Page 53 of Two For the Show (Trapped On The Tightrope Duet #2)

“I don’t know, maybe I keep thinking that this once, my pack won’t try to get one over on me?” I release Jude and kiss Dario on the cheek before ruffling his dark brown hair. “Why even bother having the discussion if none of you are going to stick by it?”

His eyes sparkle with humor. “Because you keep bringing it up. Can we do presents now?” His good mood is infectious, and he could convince me to do anything in those slutty little cutoff shorts he’s wearing.

Coupled with his crop top and his chocolate apple scent, he looks so delicious that I almost want to skip dinner and go straight to dessert .

Matteo makes a grumbling noise from the kitchen. “We may as well, there is no fixing this cheesecake now.”

“What’s wrong with it?” Quinton asks, leaning over his shoulder.

“There’s a crack.”

“Throw whipped cream on it,” Dexter suggests. “No one will know.”

Matteo crosses his arms over his chest and exhales heavily. “I will.”

“Hey, Alex,” Dexter says as he slides up next to me and kisses my cheek. “How’s Edmund?”

I brush his blonde hair off his forehead, nuzzling my nose against his.

He looks comfortable in a plain black t-shirt and gray sweats.

Sometimes, even when the other guys dress up, he wears lounge pants instead.

He doesn’t like the way some of the clothes feel on his waist, so if he doesn’t have to wear jeans or slacks, he won’t. “You heard about that?”

The Alpha, who was once my most reluctant partner, pulls me close and wraps his arms around my waist, and I soak up his caramel chocolate scent. “Yeah, he apparently was trying to get out of calling you, so he called Jude to see if Jude would stitch him up.”

“Moron,” Jude grumbles, though it’s full of affection.

“Okay, presents!” Dario calls out, running over to the dining table and snagging an envelope off it. “Mine first!”

I grin broadly and take the white envelope from him, opening it up to pull out a folded sheet of paper. It takes me a moment to read over it. “Couples massages?”

It took a little while, but I have mostly overcome my aversion to touch. I still don’t love being surprised by a grab from anyone outside of my pack, but it’s not nearly as bad as it used to be. And touches that I’m aware are going to happen are fine .

“Yeah! A full spa day, too. Mudbaths, facials, and even nails. Just me and you. I always wanted to do one with you, and you’ve been working so hard. I want to help you relax.”

I raise on my tiptoes to give him a sweet kiss, but he doesn’t let me get away with that. He grabs my ass and pulls me close, the kiss filthy and desperate. When we finally break apart, panting, I have nearly forgotten what we’re doing here.

When I look down and see the gift certificate in my hand, I remember. It’s our third anniversary of officially being a pack, and all of my guys are spoiling me, even though I told them not to.

But Dario looks so pleased with himself, it’s hard to be mad at him for being sneaky.

“Thank you, Dario. I am so excited to spend this time with you.”

“Me next!” Quinton declares, grabbing my hand and spinning me to face him.

His gray eyes are no longer lined with purple bags, and he looks younger than he did when I first met him.

His shirt, a gray one that says, “My Omega could beat up yours”, is half tucked into a pair of wide-legged, baggy jeans. “You’re going to love it.”

He grabs a small pink bag with white tissue paper off the couch and holds it out to me.

It’s surprisingly heavy, and I rest it on the ornate dining table to dig into it.

I pull out two black shirts and stretch them out.

The smaller of the two says “Somebody,” and the larger has “Somebody’s Problem” written across the front.

An unattractive snort laugh leaves me when I read them. “Couples t-shirts?” I ask, incredulously. “Where are we going to wear these?”

“Everywhere, my dear Omega. But that’s not all! Keep digging. ”

The bag is still heavy, and I reach in and pull out a large candle.

It’s ivory colored, with a label on the front that says ‘Pack Shields’.

When I take off the lid and smell it, my nose is filled with the sweet, slightly fruity, confectionary chocolatey scent of our pack.

Quinton managed to get all of our scents put into a candle.

My eyes tear up a little at the thoughtfulness of it. “This is so thoughtful, Quinton.”

“See?” he hisses at Jude as he gathers me into his arms. “I told you she’d want one with all our scents.”

Matteo smacks Quinton on the ass with a kitchen towel. “Gloating doesn’t look good on you, Q.” My Beta sweeps me into his arms and kisses me soundly, before leaning down and whispering in my ear, “You’ll have to pretend that mine isn’t your favorite, or they’re all going to be upset.”

I pull back, squinting at him. “What did you do?”

He hums and pulls a box from under the table. It’s matte black with a gold ribbon, and he lays it on the table. “Open it and see.”

A beautiful wooden paddle is nestled in a satin liner. It’s engraved with a swirling filigree and roses. When I pick it up and test the weight in my hand, he reaches forward and turns it over. On the back, it’s been carved with the words, “Good Omega”.

Reading the words has me slicking my panties.

Since the first time Matteo spanked me, it’s become a regular occurrence for us in the bedroom.

After a particularly stressful day, or even an emotionally draining one, it’s a nice way for me to let go and let him take control.

Mostly, he uses his hands, but we’ve used a few paddles over the years.

None of them ever felt right.

This one does .

“I love it,” I whisper, stepping into his arms. “Thank you, Beta.”

“You’re welcome, Omega.” His kiss is soft and languid, his hand tangling in my hair at the base of my neck.

Jude clears his throat, causing us to break apart. He looks like he’s about to step forward and give me his gift next, but Dexter cuts him off by handing me a pretty gold envelope.

“Another spa day?” I joke, waggling my eyebrows. Of course, I’d love a spa day with the twins, but I doubt Dexter and Dario had the same idea. When I open up the envelope, I nearly drop what I find inside from excitement. “You didn’t! How?”

Dexter hums happily. “I have my ways.”

“But the live reunion of Knot What You Expected ? These tickets have to be impossible to get!” I throw my arms around his neck, squealing.

“Fuck, he showed us all up,” Dario stage whispers to Jude. “We should’ve done that as a group gift.”

I blush, a little worried that they are going to be upset over how much I like Dexter’s gift. They must feel my guilt in the bond because all of them move close to me, each touching a part of me.

“Don’t feel bad, Alex,” Matteo says softly. “We are all very impressed that Dexter managed to score those, so of course, we’re a little jealous. That just means next time we’ll have to show him up.”

By this point, Jude’s side of the bond is full of turmoil. Whatever he got me has him stressing out, especially now that Dexter’s gift has been revealed. I thought he was on edge when I got here, but it’s nothing compared to how he is now.

“Jude,” I say softly. “I’m going to love whatever it is. ”

“I overstepped,” he says gruffly. “I should’ve talked to you first.”

I wrap my arms around him again, resting my head on his chest. “I promise I’m going to love it.”

He extracts himself from me and takes a huge breath. “Okay. Okay. I’ll be right back.”

I look at the others, and they all look equally confused. “Do any of you know what he got her?” Quinton asks. “Dario?”

The other Alpha shakes his head. “No idea. He refused to tell me.”

Jude comes shuffling out of his room, arms behind his back. He looks uncomfortable in a way I’ve never seen him before.

And then he brings his hands forward, and in the massive, garbage can lids he calls hands, is the smallest kitten I’ve ever seen in my life.

The little guy looks like he’s wearing the world’s tiniest tuxedo, and immediately, I burst into tears.

“Oh no,” he says, looking around like he wants to drop the cat to comfort me, but doesn’t know where to put it. “I knew this was a stupid idea. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

I hiccup, trying to get the words out, but failing. I reach forward and pluck the kitten from his hands, pulling it to my face and nuzzling into its impossibly soft fur.

“Wait,” he says cautiously. “You like it? Why are you crying?”

“It’s so cute!” I say between gasping sobs. “How can something be so tiny?”

Finally accepting that I am happy with his gift, the knot of a bond that Jude left in my chest loosens. “So you’re happy?”

“Of course I am! Who would dislike this sweet, perfect little baby? What’s its name? ”

“I was thinking of calling him Bow Tie.” My massive Alpha ruffles his hair, cheeks tinged pink. “But we can change it.”

“Are you kidding? We’re not changing it! He looks like he’s in a little suit. It’s perfect.” I lean my back against my Prime Alpha’s chest, stroking the kitten’s head gently.

All of them are watching me, their bonds filled with love and adoration, and I know they can feel mine as well.

Sometimes, it’s hard to believe this is the same group of men I met when I first joined the circus. All of us have changed and healed so much over the years that it often feels like we are different versions of ourselves.

And then other times, when I look at them, I can’t help but remember the first time I stood in front of them as I introduced myself, and the way they had all looked so uncomfortable with me being there.

Almost four years ago, I stepped under that striped tent and began my journey with the troupe of Cirque de Mordu.

The circus looks different today. We replaced the striped tent with curtains, the trailers with a suite, and the random fairgrounds with the Vegas strip.

Despite all of that, it is still a haven for misfits. A safe spot for people who need a little extra help. A home for the weird and the extraordinary.

I can’t imagine being anywhere else, with anyone else. No matter where we go, no matter how much we change, I am going to have my pack with me, and I know we will always find our way back here. Back home.

Because all roads lead to the circus.