Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

REECE

I ’ve never felt anything like it. Waking up the next morning, I feel great. Better than great.

To my left, Connor’s sleeping face greets me. I can feel how calm and comfortable he is. It’s like he’s a part of me.

The stories are true.

It’s still unbelievable to me. I’m living a fantasy . They belong to me, and I belong to them. It’s the best feeling in the world. I know this is where I’m supposed to be: with them for the rest of my life. They are my shifter mates. After everything I’ve been through, I can finally be happy. I’m no longer alone.

Any doubts that remained disappeared last night when we became one. They are kind and gave me so much pleasure that I thought I’d implode. Their touch, their affection for me, was evident in how they treated me when the heat struck. Grant was determined to keep me safe and let me choose, even at the risk of his own brother. And I’ve never felt as desired as I did when Connor struggled to control himself. He regained control so he wouldn’t hurt me, even though his baser instincts went against it.

To me, that shows love.

I am where I’m meant to be.

When I glance to the right, the bed is empty. I get up and search for my clothes. After putting them on, I sneak out so I don’t wake Connor. I don’t even have to look for Grant. I know where he is. It's like an invisible beacon leading me toward him. I head out the back door. While it’s still cold, the blizzard has stopped, and the snow is melted enough for me to walk out into the yard with only ankle-deep trudging.

Grant’s muscles bunch as he lifts the axe over his head and brings it down to split the wood in front of him.

My breath hitches. He’s beautiful. Sunlight warms his shirtless torso, and his jeans hang low on his hips. A smile curves my lips at the sight. Wetness pools between my legs. He looks so sexy and masculine with his movements. Part of me wants to walk up to him and kiss him, entice him to take me like he did last night, but I resist.

Our relationship is new, so I don’t know how he’d receive my request. Instead, I settle for a gentler subject.

“Must be nice to not feel the cold,” I call out to him as I pull my jacket tighter.

He doesn’t even look up as he replaces the wood and cuts it in half. “Comes with the territory.”

He’s tense; something is bothering him. I can feel it as if they’re my own feelings. The gift that comes with our bond is amazing. It connects us in a way that is completely magical. Something I never want to give up. I no longer have the urge to go home, or back to the cabin I was renting. I just want to be with them.

But he won’t even look at me. It’s making me second-guess myself. Worry clouds my senses as the idea of him getting sick of me already has me physically feeling ill.

I thought this was forever. Was that a lie?

“Grant?”

My emotions must reach him, because he sets down the axe and looks at me finally.

He frowns, radiating concern.“What’s with the rollercoaster of emotions?”

“Me?” I blink. “You started it.”

His muscles relax, and I feel a bit of embarrassment through our bond. “I was afraid you’d ask to leave.”

I open my arms, he comes to me in quick strides and wraps me in his arms. I sigh, feeling content. When I’m near them, I feel complete.

“This is where I belong, and I’m glad you found me,” I assure him.

“So am I,” Connor’s lighthearted voice comes from behind me.

I turn from Grant’s embrace and go to him. Connor lifts me up into his arms and kisses me soundly on the lips.

“It’ll be nice to have someone other than my brothers and Kimberly to talk to,” Connor says. He lowers his voice teasingly. “Grant tends to get on my nerves.”

I laugh, loving that I can now be a part of something so amazing.

“Same to you,” Grant fires back.

He comes up behind me and scoops me into his arms, taking me from Connor.

“Hey!” Connor protests, but there's a smile on his face.

Grant ignores him and walks toward the house. Looking over his shoulder, I reach out. Connor jogs up and takes my hand. This is what I’ve always dreamed of: a family.And now I have it, with two men who started off as strangers yesterday.

Today begins our forever.