28. Elena

Mistakes were fucking made.

"Look at this fucking thing. We need it," Declan whines as he lies his body over the massive sex pillow. "It's waterproof and you can just lay here like this while you take it from behind," he animatedly fantasizes.

I watch the Beta shifting his hips against the arched pillow and look over at Lorcán.

"He's like this wherever you take him, it gets easier to ignore him," he sighs, pushing the sex swing that's hanging from the ceiling.

This idea was absolutely brilliant. Let me take the two guys I'm actively trying to prove I can be patient too and that I'm not the one who needs to be fucked right now to a glorified, high-end sex shop.

This store is an Omegas wet dream, and I can barely focus because these two are too distracting. It doesn't help that each time they pick something up or mention something to me, I think about them fucking me during my heat.

What felt like such a daunting thing a few weeks ago, I'm kind of looking forward to now. Cillian and I have some work we need to do, but these two? I can absolutely see myself letting go and letting them take care of me.

"How many ridiculously absorbent towels do you think we'll need, princess?"

"Based on how much slick she left on my pants at the High Roller, I'd say at least two for each time she comes," Declan surmises, and I gasp.

"We are out in public," I hiss, and Declan laughs.

"We're getting this pillow," Declan says, scanning the item on the tablet the sales associates gave us. I thought I would be the biggest spender in the store, but Declan is acting like he's playing laser tag by scanning nearly every item. He scans the violet-colored towels and changes the quantity to six.

"What about one of these?" Lorcán jokes, holding up a three-hundred dollar jelly knot.

"I ain't putting that around my cock. Get fucked," Declan snarks, and I pinch the bridge of my nose.

Declan wanders around the store, scanning more things, probably too many things, as Lorcán touches my forehead.

"I don't think you've had enough to drink today," he says softly, his hand trailing down my face. He grabs my hand and walks me over to a small cafe nestled in the back of the store. "Can we get two waters? Anything else?" he asks, his hand firmly on my lower back.

I soak up every bit of his touch. This is what I always fucking wanted, this intimacy with Lorcán, an Alpha who is sweet while also protective. My eyes start to water, and Lorcán's eyes go wide. The woman working the cafe hands us two bottles of water, and she's clearly seen her fair share of Omegas having breakdowns because she acts like nothing is amiss.

He leads me over to a soft, navy blue chaise and opens my water, holding it out to me.

"What's wrong?" he asks, his other hand rubbing soothing circles on my back.

I sniffle, feeling even more dramatic than usual. I try to give myself some leeway; my heat is coming soon, and I've been through a lot.

"It's okay to have feelings, Elena," he reassures.

I break, resting my head on his chest as he puts the waters down and wraps me up in his embrace. He's always been my shoulder to cry on, always had my needs in mind. How could I have been so blind?

I pull back and press a small kiss against his lips. He swipes the tears away from my eyes and smiles at me.

I truly think I'm falling in love with him. No more pining from afar, this is really happening.

"I'm just really happy."

"That's all I want. Here, drink your water."

I drink my water, feeling better after each cool sip slides down my throat. I was definitely feeling dehydrated. How the fuck did he know that?

"You and Declan seem close?" I know Logan, the bodyguard, and remember all the stories he's told me, but I'm not sure how much was made up or if he just changed names when he told them to me.

"Remember when I mentioned my friend, Dylan?"

"The one who always got you into trouble?" I smile, thinking about the stories he told me about his childhood friend.

"Yeah, that's that fucker right there. He was my first friend when I moved in with my Dá. Treated me more like a brother than Cillian and Finn ever did. He wasn't exactly happy with his home life as a teenager either, so we spent most of our time out fucking around, getting piss drunk, and just getting into trouble."

"Was it hard when you were working for my pápa?"

"Yes, and no. I loved being around you all the time, and I meant it when I said I respected Matteo. He was a good man. But I didn't feel like I fit in. I missed hanging out with Declan, and even if I don't have the best relationship with my brothers, they are home to me."

I lean on his shoulder, wrapping my arm around his large, muscular one. I kiss his biceps, not really knowing what to say.

"Thank you for bringing me on this trip. I needed it."

"I'd do anything for you, Elena," he vows, kissing the top of my head.

Suddenly, Declan comes into view, holding a small purple device in his hand.

"They said we can buy this one off the floor. The man said something about fucking nerve stimulation and vibrations? I don't fucking know, but it's supposed to help with the pain when your heat starts," Declan rambles, scanning the item and looking at the two of us.

I will not cry at his thoughtfulness.

"Let me see all the shit you have on this list," Lorcán demands, and Declan begrudgingly hands him the device.

We cut the items he has in the cart by a third before leaving Luxe Nest and heading to dinner. It will take everything short of a miracle not to beg them at dinner to take me back to the hotel and fuck me so good I don't remember my name.

The restaurant they chose is blessedly at our hotel, on the top floor. The skyline of Los Angeles is beautiful as we eat and enjoy each other's company.

I'm pretty sure I've never felt more free in my life than I do right now. How can that be possible while I"m sitting next to the man who was by my side for years under false pretenses and the other who was a massive part of me being kidnapped?

But as we sit here and talk, joke, and eat, I realize that I feel light. There's no pressure to be a specific way, there's no questions of my future or what I should do. I'm present, and content in a way I didn't think existed.

Great, I feel like crying again.

"I should get another tequila," I announce instead of letting tears fill my eyes.

"No," Lorcán denies.

I stiffen in my chair, adjusting my weight in the seat. His tone sends a shiver down my spine, and I know it's because he doesn't want me to have too much to drink before we go back to the hotel room. My consent and being clear minded is important to Lorcán, and that only makes me want him more.

For the first time in my life, I consider skipping dessert, but Lorcán orders all of them for me to try, and I just can't pass that up.

Both of the men seem unphased, totally relaxed, not like we're definitely going to have a threesome as soon as we leave this restaurant. I simply can't have that.

"I need to use the restroom," I say quietly while we wait for our desserts to arrive.

Without a word, Lorcán stands before leading me with a hand on my lower back to the bathroom. Thankfully, there aren't private bathrooms, or I may have dragged him in there and begged him to fuck me.

"I'll be right here."

I nod and go into the bathroom, shutting myself into a stall before hiking my dress up to grab the hem of the lacey and very expensive thong that was just purchased for me.

It's obscene how wet the garment is, but that really only gives my plan even more merit as I ball them in my fist.

If Lorcán seems surprised by how quickly I went to the bathroom, he doesn't say anything as we head back to the table, which is gloriously filled with desserts waiting for our return.

Lorcán pulls out my chair, and I grab his hand, placing the balled undergarment into his palm. He stiffens and clears his throat before pocketing them in his slacks. Declan seems amused, while Lorcán looks like he's hanging on for dear life.

Perfect.

I eat dessert extremely slow, savoring every moment with the men at the table, knowing I'm not wearing any underwear. I can tell Lorcán hates the idea of anyone else scenting me by the way he glares at anyone who attempts to come near our table.

Maybe it's because I'm an Omega, but I preen under his possessive nature.

I moan dramatically as I taste the tres leches, and both men shift in their seats. Feeling satisfied by the food—and equally satisfied by having tortured Declan and Lorcán—I finally pull out the metaphorical white flag.

"Are we ready to go back to the room?"

"Dinner's already paid for," Declan confirms, nearly sprinting out of his chair and coming to pull out mine.

He's strategic in the way he shields my body from anyone looking in our direction as I stand up. He walks behind me as Lorcán takes my hand, and we make our way to the elevators. There are some odd looks thrown our way, and I'm not sure if it's because I smell like I need a knot, or because they suspect what kind of people we are.

Lorcán and Declan carry a menacing air about them. Despite everything I thought, I love the idea of a dangerous man. I was a fool for thinking I could truly leave this life.

We have the elevator to ourselves, and they take advantage of it. Lorcán pushes me back against Declan's front, and he grips my hips. His erection is firm against my ass.

Lorcán grips my chin, forcing me to look up at him.

"What are we going to do with you, princess?"

God, I hope it's something dirty, messy, and fun. I whimper, thinking about being between them like this, but naked. I'm not afraid, I'm feeling eager. My hand grips Declan's thigh for balance as Lorcán trails a finger down the column of my throat.

"Do you need us, Elena?" Lorcán asks, and I know he means both right now and beyond this moment.

"Yes."

The answer is easy. There's no war in my mind. I need them both, unlike I've needed anything in my life.

He leans down to kiss me as Declan's hold on me tightens, my back completely flush against his body as the elevator dings, and they immediately back away. It's like a bucket of cold water being splashed on me, and I groan.

The bastards grin. But I'm fortunate that Lorcán takes pity on me, grabbing me by the waist and tossing me over his shoulder. I yelp as his hand grips my thigh, and my head bounces, my vision flipping upside down. He's careful to make sure I'm not exposed, but I don't miss the way he scents me and hums with approval.

From my upside-down position, I can only hear Declan open the door, but I'm quickly dragged down Lorcán's body and faced with the delicious reality of my first threesome.