Reaching for the cheesecake, he’sjustable to slide it towards him. The server had thoughtfully placed the dessert fork on the side of the plate. “You were so good, Luc. You okay?”
“I feel great. We need to do this again.”
“Hell yeah. But we are bringing our own lube next time. Theirs is absolute shit.”
“I did. It’s in my ba—oh shit, it’s still in the car.” Luca’s bag is in the trunk of the car, with the stuff fromCrafternoon Delight. “If it’s still in the car, what did you—”
Simultaneously, their eyes catch on the conveniently placed squeeze bottle that Rowan had used.
Oh shit.“You can’t tell them.”
Luca’s horrified gasp is loud in the room as he picks up the bottle, clearly labeled:ketchup.
Stone Cold Sober
There’s a commotion by the door and the sound of several suitcases hitting the floor. Domino, who had been asleep on Rowan’s belly while they’d both dozed on the couch, scrabbles like the scaredy cat he is, digging his claws in for good measure. In the next instant, he’s got a lapful of an excited-smelling Nix Rhodes as he straddles Rowan’s lap.
“Ro, are you going to be okay here all alone?” Nix grabs his cheeks and looks into Rowan’s eyes as if he can detect if Rowan might lie to save Nix’s feelings.
He didn’t have to lie—at all.
Was he going to enjoy solitude for two fucking days while Leo, Jay, Luca, and Gideon schmoozed investors in New York? And Grayson and Nix went on a two-day date to some secret location? Yes, he was. Even if Finn wouldn’t be home until tomorrow after his overnight, and then only to shower and eat before leaving again to speak at a conference in Cleveland. Was he going to order food, be the Wolf, and generally do what he wanted? Yes, he fucking was, and he was going to revel in it.
But he’s not above a bit of emotional manipulation, as previously recognized and stated. “I’ll be fine.” He puts a fake hitch at the end of the reassurance, just to be sure Nix knows he’ll be missed, and maybe wheedle some kisses for his trouble.
There’s a scoff from the kitchen as Grayson loads a cooler bag with water and the snacks, and the sandwiches Rowan had made for Nix to eat on the trip. Rowan valiantly ignores that Grayson will be feeding their pregnant mate in his stead.
“Those are for Nix!” He shouts, although one is turkey, ham, and Swiss on sourdough, which just happens to be Grayson’s favorite. “Don’t eat any.”
“Ro. You could come if you wanted.”
“No, he can’t fucking come,” Grayson growls, but raises his eyebrows questioningly to let Rowan know that hecouldif hereallywanted to.
“You can, it’ll be fun. I don’t want you to feel lonely. Or left out.” Nix sounds genuinely worried.
“He’s going to get into his own shit. He’shappywe’re leaving him here. Don’t let him fool you, Angel,” Grayson says dryly, before dropping the cooler bag on top of Nix’s bag. “He’s going toketchupon his shows.”
“Low blow, asshole.”
Turns out Luca hadn’t had to say a word about Rowan’s condiment-lube debacle, because Luca’s pretty little asshole does not like tomatoes. It was quickly irritated, unhappy, and on the toilet for several hours—miserable until Finn had finally been able to irrigate it and put him on an antibiotic and a course of steroids.
The hardest thing for their horny little beta was that Luca would be out of commission until at least Monday. It’s all made worse by the fact that New York is a kink-lovers dream, and now Luca will be spending it in the hotel room instead of getting fucked in a variety of kinky ways. Rowan feels bad enough to make it up to him—minus the ketchup lube this time—in whatever way Luca desires.
Rowan had feared for his life once Gideon had returned, but the older alpha had only laughed before telling him about his mishap with wasabi and an unfortunate oral interaction with Jay’s dick. Shit happens, and sometimes it sucks. This time, Rowan had no trouble restraining himself from easy puns.
But Grayson and Leo have had no such restraint. “Fuck off. Nix, I hope you have a good time.”
Nix smiles. “We will, but you call me if you need us. We’ll see you on Saturday morning.” He leans in to kiss Rowan with tongue and teeth, before whispering, “I’ll make sure he’s sorry he was mean. Don’t you worry, baby.”
Grayson reaches over Nix’s shoulder to pull on Rowan’s hair beforeslipping an arm around Nix’s waist and lifting him off and toward the door. “Bye, Ro.”
Rowan’s just pressed play again when Grayson peeks around the door to blow him a kiss and say, “Love you, dickwad.”
It starts a happy sizzle in his belly, so he gives his mate the finger. “Ditto.”
Grayson laughs, the alarm activates, and eventually, the sound of the hired car fades away.
There’s the sound of nails on the hardwood, and then Tsuki jumps on the couch, to rest her head on his belly.
