, oh Goddess. Riven!” I grinned, going deeper before meeting Brynn’s dazed gaze between his thighs. “So delicious. Like slick and sweetness.”

I never thought I’d be able to stop Brynn mid-eyeroll, but I somehow managed as I went back to rimming him.

“Goddess. Damn it. Feels so good. Alpha, please! I need more. I need your knot! Please. Please. Please.”

I met Reeve’s eyes who smiled softly at me before nodding. It was all I needed. I sat up on my knees, hiking Brynn up so his legs were resting on my shoulders. Reeve hissed, squeezing his cock, his gaze hungry. I just smiled lazily, lined up and pushed inside my mate.

“So sexy,” Reeve whispered, awed. “I love watching the two of you together. So fucking perfect.”

He kissed up our sweet mate’s body, leaving a trail of love bites up his rib cage and onto his collar bone. I watched, mesmerized, as I sank fully home. This was one time I wished we didn’t heal so quickly. I wanted our marks to stay on Brynn for a long time.

I leaned forward, nearly folding Brynn in half. Reeve chuckled. “Thank Goddess for flexible mates.”

Brynn didn’t get a chance to reply with a snarky remark, because I pulled out to my tip and then slammed back in. After that, it was just a whole bunch of babbling and cursing, tears streaming down his face.

Then the babbling stopped altogether, because Reeve sat on his face and Brynn’s mouth was otherwise occupied.

“Goddess, I love you so much,” I whispered. “Both of you.” Reeve looked at me through hooded eyes. We didn’t say that we loved each other nearly enough. He knew, but he deserved to hear the words as much as Brynn.

“I love you, too. Love both of you.”

Reeve let up on Brynn, just enough for him to gasp, “I’m coming,” and then our omega came untouched, for the second time in minutes.

“Fucking hell.” Reeve knelt over Brynn’s face and started to pump his dick aggressively. I picked up the pace.

“So close, little rabbit,” I told him. “Gonna fill you with my knot and make you mine. Again.”

“Ungh,” Reeve staggered, and then without any other warning his orgasm hit him full force, shooting all over Brynn’s face.

Our mate opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue just in time, but nearly as much of the load hit his chin and face as it did his tongue.

I couldn’t last another second. I was joining them, all but collapsing on Brynn as I was fucking rocked by my orgasm. I’d never felt anything like that before. Reeve knelt to the side, and just as my knot expanded, I got the energy to release my canines.

“I love you, Brynn. Forever.” Then I struck home.

The bond was already there, of course, but this was different than every other time I bit him since. I felt a pulse, maybe a surge through the bond. It connected all three of us, strong and powerful and bright. It was so fucking beautiful and settled home deep in my soul. Tears streamed down my eyes, and Reeve kissed the side of my head before leaning over and redoing his bite. I felt the pulse again, though not as strongly, and Brynn screamed in pleasure before his eyes rolled back in his head. I would’ve been worried, but I could feel how strong his pulse was under me. The sensations just overwhelmed him.

I settled as best as I could, trying not to crush Brynn once my knot fully expanded. He slept peacefully, a small smile on his cum covered face. I rubbed my finger over his chin, mesmerized.

It was still so hard to believe we had gotten this second chance. Things still weren’t perfect. I may never get to reconcile with my sister, and I had no idea where Uncle Zeke ended up. We might always be worried about them reneging on the deal with Laurent. But all things considered, life was pretty fucking close to perfect, and I wouldn’t trade a thing.

Reeve got up at some point to get a towel to clean us up, but I was dozing by the time he got back. I was vaguely aware of him adjusting us so we were all cuddled together, my knot deep inside Brynn. Smiling happily, I drifted off, the two most important people in my life sleeping next to me.

The End