“Did you have a nest where you lived before?” I ask her. I’m unsure of when she moved in.
“The shelter? No, I didn’t. If you mean my apartment in Chicago, I didn’t then either. I worked too much for it to make sense to have a real one, and even if I had, I lost everything in the move,” she says, shrugging.
“What am I missing?” I ask. “Was there a fire? What the fuck?”
“Something like that,” Storm mumbles from his computer. “Antibiotics are on the way. Marie, would you prefer to order online or at the nest store? The brick and mortar option is about twenty minutes away.”
There’s a choice for her, but refusing isn’t on the table. I can respect that. I send happiness down the bond to Storm, and watch as he smirks and adjusts his cock from where he’s standing at the island.
Cocky fucker.
“I need to go in,” Marie finally says. “I am really sensitive to fabrics. What if it’s a microfiber?”
She shudders delicately, shaking her head as she watches as Wilder dresses another taco for her. I’m addicted to watching her eat too.
The thing is, I’m not a sappy person. I never thought I’d be fighting for Marie to be able to retain her autonomy with fellow cavemen for pack mates.
“Rude,” Storm grunts. “I fucking heard that.”
“Not possible,” I squeak out, drying my hands.
“The bond is getting stronger,” he says unapologetically. “It’s only half formed and I can already tell when you’re thinking shitty thoughts. A lifetime with you is going to be like living with a spur in my knot.”
“Oh that’s fun,” Lore chuckles. “That reminds me, I need you to come over here so I can bite you. I want to pull your pants down so I can find a juicy spot on your ass.”
“Arm only,” I say, cheeks heating as I tentatively get closer.
“Demands get brats punished,” he growls, his neck turning from side to side as if to relax the kinks from it.
“Mmm. There’s Daddy,” Storm snorts. “May as well just take the licks, Ransom. He doesn’t play fair.”
As soon as I’m in front of him, he turns me to face the island and shoves my back and head down. A hand yanks my sweatpants down, and I feel disoriented because there’s no way Lore has the hands for that. Lore releases me so the other person can hold me as I struggle, and I yell as teeth bite down on my ass cheek.
“Fuck!” I complain, feeling his smugness as the bond begins to form. Since turnaround is fair play, I picture water boarding him while refusing to kill him.
“Kinky. You definitely fit in perfectly,” Lore says smacking my ass on the side opposite his bite. “Now, let’s get my chest sorted out.”
“I think you’re the worst of them,” I sigh, finally able to struggle away as I pull up my pants. “I need to wait for the?—”
The doorbell rings as I roll my eyes. Storm pulls up the video feed before pulling his gun and standing.
“That’s him. Do you need to go to your bike to get anything?” he asks.
“Isn’t this too nice of a neighborhood for all that?” I ask, gesturing to his weapon. “My medic bag is down here. I’ll go grab it.”
“I’d rather be safe than sorry,” Storm confirms. “I bought other medical supplies too that I don’t think you regularly need. Lore is a terrible patient.”
“He’s not wrong,” Lore admits, beginning to load up his plate with food.
“Eat now, because this is going to suck,” I say. “I’d suggest taking the edge off with several drinks.”
“We have tequila and whiskey from earlier this week,” Wilder confirms.
“The boys were here?” Lore asks.
Leaving Wilder to explain, I half listen as I walk into the living room to grab my bag.
“Hey man,” Storm says as he answers the door.
