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Warm gazes slid over me as they each murmured their appreciation, and I relished the way some of the anxiety faded from their eyes.
“Thank you, Love,” Eli said before testing his drink and humming his delight. He settled back into the couch, looking comfortable in a pair of sweats and a tight-fitting tee. Seeing him dressed down sent butterflies free in my stomach.
Smiling behind the rim of my mug, I took a sip. Providing some much-needed comfort for my men made me feel lighter. The stress had been getting to all of us, leaving us strung tight and ragged. I leaned my head against Hades’ shoulder and stretched my legs to brush against Leo. My Beta rubbed distracting trails up and down my shin, teasing the skin just behind my knee and making me giggle.
The movie played while we relaxed around each other, and eventually, Thane moved to sit in front of me. My fingers combed through his hair, enjoying the texture difference from where it was shorter on the sides and longer on top. I handed my empty mug to Hades and grinned as I set to plaiting tiny braids in Thane’s hair.
I’d completed four of them when Thane caught on, turning to arch a golden eyebrow at me.
“What are you doing to my head, Darling?”
I blinked angelically, hoping my face was the picture of innocence.
“Don’t worry,” Leo chuckled. “You’ve never looked so beautiful.”
“Oh, I’m just getting started. I haven’t even had a chance to paint his nails yet!”
Thane’s eyes grew comically wide. “Wait, what?! When did I sign up for a mani and pedi?”
I smirked. “Lucky for you, I have little in the way of makeup and nail polish. So you’re off the hook, but Iamfinishing your hair.” Swirling my finger through the air, I told him to turn back around.
Grabbing my wrist, he brought my hand to his mouth and kissed the fleshy part of my thumb before releasing me and doing my bidding.
“Good boy,” I teased, but I didn’t miss the shiver that racked him.
I knewexactlyhow much I enjoyed being called their good girl, and to see I could have a similar effect on one of my Alphas sent my heart pounding faster. I made a mental note to use the endearment the next time I was intimate with Thane.
“I think I love your praise kink as much as you do,” I leaned down and whispered against his ear, loving his corresponding groan.
“Fuck, Darling. You’re getting me hard just thinking about the things you say to me.”
“Behave for me and let me finish braiding your hair, and maybe I’ll reward you this time.”
“My head is yours,” he rasped.
“I know.” Innuendo dripped from every word, and Thane shifted, clearing his throat as he grabbed a throw pillow and covered his lap with it.
I smiled. Being so in charge of Thane’s pleasure made me feel powerful in a way that quickly became addicting.
Mindlessly, my hands worked through the motion of braiding while Hades’ stroked his fingers up and down the side of my neck, making me suck in sharp breaths.
I don’t know how long we sat like that, savoring each other’s company while we waited for news, but the content bubble we’d created popped when Eli’s cell rang sharply through the room.
He jolted, setting his mug down with a thud, and reaching for his phone. His breath whooshed out of him, his expression turning strained as he stared at the name of the contact scrolling across his screen.
He winced when he glanced my way, and I knew his answer would disappoint. “It’s the hospital. Probably checking on my extended leave.”
My heart fell.
Slipping from the room, he answered, the soft murmur of his voice fading down the hall as he dealt with work.
All the guys had taken a leave of absence from their jobs after the accident. They needed the time to heal, but I also knew I was the main reason they’d stayed away. We couldn’t exactly return to our life as normal until we were positive we were safe. Guilt rose swiftly until every part of me overflowed with it.
But my own needs quickly fell by the wayside as I read the tension in the room, specifically the way Hades’ fist was clenching his mug. I worried the ceramic would shatter at any moment. Leaning across him, I covered his hand with my own and took the cup. Setting it on the end table, I scrambled into his lap and curled up against his chest. Pressing as much of myself against him as I could, I tried to soothe him.
My inner Omega did a victorious little shimmy when he wrapped his arms around me, cradling me gently despite the tautness in his muscles. Hades was endlessly gentle with me. Given he could crush me easily, his tenderness always made my heart swell.
My scary tattooed giant was a big ol’ cinnamon roll on the inside.
