Page 22

A firm chest is pressed against his back, and one under his cheek as Nix lets the world creep into his consciousness. The scents are opposite—one is the fresh, redolent breath of a verdant summer, and the other is the delicious spice of warm drinks before a fire.

Cool and hot, fresh and spicy. No matter that they are opposites—together, they mean love.

It’s Grayson and Rowan, of course. Nix tries to remember when the others might have left the nest this morning but finds no memory of it.

A stress headache is brewing behind his eyes, even though they’re not quite open, but he’s not surprised, given yesterday’s events. But there’s something else too—an ache that doesn’t quite belong to exhaustion.

After the trial, the pack and Antonio stayed with Grayson so the judges could address what had happened with Hayes. Judge Patel had called it assault, but she hadn’t seemed to have any heart in handing down more than the five-thousand-dollar fine and a warning to keep a tighter leash on his wolf.

It made his pack chuckle, as no one had stricter control over his wolf than Grayson Pearce.

Well, at least until yesterday.

The judges were all very understanding and apologized to Nix for not having better control over their prisoner and for allowing Hayes’s tirade to continue for as long as it had.

But Nix had been secretly relieved; now, he wouldn’t have to face Hayes in a quiet room, face-to-face. There was no telling what he would have said— or worse, what he would have tried to do with Nix as a captive audience.

Yet, it had been hard to hear those terrible things, especially in front of his mates’ families—embarrassing in the worst way.

Embarrassing because, while most of them weren’t true—he can at least admit that to himself—he had been Hayes’s. Even if he hadn’t consented for most of the time.

Grayson sighs softly in his sleep, shifting closer as he snuffles at Nix’s hair. His hand moves instinctively, rubbing along the arm Rowan has draped over both of them, as though sensing Nix’s unease even in his dreams.

Nix whispers a gentle shush, his voice barely audible, trying to soothe without waking him. The small, unconscious gesture eases the tension curling in Nix’s chest.

No one would argue that meeting his mates’ families in the middle of a courtroom, right after the worst moments of his life had been laid bare, was ideal. But they’d all been so kind that the weight of it settled an anxiety he hadn’t known he’d been feeling.

Grayson’s parents, especially, had put him at ease right away.

His beta father had been easygoing and quick to laugh, armed with a steady supply of dad jokes that reminded Nix of how Jamie might be in his late fifties. Despite coming from old money out East, there was nothing fake about him—just an approachable, friendly demeanor that made him instantly likable.

His mother, on the other hand, was poised and graceful, her quiet presence carrying an understated elegance. Watching them together, it was easy to see where Grayson got his contrasting traits—silly and carefree one moment, calm and composed the next. They balanced each other perfectly.

They were staying with the Costas family, who had graciously opened their home to everyone from out of town, including Rowan’s mother, Beth.

The moment they exited the courtroom, where the families and omegas had gathered, Beth had pulled Nix aside. Her touch was firm but gentle, pulling him away from Rowan, who had just picked him up to rub his scent-blocker-patch-free throat on any part of Nix he could reach.

He’d smelled only of her son then—it was a relief to smell like the enigma after a whole day of not smelling any of his mates. But Beth had been unimpressed by what must be a social faux pas.

“Rowan Foster! Good gracious, what has gotten into you? That’s hardly—” She breaks off with a sigh before starting up again.

“Nix, honey, come here.”

She had hugged him then, her beta scent sweet and warm, like blueberry pancakes. Smaller than even he or Luca, Beth had an energy that radiated kindness. With her bright smile and long red hair pulled into a high ponytail, she hardly looked older than Jamie. But her embrace was strong, as fierce and grounding as Rowan’s, and it tugged at something deep inside Nix—memories of his mother, her slim arms and soft bosom full of comfort and love.

He’d looked up from the warmth of Beth’s shoulder to see Finn’s parents slipping out in the rush, not being used to crowds. The other two betas in his family pack, Rusty and Claire, had hugged Finn before following quickly after.

Nix caught the flicker of resignation on Finn’s face—not surprise, not hurt, just understanding. He’d accepted a one-armed hug from Mama-Frankie instead, leaning into her without hesitation.

It made Nix sad because this probably wasn’t the first time they’d left their son to cope alone. Still, they’d shown up. They’d come to support them, and in Nix’s books, that counted for something.

By the time they’d finished their goodbyes, a crowd had gathered on the front steps, forcing them to slip out a side entrance to reach their car unnoticed.

As the car pulled away, Nix glimpsed the omegas greeting the press conference, proving an effective distraction to cover their departure. If Finn’s estimate was accurate, there had to have been five television vans and at least a hundred people gathered outside.

Nix had spent the ride home in Jamie’s lap, being scented and listening to him hum some tune.

It had been a quiet ride, everyone lost in their thoughts until Rowan had finally burst out with, “You laid that fucker out, Gray. Who knew you could do that? It was awesome!”

That had earned him a smack on the back of the head from Gideon and a squeak from Luca, who’d had the misfortune of sitting closest.

“What?! Am I wrong?”

No, he wasn’t wrong at all .

Seeing his soulmate pummel Hayes had been hot as fuck. Even on the heels of seeing Hayes bear down on him with foul-scented evil, there’s a surge of intense desire at the memory of Grayson’s possessive fury.

Nix knows it’s a bit old-fashioned, and he admires Grayson’s usual restraint, but…well…call him whatever you want. It felt good to be defended in that most public and fundamental way.

He is very much about being self-sufficient—always has been, whether by choice or circumstance—but Nix is getting used to letting people show they care for him in so many ways.

Now, lying with Grayson pressed up against him, thoughts of Grayson’s possessive show of strength and dominance make the persistent low-grade heat in his belly surge and his skin feel tight.

It reminds him that he hasn’t come in several days.

His mates have been respectful and cautious since his revelations and insecurities, as if they’d been uncertain of their welcome. And while he appreciates it—loves them more because of it—right now, he wants them.

All he wants now is to be held and loved and maybe… ruined .

Grayson and Gideon’s possessive anger, Jamie’s incredible strength and sacrifice, Rowan’s scenting, and Finn and Leo’s support throughout the day have settled something deep inside him.

And Luca. While he’d been nervous the day of the trial, he had been calm and relaxed since before Hayes’s outburst. Nix could always trust Luca to set the barometer for whether he should be worried—if Luca wasn’t worried, then Nix wasn’t, either.

This sense of urgency had been building since they got home. After a quick dinner and before they’d piled into the nest, Nix had stolen Jamie’s black dress shirt right off his back, crawled into the nest, and let his vanilla scent cover his mates with love and… relief . But now, his scent is almost cloying in its sweetness.

He shifts, heat pooling in his belly, his skin prickling with the need to be touched. He exhales slowly, but it’s like something in him is waking up, and when he squirms, he can feel that he is wet between his cheeks.

Rolling onto his side facing Grayson, he pushes back into Rowan, who tilts his hips forward so that when Nix pushes back, he feels the alpha’s hard cock grind into him from behind.

“Nix,” Rowan rumbles, his voice already wrecked.

Nix grabs his wrist and brings two of Rowan’s fingers to his mouth, sucking them in deep. He rolls his tongue over them, dragging his teeth lightly along the fingertips before sucking hard again. The vibration of Rowan’s moan makes Nix even wetter, his hole clenching hard.

With a groan, Rowan stops, pressing his nose and teeth into Nix’s shoulder.

“Oh, fuck me,” Rowan mutters.

“That’s the idea. Come on, Ro. I’m on fire— fuck —help me, please.”

Rowan doesn’t need more encouragement. He slides his fingers between Nix’s thighs, breath hitching as he presses in—hot and slick. Nix shudders at the stretch, at the slow glide of Rowan’s fingers opening him up, teasing him with shallow thrusts just inside.

“Goddamn, you’re soaked, ” Rowan growls, voice thick with awe.

“Ro, please,” Nix pants, his voice wrecked, body trembling with want. “I need you inside me—I need your cock, need your knot—”

Rowan groans like he’s in pain, and in the next second, he’s flipping Nix onto his back, ripping Jamie’s stolen dress shirt open, buttons flying across the nest.

“You make me crazy, but I need you to be sure…I don’t want to hurt you,” he asks, voice muffled by his lips kissing down Nix’s chest and then his belly, sucking and biting as he goes.

He looks uncertain, but his red hair is damp at the temples, and his eyes are dark with desire. So beautiful, and the memory of their last fuck flashes through Nix’s mind.

Nix can only thrust his hips up to gain some pressure on his dick. “Yes, god, please.”

“Fuck, you’re gonna wreck me,” Rowan breathes, settling between Nix’s legs.

Gripping his thighs, he drags him down the nest until he can get his teeth set into the soft skin of Nix’s thigh. Licking up the mess of slick already soaking into the nest beneath him, Rowan pushes a third finger in alongside the others.

Grayson shifts, propping himself up beside them, his eyes glowing in the dim light. He trails a hand down Nix’s stomach, fingertips teasing over his leaking cock, barely touching, just enough to make Nix whimper in frustration.

“Needy baby,” Grayson murmurs, as he drags his knuckles along Nix’s flushed skin.

“Gray,” Nix moans, opening his mouth. “Please.” He wants Grayson’s brand of deep, tongue-sucking kisses.

Grayson takes stock of Rowan’s mouthful, his hand between Nix’s legs, pushing three long fingers inside, slick and easy, all the way to the last knuckle.

“Angel. So pretty. So good for us,” Grayson pants, licking into Nix’s mouth. “Does he taste like sugar, Ro?”

Rowan pulls back just enough, lips glistening, before leaning toward Grayson with a smirk. Their tongues meet in a flash of hunger. Then Rowan’s slick-coated hand wraps around Grayson’s cock, pumping slow and firm.

A groan spills from Grayson’s chest as he tangles his hand in Rowan’s hair, yanking him closer. They kneel over Nix, their mouths devouring each other, but Nix can barely hear them over the pounding of his blood.

Skin burning and itching with need, the pain from before cramps in his belly, turn the ache of emptiness unbearable. He needs them. In his mouth. In his body. Now.

Without hesitation, he rolls onto his knees, desperate. His hands wrap around both their cocks, stroking as he mouths at Grayson’s cockhead first, then Rowan’s, sucking them again and again, swallowing down the taste .

Rowan pulls off Grayson’s lips with a ragged gasp, his forehead dropping to Grayson’s shoulder as Nix works him over. His fingers tighten in Nix’s hair, not yanking, but pushing his head inexorably down until Nix can feel the corners of his lips split with the effort to get the head into the back of his throat.

Gagging, his eyes tear up as pressure builds unbearably low in his belly. It’s perfect but not half of what his body needs.

“Yes, just like that,” Grayson murmurs, his voice thick. He rubs a drop of blood from Nix’s mouth with his thumb before sucking it clean. “Makes me want him like this all the time.”

Nix moans around Rowan’s cock, heat flooding his body. He clenches and releases his thighs, trying to ease the agony in his belly.

“Ro,” he groans, releasing him with a wet pop, resting his lips against the head so the alpha can feel his words as much as hear them. “You said you would fuck me. What are you waiting for?”

Rowan inhales sharply, and his cock twitches against Nix’s lips.

Before Nix can take another breath, Rowan flips him around, pressing his chest down with his legs spread wide.

Grayson shifts in front of him, gripping Nix’s chin and tilting his face up. His cock drags against Nix’s swollen lower lip, leaving a trail of sweet precome.

“You want us both, Angel?” Grayson murmurs, running his fingers through Nix’s hair.

“Yes,” Nix pants, arching his back, pushing his ass higher, presenting . “Want you in my mouth. Want Ro inside. Please.”

Thank the Goddess that Rowan doesn’t waste another second. He grips Nix’s hips, dragging him back, rubbing his thick length through the slick pooling between his legs, coating himself in it.

Without warning, the stretch is sudden and oh-holy-fuck deep as Rowan thrusts in one fierce push, slamming into the hilt in one stroke.

Nix screams . His spine bows, his mouth falling open as he’s filled , his body gripping Rowan tight.

Grayson takes advantage of the moment, sliding his cock past Nix’s lips, pressing in inch by inch. “That’s it, Angel. Take it. Such a good omega.”

Yessss. Nix loves to hear it. Moaning around Grayson’s cock, body caught between them, he is overwhelmed. The burning ache in his belly is replaced with the agony of pleasure as Rowan grips his hips and fucks him , hard and deep, his knot already swelling at the base.

“You’re squeezing me so fucking tight,” Rowan groans, voice wrecked. “Your pretty little hole is sucking me in, Nix. You love it, don’t you?”

Nix does . He loves it. Loves the way Rowan stretches him, the way Grayson fills his mouth, the obscene wet sounds of their bodies moving together.

Grayson pulls back, stroking himself, rubbing the tip against Nix’s lips. “Open wide, Angel.”

Nix obeys instantly, tongue out, waiting.

Grayson strokes himself faster, breathing ragged. “Fuck, you’re gonna look so pretty with my come on your face.”

Rowan groans at the words, slamming in deep, his knot catching, locking them together, and Nix wails , coming untouched, his body convulsing around Rowan’s cock.

Grasping Nix’s chin in an iron grip, he whispers. “Look at you. My pretty Angel. Mouth open,” he growls.

Nix barely processes the command, and then Grayson is coming, painting Nix’s tongue, his lips, and his cheeks. Some of it misses, dripping filthy over his swollen lips, down his chin, and onto the bed between them. Rowan growls, rutting harder, grinding his knot deep against Nix’s aching, stretched hole.

Grayson strokes a hand down Nix’s back, tracing lazy patterns as Rowan presses deep kisses against his shoulders.

“We’re not done yet, Angel,” Rowan murmurs, rolling his hips, grinding his knot deeper. “You can take more, can’t you?”

Nix whimpers, exhausted but still burning. He’s gone entirely limp in their grasp, trusting that their hold on him won’t falter, whether that’s in that horrid courtroom or here, in their nest, as they pleasure themselves— and him.

He drifts, feeling cared for and loved. “So deep, Ro,” he slurs, his limbs slack, body boneless with pleasure.

The scent of his mates allows him to enjoy that hazy, blissed-out feeling, but as Rowan had said, he isn’t finished with him yet.

Rowan shifts behind him, pulling him up so his back is pressed against Rowan’s broad chest, sweat making them slide together. He’s held in place by the huge knot buried deep as his alpha’s fingers slide up Nix’s sweat-slick chest. His rough palms drag over sensitive skin, thumbs brushing just under his pecs before he finds Nix’s nipples. Rolling them between his fingers, he flicks and pinches the tender flesh—a wicked contrast to the deep press of his knot stretching Nix open.

Nix gasps, his spine arching, a sharp jolt of sensation shooting through his belly, straight down to his still-hard cock. “Fuck, Ro—” His words cut off into a whimper as Rowan tugs, twisting just right, sending lightning through his overstimulated body.

“Yeah, baby?” Rowan breathes against his ear, voice thick, dripping satisfaction.

Pulling one of Rowan’s hands away, Grayson takes the other nipple with his teeth, sucking hard before releasing it with a wet pop. “I love how sensitive you are. Perfect for us. Bet we can make you come again just like this.”

The heat surges, stronger, unbearable.

“You smell so fucking good,” Rowan groans, rutting slow and deep, his knot pressing inexorably against Nix’s abused prostate. He tweaks Nix’s nipple again as Grayson bites down. “Could stay inside you forever.”

The promise of forever just like this, the bite of pain mixed with pleasure, the relentless fullness of Rowan’s knot stretching his rim—it’s too much.

“Gray! Ro—fuck! Oh, fuck—”

Nix shatters, a wrecked cry spilling from his lips as his cock pulses untouched. His body clenches down hard, milking Rowan through another orgasm as black spots flash behind his eyes, as he finally succumbs to the pleasure.

The next thing he knows is the press of soft lips against his cheek, as a wet tongue drags over his face, licking up the mess of come and sweat before kissing it back into his mouth. The taste of himself and his mates floods his tongue, making his head swim.

Rowan rubs a hand over his chest, down his stomach, pressing in hard over his lower belly. “I can feel my cock in you. Maybe I put a baby in here, eh?”

Grayson groans at that, low and rough. “Fuck, Rowan…”

A baby . That sounds perfect.

Nix would like a baby. A little one with fox-green eyes and a mischievous smile. Maybe a baby girl like Arlo’s. Maybe Nix could call her Marigold . They were his mother’s favorite flower, after all.

Nix isn’t sure how much time has passed when Grayson finally pulls himself from the tangle of limbs, ignoring Nix’s protests. Returning with a warm washcloth, he swipes gently over Nix’s face. When he’s finished, he throws the cloth into the bathroom and settles back in the nest, offering his shoulder for Nix to rest against.

Rowan shudders through his fourth orgasm, still tied inside him, and Nix loves it. The heat pooling in his belly every time Rowan shifts is a deep, thrumming pleasure that keeps him floating between exhaustion and craving more.

“You okay there, Angel?” Grayson murmurs, pressing a kiss to the top of Nix’s head.

“So good, Gray.”

If he unfocuses his eyes, he can see the way both his pink and magenta bonds swirl around them, weaving together in soft pulses of color. Luca would call it trippy .

“Thank you.”

“Thank you? For what?” Rowan asks, his knot finally shrinking enough that it slips free.

Nix won’t lie. “It’s been different lately, and I was…worried that…”

He hides his face in Grayson’s armpit. “Why is this so hard? I woke up, and I needed you. I was worried you wouldn’t want…ugh. Am I making any se nse?”

Why was “wording” so hard.

Grayson exchanges a look with Rowan before smiling. “Mmmhmm, we want you, too.”

Rowan groans, shifting to press his nose against Nix’s throat. “Any time you want to touch my dick, please do. I mean that.” He inhales deeply, growling against Nix’s pulse. “Fuck. Why do you smell so fucking good? I’m still hard, for fucks sake.”

Like he’s been summoned by the promise of good dick, the door to the nest room bursts open.

In record time, Luca is yanking off his pants and shirt, bringing the scents of the outside world with him, and even though Nix hates the scent of strangers, he wants him in the nest so he can cover him in vanilla musk, sweat, and come.

Luca stops abruptly, lifting his nose as his face flushes bright red.

“Holy shit . That is amaze-balls. What is that ?”

Then he’s crouched over Nix, nearly knocking Rowan over in his haste to drag his nose down Nix’s side and over his belly, lower—

“Luc! What are you doing?” Nix asks, grasping his hair in his fist, holding his face to his belly as if the beta might try to leave him.

Luca moans, pressing his face into Nix’s skin. “Smells good, baby. Like you, but—fucking ramped up to a million. Goddess, I’m so hard .” He lifts his head and shouts, “Gideon! Can I come?”

Nix’s wolf doesn’t like the loud noise, but the idea of making Luca come is even more insistent. Visions of how he could rub his baby’s come into his belly and how he would smell even more like pack.

The burning in his belly flares, sharp and immediate, and his hole clenches hard, forcing out fresh slick, Rowan’s come spilling right onto his still semi-hard cock lying tucked between Nix’s cheeks, making the enigma groan.

“Yeah.” Nix fists his hand in Luca’s hair, dragging him up so their chests press and their cocks slide together, hot and wet. “Can Luca come?” he shouts.

The scent of summer rain with a tinge of annoyed thunder fills the space seconds before Gideon appears at the door, a laundry basket balanced in his arms.

“Why are you yelling?” Gideon grumbles, stepping inside. “So rude. Haven’t I taught you both bett—”

An audible gasp is followed by the sound of the plastic laundry basket dropping to the floor.

Folded blankets and towels spill out, tumbling across the nest.

Nostrils flaring, Gideon stares, blinks, then: “Fuck me.”

He backs up a step. Then another.

And in a strange, conflicted dance, he takes three steps forward before forcing himself out the door, fingers clenching tight around the doorknob.

“What’s wrong?” Grayson asks, a hand tangled in Luca’s hair, pushing him down toward Nix’s cock while Rowan devours Nix’s mouth.

Nix can’t see Gideon anymore, but he can smell him—the crisp bite of a dangerous summer rain. The turquoise bond in his belly burns hot, ramping up the pleasure of Luca’s mouth, finally hot around his aching cock.

And he wants.

His body aches for it. He reaches out a hand, crooking his fingers. “Come.”

Gideon’s voice is faint, rough around the edges, like he’s forcing the words out. “Fuck me….nothing’s wrong, pretty.”

Then Luca hums and slides three fingers into Nix’s hole.

Nix screams, back bowing, coming again for the third time, slick pouring out of him.

Gideon exhales sharply, his breath ragged. “But I think our omega is in heat.”