8. ELLIE

ELLIE

Macon runs his nose along the side of my head, resting just beside my ear, the soft hairs of his beard tickling my skin. “Give him a moment, baby girl.” He places little kisses down my jaw, cooling me down from my last orgasm. My body thrums with energy as I stretch in his arms, loving the attention. “I’m going to go draw him a bath and you ask him in a few moments if he wants one. He’ll say yes.”

I feel out of my depths here, confusion replacing the general hum of pleasure. “Why do you trust me?” I ask, twisting around to look up into his eyes. “We don’t even know each other, Macon. You both found me… attractive. It’s mutual but this—this goes beyond a night of release. It doesn’t make sense.”

Maybe I’m looking for this Alpha to spill that we’re mates but that’s selfish of me. He has his mate, his husband, his entire world sprawled in a makeshift nest a few inches from us. He doesn’t need me, regardless of what our biology insists. His brows furrow as he searches for the right words and I can feel the need to curl into him, to soothe the unrest like a mate would. I kind of hate it.

It means that this night is only a product of our biology and not our feelings.

And it hurts to think about it.

“You’re not ready for the words I would want to say to you, Ellie but the least I can do is answer your question. I trust you because the moment you saw he needed you, you embraced him. No reservations. No disgust. Just pure acceptance for my Omega. Not one person has ever done that, Ellie. Not one.”

That doesn’t make sense. “But he’s so sweet. Why-”

“They only want the picture-perfect version of Savin Astor. They want his brand, his voice, his input. They could care less about Savin, the Omega. But that’s who you embraced.” He kisses the side of my head again before depositing me beside Savin and heading for the bathroom.

My mouth parts at the sight of the dark ink twisting and turning along Macon’s back, an abstract picture of an eagle and a wolf wrapped up in an explosion of phrases that I can only imagine mean the world to him. I’m not sure how I missed it but he never had his back to me. I wonder where else he’s marked, what else I’ve missed.

I curl up against Savin, combing his hair from his face as he sports a sleepy smile. My fingers brush over his bond mark which is usually hidden by his long hair and I sigh, realizing how out of place I am. There’s a slight tremble running through his body as I throw an arm around his waist, nuzzling against the side of his face. “How are you feeling?”

His grin widens as his eyes fully close, his body deflating into the mass of pillows and sheets. “Like walking on cloud 9. Macon said something about a bath. Right?”

I laugh, leaning over him to kiss his bruised lips, Savin slipping a hand into my hair to keep me there. For several seconds, we sup from each other like lovers starved. When I pull away, there’s a blush to his cheeks as he looks up at me with half-lidded eyes. “Would you like a bath, Savin?”

“Fuck yes. I just need a minute. Can’t feel my legs.” He pauses and then sighs, pulling me into another kiss. “Ellie, you fucked me real good. That’s all.” His giggles soothe my words as I help him to his feet, Savin leaning against me when we start walking. I want to mention it, Savin humming to cut off any attempt at a question. It isn’t until we’re all situated in the bath, me in the middle once again that I find my voice.

“I can’t stay much longer,” I whisper. Savin nods, resting his head on my chest as Macon presses his lips to my temple. Neither one answers me and I know that it’s going to be nearly impossible to leave these two when it’s time. “Okay, but just a few minutes.”