Page 41 of Take All of Me

That still doesn’t mean Nox won’t find a way out and then back to me. Roman sits up beside me, gently squeezing my thigh. “But we won’t be here. Thanksgiving, remember?”

I’m not sure how I forgot about next week, a smile spreading across my face at the thought of burrowing in Dakota’s nest away from Nox and his chaos. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I say, then point at Dakota, his lips jutting out, a dramatic, playful whine paired with it. “Besides, do you see that pout?” Laughter erupts through the room, Dakota’s flush deepening as he sticks out his tongue.

I lean down to kiss Brogan, my Beta humming into it. “How’s your shoulder? Your head?”

“Headache’s gone. The arm will bruise but I can move it,” he mumbles, slowly sitting up with a wince. I glance over at it, frowning at the purpling bruise. “Maya, I promise I’m okay. I didn’t hit my head. Just really hard hits that shook me a bit.”

I want to fight him on that but Dakota’s already shoving a bagel at me before I’ve gotten out of the damn bed. There’s no use protesting, chomping on the cinnamon raisin to make our Omega happy. He happily sits back on the other bed, all but curling up against Holt. We have a day or two until his heat kicks in, maybe less by the way I keep catching whiffs of his scent.

And yet, he still perks up when Roman says that he and Brogan are taking me out on a date.

“Where are we going?” Dakota asks, but Holt laughs, shaking his head, his hand ruffling though Dakota’s hair.

“Sweetheart,youaren’t going anywhere. You smell delicious as fuck, and if you go into heat or have a spike in public, I’m not sure what any of us would do to the surrounding people.” There’s a protective glint in his eyes that I absolutely know he’d act on.

Dakota smirks, unbothered, sprawling across the bed. “Yeah, fine, come fuck me.”

That seems to be our cue to pack up as I snatch another bagel and mumble ‘catch me’ before darting off to the shower. Roman wins, Brogan not far behind, each of us fighting for a little bit of space under the water. I have no idea where they’re taking me but I’ll be glad for the distraction.

I should have known that Brogan had chosen this little date, telling me that it was a little piece of my past that I could dwell in. Dakota always used to drag me out to this arcade as we tried every game and I’d lose hilariously every time. Brogan joined once or twice but the only game I ever won was the dance competition. For some reason, that’s what I excelled in and from then on, it’s the only one I challenged people on.

However, just the excitement of this place slowly brings me out of my shell, demanding me to stay in the present. We’re tossing tokens into claw machines, Roman swearing as his prize slips, Brogan nailing a basketball shot, before he growls at the pain shooting through his shoulder. I mention something about taking it easy and he just glares at me before buying me cheesy nachos and a blue raspberry snow cone. I want to be pissed at him but food is one of my weaknesses so I let it go.

Every time my mind wanders, Roman’s there, nudging my shoulder, or Brogan’s passing me a soda, their presence pulling me back, grounding me in this moment. “You’re slacking,coach,” Brogan teases, tossing a skee-ball, and I roll my eyes, because I suck at this game. As well as the last five Roman had me try. I’ll just horde my goodies and watch them duke it out, pleasantly surprised when Roman beats Brogan at a game that Brogan called himself a beast.

Instead of retaliating, Brogan lovingly slips the food from my hands and gestures to the dance machine I used to eviscerate Dakota on. Roman clocks where we’re looking. “I don’t dance, Maya.”

“You do now,” I say, my grin wicked, stepping onto the platform. “And if I win, I get one wish.”

Roman groans, stepping up, his eyes narrowing at me. “That’s not even a fair one,” he mutters, but he’s in, already failing as the song starts. He’s completely off beat, his curses mixing with Brogan’s cheers. He doesn’t even stand a chance and I’m not sure how he’s this uncoordinated when he hits a puck with a stick. But bets are bets and I whirl around, pointing at the picture station.

“Picture with the creepy clown. Brogan, you too.”

Brogan groans, stumbling in that direction anyway. “I didn’t even play!” he protests but we cram in together anyway, Roman’s arm around me, Brogan’s shoulder brushing mine, and the flash catches us in a wild, silly moment, that’s all ours.

We spill out onto the street, the sky a lot darker than I’d thought it, laughter still bubbling between the three of us. We should head back for an early night because there’s practice in the morning but I’m too caught up in the moment to suggest that. Especially when Roman leans over, kissing my cheek, his lips sliding to sucking gently on my jaw, sparking heat that pools low in my belly.

A moan falls from my lips as Roman walks us backward until Brogan hits a wall, my back pressing to his chest. Roman’s hands cup my face, deepening the kiss, his tongue tracing mine as hisscent starts to heighten, drowning me in a mixture of desire and need. His cock thickens against my belly, desire warring with the realization that we’re out here in public.

I push against his chest, eyes widening as a flash of cool air runs through me. “We can’t do this.Not here,” I add to let Roman know that I want this but just not in public.

Brogan leans forward, his lips brushing my ear, sucking lightly, a shiver racing through me. “There’s a motel across the street,” he murmurs.

It’s a tempting option, my gaze darting to the dingy neon sign flickering—One Night Stay, Only $60. Fuck, I want them, want this, but it’s new and raw, and I’m still learning to trust my body, my heart.

Roman’s eyes glint, his grin wicked but soft. “I’m game because the sounds I wanna get out of you aren’t ones I think are appropriate for school.”

I swallow, nervous, my eyes meeting Roman’s. I finally find my voice, bold despite the wobble. “You got $60?”

For a moment, we just pause there and then Roman’s tugging me across the street, the three of us digging into our pockets and dropping spare change on the counter. I’m pretty sure the woman there is wondering what we’re doing, Roman and Brogan alternating between kissing me and finding extra change. The woman looks through the crumpled up dollars and coins.

“Fifty cents short.”

I dig through my pockets again, finding two spare coins and I’ve never been so happy as to not clean out my pockets before washing them. “I found some!” I say, and we’re laughing again, the lady handing us a key to room 12 down the hall.

We tumble into the room, the door clicking shut, and Brogan’s already pulling off my jacket, my shirt, urgency in his touch, as he kisses me. I moan into his mouth, my hands grippinghis shoulders before glancing at Roman, who’s watching us, his nostrils flared. He’s holding back, wary of being too much but I’m not worried about that. I step toward him, softening my voice despite the need coursing through me. “You’ll be okay,” I place a hand on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. “You won’t hurt me.”

Roman’s eyes flicker, want warring with fear, his new Alpha instincts trying to take over. “God, I want this but maybe it’s a bad idea.” His hands clench at his sides, his brows furrowing slightly but this is a step I want to take between the three of us. I’m not sure why but it feels right. I also don’t want to push him into something he’s not ready for.

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