Page 204 of Beasts of Mine

“Yes.” Malek answered without hesitation, though the tension around his mouth made it clear that part still wasn't easy. “I can hate the distance and still love the woman who wants the job.”

“Good.” I told Malek as some of the tightness in my chest eased. “Because there are going to be more jobs.”

“I know.” Malek replied as his thumb moved once beneath mine, the answer carrying no attempt to change that fact.

Then I turned toward Luca. He hadn't rushed to fill the silence, and his usual composure had slipped enough that I could see moisture gathering along his lower lashes before he blinked. The half-repaired pouch sat abandoned beside his chair, the needle and thread resting neatly on top because of course even Luca's interrupted work somehow stayed organized.

Sandalwood and herbs strengthened as he moved around the table and crouched beside my chair.

“I love you, Luca.” I told him as I reached for his hand and rubbed my thumb over the calluses along his fingers.

“I love you too, Evie.” Luca replied as he turned my hand over and pressed his mouth against the center of my palm, his voice softer when he continued. “I want us to fit into your life. I don't want you to give yours up to have us.”

My eyes burned worse, and I blinked several times because apparently saying one sentence had turned everyone in the room emotional.

“You're all making this very difficult to handle without crying.” I told Luca as I squeezed his hand, my voice a little less steady than I'd intended.

“You're allowed to cry.” Luca reminded me as his thumb moved across the side of my hand, his expression warm and completely serious.

“I know.” I told Luca as I sniffed and glanced toward Tavian. “I also know somebody in this room would remember it forever.” Tavian pressed his lips together in an unsuccessful attempt to look trustworthy but, for once, didn't make a joke out of the moment. He simply squeezed my other hand again and stayed beside me.

Nobody tried to turn the confession into a mating decision. My scent had become strong enough that I could smell honey and jasmine clearly through the blockers, all three Alpha scents had changed in response, and my glands had started aching beneath my jaw, but none of the men treated any of it like consent I hadn't given.

For several minutes, we didn't do much at all. Malek picked the comb back up and resumed working through the last section of my hair. Tavian stayed close enough that our knees touched while he helped Luca gather the remaining fruit from the floor without making another attempt to eat it. Luca finished clearing the pieces from around my laptop, washed his hands, and came back to sit beside me rather than immediately returning to the pouch.

After the first few minutes, I reopened the image folder because I still had work due. Tavian stayed beside me, Luca returned to repairing my pouch, and Malek went back to combing my hair. Apparently telling three men I loved them didn't cancel client deadlines, and I liked that nobody expected it to.

We cleaned the rest of the fruit from the table before dinner because Luca pointed out that ants were unlikely to care about our emotional breakthrough. I finished the image folder I'd been reviewing and made my required evening radio check from the outer terrace while the rain eased to an occasional drip from the roofline.

When I returned, dinner had been set out across one end of the table. The conversation moved through ordinary things rather than circling endlessly around the confession. I told them which route I still needed to finish the next morning and that most of my equipment was already packed. Luca asked which pieces needed to remain accessible until Thursday. Tavian wanted to know whether the final morning was actual photography or simply checking one last location, while Malek asked what time I needed to be back at the station.

“Actual photography if the weather cooperates.” I told Tavian as I tore off another piece of food and ate it, enjoying how normal it felt to discuss tomorrow while my glands were still warm from telling all three men I loved them. “There's one stream section I'd like another pass at, but I'm not chasing anything if conditions are bad.”

“So you're almost finished.” Tavian said as his fingers slowed around his cup, the seriousness in his face returning briefly.

“Almost.” I answered Tavian as the word sat a little heavier in my stomach than it normally would. Tavian nodded and didn't try to make me feel better about something that wasn't actually a problem to solve.

“What still has to go back to the station?” Luca asked me as he glanced toward the equipment beneath the other end of the worktable, already thinking about tomorrow without beginning to pack anything for me.

“The laptop, primary drive, everything in my work pack, and probably that charger.” I answered Luca as I pointed toward the equipment while mentally going through the list. “The sealed box can stay until tomorrow evening. I'll empty it then.”

“Tell me when you're ready and I'll help carry what you want carried.” Luca offered as he took another bite, leaving the rest entirely to me.

“I will.” I told Luca, appreciating the wording. Malek had been quiet through most of that exchange.

“You're sleeping here tonight?” Malek asked me as he rested one forearm against the table, the question simple rather than assuming.

“Yes.” I answered Malek as I looked toward him. “Mara already has the overnight logged. I'm going back early after the morning route.”

“Good.” Malek replied with one short nod, and nothing else followed.

Not stay longer.

Not you should spend the last nights here.

Just good.

Later, when I went into the sleeping room, my Omega instincts were still reacting to everything I'd said at the table. The room was cooler than the courtyard, though humidity still clung to my skin, and the clean bedding smelled strongly of all four of us. The blankets already carried a deliberate mixture of the men's scents, while my own had worked deeply enough into the pillows and clothing that the nest smelled unmistakably like mine too.