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My heart was beating like it would burst as I realized I loved him too.
There was no artifice between us, no drama. He was smart and witty, and he took control in a way that made me feel safe. There were still aspects of him to learn, but I wanted to crawl inside him and figure out exactly how he ticked. I was certain that he would never bore me, that I’d be surprised by him the rest of our lives.
God, I hoped that was what he wanted. A lifetime. But what about the rest of the pack?
That panicked question was still ringing in my mind as we pulled into the lot at my apartment building. I recognized Will and Luke’s cars, already parked. They both stood with Jonah near the building entrance. My stomach was suddenly in knots. I was pretty sure I was about to get the answer to my question.
Toby was out and around to my side of the car before I could finish taking off my seat belt. When he opened the door, I had the distinct impression he wanted to pick me up and carry me like he had at the doctor’s office, his hands reaching for me.
I grinned at him. “I can walk, Toby.”
His hands balled into fists and his jaw clenched, but he backed up and let me get out on my own.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “You seem tense.”
My head went back on a laugh, startling him. “Me?” I took pity on him and reached a hand to his. He looked so uncomfortable standing away from me. “I think we’re all tense,” I said, looking past him to the other guys.
I led the way to the building, holding Toby’s hand. Everyone wore such serious expressions, it was making me feel ill. They followed me through the entrance and up to my unit in silence. I waited for them all to file in before I closed the door and turned to face them.
My apartment had never felt so small. Four men, all over six feet tall, stood staring at me with the same look of resolve. Like they were going into battle. But no one spoke.
“Coffee?” I asked. I couldn’t stand the heavy quiet.
Will stepped forward. “Later. Why don’t we sit down.”
Somehow they all fit in my living room, with me in between Jonah and Toby on the couch, and Will in the side chair. Luke moved my coffee table to the side and sat cross-legged on the floor at my feet.
Jonah had his arm around my shoulders and was leaning into me. It was a familiar thing for him to do. The entire time he’d been over to help me a couple of days before, he had touched me. Whether it was casual brushes of his fingers against my arm or holding me on my bed while we listened to music. Nothing sexual had happened, but it was like he couldn’t help but touch me.
He spoke first, his face close, looking into my eyes. “I love you, Sylvie. I felt a connection to you the moment we met.” He took my hand, his long fingers entwining with mine. “I want you near me, always. I want to have children with you. I want us to teach them about art together.” He lifted my hand to kiss my knuckles. I let out a long sigh at the feel of him, at the strength of the emotions I could sense coming off him in waves.
As Jonah’s words started to sink in, Luke gripped my ankle and brought my attention down to him. “I love you. I know I’ve given you a lot of mixed signals and I’ve been a jackass, and I hope you’ll forgive me. I’m not afraid of this anymore. You belong with our pack, and you’re all I want. I love you so much.” He said the words as though he was willing me to believe them. And I found that I did. Luke really did love me.
Before I could respond, Will kneeled in front of me next to Luke and took my free hand. His deep voice was rough with emotion. “I love you, Sylvie. Walking out on you seven years ago was the biggest mistake of my life, and I knew it even then. I’ve been living my life with a piece of my heart missing. You are my missing piece. Be with us. Be our bondmate. We belong together, all of us.”
Toby stroked my cheek, wiping away a tear that had rolled down. I turned to him and his intense blue eyes, anxious to hear what he would say.
“This is all of us telling you we love you. Telling you we want you to be ours, to live with us for the rest of our lives. Please, Sylvie. Say you will.” He leaned in and placed a featherlight kiss where the tear had been.
“I—”
The front door buzzer sounded, cutting me off. I ignored it.
“You are all—”
It sounded again. Once, then three more times in quick succession. Shit, did I have a delivery scheduled or something? My brain wasn’t able to handle dealing with a proposal and a buzzer at the same time.
I moved to get up and the guys all let go, parting to let me stand. Immediately, I felt the loss of their touch, their heat. I shivered as I hurried to the intercom.
“Hello?” I snarled. Crap, I needed to take a breath. It wasn’t the delivery driver’s fault they were interrupting the most important moment of my life.
“It’s me, Kat. I’m sorry. I need to stay with you for a while.” A sob came through the speaker. “I left them.”
My stomach dropped. “Oh, Kat. Of course, come up.” I buzzed her in.
By the time I opened to door for her, the guys were all standing with various looks of uncertainty and worry.
Kat dropped a suitcase at her feet and threw her arms around me, tears streaking down her face. Then she noticed the four men in my living room. I felt her stiffen before she buried her head in my shoulder.
