“Why don’t you invite all the Stellas over to our place?” Adler suggests, sitting down next to me as I plant my ass on a picnic blanket. “I’ll stay close by, but you can have some girl time.”
I kick off my sneakers and peel off my socks, desperate to feel the sand between my toes again. “Yeah, I’d love that.”
“I can dig out some foot spas and maybe schedule a massage for you all?” Luca offers.
“Luca is studying to be a sports physical therapist,” I tell Faye, noting Damon’s surly look.
“I’d hire omega masseuses, obviously,” Luca interjects, obviously sensing Damon’s reluctance to let anyone else near his omega. “I know the best ones.”
“That sounds heavenly,” Faye groans, settling down on one of the deckchairs. “My shoulders are aching from all the weeding I’ve been doing lately.”
“I’ve been feeling a little tense since bonding. How long will this whole bond adjustment period last anyway?” I ask, knowing the Silverwood Pack will give me an honest answer. “It’s much better than it was, but it still feels a little weird to be too far away from each other.”
“It varies,” Ren tells me as he sits at the picnic table with Luca. “With me and Faye, it was only a few days. With Damon, it took a little longer.”
“If Damon had his way, I’m sure he’d be with honeybee all the time,” Laz teases.
“What about you, Laz?” Adler dares to ask my brother a question. “How long did it take?”
“A week or so, I think.” I’m glad when Laz replies in a pleasant tone instead of snapping. “Cole and I bonded with Faye on the same day.”
“I’m guessing because you didn’t know each other before, it might be on the longer side,” Ren says.
“You’ll get used to it quickly.” Faye smiles at me. “It’ll settle in no time.”
“And do you ever get used to feeling each other’s emotions?” I ask.
“It’s still weird.” Faye laughs then smirks. “But it does have some advantages…”
“Yes!” Cole returns from inside with a volleyball in his arms. “I knew we had one somewhere.”
Adler quirks an eyebrow. “Rematch?”
I’m already on my feet. “You betcha!”
He’s going down all over again.
TWENTY-TWO
Sabs
“Woah…” I glance around the living room, all cushy in my pajamas and Stella House pink bathrobe. “You’ve really gone all out.”
My guys were as good as their word. As soon as we left the Silverwood Pack’s beach house, they put plans to give me and the Stellas the best slumber party into action, and tonight is the night.
“Only the best for you, firecracker.” Adler blows me a kiss as he passes. “Where do you want the chocolate fountain?”
“A chocolate fountain?” My jaw drops. “You’re joking, right?”
“If you think that’s a lot, wait until you go into the kitchen,” Drax mutters while he draws the curtains and lights a few candles on the mantelpiece. He gives the room a satisfied once over before heading out to join Adler doing whatever he’s doing in the kitchen.
Orin is crouched on the floor. His shirt sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, exposing his deliciously tanned, muscular forearms. His forehead is wrinkled in concentration as he decants some dreamy, lavender-scented liquid into the row of foot spas that are bubbling away in front of the sofas.
“Having fun, Orin?” I tease. “You can always join us if you want.” I wiggle my eyebrows when he looks up. “Or maybe we can schedule a pack pedicure and watchDesperate Housewives?”
He simply scowls, standing and wiping his hands on one of the many stacks of towels he put on the chair. He checks his watch. “A nail tech will be arriving at eight to fix your…” He gestures at my hand, not knowing the right word to use. I can’t wait for a full-on pampering session. This one nail has been irritating me ever since I climbed that damn fence to get away from Adler.
I flutter my eyelashes. “Who knew the scary head of security was so sweet and thoughtful?”
