Page 22

Grif

A body pressed into me. A golden, toned body, with long dark hair. Another toned, golden body with short, dark hair lay on the other side of me. Oh, I was sandwiched between Verity and AJ, in AJ’s ridiculously comfortable adjustable bed.

We’d fucked her good last night. After she’d fallen asleep, AJ had taken me in the shower. Then we climbed into bed with her.

For so long, I’d told myself that I didn’t need alphas. Didn’t deserve alphas. That even AJ, who’d waited for me for so many years, didn’t truly want me for me. It was just that biological alpha-omega pull.

But he did. So did she.

Lucky me.

The bond I shared with Dean and AJ felt quiet. At some point, AJ had drawn heavy curtains over the windows, blocking the light. The clock told me that if it were a usual day, it wouldn’t be that early.

Today wasn’t a normal day, it was a snow day. My phone confirmed everything was closed, and the city recommended that non-essential personnel stay home.

With everything I’d been through, it would be nice to have a day or two to be snowed in with everyone—especially the sleeping goddess next to me. The image of her tied up and blindfolded while being knotted by AJ would live in my head forever.

She could probably use a couple of days to relax with us as well.

By the chill in the air, I had a feeling the electricity had gone off. The building had a generator, but it was for the elevators and safety systems. We had one, but it wasn’t automatic.

Carefully, I extracted myself from them and went to the bathroom–where the lights didn’t turn on. I threw on AJ’s bathrobe.

My gaze fell on her when I came back into the bedroom. I’d turn on the heat, have her for breakfast, and then cook for her. After all, I promised her that months ago.

Picking her up, I carried her from AJ’s room into mine. She stirred as I tucked her into my bed, glad I’d gotten those flannel sheets and heavy blankets.

“Ummmpf?” Her eyes fluttered open.

“Go back to sleep.” I gave her a kiss and threw my new thick, down comforter, with its soft dark green plaid cover on top of her. Putting on my slippers, I entered the laundry room where we kept the generator and turned it on, making sure it was properly ventilated.

“Oh, you got it.” Jonas stood there, also in a bathrobe and slippers. “I slept through it, sorry. I’d made sure I topped it off the other day, but if we need more fuel, the cupboard is stocked.”

“It’s fine. I can start the generator.” I shrugged.

“Thanks for doing that. The storm’s shaping up to be bad. We should be fine,” Jonas told me. “Would you like me to make breakfast? I was going to get in a workout before everyone got up.”

“I’ll make breakfast later. Enjoy your workout.” I slipped back into my room, closing the door, and getting under the covers with Verity.

Wrapping my arms around her, I dozed for a bit. When I felt Verity stir, I burrowed under the covers and buried my head between her thighs. Drawing my tongue up her soft folds, I tasted us still on her.

Best breakfast ever.

Cute little noises escaped her lips as I licked her into wakefulness.

The blanket lifted, and her face peaked under the covers. “Hiya, Tiger.”

“Good morning, Kitten. I’m a little busy eating breakfast. Can I help you?” I smirked, gazing up at those blue-green eyes.

“Mmmm, you can bury your cock inside me,” she hummed, her driftwood scent going sweet with desire and need.

“Can I?” I gave her clit a long and teasing lick, then met her gaze.

“Oh, yes, you can.” Her eyes gleamed. “Though that feels delightful.”

Shimmying out from under all the covers, I sank my cock deep inside her wet and waiting warmth without any preparation. My arms wrapped around her.

“Like that.” She giggled, arching her back and moving her hips to meet my thrusts.

As much as I loved fucking her against the wall with her arms above her head or seeing her tied up and at AJ’s mercy, I also loved this.

We play wrestled as we fucked, laughing and kissing. Finally, I pinned her to the bed, making her come as I came inside her, then collapsed on her chest, burying my face in her breasts.

“That was a very delicious breakfast,” I told her, gazing up at her. “I think I have enough energy to cook for you now.”

She laughed, then recognition crossed her face. “Please wake me up like this anytime. Can I help you cook?”

“I’d love that.” Cooking beside her sounded fantastic.

“We’re in your room?” She looked around.

“Didn’t want to wake AJ.” I propped my head up on my hand so I could see her better.

Verity took the robe I’d been wearing earlier and disappeared into her room to get dressed. It was still a little on the chilly side, so I threw on sweats and walked out to the kitchen.

I started the coffee, looked to see what we had, then attempted to make her a chai latte according to the instructions of the package I found in the cupboard.

“Bacon, crispy potatoes, fruit salad, and frittata?” I asked as she came out looking delicious in leggings and a sweater. We were not only fully stocked, but it looked like AJ had hit the warehouse store.

She kissed my cheek and ran her hand through my hair. “Perfect.”

“I made this for you. Though I have no idea if I did it right.” I handed her the steaming chai latte.

Verity took a sip. “This is amazing. Thank you.”

We cooked together, chopping and whisking as delicious smells filled the kitchen. Jonas came downstairs, wearing only workout shorts, his tattooed chest glistening with sweat.

“Morning, Little Alpha.” Jonas snagged Verity and kissed her.

“Hi, Jonas.” She smiled, and it traveled all the way to her eyes like it did when she was truly happy.

We made her happy.

I made her happy.

Jonas left to shower and wake up Dean. There was a thumping down the stairs and Mercy appeared, wearing sweats.

“Bacon.” Mercy snagged a mostly cooked piece out of the pan with her bare fingers.

“Set the table?” Verity looked at me. “That okay?”

“Yep. Dishes are in the cupboard by the oven,” I told her, as I tossed the fruit salad with a bit of orange juice.

“Hey.” AJ appeared, wearing only a pair of flannel pajama pants. He snagged me for a kiss. “Mmmm, coffee.”

“I’ve got some of that for you.” I poured him a mug. He drank his black like Jonas and I did. Dean liked his mostly cream when he didn’t have a matcha latte.

“Do I get some coffee?” Mercy asked.

“Help yourself.” I gestured to the cupboard where the mugs were as I made Dean a matcha latte.

“Morning, Princess.” AJ ran a hand down her face and she melted into him.

They looked amazing together–and they were both mine.

“Hi.” Dean bounded in and gave me a kiss, then hugged Verity, burying his face in her neck.

Jonas came back in, shirtless, with wet hair. We sat around the glass dining room table and dug in.

“I guess I’m not going to the greenhouse today.” Verity looked longingly outside at the snowstorm, which was still raging, as she took a bite of bacon.

“No one’s going anywhere if we can help it. Not that anything’s open.” Jonas took a bite of frittata.

“Movies and board games? We probably can’t order burritos, but I think we have everything we need to make them.” Dean grabbed more bacon.

“Yes, blanket burrito night sounds fantastic. I want to work out later.” I took a gulp of coffee. At some point, I wanted to spend some time at the piano. Verity’s song was coming along nicely.

“Me, too. Can someone teach me how to fight now? I know you hesitated before, but there has to be something you can show me,” Verity asked as she ate some potatoes.

“Actually, there is,” AJ replied. “Back after I was first injured, my physical therapist showed me how I could use my cane as a weapon. I can teach you some moves. I totally forgot about that.”

“You should combine it with both trying to get her to bark at you and throw off yours. She’s improving a lot.” Jonas took a bite of fruit.

Verity’s nose wrinkled. “Improving? I still can’t bark anyone.”

“It’ll come, Sweetheart,” Jonas assured. “You’re so much better at resisting than a few months ago.”

Mercy’s brown eyes blinked. “You’re doing what now?”

“Helping me so that the parents can’t bark at me ever again.” Verity’s look grew pained, and I squeezed her hand in reassurance.

“Do you need help with anything? Fighting, barks?” Jonas offered Mercy.

“Rusty and some others have been teaching me fighting moves. Please, teach me whatever you want. I don’t have a bark yet because I’m not awakened. But I’d love lessons on how to not get barked at by the parents, especially if I’m going to spend part of the summer in London.” Mercy looked at Verity, eyebrows knitting. “It’ll wake up soon, right? Hale was a senior in high school when it happened. I’m the only unawakened alpha on the team. Even Kaiko is a full alpha.”

“You’re younger than Hale was when he was a senior. It’ll come,” Verity assured.

“We’re here. If you’re holding your own as a crusher on a professional skate smash team against adult alphas, it’s going to be a little bitch to control your alpha when it wakes up,” Jonas told her. “I speak from experience.”

“Um, okay.” Mercy shrugged and took more bacon.

Her point of reference in alpha awakening was probably Verity, and I had a feeling it wasn’t typical.

“Verity, if you need to practice purring, I volunteer.” Dean licked his lips.

Mercy’s head cocked. “What’s wrong with Verity’s purr? You know, that’s why Mumsy is still salty with you. Hopey likes yours best and bitterly complains that it doesn’t work over the tablet.”

“Nothing’s wrong with it. Dean just wants to snuggle with her,” I snorted.

“Oh, is it something you need to keep doing then, like working out, and with no littles she’s not getting practice? Curious, since I can’t do that yet either.” Mercy plopped another slice of frittata on her plate.

“It turns out purrs have settings. I’m only good at the soft purr used for babies.” Verity laughed. “Been working on it, though.”

“Work on it all you want. I like having my head in your boobies.” Dean gave her a big smile.

Mercy snorted. “You’re supposed to hear alpha purrs? I thought since they were a special thing, the whole point was to not hear it, just feel it.”

“You’ve only ever heard Verity purr,” I breathed. We had some work to do.

“I mean, I guess my mom purred for me when I was little, but I don’t remember. Dad purrs for me sometimes when I’m upset or sad, and that’s not silent, but he’s an omega.” Mercy shrugged. “I thought the recordings they played in alpha lessons at school were dramatizations.”

“Usually you hear them. Except for the baby purr, which is very quiet or silent so you don’t startle or wake the baby,” Jonas explained and took another bite of food.

Mercy nodded. “Which would be why Verity’s the best.”

“Would you be interested in going to alpha camp this summer for a few weeks during the off-season? The one I went to was fun. Learned some good shit. Much better than the classes we had in school. Especially since you’re missing those last-year alpha classes.” AJ took more potatoes.

“Ooh, like the camps where you learn massage and cooking, or the kind where you live in the forest and beat people up? Both are fine, but I’d rather go to the first one.” Mercy grinned and shoveled more food into her mouth.

“That sounds like a good idea. I always forget those exist,” Verity said softly as she took a sip of her chai latte.

The good camps were exclusive and expensive, training the next generation of young alphas in everything from self-defense to running a household to pampering their omega. Not to mention a good place to network with other young alphas. Dean’s dad had a lot of contacts from his days at alpha camp.

“Oh, we should send you to one where you learn sailing,” Dean interjected. “We have a sailboat at the lake by our cabin.”

Mercy nodded as she snagged more bacon. “I’ve always wanted to learn to sail.”

We finished breakfast and cleaned up.

“So, during a snowstorm, we hang out and watch movies and play games and do inside shit?” Mercy gathered up the plates.

“Yep. Want to pick first?” Dean offered as he put away the food.

“They should absolutely get to pick because everyone here always chooses the same things,” AJ teased, rinsing plates and putting them in the dishwasher.

“If you let Verity pick, we’re going to be watching something about fairies or unicorns. Can we bake cookies? Then maybe watch one of the Defender League movies?” Mercy asked, putting some silverware in the sink.

“Please tell me you like the Space Explorers movies? I always get outvoted.” Jonas’ eyes pleaded with them as he wiped off the counters.

“Um, yeah. ” Mercy nodded. So did Verity.

They liked space movies. We were fucked.

Jonas grabbed Verity and kissed her deeply. “You are amazing.”

“We should all learn a fake language, maybe from those movies?” Mercy added. “You know Gwen is fluent in one.”

Dean snorted as he put something in the fridge. “So is Carlos. It’s probably the same one.”

“I would have guessed Clark. Fake language, why not?” I shrugged, gathering up the mugs. “Should we make some cookies first?”

“We got everything for candy cookies.” Verity went to the cabinet. “I even bought things to make you a not-chocolate batch, Jonas.”

“Candy cookies? Fuck yeah.” Honestly, I didn’t care what we watched or ate, I just wanted to spend time with everyone.