7. Delcy

The air thickened,a charged tension wrapping around me as Jaxon ushered me toward the empty seat next to Colton. I hesitated, my feet rooted to the carpet for a moment longer than necessary. Yet I couldn"t defy the silent command in Jaxon"s eyes.

As I reluctantly lowered myself onto the plush leather sofa, my thigh accidentally brushed Colton"s. A spark of electricity jolted through me at the contact, and I felt breathless. The heady scent of both men"s alpha pheromones only intensified my unease and the growing warmth within.

Lydia, who made herself comfortable in the armchair near me, started chattering about some topics related to high society that I didn"t quite understand. Her voice sounded distant, as if she were speaking from another world. All I was aware of was the intense presence of both Colton and Jaxon. Their eyes seemed to be locked on to me, analyzing my every move.

I folded my hands tightly in my lap and tried to focus on Lydia"s inane chatter, but with Colton"s muscular frame mere inches from mine, it was impossible to concentrate. She was now rambling on about polo matches, yacht parties, some exclusive club—all things that meant nothing to me.

Colton leaned in slightly, and his voice, deep and rich, pulled me from my thoughts. Every time he looked at me, while he lazily conversed with Lydia, a wave of nervous energy coursed through my body.

"Delcy, what brings you here tonight?" Jaxon asked.

His inquiry caught me off guard, as I hadn"t anticipated being addressed. This was typical, as Lydia had always been the center of attention in any gathering she was a part of. I habitually opted to keep quiet so as not to divert any undivided focus from her. She disliked it when that happened. Even Amanda and Nora knew this and played supporting roles to please her.

I fumbled for words, not sure how to answer him.

"Lydia invited me," I finally managed to say, which was true. "She said it would be a good opportunity to meet new people."

Colton raised an eyebrow at me, and I felt my cheeks flush even more. I could feel his eyes boring into me, and I couldn"t help but feel like he was judging me.

"That"s nice of Lydia," Jaxon said, shifting his gaze from me to Lydia, who appeared to grow red on the cheeks as she stiffened in her seat. I wondered why he put so much emphasis on the word nice. To me, it sounded almost… sarcastic.

"I"m sure you"ll have a great time," Colton said, his tone dry as dust.

I felt self-conscious as his gaze never left my face. It was as if he could see right through me, into the depths of my soul where all my secrets lay hidden. The way he looked at me made me feel exposed and vulnerable, but also strangely drawn to him.

"So, Delcy, tell us about yourself," Jaxon said, his voice warm and inviting, unlike Colton"s, and I felt my nerves start to ease a little.

I glanced at Lydia, gauging her reaction now that the attention had been unexpectedly shifted from her to me. I didn"t want to ruin the night and upset her by stealing her spotlight.

A wide grin broke out across Lydia"s beautiful face, and she said, "Yes, do tell the two men about yourself, Delcy."

She sounded encouraging. Was she not upset?

I licked my lip and tugged my hair behind my ear. I felt both Colton"s and Jaxon"s gaze following my movement, which only caused heat to blaze through my being even more.

"I… I work at two coffee shops," I said and offered no more.

"A barista," Jaxon said, a casual ease in his tone that didn"t quite match the intensity in his eyes.

How did he guess I was a barista? Working in a coffee shop didn"t have to mean I was a barista. I could be just a waitress or a kitchenhand.

"I must confess I am quite dependent on my caffeine fix," he said. "I frequent a café near our workplace, Brewed Dreams."

The mention of the coffee shop where I worked at both piqued my interest and made me tense, while I sensed both men watching me closely, as if gauging my reaction.

Jaxon said, "They concoct an excellent brew. It"s a blessing they provide delivery given our hectic schedules. Just the other day, charming notes were left for Colton and me, with whimsical sketches. They elicited a grin from us."

Heat crept into my cheeks as I recalled the note I"d left for the distinguished men of Sterling Enterprises. And now I was in their presence. I had always imagined them as gentlemen of a certain age, but…

I moistened my lips while my eyes took them in. These men were the epitome of attractive, commanding alphas, and I was convinced they were the men who had recently sent my omega senses into overdrive.

Colton asked, "What do you enjoy doing when you"re not working at the coffee shops?"

My reply came out more timid than I intended. "I... sketch. Designs mostly. Clothes. Dresses."

His eyebrow arched in genuine interest. "Fashion design? That"s impressive."

"Food," Lydia chimed in. "Delcy does so love food, too. She enjoys dining out."

A server glided by with a tray of hors d"oeuvres. My stomach embarrassed me with an audible growl. Without hesitation, I reached for a delicate pastry puff filled with something rich and savory.

Colton chuckled, a low rumble that resonated through my bones.

"Good food is one of life"s greatest pleasures," he said with a glint in his eye that suggested he knew far more about such indulgences than I did.

Jaxon leaned across the small distance separating us and said, "Colt here is quite the connoisseur of fine dining."

"Lydia is right. I do love good food," I confessed. "I just can"t afford places like this."

That caught Jaxon"s attention, and he gave me an expression that felt like an invitation to an unknown adventure. "Would you join us for dinner, then? My treat."

I froze. My first instinct was to decline, but before I could respond, Lydia leaped at the opportunity.

"Oh, she"d be delighted!" she gushed, speaking as if she were the one invited.

Jaxon smirked at Lydia"s enthusiasm before focusing on me again. "May we have your number? To arrange the details for dinner?"

My mouth opened but no sound emerged. I was trapped in this rapidly unfolding scenario.

And there was Lydia again, taking charge as if it were her rightful place to do so. She rattled off my number from memory and Jaxon tapped it into his phone with swift thumbs.

Panic fluttered in my chest like a trapped bird. How had this evening slipped from my grasp so completely?

The subtle shift in Colton"s demeanor didn"t escape me. He had noticed my discomfort, my hesitance that seemed to have grown roots deep within the pit of my stomach. It wasn"t just the sudden invitation to dinner that had thrown me off-balance, but it was the way my life felt like it was teetering on the edge of a precipice, one wrong step away from tumbling into unknown depths.

"Jax!" Colton"s voice cut through the cacophony of social chatter. "I think we may have put Delcy on the spot."

Jaxon turned his head slightly, regarding me with a gentler expression than before.

"My apologies, Delcy. There"s no obligation for you to accept our invitation. It was impulsive of me."

Lydia"s eyes were on me like a hawk. I could feel her will pressing against mine, her silent command urging me to accept this opportunity that had landed unexpectedly at our feet.

"It"ll be fun, Delcy," she said with a light laugh that didn"t quite reach her eyes. "And don"t worry, I"ll be there, too."

The inclusion of Lydia in the plans offered a strange sense of relief, like a lifeline amidst turbulent waters. It was enough to tilt my decision. I swallowed hard and nodded.

"Okay," I said quietly, feeling as though I was committing to something far greater than just dinner.

The evening dragged on after that, every tick of the clock stretching longer than the last. My energy ebbed away with each passing hour until fatigue clung to my bones like ivy.

Lydia seemed to draw power from the night, thriving among these glittering elites while I felt myself fading into obscurity beside her vibrancy.

"I"m ready to leave," I whispered to her during a lull in the festivities.

She pouted in response. "But we"re just getting started! There"s still more fun to be had!"

Colton must have overheard because he leaned toward us, his voice cutting through my exhaustion with an offer that sounded too tempting to resist.

"We were just thinking of heading out ourselves," he said casually. "Why don"t we give you a ride home on our way?"

My hesitation returned full force. Accepting a ride from the Sterling brothers felt like stepping into a lion"s den, thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. But the thought of riding the bus back to my neighborhood at this hour didn"t seem any safer.

Jaxon chimed in gently before I could respond, his tone practical and somehow reassuring. "We just want to make sure you get home safe."

Before I could respond, Lydia said enthusiastically, "What a wonderful offer! See, you have nothing to worry about." She gave me a pointed look that felt more like a command than encouragement.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "O-okay. Thank you both. I really appreciate it."

Jaxon and Colton exchanged a glance and a hint of a smile. I got the sense they were communicating something unspoken between them, but I was too exhausted to give it much thought.

Lydia gave me a quick hug and waved us off eagerly as Jaxon and Colton escorted me outside. The chill of the night made me tremble, the thin fabric of my dress offering little protection.

A coat settled on my shoulders, and a distinctly masculine scent wrapped around me, sending a tingling warmth coursing through me. I glanced back to find Colton, who had draped his jacket over me.

"You"re cold," he said.

"Thanks," I managed to say.

Awaiting before us was a sleek Rolls-Royce, the exact model Rick had mentioned was worth an approximate thirty million.

I was about to ride in a thirty-million-dollar car. Never in my wildest dreams did I envision such a moment. What would Anna think if she knew?

Jaxon held the door open for me, and I slid onto the plush leather back seat. Despite my hesitance about going with them, something about being inside the luxurious vehicle put me at ease.

Jaxon slipped into the driver"s seat while Colton sat up front beside him. The soft hum of the engine was comforting in its steadiness as I settled in, cocooned by leather and quiet opulence.

"Where to?" Jaxon asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I directed them toward my neighborhood, a stark contrast to the grandeur of where we currently were.

The drive was surprisingly short, their car eating up the distance with graceful ease. When we arrived at my modest apartment building, it looked even more run-down contrasted with their expensive car.

I stepped out onto the sidewalk, suddenly eager to retreat into my familiar little world away from their intensity.

"Thank you for the ride," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jaxon got out of the car and approached me. He took my hand gently in his, bringing it up to his lips for a brief kiss that sent shivers racing up my arm.

"Have a good night," he said with a charming smile that didn"t quite reach his eyes. "I"ll contact you regarding that dinner date."

Heat rushed to my cheeks at his gesture, a mixture of embarrassment and something else entirely that fluttered deep within me.

"Good night," I replied softly before turning toward Colton who still sat in the car watching us closely.

"Good night, Delcy," he said simply, yet his voice held layers that hinted at complexities beneath his calm exterior.

With one last nod to them both, I hurried up the steps to my apartment building and slipped inside, leaving behind two men who had somehow managed to weave themselves into the fabric of my life in just one evening—a thought both thrilling and deeply unsettling.

* * *

My hands trembledas I locked the door behind me, leaning back against it with a soft thud. I took deep breaths, trying to steady my racing heart. Every cell in my body was acutely aware of Jaxon and Colton's presence lingering on me. The memory of their piercing gazes burned behind my eyelids, stirring an uncomfortable warmth within me.

I slid down to the floor, clutching the jacket wrapped around me.

Jacket? I glanced down and realized I still had Colton"s suit jacket with me. I had forgotten to give it back to him when they dropped me off.

I dug my phone out of my purse, and with shaky fingers, I unlocked the screen and scrolled through my contacts. There they were, two new numbers added surreptitiously during the evening"s events.

My fingers trembled slightly as I composed a text to him.

Hi, Colton, this is Delcy. I"m so sorry but I just realized I forgot to return your jacket. Please let me know when would be a good time to get it back to you.

I hit send before I could overthink it too much. Hopefully he wouldn"t be upset that I had accidentally kept his expensive jacket overnight.

My phone dinged with his reply right away.

No problem at all, Delcy. You can return it when we pick you up for dinner.

I breathed a small sigh of relief and responded.

Okay. Sounds good. I"ll bring it then. Have a good night!

Colton"s response came quickly again.

Good night. Have a sweet dream, Delcy.

His words felt like a whisper against my ear, and I shook off the sensation as best I could. Time to change out of this dress that felt like someone else"s skin.

Peeling off the fabric, I made my way to the bathroom for a much-needed shower. The hot water cascaded over me, but instead of washing away the night"s events, it seemed to etch them deeper into my consciousness.

Colton and Jaxon haunted my thoughts unbidden—two forces of nature that had somehow entered my orbit and refused to be ignored. And one of them... One of them stirred a memory so old and so deeply buried that it should"ve been impossible to recall.

Seven years ago, an alpha had found me during a vulnerable moment in heat. The memory was foggy, details obscured by time and willful forgetfulness, but now fragments teased at the edge of my mind.

With one last rinse, I stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in a towel. My reflection stared back at me from the fogged-up mirror, a woman caught between two worlds—one she"d known all her life and another that threatened to upend everything she thought she understood about herself.

Dragging myself away from my reflection, I headed straight for bed. My body hit the mattress with an oomph, sinking into the familiar comfort of worn sheets and fluffed pillows.

Sleep claimed me before I could think any further about alphas or past heats, a merciful darkness embracing me whole.

But peace was elusive as dreams wove their intricate web around me. In them, I was running through endless corridors of a grand manor that was both ancient and alive with whispered secrets. My heart pounded in time with my footsteps as two figures chased after me—one as dark as midnight storm clouds, brooding with intensity, and the other bright like dawn breaking over calm seas, warmth radiating from his smile.

They were hunters and I was their unwitting prey, yet there was no fear in this dream—only exhilaration mixed with an undercurrent of desire so potent it bordered on desperation.

I raced up a large staircase, my flowing gown billowing around me. At the top, I found myself trapped in a shadowy bedroom. Strong arms wrapped around me from behind and pulled me against a muscular chest.

Another set of hands grasped my shoulders, turning me to face the other alpha. They had caught me, and I knew I was theirs now. I trembled but didn"t resist as they began undressing me, their movements possessive yet oddly gentle...

A blaring car horn from the street below jolted me awake. Disoriented, I sat up in bed as the vivid dream quickly faded. Early morning light filtered through my curtains.

I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake the unsettling feelings left by the dream. A glance at my clock showed it was eight in the morning. I needed to get the groceries and then visit Grandpa Sid, my usual Sunday routine.

I pushed away the lingering memory of those imaginary alphas" hands on me. It was just my overactive imagination playing tricks on me after meeting Colton and Jaxon last night.

With a deep breath, I got out of bed and headed for the shower, determined to focus on my real life, not these strange new fantasies. I had to get through my day.

* * *

The steady humof the espresso machine, the clink of ceramic on wood, the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee beans—it was my sanctuary and my cell. Monday at Brewed Dreams passed in a blur of steamed milk and sugar packets. My hands moved with practiced ease, crafting latte art that briefly delighted before vanishing beneath eager sips.

In the lulls between customers, my thoughts drifted to Colton and Jaxon. The mere idea of them stepping through that door sent my heart racing, a mix of fear and anticipation. I was caught between the desire to see them again and the hope that they stayed away. Their presence would be like a storm, exhilarating and terrifying.

As the afternoon light faded, my break beckoned. I stole moments alone in the back room, my mind wandering through memories of electric touches and smoldering glances. How would I act around them now? I couldn"t revert to avoiding their eyes. They"ve seen me, truly seen me. And there was something about that recognition that unraveled me.

The clock"s hands inched toward closing time, and there was no sign of the Sterling twins. Disappointment gnawed at me—a foolish feeling—yet relief trailed close behind. I shouldn"t want them here. It complicated everything.

"Delcy!" Blair"s voice cuts through my reverie just as I'd resigned myself to an ordinary day. "We"ve got an order for Sterling Enterprises. Two coffees for delivery."

My pulse spiked at the mention of their company. It was probably nothing, just a routine delivery, but the possibility of seeing them ignited a flutter in my stomach. With trembling hands, I prepared their drinks, ensuring every detail was perfect.

I made my way to Sterling Enterprises, a coffee carrier secure in my grip. The towering structure loomed above me as I stepped inside its sleek lobby, a sharp contrast to the cozy confines of Brewed Dreams.

Riding up to the executive floor felt like ascending into another world, one where I didn"t belong. The receptionist barely glanced up as she directed me inward, her nonchalance amplifying my unease.

I navigated through an expanse of glass and steel until Colton"s office came into view. Through the open door, I saw them both, Colton at his desk and Jaxon perched casually on its edge. Every eye in the department seemed to follow me, their scrutiny like a weight on my shoulders.

With a deep breath, I approached the middle-aged woman at her desk outside Colton"s office.

"I have an order for Mr. Sterling and Mr. Sterling," I managed to say without my voice betraying my nerves.

The woman"s eyes swept over me with open curiosity before she gestured toward the door with a professional smile.

"Please, go right in."

But it wasn"t just professionalism that glinted in her gaze. There was a spark of something else. Interest? Speculation? It only served to knot my stomach tighter.

My feet carried me forward reluctantly until I stood on the threshold of Colton"s office. Both men lifted their heads as I entered, their gazes locked on mine with an intensity that stole my breath away.

My pulse raced, a wild drumbeat in my ears. I was back in this place of steel and power, where every surface gleamed and every line spoke of unyielding control. And there they were, the Sterling twins, their gazes ensnaring me with a pull as potent as gravity.

Colton"s eyes, dark and penetrating, surveyed me with an intensity that felt almost physical. Jaxon"s gaze was lighter, but no less impactful, a spark of mischief dancing in the depths.

I remembered leaving a note here last time, a tiny piece of myself scrawled on paper and adorned with a simple drawing. Jaxon had admitted it brought smiles to their lips. The thought that I had touched them, even in such an insignificant way, sent a shiver down my spine.

I pulled my mask down, and instantly, I smelled their alpha pheromones that filled the air, invisible yet undeniably present. It wrapped around me, seeping into my pores and stirring something primal within. My head swamped from the potency of it all, Colton"s commanding scent mingling with Jaxon"s vibrant one.

"I have your order," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.

The words hung between us for a moment before Colton gestured for me to come closer.

"Thank you, Delcy," he said smoothly, his voice rolling over me like thunder rumbling in the distance.

As I moved forward to set down the coffee carrier on his desk, my hand trembled slightly, betraying the effect their presence had on me. Their combined scents filled my lungs with each breath I took, making me dizzy and lighting a fire inside me that I struggled to contain.

I couldn"t help but glance at Colton"s hands as they reached out to take his cup, a small shudder running through me at the sight of his long fingers curling around it. The subtle shift of his tailored suit sleeve revealed a hint of wrist that for some inexplicable reason drew my attention.

"Is everything to your liking?" My voice barely rose above a whisper, but it seemed to echo in the charged silence that followed.

Colton took a slow sip from his cup, his eyes never leaving mine.

"It"s perfect," he said after a moment, and I couldn"t tell if he was talking about the coffee or something else entirely.

Jaxon chuckled softly beside him and reached for his own cup.

"You always get it just right," he said with an easy grin that somehow managed to both ease and amplify the tension coiling within me.

I should leave. I should thank them and turn away from their intoxicating presence. But my feet remained planted firmly on the carpeted floor, my body refusing to obey my mind"s frantic commands.

"Do you remember the note you left last time?" Jaxon asked casually as he leaned back against Colton"s desk. "It brightened our day."

I nodded mutely, heat creeping into my cheeks at being reminded of such an intimate gesture. It was nothing more than a doodle, my way of adding a personal touch to an otherwise impersonal delivery.

"The drawing was quite good," Colton said in that deep timbre that seemed to vibrate through me. "Do you often sketch for customers?"

His question caught me off guard. The idea that Colton Sterling might take an interest in something so trivial about my life was bewildering.

"I... Yes," I managed to stammer out. "When I have time."

"There's talent there," he stated with certainty, as if he knew anything about art or about me.

I fought back the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm me, the dizzying effect of their scents mixing with an unexpected sense of validation from someone like Colton Sterling. It felt dangerous, like playing with fire.

Jaxon"s request echoed in my head, nudging me out of the cocoon of self-consciousness I"d wrapped myself in.

"Could you draw us another note?"

His words weaved a subtle warmth through the office air, and I was torn between wanting to flee and the pull of that simple human connection. The pen on Colton"s desk beckoned like a talisman, promising a momentary escape from the weight of their gazes.

I hesitated, glancing between the two of them. Jaxon"s eyes held a lighthearted expectancy, while Colton"s remained unreadable, his expression an enigmatic sculpture. My fingers itched with the urge to create something, anything, to break this tension.

Finally, I relented.

"Okay," I said, my voice sounding far away even to my own ears. I reached for the pen with a tentative hand, as if it might bite.

Colton slid a blank piece of paper toward me, his movement deliberate. I noticed his cuff links—simple, silver, exuding quiet power. Everything about him seemed to do that.

My hand steadied as I touched pen to paper. The familiar scratch of ink on smooth surface centered me. A few words first: Enjoy your coffee, followed by my signature beneath, a flourish that felt like parting with a piece of myself. Then came the doodle, a small coffee cup with steam curling into heart shapes above it. It was whimsical, a stark contrast to the austere lines of their world. But it was me—my touch, my art.

Jaxon leaned over to watch as I capped the pen with finality.

"That looks beautiful," he said genuinely, and that approval stoked something in me, a small ember of pride.

I couldn"t help but smile, even as my cheeks burned with shyness.

"Thank you," I said softly.

Colton took the note from me with careful fingers as if he understood its fragility, the fragility of me, and examined it closely. His lips twitched in what could be the beginnings of a smile, or perhaps I imagined it because I wanted to see it there.

"It"s charming," he said finally, and there was a richness to his voice that made me feel like he was talking about more than just my drawing.

The ember flickered brighter within me at his words. Praise from Colton Sterling carried weight, the kind that could crush or elevate, and for some reason unknown to me, he chose the latter.

Jaxon grinned at his brother"s admission and then turned his attention back to me.

"You have a gift," he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners with sincerity.

The compliments were unfamiliar but welcome. They weaved around my heart like ribbons, bright against the dullness of self-doubt I often carried with me.

"Thank you," I repeated, my voice stronger this time. There was an energy exchange here, an unseen transaction where their acknowledgment fueled something within me.

I was still riding that strange high when Jaxon said, "We should frame the note."

It was a playful idea, one that somehow didn"t seem entirely out of place given the surrealism of this entire encounter. My laugh was soft but genuine as I looked up at them both.

"I don"t think it's quite worthy of that honor."

Colton"s gaze was steady on mine as he said, "You"d be surprised."

There was an undercurrent there, a depth beneath his teasing tone that suggested layers and stories untold. For a moment, we were just people sharing an appreciation for something simple and handmade, an exchange devoid of social constructs and power dynamics.

The sound of someone clearing their throat broke the spell. We turned as one toward the source, a man standing by Colton's door who looked important enough to be impatient about it.

"Mr. Sterling?" he said, addressing Colton but throwing a curious glance in my direction.

"We"ll be right there," Colton said.

The man nodded and disappeared as quickly as he came.

I should go, I knew this, but their presence rooted me in place like gravity itself had altered its pull within these walls.

"You"ll come back?" Jaxon asked suddenly. His question was casual but laced with an undercurrent that felt anything but trivial.

"I... yes," I replied without thinking, without considering whether it was true or not because right now, in this space, with them looking at me like I mattered, I did want to come back, again in ways that defied logic or reason.

Colton nodded once, approval or acknowledgment, it was hard to tell, and stood from behind his desk with an ease that spoke volumes about his comfort in this space, his domain.

"We look forward to it," he said simply, and those words were like a promise or perhaps a premonition echoing softly in the room we now shared.

They both watched me leave, their gazes heavy on my back, and as I stepped out into the corridor beyond Colton's office, their scents still clung to me like invisible threads weaving their way into the fabric of my being.

The air outside Colton"s office felt cool and crisp after the cloying atmosphere inside. My legs were unsteady as I made my way back through the maze of hallways and toward the elevator that would take me back down to ground level, to reality.

The scent of them clung to me even as I descended in solitude, their pheromones mingling with my own internal heat, a reminder that no matter how far I ran or how fast I escaped, their mark on me was indelible now.

I stepped out onto the street and drew in a deep breath, trying to dispel their hold over me, but it lingered stubbornly like smoke clinging to fabric long after the flame had been extinguished.