There’s no rush. No primal drive.
We simply savor each other.
When we finally pull back, the sun has finished setting somewhere behind us. We’re both breathing slightly unsteadily, foreheads pressed together in the blue dusk, and then I hear it.
A low, amused sound from somewhere near the house.
Adam looks first, and his expression drops. "What do you want?"
Perrin is leaning against the back doorway with his arms crossed and a grin on his face that tells me he has been standing there for quite a while.
"Oh nothing," he says. "I came to tell you that the cake is served." His gaze zeros in on Adam. “But I completely understand if you want to stay out here and rut our omegain the backyard for the neighbors to see. It’s veryalphaof you.”
Adam's hands drop from my face immediately, and I have to actively stop myself from pouting about it.
“Come on.” Adam grabs my hand and pulls me toward the house without another word. "I hate you," he whispers to Perrin as we step through the back door.
"You love me," Perrin says serenely, falling into step behind us.
"Hurry up!" Raff's voice carries from somewhere in the kitchen. "The cake is going to get warm."
"Olive oil cake doesn't get warm, Raff!" Perrin calls back. Then, louder, "We were just letting Elowen enjoy the sunset." He turns and gives me a wink. “She was enjoying it too much for me to interrupt.”
I grab the back of Perrin's hair and pull him to a stop.
The beta makes a surprised sound as I force him down to my level, then I press my lips to his quickly. When I pull back, his eyes are wide and his mouth is slightly open.
"Stop teasing," I say pleasantly, releasing him, "or I'll be forced to tease you ten times worse tonight."
Perrin stares at me, his ears going so red so fast it's almost impressive.
"Okay," he says, his voice coming out approximately half an octave higher than usual.
Adam looks at us over his shoulder, takes one look at his brother's face, and smiles so big it reaches his eyes.
Driving Home
Cliff
The driveback from Dr. Vasquez's office is quiet but in a good way. Easy. Relaxed.
Perrin has his elbow on the window frame, watching the road unspool ahead of us. I have both hands on the wheel, and Adam is in the back seat. His breathing has slowed; his head occasionally lolling to one side. I’m sure he’ll take a nice long nap the second we get home.
"I really liked her," Perrin says, turning slightly in his seat to look at Adam. "Dr. Vasquez. She was great."
Adam gives his brother a lazy smile. "She was," he agrees. "Very thorough." He frowns slightly. "But my butt cheek is absolutely killing me."
"The shot?"
"The shot," Adam confirms as he shifts in the bucket seat. "She said it would only pinch, but that wasnota pinch. It was a hate crime."
Perrin presses his lips together.
"But." Adam leans forward, and I can hear the surprisein his voice even as he says it. "I actually feel good. Like." Adam goes quiet in the back seat, and I watch him in the rearview mirror.
He squeezes his hands a few times before rolling his shoulders back.
"My head is clear,” he finally says. “And my joints aren't screaming. I feel like someone opened a window in a stuffy room.”
