Seb clears his throat. "Believe it or not, aside from being absolutely hilarious andthoroughlycharming, I've got my nursing degree—"
"Doctorate," Ralph mutters.
"And heats sometimes get a bit… dicey. I know Pack Zed know their shit, but it can get a bit much sometimes when you're right in the thick of things. In a pinch, I can slather on some descenter and they can bring you out of the nest for a checkup if they get too worried."
Warmth courses through Dellie's bond.
Lauren makes a non-committal noise.
James nods. "I'm happy to help keep them limber, even if there aren't any more injuries."
Ralph sticks his head up. "I can keep an eye on the stuff they need to keep ticking over." He glances at Dellie. "Won't take more than an hour or so, once or twice a day." She nods, pulling him back against her chest.
I sigh.Fuck. I hate getting stuck doing laundry. "Heat laundry takes up way too much time." I let out a resigned breath. "You get Pack Zed to dump everything in a washing basket in a spot you let me know about, I'll make sure there's always a fresh pile of clean sheets and towels and mattress protectors and stuff—"
"Let me lift the wet, heavy stuff," Allen murmurs in my ear. My nostrils flare, but I bite down on the urge to snap at him that I'm fine, and nod stiffly.
Loz lets out a huff. "Shit. I'll talk to the boys. I mean it sounds great to me but, frankly, kinda their call as I really won't be having anything to do with any of youse." She sighs again and runs her hands through her hair. "You okay with your men helping us out like that, Dellie? Fully clothed o'course—but stilltechnicallyin sniffing distance?"
Dellie frowns. I feel uncertainty quiver along the bond. "Yeah. I… think so. Maybe? They won't all be out at once and it's not like they're, you know, um,servicingyou. And it's only for an hour or so at a time. But, uh, please don't take this the wrong way, but, um, please shower when you come back in, and I reserve the right to rub myself all over you every time you come back."
Seb laughs wickedly. "There's no wrong way any of us could take that, Balga."
Loz frowns again. "You know you'll be on camera, right?"
We all either nod or shrug. She sighs again. "You fucking lot. I swear.Fine. I'll talk with the boys. But if you won't let me pay you, at the very fucking least let me help you negotiate you an appearance fee."
Allen's smile is gentle. "We would be very grateful. Thank you, Lauren."
"You're allwaytoo fucking soft," she adds, muttering under her breath. The screen goes dark and the phone beeps as it disconnects.
Chapter 38
"You're pacing," murmurs Ralph, as he wraps his arms around me from behind. "James'll be back soon."
I rub my cheek into his chest and sigh. "Yeah, I know." Intellectually, I know I'm being ridiculous. He's less than fifty metres away. It's only been thirty minutes, and I can feel James' boredom and impatience through the bond. Apparently, Nate isn't doing much to keep his back properly taped up, and James has threatened to give him a stern talking to if he doesn't start looking after it better.
My omega's… itchy. She'sincrediblypossessive of her alphas and her precious beta. At first, it was manageable by making sure the guys showered and let me scent mark them when they came back into the Annex. And that was fine for the first two days.
But the kisses she's giving them when they come back are getting longer and hotter and sloppier. More… claiming. Even though we're already claimed. Like she wants to reclaim them all over again. And, the more I get to know about these men and we get past that awful initial awkwardness together, the less I can blame her for that.
Ralph spins me around to face him. There's a hunger in his eyes. I grin and lock my arms around his neck. "Have you recovered?"
He brushes a hair out of my face and smiles. "From earlier this week? Or from nearly suffocating me with one of the hottest kisses I've ever had this morning when I came back from restocking the sports drinks?"
I shrug and run my hand through his short, springy curls above his ear. I'm always amazed by their softness. "Either? Both?"
His lips drop down to mine. I moan as his tongue flicks against my lips. He pulls his head back, resting his nose against mine. "I don't think I'll ever be the same again, and I don't want to be."
How can younotfall for a man who comes out with a line like that?
I give him a gentle push towards the sofa. He grins, and sits, patting the cushion next to him.
"Do you need six words?"
"Yes," I giggle, straddling him and wriggling until I can feel his cock thick through his flimsy grey sweats against my crotch, "but I also need my pack. And I need my pack to know they'remine."
My pussy is rocking back and forth against his cock. I'm not controlling it, and I don't care.
